Resonance:

a six-month coaching program for advanced 
cellists who crave a health-focused musical reset.

Cohort 003: Begins June 1, 2026

Why Resonance?

I hear daily about colleagues and musician friends who struggle with injury and mental health challenges.


And it’s no surprise! In music school, we were taught that musical “success” means sacrifice. 
Success means long hours of practice, embracing pain as a personal shortcoming, and becoming 
so self critical that stepping on stage and “letting go” becomes impossible.

Sound familiar? It does to me, too.

I created Resonance to be a healthy container for high-level cello study. It’s a space to rework practice habits, reset negative mental chatter, and practice performing in a safe, supportive environment.

Who is Resonance for?

This program is designed for two types of cellists:

Type One

You’ve been to music school, but you left the field 
at some point and now you want to rekindle your 
love for cello on your own terms.

Type Two

You play cello professionally, but you are 
struggling with injury or mental blocks and you 
need a safe, supportive place to rebuild.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MUSIC NEEDS CARE

〰️

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MUSIC NEEDS CARE 〰️

Nora is a fantastic and patient teacher. Her positive outlook on life and cello playing encourages students to be the best and healthiest musician they can.  

My biggest frustration was comparing myself to others and giving up to quickly. Often when practicing, 
I would get upset for getting a passage wrong, and I would view myself as less in comparison to my colleagues. Some of the biggest breakthroughs I’ve had during this program are me realizing that I can play harder passages, and that I’m a good cellist. We realized that some of my issues while playing were based on my foundational skills that needed reworked, and now I’m showing progress in really difficult pieces. My love for solo pieces is even coming back!

Sam Wagner, M.M., Principal Cello 

Cinematic Symphony Orchestra

Resonance Includes:

  • Individual lessons focused on mindset, healthy practice habits, and comfortable technique.


  • Monthly studio class where we explore the performance space in a healthy, supportive environment.


  • Daily motivation and inspiration on a shared Discord server. Think—practice plans, warmup suggestions, and accountability assistance.


  • Weekly virtual practice hours (hosted on discord), because practicing can be WAY 
too isolating.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to “just do as you’re told” in a lesson, Nora will be a breath of fresh air. She’s collaborative, ego-free, and deeply supportive. Working with her has made returning to the cello not just possible, but genuinely joyful.

Before joining Resonance, I didn’t know how to start playing again after ten years away from the cello. I was worried I would have 
to re-learn how to play but it turns out I still know how to play, I just needed to learn how to approach playing again. Nora gets it; she understands the emotional and physical complexity of being a cellist, and she creates space for you to reconnect with your instrument
 on your own terms.  One of the biggest breakthroughs for me was learning to separate mechanical and musical practice. It sounds simple, but no one had ever taught me how to do that and it changed everything. My practice is now more productive, my intonation 
has improved, and most importantly, I want to practice. 

Molly Kalmbach, M.M., Project Manager and Consultant:

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Nora and
Why Should We Trust You?

1

Glad you asked! I’m a freelance cellist and educator living in Cleveland, Ohio. I received my doctorate at the Cleveland Institute of Music after a whole pile of other performance certificates and teaching degrees. I took an adjunct faculty position at local university and thought I would pursue the route of becoming a professor, but I quickly realized I much prefer to build my own programs. If you want to learn more about me, you can read my bio on the “contact me” page.


When Does the Next Cohort Start?

2

Great question! The next cohort begins on June 1st, 2026.


How Much is Tuition,
and How Do I Pay?

3

I don’t publish my tuition info online, however I can tell you about my payment platform! My studio runs on Fons—a music teaching software designed by musicians, for musicians. If you want to learn more about tuition, please book a discovery call. :)

Have Questions About Working With Us or
Want to Hire Nora to Perform?

We’d love to hear from you! Schedule a call to find some time to talk.