Hidden Gems: Meet Kari Kraakevik

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Kraakevik.

Originally from Los Angeles and Chicago, Kari Kraakevik is a versatile composer, performer, teacher and successful businesswoman. Holding degrees in Music Performance, Theory and Music Composition from Pepperdine University and the University of Colorado. Kari moved out to Boulder as an ATLAS Scholar at the University of Colorado, Boulder. As a first-year master’s student in Music Composition, she taught two full classes of music theory/aural skills and was honored to write and perform in the coveted Atlas Black Box theater. Ms Kraakevik is constantly searching for ways to combine her loves of performing, teaching and composition. While obtaining her master’s in Music Composition from CU, Ms. Kraakevik focused her studies primarily on large-scale productions that were exclusively interdisciplinary. Working with dance, visual arts, theater and even children’s choirs, Ms. Kraakevik found that her niche in the composition world was to not have a “niche”, but rather never limit herself or others.

All of her large scale musical compositions (some for over 60 performers) were successfully and completely funded with grants, donations and commissions. This in part, made her dream beyond academia… dream even bigger… What if she could get funding for a larger project…? In 2013, surviving on just an adjunct faculty’s stipend, she began to think. Why NOT? Why not create a space that CREATES…? Luckily, her students, and their parents, supported this dream and seminal to the creation of Reel Kids, a performing arts organization based in Superior, Colorado, that offers acting, editing and filmmaking classes and camps, as well as full-scale productions of musicals, for kids and young adults ages 8-22. In 2015, Ms. Kraakevik further immersed herself into the world of female entrepreneurs. While still holding teaching positions at CU and Metro University in Denver and loving the world of collaborative arts, Ms. Kraakevik bought the long-standing music school, Wildflower School of Voice and expanded the school to what is now Boulder Music. Her school offers lessons in voice, composition, piano, guitar and performance, for both children and adults. With her two combined businesses, she serves over 220 weekly students! Highly creative, driven and hard-working, Ms. Kraakevik’s long-term goals include the creation of a performing arts academy, as well as expanding her current theater and music school. Ms. Kraakevik enjoys being a full-time entrepreneur, adoring her students, and creating every day in a safe, collaborative, FUN environment.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not, my goodness! The First “bump” was not having endless backing. I had generous donations from parents as seed money, but the rest – was up to me. I learned quickbooks overnight and cannot believe we survived this pandemic! Every month is another blessing! I think knowing I didn’t have a “backup plan.” It was either succeed or fail – and I was not going to fail. The second bump was figuring out who to hire, what qualities to look for and what makes a good teacher when it comes to primary education–sometimes the greatest performers aren’t the best teachers, sometimes the resumes don’t match the quality in the classroom.

So much of this is learned by feeling – having a successful educational business is so dependent on intercommunicative skills and reading people. Consequently, I’ve learned the hard way that it’s not just a resume for an interview… it’s SO Much more. The final bump is learning how to delegate. I took my first solid block of time off this past summer and delegated former students of Reel Kids (who thus have graduated and received degrees themselves) to run my summer programs… I came back three weeks later after some much-needed family time, and– Reel Kids was not only still standing but thriving, although it did need a good Mop!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I believe what sets me apart from others is my drive, my creativity, and my unique ability to connect to children and the community at large in a way that fosters a sense of togetherness needed more than ever in these times. There are several things, but what stands out to me but perhaps the most is how successful we have been through the covid pandemic. We have not had one shut down, exposure or issue related to the crisis, which I believe is a testament to not only my willingness to bravely face this challenge but the incredible support of my staff and community. We are an inclusive organization that truly has a place for everyone. I love it when a cast list comes out from our company, and I don’t recognize the lead’s name – that’s who we are, fair, artistic, supportive and collaborative. I’m also proud of the fact that my companies attract and maintain faculty (some for over eight years now) of the highest quality and have former students consistently return and take both teaching and managerial positions. I think this cycle speaks for itself and is one of the things I’m most happy about.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be scared. Lots of people want to help. You just have to ask. Trust yourself and your product. Don’t be afraid of NOT knowing, you cannot know what you do not know. Hire others that have skills beyond yours, always learn.

Pricing:

• Music lessons 60/hr
• Video making Summer Camps $250-360.00
• Musicals $450.00-800.00
• Acting for Film/Improv class $300.00
• Video Editing Scriptwriting Classes $360.00

Contact Info:

• Email: reelkidsbykari@gmail.com, kari@mybouldermusic.com
• Website: www.myreelkids.com and www.mybouldermusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelkids/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myreelkids
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/myreelkids/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZCWlJYxoggx56WSy1Dj7ew?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Personal Headshot, Marla Rutherford