She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at James Madison University where she studied trombone with Dr. Andy Lankford. Niki received her Kodály certification for music education at Indiana University and her Masters in Music Education at the Hartt School at the University of Hartford. She plays second trombone with both the Massanutten Brass Band in Harrisonburg, VA, and the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra. She is a charter member of Bernie’s Bones in New Bloomfield, PA.