Lessons Offered
Composition, Guitar, Keyboard, Music Theory, Piano, Music
Where are Lessons Offered
In Teacher Studio
About Me
Please check out my website at (contact me) (use my email on that site) or for more information or call me at (contact me) (email is preferred). I do not check lesson ratings often (this site). I offer piano and guitar lessons. I teach all ages and all styles. On guitar I teach mostly rock/pop and classical styles. I have piano performance degree from UW-Whitewater. I have been a pianist for 33 years and I am also an experienced guitarist for over a decade. I teach beginning to advanced piano and guitar. I have been a music teacher for 16 years and a performer/songwriter for 26 years. My studio also makes monthly donations to the Heifer International Foundation.
My Musical Education Background
Brandy Held Perkins graduated in 2005 from UW-Whitewater with BA in piano performance and a psychology minor. At Whitewater she studied classical piano with the Julliard graduate Dr. Myung Hee Chung and after graduating studied jazz and improvisation with Brian Hagen. Brandy began playing piano at age 4 and started taking lessons at age 8 with Rachelle Berger Poteracki. At age 11 she began writing and performing her own songs. In the year 2000 she began playing guitar and has studied with guitarists Rockwell Rice and Travis Ziegler. She offers beginning to advanced piano lessons as well as beginning to intermediate guitar lessons.
Brandy has been a music teacher for 16 years and has been running her own studio since 2005. In the last 13 years her studio has grown up to 45 students weekly. She teaches all ages and all styles. She also gives her students the chance to perform at least twice a year in student recitals. Her Madison, Wi music studio also makes monthly donations to the Heifer International Foundation to help others obtain sustainable food and income.
Brandy has been playing the piano for the last 33 years and she is also an experienced guitarist. She has also been a rock singer for the last 26 years (she does not teach voice). In the year 2009 she began taking voice lessons and has studied with vocal coaches Kelly Garrow and Caitlin Cisler. She has also been a songwriter/accompanist for 26 years. In college she took classes on music theory, composition, musical ear-training, music history, folk guitar. Her past musical experience includes: performing classical music in college; acting and singing in musicals; singing , playing piano, and arranging music for pop/rock concerts; music theory and arranging courses; playing the baritone in marching and jazz bands; singing in high school and college choirs; and teaching preschoolers music education. For the past 14 years she has also enjoyed being a wedding pianist, accompanist, and church pianist for Community of Christ the Servant. In 2008-2010 was the keyboardist for the folk/jazz group Mockingbird that performed in the Madison area. She is currently a solo artist. In March 2011 she released her first EP “Dark Eyes” and her song “Chaser” won song of the month for the Madison’s Songwriter’s Guild.
Genres and Subjects Taught
Classical, Jazz, Blues, Pop, Rock, Country, Improvisation, Songwriting, Composition, and Music Theory
Lesson Rates
$30 a half hour and $58 an hour
Ages / Skill Levels Taught
Ages 4 and older
My Certifications and Awards
BA in piano performance
My Musical Influences
Everything.....Muse, Tori Amos, Ben Folds, Evanescence, Rock, Classical, Jazz
Service Area
Student Reviews
Irena (
Madison, WI
“Thank you for being such a great piano teacher. I really appreciate it. I am very excited about the next piano recital!”
Denise J
Madison, WI
“My 8 year old daughter has been taking piano lessons from Brandy for nearly two years, and has made incredible progress. I love hearing her play! Brandy has a keen sense of what each child needs for success, and allows some flexibility in the pieces the child may play to keep it fun, while still maintaining a very strong program in the basics. Initially, my other daughter did not want to take piano lessons, but after witnessing Ellie’s success and love of the music, Alex decided for herself to start lessons. Now both daughters fight over who gets to practice our piano at home! They are already planning on what they want to play at the next recital, perhaps a duet!”
Michael L
Madison, WI
“Brandy is a warm, caring, and knowledgeable piano teacher.She tailors lessons to the abilities and needs of each student, teaching music theory with the practical playing of the piano. As a student Brandy always helps me achieve an understanding of the piece of music I’m working on. The studio is spacious and a inviting place to learn.”
Phil A
Madison, WI
“Our daughter has been taking piano lessons with Brandy for a little over a year. Brandy took time to help our daughter transition from group lessons to private lessons. Initially Brandy spent time identifying our daughter’s skill level and found appropriate materials for her to play. She encourages her students to play songs that interest and inspire them. She also encourages her students to compose music if they want to. In addition, we appreciate Brandy’s weekly emails letting us know when she has time for make up lessons and studio time if we need to make a change in our lesson time.”
R
Madison, WI
“The reason I like Brandy is because she goes at my speed, never too fast and never too slow. She is very encouraging and she lets me play any extra or fun songs as I like.”
Jason H
Madison, WI
“Brandy Held is a very creative and talented musician and I am very glad (and lucky!) to have her as my piano teacher. She is helping me understand music a lot deeper than I ever thought I would! I am a beginning adult student and it is motivating to learn from a real artist. She is a natural and genuine teacher and her studio provides a nice comfortable atmosphere to learn in. She also runs the business side very professionally (even meticulously, I am impressed with her organizational skills: i.e. the email updates to her students are thoughtful and well appreciated – informing us when there are timeslots available for makeups or new open lesson times available in the studio.) I highly recommend Brandy to any prospective student.”
Deb A
Madison, WI
“Brandy has been our piano/guitar teacher for over 5 years. She is an excellent instructor providing a very positive, calm environment for the kids to learn. She has been more then accommodating in meeting our schedule changes over the past years. I would highly recommend her as a music instructor for her knowledge and teaching skills.”
Debbie T
Madison, WI
“My daughter has piano lessons with Brandy once a week and always wants to go. Brandy’s attention to detail is interesting to watch especially as she makes it so much fun for her. You really need a lot of patients when working with youngsters and she definitely has what it takes. My daughter enjoys taking lessons with her, and I’m very impressed with the way she teaches her. My daughter practices on her own at home, and I love hearing her progress. Brandy is a great teacher and I would suggest her to anyone.Keep up the great work. “
L
Madison, WI
“As a parent of a teenage daughter who has loved taking piano lessons with Brandy for over two years, we are so appreciative of Brandy’s scheduling flexibility. There have been at least three times when we needed to change our daughter’s piano lesson time and day due to new school or sporting event conflicts. Without Brandy’s willingness to make these scheduling modifications, our daughter would probably not be playing piano right now! Our daughter plays the piano beautifully and she adores Brandy. We cannot thank Brandy enough for the musical joy she has given to our family.”