Sam Hagen

Sam Hagen is a pianist and singer who grew up north of Saint Paul, Minnesota. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where he studied music education, voice, and piano. He played in a piano studio, sang in a voice studio, performed in shows and accompanied. While in Des Moines, Sam started teaching piano and voice lessons at a local music store. Sam has performed in operas and various scenes in Italy, China and in Iowa and Minnesota.

A few years ago, Sam worked as music director for the chorus and performed the role of Le Dancairo in the opera Carmen through a non-profit program called The Opera Project Des Moines. During his time at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Sam worked as a piano accompanist for undergraduate music students, a theatre class, and the Chamber Singers.

Sam is a passionate music teacher that is always looking for opportunities to share his love for music and performance with the surrounding communities. He enjoys being outdoors, going to the beach, water skiing, downhill skiing, spending time with his cat, and traveling whenever he can.

 

PIANO | VOICE | MUSIC THEORY | SONGWRITING

Geographic areas served

Available for in home lessons within 10 miles from Minneapolis (near the St. Louis Park area) as well as at the Opus Studios in Plymouth, Robbinsdale, and St. Louis Park.

Rates

  • $38 / half hour lesson
  • $63 / 45-minute lesson
  • $75.50 / hour lesson
  • $5 more per in home lesson

Attendance policy

You must let the instructor know if you are unable to attend a lesson at least 24 hours in advance. The lesson will not be refunded if the instructor is notified less than 24 hours in advance or if the student no shows. Rescheduling a lesson is based on the instructor’s schedule. Refunds for last minute absences will be considered by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
 
Cancellations due to Student Illness:
If your student is too sick to go to school, work, or extracurricular activities, do not show up to the lesson. Let the instructor know as soon as possible.
 
Teacher Cancellations:
In the rare circumstance of a teacher cancellation, the parent/student will be notified as soon as possible via email and/or phone. The refund will be reflected on the next invoice and the lesson will be rescheduled.
 

Weather Related Cancellations:
If road conditions are too much of a hazard for driving, the instructor will cancel the lesson. You have the opportunity to either reschedule the lesson or get refunded for time lost. Any cancellation of this circumstance will be for the safety of both the student, parent, and the instructor.

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy consists of reaching student’s musical growth on a learning, creative and performance basis. I believe in skill, knowledge and affective outcomes. These three elements allow students to achieve success and understand from multiple perspectives. This approach might work best for the high school level, as it coincides with music literacy, however, I believe it can be applied to elementary and middle school as well. Cultural awareness in music is also at the forefront of what I regard as important in the classroom. This will broaden a student’s ability to see diversity in beliefs, life experiences and cultures amongst their peers and the music we are learning in class. This philosophy is important to me because it can reach students in a self reflective way, as well as provide emotional skills for the world beyond their experiences in K-12 schooling. My goals as a teacher are to build relationships with students both personally and intellectually, as well as improve my own teaching ability each day with consistent approaches and outcomes.