Want to sing in a rock band? Our Kylie can guide you!

Kylie began taking private lessons in the early 2000’s from a professional instructor that had an Masters in Music Education. She also began performing professionally at that time. While in midle and high school, Kylie performed in choirs, and at the age of 14 competed in the American Kids Talent Competition, taking first place at the state level in 5 categories, where she continued at the national level. In high school, she sang lead in a rock band, performing locally, and later recorded her own debut demo. In 2012, Kylie began singing in a 12-piece soul band and currently performs professionally with her husband in a rock/blues/soul duo. Kylie has been teaching since 2015, and offers rock, blues, R&B, jazz, country, pop, folk, and light classical.

Meet our new instructor Wilson in Florida!

Wilson got his first exposure to virtuosic playing in high school, playing in the jazz band and forming his own rock and punk rock bands. He then graduated from the University of FL in Gainesville, FL in 2015 with a bachelor in Music History, concentration in Ethnomusicology. It also included four years of private instruction on guitar and theory courses, as well as performing in the acclaimed Brazilian music ensemble. It was then that Wilson started his own publishing company for his original works, and he began teaching, maintaining a studio of up to 25 students. After college, Wilson studied finger-style guitar under world-renowned classical guitarist. Along with guitar, Wilson also teaches and performs on bass guitar, mandolin, ukulele, drums, banjo, voice, and piano/keyboard. His training on bass guitar includes an extensive experience composing and gigging with bands, in a variety of styles such as rock, blues, jazz, funk, reggae, samba, and alternative, and he has applied his knowledge of classical and Brazilian guitar techniques to the bass. He offers both 4 and 6 string electric bass lessons, and is currently developing a curriculum for extended techniques, such as slap bass and two-hand tapping. For mandolin, Wilson has lots of gigging experience, street performance, and home study, and offers styles from the Appalachian music, blue grass, and other folk styles, as well as all contemporary styles, with techniques like strumming, flat-picking, and tremolo playing. For the ukulele, Wilson is primarily self-taught and studied on his own, and specializes in folk and blues ukulele, but can also offer jazz and pop. On the banjo (5 string), Wilson is again primarily self-taught and studied on his own with method books. Wilson offers an entry level on piano and keyboard. His training was at the University of Florida in their piano course required for all music majors. He offers traditional and by ear (chords and improv). Wilson often uses the piano as a tool for music theory, no matter what instrument the student is learning. Along with all the music courses at UF, he was trained in voice and offers sight-singing, breath control, pitch-matching, reading, and diction, and offers all contemporary styles on voice. With whatever instrument the student is learning, songwriting can also be included in the student’s education if preferred. Wilson has been writing since the early 2000’s, and his passion is helping people express their own experiences in song. Lessons in songwriting includes thought-organization exercises for music and lyric writing, as well as studies in music theory. Wilson has been teaching since 2010, and offers any style(s) the student is interested in.

Our instructor Melanie has completed studies in vocal pathologies….

Melanie holds a Bachelor in Music Education with a Voice Primary, from the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, graduating in 2004. She also completed additional studies in the diagnosis and correction of vocal pathologies, the study of vocal disease. Melanie began her involvement in music at the age of nine, beginning with private piano training, that quickly led to singing in choral ensembles in school. During high school, she performed in musicals, conducted high school choirs, performed at church, weddings, and funerals, and began teaching ear training and sight singing. She was chosen for the NH Concert and Jazz All State choir. During college, Melanie sang at the Lincoln Center with Westminster Choir College Chorale, and began teaching in 2004 for private lessons as well as chorus, music theory, general music, guitar, and piano in both public and private schools. Her styles include classical, Broadway, jazz, pop, gospel, country, and folk.

Roland graduated from Berklee with a BA in Music Production!

Roland graduated from the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, MA with a Bachelor in Music Production & Engineering/Electronic Production. He has been playing and performing the drums since the early 2000’s, and continues to perform regularly in the NYC area. On piano, Roland began by teaching himself, than continued his studies while at Berklee College, taking piano, music theory, and songwriting courses. He’s been teaching since 2008, and offers pop, rock, blues, jazz, funk, fusion, gospel, hip-hop, electronic, and Latin styles.

Meet our new instructor Amber!

Amber graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in Willaimsburg, KY in 2007 with a Bachelors in Music Education with a vocal emphasis. She has been singing since the age of three, and participated in choirs all through school. Amber has been teaching privately since 2007, and at a high school choir and the drama program for three years. She also headed a children’s musical theater program and performed in numerous musicals and plays. Along with teaching, Amber is currently pursuing a career as an artist/singer-songwriter with her band. Amber offers country, pop, rock, jazz, R&B, blues, classical, Broadway, opera, arias (various languages), folk, and bluegrass styles, as well as songwriting, acting/stage presence and small vocal group settings.

Instructor Barry had me playing in no time!

I had Barry and I went from barely knowing anything to being able to teach someone new the basics. He took the lessons at my own pace, yet always helped me to meet my goal. Lessons were flexible to my ever changing schedule and fun. I would recommend Melody’s (and Barry) to anyone who wants to learn not only how to play an instrument but about musicality!

Melody Music experience is something to remember….

My experience with Melody Music has been something to remember. I sincerely loved every minute of it. My Trumpet teacher is one of the best and I have come to admire his passion for playing and teaching. I’ve learned so much in such a short time that it has become my passion as well. I went from barely making it through the C scale to mastering the chromatic scales from low A to high G. My sheet reading skyrocketed as well. Thanks Mark!!!

This is definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made relating to pursuing a dream of music. I encourage anyone and everyone to pursue their musical aspirations, it’s totally worth it.

A practice routine for kids

 

The most difficult part of practicing is getting started. For a young beginner student (ages preschool-6 or 7), I do not recommend having them practice at all. I know this goes against the grain of normal thinking, but there are reasons why practicing at that age should not be expected of them. First, the young student does not have the discipline, retention, or enough information to practice, and by forcing the young student to practice, will only cause frustration and discouragement to both student and parents. What I recommend for parents is to ask their child to “play” what they’ve learned in their lesson, taking just a few minutes. As the young student continues to take consistent weekly lessons, he/she will begin to learn and develop a skill over time. The important thing is to keep the idea of music lessons to be a fun and positive thing. It’s also great to encourage their creativity at this age, by letting them explore on their instrument or voice.

Concetta in NYC teaches violin via skype

Concetta

Concetta graduated from Smith College in Northampton, Ma,  with a Bachelor’s in Art for Music/Anthropology in 2009. Concetta is a classically trained violinist/violist since the age of 4, and has also studied guitar, mandolin, piano and vocals. Concetta’s mother is a public school orchestra director, and her father owns a musical instrument repair business, so she grew up exposed to music education and performing, and she has toured in 2005 with many orchestras and symphonies.  Concetta has been teaching since 2005, and her styles include classical/baroque, Latin, jazz, improv, and folk.

The Art of Listening to Yourself Practice (via Melody Music Studios)

    Bassist John McBroom with Blue Mule

The Art of Listening to Yourself Practice

 

For those of you that are taking lessons, imagine that your instructor is there with you when you practice and be critical of your playing the same as your instructor would, hearing his or her words in your head. I still hear my past instructors every time I practice, telling me things I know he would say if he were listening. I know that while you’re learning a pie … Read More

via Melody Music Studios