Nedela Music           

Liz (Louise) Nedela  grew up in Michigan on Lake Huron in a childhood filled with love of the outdoors, close family bonds, church, Girl Scouts, piano lessons, and the beach.  Swimming and boating, skating in the backyard rink, biking, piano recitals, and church events filled the days and years.  Eldest of 4 siblings, the close family was supportive of individual talents and abilities, and she was encouraged to flourish in the family natural trait of music.  A heritage of trained and "play-by-ear" musicians led to a lifetime of innate abilities and an insatiable quest to make music.

    Piano lessons began at age 4 with a teacher who nourished the individual abilities of his students, and who remains a role model for teaching, learning, and expressing natural abilities.  Future teachers were to do the same.  Nurturing abilities, guiding the intellectual aspects, and defining the skill and craft of music making became the foundation she continues to follow with her own music: composing, playing instruments, and teaching.  Adding other instruments and vocal studies led her to play violin and cello in community orchestras, chamber groups, bands, church musician, and choirs; but piano has remained the staple.

    While raising her children, she earned degrees in piano, composition, English, education, and theater:  BA, MMEd, MM.  Her focus during the MMEd was on studio teaching of piano and composition, guided by studies in learning styles, music and the gifted and the at-risk student (which were sometimes one-in-the same), and a project to incorporate composition in the private piano studio and in summer camps.  Her studies opened the reality that every person has a musical aptitude, and music students could learn far more than the rudiments.  Being free to express themselves and develop their creativity was an essential aspect of learning to play an instrument.

    The MM in composition and music technology brought a culmination of a lifetime of writing, learning, and playing music; but also further opened doors to the academics of music, as well as to mountainous tools of expression!  The world of music is insatiable, and the musician, student, as well as the audience, have the joy of living in it!

    Professional affiliations: MTNA (local, state, national); SCI (Society of Composers, Inc); Cascadia Composers; NACUSA (National Association of Composers in USA); ASCAP; IAWM (International Alliance for Women in Music); past affilations: MMI (Montana Music Institute); Founder: The Birchwood Arts Project and Birchwood Players (Minnesota).

    Professional work:  Teaching studio for piano and composition; church musician; freelance trio, soloist, and composer (many commissions and performances); MMI (Montana Music Institute--past president, instructor); past assistant director--community orchestras; founder and director Birchwood Arts Project and Birchwood Players (community theater); TA, Practice Supervisor, Accompanist Interlochen Arts Camp; taught at Yellowstone Baptist College; numerous workshops and summer studio camps; substitute teacher for orchestra, choir, English.

    Liz's motto for her students is:  Have fun with music!  While placing a strong emphasis on rhythm, technique, and skills to play piano and composing music, she also has an equally strong emphasis on the creative aspects (students seeing the composer-eye-view and students being the composer) and the freedom to enjoy playing and creating music.  The rewards have been watching her students perform and win competitions, accompany choirs, play in orchestra and band and ensemble; but even more important:  hearing them share their music -- the music they learned from books and the music that came from within!

Member: CCMTA, WSMTA, MTNA, SCI, Cascasia Composers, NACUSA

Past Affilliate Chair: Composition Competitions in MTNA State and NW Division.

Adjudicator: Composition Competitions in MTNA State and NW Division

Please Contact:

Nedela Music at the phone or email listed at the bottom of pages in this website.