Studio Information:

L.A.H. MUSIC STUDIO is located in Waukee, Iowa, is open for students wishing to study voice, piano or flute.  For voice lessons: I encourage students to be 12 years old or 7th grade for full time, school year voice lessons. 

Lessons can include, but are not limited to, instruction in: voice/piano/flute, pedagogy, music literacy: tonal & rhythmic, theory & composition, history & appreciation, correct performance practice as well as preparation for various auditions &/college preparation. Along with classical training, other genres I specialize in are vocal jazz,  musical theater and commercial music.

Healthy tone production and technique is of top priority.  If you are interested in lessons and would like further information including the studio handbook please contact Laura via email or phone.

L.A.H. Music Studio has two sessions: School Year (Sept-May) & Summer Session (June-Aug).
Gift Certificate/Punch Cards are available upon request and availability. 

Contact Information:

Email: lah.music.studio@gmail.com

Phone: 515-971-8475

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAH-Music-Studio-196954843705495

Address: Waukee, IA

School Year Session: (Sept.-May)

Studio is open 3 weeks each month.  The lesson schedule is given at the beginning of each semester. Lessons fees are due for the entire month on or before the first lesson of each month. Many students elect to pay for a semester at a time. A month's notice is necessary to be released from the school year contract. 

Group Seminar is offered once each semester! Often we cover topics such as: Vocal Health, Music Literacy, Music History and more. Guests have been brought in to provide a master class for students. Some of those guests have been Joy Hesse (SLP at Iowa ENT Center) & Adam Dingeman (professional singer/actor/musician). 

An annual RECITAL is held in April/May. Many of the students are preparing for the school and state solo & ensemble contest/festivals and the timing is set up to give them a performance experience on that literature as well as an opportunity to critically analyze their performance through viewing a video of the recital.  This is an excellent way for ALL students to see and hear their progress as well as be positively critiqued through self and instructor evaluation.

Summer Studio: (June-Aug.)

Sign up is typically in April/May. Summer 2024 will have two Sessions to choose from (June/July). Again, lesson times are scheduled based on seniority and instructor preference. The Summer Intensive is open to voice, piano & flute students. All lessons include music literacy/theory. All lessons are one hour in length during specific weeks. One make up is offered and will be held in August for an advanced absence (vacation, camp, etc.). Tuition is due with in a week upon confirmation of registration.  Tuition is non-refundable.

There are three one-hour lessons, one make up allowed for an advanced absence. Summer Intensive Session will provide an opportunity to explore concepts and techniques and also prepare music from a variety of genres based on student goals. 

The summer music experience is a music intensive meaning that we cover a lot of skills and provide students with instruction on numerous skills, techniques, information and materials for optimal growth.  Although repertoire is often lighter (ie; Musical Theater, Jazz, Disney, etc.) all lessons are personalized towards your student's needs & goals. As always, proper technique and skills are the primary focus. Many students will also use the summer to prepare for auditions such as OPUS or to increase their theory/sight reading, instrument/vocal technique and basic music knowledge. 

Focus Areas of Study: 

Voice: breath management, tone production/quality, vocal pedagogy (study of the voice), history & performance practices (based on genre/style) 

Piano: technique, skill development, theory, history, lesson & performance songs 

Flute: technique, skill development, tone quality, history, lesson & performance songs.

Music Literacy: (included in all lessons) focus on music theory including: ear training, sight singing (solfege & interval/ear training), & rhythm reading (Takadimi & traditional counting)

This summer session is a great opportunity for professional instruction in a safe and goal-centered atmosphere.

Studio Recital - 2024: 

The annual Studio Recital is typically held in April/May at Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines, IA.  2024 Recital was held on Sunday, May 5th. 

Lesson Offerings: 

Summer 2024 Session - Summer Intensive

3 - One Hour Lessons (2 Sessions to choose from - June/July)

Summer Intensive (Three, 1-hour lessons) - Contact for more details & to register.

Registration takes place in April & May. 

One Make Up allowed for advanced absences (such as planned vacation, camps, etc.) 

School Year 2024-25 - Individual Weekly Lessons:

3 lessons per month (Sept-May).

Half Hour Lessons (Scheduled on the same day/time each week) - Contact for more details & to register.

Lessons are taught on Mondays 3-6pm, Wednesdays, 3-10pm, also open on Waukee Early Dismissals from1:30-3pm & Thursdays 3-6pm. 

Gift Certificate/Punch Card :

Available upon request (limited number available)

Each GC /PC is for 3 hours of lessons  - $180 - Contact to register.

Lessons can be three 1-hour lessons or six half-hour lessons or a combination to get to 3 hours total. 

Expires 3 months after purchase/first lesson is given.

Congratulations: 

2023 Iowa All-State Chorus:

Lily A. - Winterset - 12th Grade (3x)

Abby B. - Waukee - 12th Grade (3x)

Ashlyn Y. - NW Waukee - 12th Grade (2x)

Nathan S. - Dallas Center-Grimes - 12th Grade (1x)

2023 Iowa All-State Jazz Choir 

Kylee R. - West Des Moines Valley - 11th Grade 

2016 OPUS Honor Choir (Record year!):

Name - School - Grade - # times accepted while studying at in Studio

***Record setting students --  2012-2016 -- ALL FIVE YEARS!!!*** 

Brenden H. - Waukee - 5th - 9th Grade (5x)

Emma W. - Waukee - 5th - 9th Grade (5x)

Brenna M. - Waukee - 5th - 9th Grade (5x)

2015 - Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards - Triple Threat Winner:

Jessica M. - West Des Moines Valley - 12th grade 

Jessica studied at L.A.H. Music Studio for 9 years! She won this award after performing as Dorothy in the WDM production of The Wizard of Oz. She graduated with a degree in Vocal Performance & Musical Theater at Oklahoma City University and is currently performing in NYC; I'm positive she will get her big break on Broadway! Break a leg, Jessica! 

I'm so proud of all students who put forth the effort and energy to prepare for these prestigious choir auditions, our annual studio recital and participate in their school and community fine arts programs.  I believe these experiences are valuable and you'll find that you have grown from these experiences and opportunities!

Congratulations to ALL!

~ LAH

Instructor Information:

My name is Laura A. Hinspeter. I am a graduate of Wartburg College '99 (Waverly, Iowa) with a bachelors degree in Music Education (major-Vocal, minor-Piano). During college, I was a member of the Wartburg Choir, Castle Singers Jazz Choir, 9th Street Jazz Band & Flute Choir; was the Teacher's Assistant for Music Theory I-IV, completed an independent study course in Jazz Theory, Composition & Arranging and graduated with honors: magna cum laude. I have a passion for healthy vocal technique, music literacy, musical theater and vocal jazz. 

L.A.H. Music Studio has been a service to the Des Moines metro area for 20+ years.  Through public education, private education and private studio, students have prepared for and achieved success in:  OPUS Honor Choir, Iowa All-State Chorus,  Iowa All-State Jazz Choir, Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards - Triple Threat Program,  Solo/Ensemble Contest, and other festivals, auditions, scholarships, musical theater productions & school ensembles. 

My past public/private educational experiences outside of studio includes: 

• From 1999-2001 @ St. Ansgar Comm. Schools 6-12 grade (director of choral activities, show choir, jazz choir, individual/group lessons and college prep. theory, musical director, general music, choral trip to New Orleans). In my very first year of teaching, I was nominated by my students for the prestigious Golden Apple Award. With that nomination I was selected and awarded as a top-five finalist for Teacher of the Year. Along with that personal accomplishment, from a 2A school district, I had a full quartet into Iowa All-State Choir & one female student selected for the 3rd annual Iowa All-State Jazz Choir.

• From 2001-2005 @  Stilwell JH West Des Moines Comm. Schools 7-8 grade (director of choral activities, concert choirs, show/swing choir, men's & women's choirs & group lessons, solo/ensemble festival). Each year I had several students accepted to the OPUS honor choir. In 2004, I orchestrated an amazing experience for my 8th grade choir students to sing the SATB arrangement of the "Les Miserable Medley" on the east staircase of the Civic Center on opening night before attending the musical as a group. Included in that preparation was a synopsis and character study as well as looking at the history and time period that the musical was about. We had the privilege to have a cast member meet with us at school the following day. The experience was certainly a memorable one!

• From 2008-2011 I was contracted, through my studio, to create and design music curriculum and be the part-time instructor for 5-8th grade secondary general & choral music at Bergman Academy, a private school in Des Moines. In addition to general music, I started the choral program and direct the 5-8th grade "Soli Singers".

• I have served as a Substitute Fine-Arts Teacher in the Waukee & West Des Moines Community School Districts.

• Currently, along with studio instruction, I am an adjudicator with the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA), the Iowa High School Musical Theater (IHSMTA) Awards program through the Des Moines Performing Arts. I am an active clinician for numerous private & public school auditions, festivals & contests. I'm proud to be an active part of the Iowa All-State Jazz Choir (ASJC) program, also serving as an adjudicator. I maintained my Iowa K-12 Music Teaching License (1999-2022). I continue to take graduate/continuing education classes related to music and education. 

It is my pleasure to act as MS & HS choral clinician & guest conductor for festivals and honor choirs around the state of Iowa. Since 2008 I've been the guest conductor for numerous choral festivals.

Furthermore, as a clinician, I have also had the privilege to work with  individual school choirs giving a fresh perspective and assisting directors in preparing their ensembles for concerts, festivals and contests.  Typically, I clinic in the areas of HS concert choirs &  jazz choirs, MS/JH show choirs, MS/JH concert choirs/show choirs and as a solo/ensemble adjudicator and master class instructor. I adjudicate for both the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) and the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards (IHSMTA) program through the Des Moines Performing Arts. I also enjoy providing clinics for area HS musical theater casts! 

Schools I have recently worked with are: Waukee, Iowa City Liberty, West Des Moines, Creston, Greene County (Jefferson), Perry, Atlantic, Solon, Norwalk, Adel-DeSoto-Minburn, SE Polk, Dallas Center-Grimes, Winterset, Newton, Carrol Kuemper HS, Johnston, Manning, and Audubon.  Please contact me if you are interested in having me come work with your students!

Professionally, I contract as a wedding musician (voice & flute). In the past I have sung with the North Iowa Choral Society & the Des Moines Choral Society. And I have been a member of the Iowa Choral Director's Association the majority of my career. 

On a personal note, my career in education has expanded beyond music instruction to health & wellness coaching, assisting clients in reaching their goals and living life in Optimal Health.  I'm married to my wonderfully supportive husband Brian & we have three children: two sons, Brenden & Brody, and a daughter, Jenna.  We also have three Brittany hunting dogs, Remington, Edison & Valkyrie. I am a huge sports fan - Go Cubs! Go Hawks!  Most of all, I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends.