Helping Music Programs Thrive
Through Expert Training & Support
StringRise empowers educators and organizations with research-informed training and innovative tools that make high-quality music education accessible for all students.
Featured In & Trusted By
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“Nicole Melrose provided groundbreaking professional development as the NAfME NW Conference 2025 Headliner. Our educators came away with a wealth of knowledge about trauma-informed approaches specific to the string classroom. We continue to receive feedback that her sessions are still shaping teaching and learning across the Pacific Northwest. I very highly recommend Nicole and StringRise".
Beth Fortune,
Executive Director,
Washington Music Educators Association -
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"Nicole is one of the most gifted string pedagogues I’ve had the privilege to work with. Guided by a deep commitment to equity in education, she designs innovative programs that expand access to orchestral music education. Her trauma-informed clinics deliver practical, deeply impactful strategies educators can use immediately".
Lance Day
Education Market Development Manager,
D'Addario -
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"Working with Nicole was wonderful! She collaborated closely with teachers and administrators and delivered training that was practical, engaging, and adaptable across disciplines. Teachers returned to their classroom immediately using her string pedagogy and trauma-informed strategies, the impact was highly effective".
Dusty Molyneaux,
Fine Arts Supervisor, Great Falls Public Schools -
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"I love every interaction I have with Nicole. She combines deep expertise in pedagogy and neuroscience with a generous, human approach, and her work has made me a more inclusive and effective teacher".
Panya Amphone,
Director of Orchestras & Mariachi,
Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts MS -
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"Nicole Melrose and String Rise have made a truly meaningful impact on our teaching community through the Energize and Maximize Your Classroom series. Nicole’s deep understanding of trauma informed teaching of music education, combined with her practical, teacher-centered approach, created professional development that was not only inspiring but immediately usable in the classroom. The sessions were engaging, empowering, and grounded in real classroom experience".
Jenna Day,
Owner, Day Violins
What We Do
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Professional Development
High-impact
professional learning -
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Headlining & Keynotes
Headlining national conferences &
featured events -
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Methodology & Tools
Research-informed frameworks
& classroom tools -
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Consulting & Strategic Design
Program architecture &
leadership advising -
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Grant Access Program
Expert support for funding &
program access
The Approach
Proven in Classrooms. Designed for Impact.
The Mind Behind the Method
My work grew out of years spent in classrooms, watching what actually helps students thrive, and where systems quietly break down.
Again and again, I saw the same pattern.
When students understood the power of sound, felt safe in their bodies, and experienced success early, their learning accelerated.
When they didn’t, even the best intentions struggled to take hold.
Those experiences are what shaped the way I think about music education.
I’ve spent my career working across classrooms, districts, orchestral programs, and music education systems in the U.S. and internationally, refining an approach that brings together sound, neuroscience, and real-world teaching practice.
My work is built on a simple truth: when teaching music is designed around how the brain actually works, learning accelerates, resilience increases, and real transformation takes place.
Let’s Work Together
If you're interested in working together, share a little about your context and what you’re hoping for, and we’ll be in touch soon!