Brandy Held 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 9 years and has been running her own studio since 2005. In the last 7 years her studio has grown to 40 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.
Ms. Held has been playing the piano for the last 26 years and she is also an experienced guitarist. She has also been a rock singer for the last 19 years. 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 19 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 10 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 and works with the rock band WyldKard. 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.
Brandy has had a passion for music since she was a child and loves being able to give the gift of music to others. She loves being a teacher, songwriter, and performer. She loves playing piano, guitar, and singing. In her spare time she spends time with family, boyfriend, friends, and her kitties. Her other hobbies and interests include attending music concerts (especially Muse!), karaoke, comedy clubs, photography, psychology, hiking, working out, reading, Humane Society, Heifer International.
Brandy Held - Chaser (by Brandy Held)