Nielsen started piano lessons at age seven. She was raised in a home where music was an important part of life. Her father is a singer and classical guitarist, and her paternal grandparents had been involved in music in evangelism. While in grade school in Battleground, Washington, she accompanied the choir. During her eighth grade year, she was invited to join the percussion section in the band at nearby Columbia Adventist Academy.

Although only given basic instruction about playing the percussion instruments, she enjoyed that experience and became a skilled player on her own. Upon graduating from the academy in 2000, she enrolled at Walla Walla College, now University, where she majored in music. A 2006 B.Mus.Ed. graduate with a major in percussion, she was a recipient of the Eugene and Betty Soper scholarship award.

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