Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikk May.
Hi Nikk, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was fortunate enough to have been born into a family full of singers and musicians. Needless to say, I always saw music as an inevitable part of my future. My dad was a drummer and started working with my older brother and I when we were about age 4 and 6. Throughout childhood and growing up I studied music in school as part of the band and choir programs, also working with other family relatives on piano, guitar, and voice. To me, music was always about purpose as well as a vehicle for self-discovery and communicating with the world. I began my first teaching position out of high school in 2004 when I was 17, the following year also taking a music ministry position at a church. Shortly after, I took an audition for an entertainment agency and began performing almost every day at just over 300 live gigs per year. Having the opportunities to work alongside so many talented individuals really helped me develop further as a singer/musician and also helped to deepen my perspective of music. Through songwriting ventures, I was able to connect with some incredible people in the industry, while also taking on new teaching positions for performance organizations that sponsored musical talent across the world. After getting married in 2017, my wife (Jennifer Berg/professional violinist) and I decided to commit more time to our private studios which has since become more of the sole focus. The student roster I work with on a weekly basis consists of both in-studio and online sessions, with students local and across the U.S. that are involved in various music groups, career pursuits, theatre programs, competitions, audition-based opportunities, and some that simply enjoy developing their musical skillset. We also host regular student performances through seasonal concerts and recitals, as well as in-studio recordings and general music collaboration. The one thing I love about teaching is being able to hear potential in someone even if that person can’t hear it in themselves. What I enjoy most is imparting inspiration into my students and hearing them say, “I didn’t know I could do that!” The more you love something, the more you want to share it with others. Music carries so much passion. To nurture that in a student is incredible. Helping them grow, develop their abilities, and watching them succeed is one of the greatest experiences in the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not always smooth sailing! Probably the biggest struggle, especially in younger years, was wrestling with the idea of “maybe I’m not good enough”. This can be one of the most paralyzing and challenging inner battles that I think anyone who’s deeply connected to what they do eventually goes through. Someone once told me self-doubt can be a powerful adversary, conquered only by the choice to keep going and not give up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve been teaching professionally for over 20 years as a multi-instrumentalist and specialized instructor in voice, piano, and guitar, at times working exclusively with over 100 students each week both in private and group classes. I’ve had the fortune of sharing students with celebrity vocal coaches in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, watching students connect with Grammy award winning producer Narada Michael Walden, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), and Harry Connick Jr., while others have gone on to sign record contracts, shoot music videos, perform live on television, feature on both American Idol and The Voice, and mature into their own musical successes. I’ve also had the privileged experience of helping students succeed at the University level, with those attending schools such as the University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, Belmont University in Nashville, DePaul University, DIME, Michigan State University, Manhattan School of Music, and others. In addition, I’ve enjoyed seeing many students become avid performers, songwriters, theatre stars, and gain recognition in their respective music communities.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Connecting with the right people is important. Sometimes those that initially cross your path aren’t always the right ones but I’m a firm believer that if you stay your course good things will come. I’ve certainly been fortunate in that many of the teaching positions I’ve held, whether at a music school, performance organization, coaching program, etc, the opportunity was offered to me simply from having high recommendation from mutual contacts. That’s not to say there haven’t been dead ends in other areas, but being reactive and adapting to luck, good or bad, is essential for moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.NikkMay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkmaymusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NikkMayMusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkmaymusic
- Twitter: https://x.com/NikkMayMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC32miOoOFCYLlZI50G6OcGg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nikkmaymusic
