HAPPY NEW YEAR!! ​​​​
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Here we go into 2025! The MHSS family is back at for the new year, and trying to keep warm by making music together! Some musician's schedules have shifted a bit, and a change in my off-site teaching schedule has allowed for a few MORE WEEKDAY openings as we step into the second half of our term. Openings are still VERY limited, but at this time, there are a couple of immediately after-school times open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For my students that have a later start to the school day, there are also BEFORE-SCHOOL times available on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, starting as early as 7:30am. Please let me know if you would like to reserve on of the open times, or if you'd like to be placed on the waiting list for a different day/time in the future.
*If you/your musician are available in the early afternoon times, there are several openings daily yet. during the 1pm-3:30 pm time slots. IDEAL for my preschoolers, Homeschoolers, or retirees! :)​​
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I look forward to speaking with you and adding you into the MHSS Family of Musicians! :)
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About your instructor, the owner of Master's Hands String Studio, Monica Hahn
Monica Hahn has grown up with music surrounding her at all times. Her Grandfather was a fiddler, and Monica's first musical experiences were listening to him play old-time fiddle tunes at home and at a variety of fiddling contests (and trying to play with him too!).
Her music learning officially began with piano at the age of 4, followed soon by violin and eventually the flute as well. Monica knew from a very young age that her passion was children and teaching, and strived throughout High School to aim toward that goal. She began teaching young musicians while still in High School in Hutchinson, MN and continued to foster that dream by earning her Bachelor's of Music Education through Augsburg College in 1994, while thoroughly enjoying her first teaching position at Schmitt Music in Roseville, MN.
Her first official teaching position began that fall in the Cold Spring/Rocori School district where she taught elementary and middle school classroom music, and proudly established her first in-home lesson studio. A move to the metro area brought her to the Minnetonka School District in 2000 as a classroom music teacher, and to teach in-school group lessons for the (at that time!) small elementary orchestra program. The orchestra programs in the west metro are strong and vibrant, and Monica responded to the need of local students across the area by re-establishing her in-home studio in 2010. Monica also enjoys coaching and directing young musicians in various string camps through schools and organizations such as MacPhail, Minnetonka Schools and MNSota.
Monica earned her Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from The University of St. Thomas in 2008. In 2015, she was accepted into the Minnetonka District's Distinguished Educator Program, and proudly earned the title of 'Highly Accomplished Master Teacher' by becoming a National Board Certified Teacher in Elementary/Middle Childhood Music-Orchestra in December of 2018, and just recently re-certified in December of '23.
Monica has studied under such greats as the late Harold Banke, Mary Anne Olmsted-Kohls, the late Mary Horozanieki, Dr. John Noble-Moye, and Dr. Marion Judish.
In addition to teaching, Monica plays violin, viola and piano professionally around the metro area and beyond; but mostly enjoys her regular, volunteer positions as violinist & violist in the Grace Church Chapel Orchestra. Monica is also a proud member of the Twin Cities Praise Symphony and the Curse of the Vampire Orchestra. Professionally, Monica continues to play in a variety of settings; from weddings and other special performances, to recording gigs and fiddle contests/festivals. Her favorite performance memories are soloing with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and playing in the on-stage orchestra with her daughters for Mike Weaver (of "Big Daddy Weave"). Both of her daughters are accomplished musicians as well; her oldest plays cello, and her youngest plays both violin and piano.
