Meet our instructor Morgan

Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Music and Society: The Social Context of the Performing Arts and Entrepreneurship, (at Fairhaven College, 2015). She also has a triple minor in Music; Audio Technology, Music and Society; and French, at the Western Washington University in 2015. Through the program, she took classes in music theory, aural, and keyboard skills. She sang for a year with the Advanced Women’s Chorale, and before that she participated with the University Choir. Morgan studied privately for classical vocal technique for 3 years with several college instructors, and continues to study with one of them. At Fairhaven College she took classes in Songwriting, Poetry & Lyric, and Studio Recording, and she facilitated a group songwriting workshop as an Independent Study Project, as well as having taught a course on Hip Hop music and culture for my Senior Project. Morgan has been teaching since early 2015 and offers classical, pop, jazz, Broadway, and R&B styles.

Our new instructor Dana is a praise and worship music specialist

Dana studied voice and composition privately and at the University of North TX in 2006. She received a Bachelor in Art and Performance at UT Dallas in 2013. Dana has been teaching since 2005 and was voice teacher at a music camp. She has performed in the Dallas area since 2006 both in notable bands and as soloist in concerts and festivals, and has done recording projects. For the past 3 plus years, Dana has been leader of a praise and worship team in a local church. Dana teaches rock, pop, Alternative, and contemporary Christian styles.

To all those who serve…thank you

Memorial Day

Nathan knows music and recording software

Nathan’s passion for music began at an early age, singing along with every song he heard on the radio. He began his first formal musical training in the fourth grade, singing with his elementary school chorus and taking private piano lessons. He quickly excelled, being chosen often to perform as soloist. During middle school, Nathan began playing the saxophone, and he added flute and classical percussion in high school. After graduating high school, he studied music for 2 years at Kennesaw State University under some of Atlanta’s top music professionals, including members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. While at the university, Nathan performed with the wind ensemble and jazz bands, playing keyboards, woodwinds and vocals. After the 2 years at Kennesaw, Nathan transferred to Canterbury Christ Church University in the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Music Performance, followed by his Masters in Classical Music Composition. Nathan also earned a PhD in Musicology from Canterbury Christ Church University in 2011. While at Canterbury, he performed in the Baroque Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and chamber groups, as well as accompanying other musicians on piano. He’s currently a freelance musician in Atlanta, performing on studio recordings, motion picture sound tracks, and with orchestras in the Atlanta, Greenville, Savannah, and Chattanooga areas. Nathan has been teaching since 2004 and offers a wide variety of styles, including classical, jazz, and all contemporary styles. He teaches all levels of music from beginner to advanced and has served as a private instructor, facilitator, and professor at some of Atlanta’s prestigious private schools and universities.  Along with being an instructor and performer, Nathan is also a songwriter, recording artist and arranger, and is familiar with Finale, Sound Forge, and Audacity music software programs.

Nathan writes music and produces audio for video games!

 

Nathan has been playing piano and saxophone since the 1990’s. He began playing saxophone in 6th grade band after falling in love with the sound. For his undergraduate work, Nate attended Oklahoma Baptist University and went to Texas Christian University for graduate school. His two degrees are a bachelors in K-12 Music Education (Instrumental Focus) and a masters in Saxophone Performance. Nathan has been a Texas state certified teacher and has been writing music and producing audio (voice overs and sound effects) for video games, films, stage productions and other projects since 2005. He has a strong passion and love for teaching others how to play musical instruments. Nathan has been teaching since 2000, and offers classical, jazz, pop, rock, and blues styles.

Want to understand audio engineering? Take lessons from Andre!

Andre holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Audio Engineering, concentration in piano at the University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX in 2015. Before that, he graduated from the Mountain View College in Dallas, TX in 2012 with an Associate in Arts, Field of Study in Music. Andre has been playing piano since he was four. Since then, he’s picked up several other instruments including guitar, voice, bass, percussion, drums, and flute. Throughout school, he played in multiple bands, performing in numerous venues. Andre has been teaching since 2009, offering both English and Spanish lessons, and he offers pop, rock, progressive metal, acoustic, electronic, classical styles.

Summer Music Fun

The sun is shining the birds are chirping and your child with the musical muse is just not feeling like devoting any time to lessons today. The lazy days of summer don’t have to mean a lackadaisical attitude about practicing music. Here are MMS’s top ten tips to keep your young musician’s practice routine sizzling during the summer!

1. Keep your child’s instrument handy. A closed guitar case tucked under a bed is not very motivating. Keep the instrument out, tuned and ready to play.

2. Realize summer means lots of kids in your home. Organize a concert for the neighborhood. Little ones can make signs and big kids can create programs. Making the “concert” a week-long project will most certainly motivate your young musician to rehearse.

3. Summer vacations often mean time at cabins, condos or even camping. If it’s not possible to take your main instrument, consider purchasing inexpensive flutes, percussion instruments or penny whistles. Anything to keep the practice of music and rhythm a daily occurence is great.

4. Create a point system with rewards for your child. Practicing for 5 minutes is equal to 10 points. When a child reaches 100 points (50 minutes of practice) allow them to choose a small reward for their effort.

5. Call day cares and nursing homes in your area and inquire about your child performing during the summer. Your young musician can get valuable performance experience and enrich the lives of others.

6. There are always special events during the summer. Backyard BBQs, ice cream socials, parties and pool events. These events are always looking for volunteer entertainment. Your young rocker can gain valuable stage experience!

7. Practice in pairs. Before the end of regular school year lessons for your musician, ask their instructor about other students who play the same instrument and are at or close to your child’s skill level. Contact parents and organize practice play dates.

8. Encourage your future musician to form a garage band. Noise may be an issue but if “band practice” is scheduled for only an hour a few times a week, the neighbors shouldn’t complain. Encourage your child and his band mates to learn about the music business, booking, promoting, etc. Even small kids can learn the business behind making music by creating posters, tickets and brochures for upcoming “shows”.

9. Make practice fun by encouraging a “dress rehearsal”. Drag out some fancy duds, sparkly shoes and crazy hats. Build a makeshift “stage” from cardboard and add accessories likes amps and speakers made of boxes. It’s a fun way to explore the backstage world of production.

10. REMEMBER IT IS SUMMER and that means a break in the usual routines of school and lessons. Be flexible with kids’ practice schedules but think of ways to incorporate practicing lessons into summer fun. Keep music ever-present in your daily routines and your kids will maintain their practice chops right into fall!

Meet our new instructor Emma

 

Emma began studying classical voice while in high school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in music at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY in 2007. After graduating, Emma performed in professional chamber choirs in NYC, then splitting off from the classical world, she toured in a folk band. She currently writes and performs her own songs, and is a session vocalist for several Nashville recordings. Emma has been teaching since 2008, and offers classical, folk, musical theater, and most contemporary styles.

Recitals make the music world go ’round

 

A clip from our March 2016 Recital event in San Diego CA