Niki Knowlton's Music Studio

Lessons Offered

Where are Lessons Offered

About Me

***Currently on a break from teaching music***

Hi! My name is Mrs. Niki Knowlton, but most of my students call me Miss Niki. I am happily married to my high school sweetheart and we have three awesome kids. I love animals and have had over 60 pets in my lifetime! I currently have a dog named Abbey. I like to play board games, card games, paint and go bowling. I collect pianos (figurines and souvenirs, not ACTUAL pianos or I'd be broke :D). My favorite flowers are daisies. I love chocolate, the colors blue, green and yellow and I especially love music.

My Location

I only share my actual home address with my students.

What Makes Me Stand Out

I TRULY enjoy both my students and music. I am not what most would call a "musical personality." Although striving for perfection and doing ones best is something I want to instill in my students, it is more important to me that each student learns enjoy and appreciate music and what it can do for them personally and spiritually. I strive to make music as much a pleasure for them as it is for me. Music is my release; it feeds my soul. I want my students to experience that.

My Philosophy of Music

I have been making music ever since I can remember. I’ve taken lessons from many different teachers with just as many different approaches. In my years as a music student, I learned that the two most important factors in either learning to sing or play any instrument well are to practice hard and enjoy it.
The Pleasure of Practice

When a student does not practice enough, they become discouraged at their slow progress and want to give up. Lack of practice can also cause a student to have to repeat the same song for many weeks at a time, making lessons boring and monotonous. On the other hand, when a student does practice, they see results faster and find music more pleasurable. Students also gain great benefits from the discipline of daily practice and the internal rewards that can offer.

Making it Fun

I enjoy listening to, playing and singing many different types of music. To help make lessons more fun, I try to get students to try a variety of music. I encourage students to bring music that they are interested in learning to their lessons. This helps students not to get bored, introduces them to many different musical genres and gives them a lot of versatility in the future. When a student picks their own music, it gives them a sense of ownership and pride in what they are accomplishing. Also, when a student enjoys making music they are more highly motivated to learn and are more likely to stick with it.

The Way I Teach

Although I believe that music should be fun, there is some work involved in becoming a skilled musician. When I teach preschool group lessons (ages 3-6), I prefer using Alfried's Music for Little Mozarts series. They are catered for young learners with lots of games, accessories, stuffed animals and rewards. They also introduce musical genres, classical composers and music history. For individual private lessons for preschool students (ages 3-6), I choose Faber and Faber's My First Piano Adventures series. My First Piano Adventure captures the child's playful spirit. Fun-filled songs, rhythm games and technique activities develop beginning keyboard skills. My First's three levels, A, B, and C, each have a Lesson Book with CD and a Writing Book. Book C of this young beginner course leads to Alfred's Premier Piano series that I use for older beginner students (6 to 13). It takes the emphasis off of hand position and focuses more on making sure the students know their notes, regardless of which finger they are using. Like the Music for Little Mozarts and My First Piano Adventures series, the Premier Piano series introduces many musical genres, classical composers and music history. Students will know their scales and have an understanding of chord usage and structure helping them to learn to play by ear and compose music as well. Beginner Adult and Advanced students are taught using many different genres and techniques catering to their individual needs. All Advanced students are instructed on how to accompany others as they sing or play as well as how to embellish hymns and other chordal songs. Students are given as many opportunities as possible to sight read music. For voice students, I help students learn to control their breathing, use proper diction and develop various singing techniques. I use mainly classical vocal techniques, but am able to teach some more contemporary styles and techniques as well.

It is my firm belief that music students need to be given the tools to make practical use of their skills in the future, not just for themselves or others, but for God and His purposes. Musical talent is a gift from God and should be used to praise Him.

My Musical Education Background

A career in music came naturally to me. My family was very musical and we sang every day. I began piano lessons at four years old and joined every choir, band and musical group I could for as long as I can remember. I began voice lessons my freshman year of high school and accompanied all my school choirs from the time I was in 6th grade until I was into college. I took a Music Major in college, but switched it to Elementary Education and kept my music minor so I could be more versatile. I graduated from Southern Adventist University with a Major in Elementary Education and a minor in both Voice & Piano. I have been teaching private piano and voice lessons since 2004 as well as directing middle school and high school touring choirs and coordinating elementary music education programs and musical productions. I've thoroughly enjoyed being a part of school environments and teaching music there, but I also love doing private lessons and getting to know my students on a deeper level.

Genres and Subjects Taught

I have taught private lessons to students of all ages. I have taught grades PreK-12 in various capacities including general classroom (all subjects as a homeroom teacher) music theory and choirs. I am comfortable with all ages and enjoy them all differently.

Lesson Rates

Tuition & Makeup Lessons

Please note the following guidelines that will enable me to focus more of my attention on my students and less on record keeping.

• How often and how long are lessons? Private lessons occur weekly and are available for half hour or hour long sessions.  In general, young or beginner students take half hour lessons, while older or intermediate to advanced students are encouraged, but not required to take an hour long lesson.
• How much is tuition? Please contact me for current tuition rates. Some discounts are awarded for various circumstances, particularly for families with more than one child taking lessons.  I also give referral discounts to current students. Ask me for more information.
• How is tuition calculated? Students pay a flat-rate tuition to reserve their time slot in the teacher’s lesson schedule each month. The monthly rate does not change even when there are 5 lessons in a month rather than the usual 4 and allows for 8 total lessons missed during the year - these include 5 built in vacation weeks: Spring (1), Fall (1), Thanksgiving (1) & Christmas (2) Breaks as well as 3 other canceled or missed lessons by the teacher for any reason.
• What if I need to cancel a lesson? Please make an effort to contact me as soon as possible if you must cancel or miss a lesson. In general, there will be no refunds for missed or canceled lessons unless cancelled by the teacher on short notice, but I will work together with the student to try to make-up or reschedule canceled lessons if at all possible. Please do not come to a lesson sick. This puts my other students and my family at risk of infection as well as myself. If you are sick, please request a make-up lesson. 
• What if I need to take an extended break from lessons? If you plan to be gone for a couple weeks, just let me know and I'll hold your appointment time until you return. My vacations work the same way. Leaving lessons for a month or more is a Leave of Absence and may necessitate a new appointment time when you return unless you wish to pay a monthly lesson reservation fee (contact me for more information).
• How am I charged? Monthly Tuition is pre-paid and is due the first lesson of each month. Automatic Invoices are sent via email mid-month showing charges to each student for the upcoming month.  Actual charges may change depending on book purchases and the occasional credit. If monthly payment is not made before the 15th, your account will be billed at a rate of 10% on the amount owed each month that payment is not received.
• How do I pay? Tuition is preferred by check or cash, but can be made using a credit/debit card through Paypal on my website.  Please make checks payable to “Niki Knowlton”.

Ages / Skill Levels Taught

All lessons ages 4 to 99

My Certifications and Awards

Elementary Education Major
Minors in Piano & Voice

My Musical Influences

My Mother
Mainly Classical with some Broadway and Jazz
I love music of all genres - but particularly Christian and Country Music.

Service Area

Jenni N
Ringgold, GA

Niki is my 4-year-old daughter's piano teacher and we have been very pleased with her since we started lessons 6 months ago. Niki quickly evaluated Jocelyn's abilities and was able to find the appropriate materials for her. She is very patient with her during the lessons and has identified areas that need to be specifically addressed as she progresses. We are very pleased with Jocelyn's progress and look forward to learning with Niki for years to come.

Melissa V
Ringgold, GA

Our daughter has been taking piano lessons from Niki for the last six months. We can sum up our experience in one word...."blessed!" During the lessons, she is patient, supportive , and caring. Our daughter is learning and growing with each lesson. Niki has a way of paying attention to detail, while making learning to play the piano memorable. We highly recommend her!

Celia W
Ringgold, GA

Niki has a special way of getting my shy 13 year old granddaughter excited about her voice and piano lessons. She is patient and encouraging, just what my teenager needs. I also like the lesson notes that she send out after every lesson. So glad we found her.

Farrah F
Ooltewah, TN

Niki has been a great piano teacher for my 6 year old son. She keeps him engaged and finds creative ways to help him learn. The weekly lessons are easy to follow and are age appropriate. I would highly recommend Niki Knowlton.

Stacy H
Ringgold, GA

Niki is a wonderful music teacher! She has really exceeded our expectations by helping our teen with piano and voice lessons.

Katherine R
Chattanooga, TN

I played piano for several years when I was young and took a hiatus for ten years or more, forgetting much of what I once knew. Niki has been a patient, knowledgable, and encouraging teacher to me the past 6 months and was quickly able to refamiliarize me and expand upon previous piano knowledge/skill, aiding in my ability to swiftly surpass my earlier level. She inspires her students to choose songs that interest them while also introducing theory so as to progress consistently to new curriculum and skill sets. She is able to read the needs of her students well, carefully noting when to slow down and take additional time on a unit, and when to speed up or continue to new information. I look forward to our hour together each week and am consistently amazed by how sweet and well-behaved her children are!

Judy L
Calhoun, GA

I recommend this lady, she was an inspiration for my son.

Gary M
Ooltewah, TN

She is excellent with kids and experienced with elementary homeroom teaching grades 1,2,4 and middle school. She's also taught music in elementary school grades K-8 also. Get in while openings exist!

Karey T
Calhoun, GA

Niki has been teaching my two 12yr old girls for almost a year now. My daughter that needed a challenge, has become very proficient. My other one who didn't enjoy piano has learned to love it. Yay for Niki! We highly recommend her!

Lisa M
Ooltewah, TN

My son started taking piano lessons from Niki back in November and is making tremendous progress! He is so excited at the prospect of being a piano player and is well on his way! Thrilled with her teaching style!

Jennifer B
Collegedale, TN

I have been very happy with Niki over the past four months. I have seen my 12 year old son progress hugely and he is enjoying playing much more than he used to! I would highly recommend Niki to anyone and everyone.

Melissa G
Ooltewah, TN

My 4 & 6 yr old children just started taking piano/voice lessons and we could not be more impressed!! Miss Niki is so nice and great with kids. Both of my kids thoroughly enjoy their lessons!!

Cole W
Calhoun, GA

Niki Knowlton was a GREAT piano teacher and was always willing to work with your schedule. She know what she is doing! If I could, I would give her 10 stars!

Angel A
Calhoun, GA

My girls loved having Ms Nikki as their choir teacher and director. She instilled in them a love for singing and praising GOD that continues with them still. They always praise her as a great teacher.

Eve P
Resaca, GA

I took some voice lessons from Niki, and she's great! She really helped me improve.

Cheri H
Calhoun, GA

Niki taught my girls in both piano and choir for 5 years. She inspired enthusiasm and made music fun for them! She also is a very patient teacher! I would recommend her for any music lessons she chooses to teach!

Lishcia K
Calhoun, GA

Niki taught my girls in both piano and choir for 5 years. She inspired enthusiasm and made music fun for them! She also is a very patient teacher! I would recommend her for any music lessons she chooses to teach!