Instructors

Instructor Bios

Allison Cramer-Piano and Early Childhood Classes

Allison Cramer teaches early childhood classes and piano lessons at All 12 Notes. She has been working with preschool age children and teaching piano and French horn since 1997. She also has six years of experience as a K-8 General Music teacher. Allison graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1999 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with an emphasis on K-12 Instrumental and General Music. She is currently finishing her thesis "The Uses of Musical Activities in Minnesota Preschools" while working towards a Master of Arts degree in Music Education, Orff Concentration, at the University of St. Thomas. Allison uses the Orff-Schulwerk approach in her teaching which actively engages students in music making. Using this approach, students learn to be musicians through the exploratory approach of dancing, moving, singing, and speaking while learning to play their instrument or as part of a music class. Allison is the early childhood chair for the Minnesota Music Educators Association, is a certified Kindermusik instructor, the Twin Cities representative for the Partnership of Kindermusik Educators, and is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the National Association for Music Education, and Minnesota Music Teachers Association. Allison has presented several workshops in the area for parents and teachers on using music with young children in preschool, daycare, and home settings and also offers musical story times in local libraries and other community settings.

Mike Cramer- Guitar, Mandolin, and Electric Bass

Mike Cramer is an award-winning guitarist and educator. He received his BA in music from the University of Northern Iowa where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Upon graduation he took an adjunct guitar instructor position at Grinnell College in Grinnell Iowa, a position he held for 3 years before moving to the Twin Cities. Cramer has given workshops throughout the country and has taught for the National Guitar Workshop for the past two summers. Along with a busy teaching studio, Cramer is an active performer having shared the stage with or opened for such performers as B.B. King, Tommy Castro, Chris Duarte, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman, Spencer Bohren, Debbie Duncan, Tresa Sauer, Gordy Johnson, Tanner Taylor, Jay Epstein, JazzMN Big Band, and Gordon Goodwin.