Hello ~ I am Melanie H. Katragadda. I am a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) and a 27-year Minnesota Music Teachers Assoc member. I have a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the Univ of Minnesota, with an emphasis in clarinet and piano. I work with beginner to college-level students. My studio is located in the southwest suburban area and I teach in-person and online lessons.

I believe that students play better when their teacher can demonstrate good technique and tone, so I always have my clarinet ready to play! During a lesson, my students work on solo repertoire, etudes, studies, and exercises with lots of emphasis on breathing to produce the best possible clarinet tone. We also work on phrasing, tonguing, rhythm, sight-reading, and good posture. We study music theory -- and if time allows, we end with a couple of duets -- teacher and student!

I hold two recitals (Dec/June) in my studio. I encourage my students to participate in the MMTA Woodwind Festival and Contest in February, and other performance opportunities that are offered throughout the year.

My students play a wide variety of music when they study with me -- making use of the public library, online sites, and my own collection of music. We work hard, always reaching for excellence, but we enjoy the process!

I believe music can be a fulfilling and enriching part of our lives. I would be happy to work with your student as they discover this value for themselves.