ANN ARBOR, MI -- Marla Moore said private music lessons made her into the person she is today. Now, the professional musician and voice instructor is hoping to do the same for others with Ann Arbor Music Academy.
Moore is the owner and director of Ann Arbor Music Academy, which recently opened at the end of May at 2363 E. Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor.
The music academy offers private and group music lessons to students of all ages and skill levels whether they want in-person, in-home or online class options. Students can receive lessons for guitar, voice, piano, violin, bass, ukulele and as well as other instruments in the future, Moore said.
“We are going to slowly be finding out what the community needs (are) and taking it from there,” she said. “We have some core instruments that are very popular in Ann Arbor ... however we are expanding to other instruments as needs arise in the community.”
The educators teaching at the academy either have music degrees or extensive performing experience, Moore said, adding she makes sure every instructor has a love and desire to teach students of all skill levels.
“It’s really important for me as a director that we bring in the very best instructors for our students because the reputation of our school matters,” she said. “We’re looking for excellence and we’re looking for people that also want to inspire.”
Moore has been a teaching vocal lessons in Ann Arbor by herself for the past 10 years. When the opportunity arose, she decided to make one of her lifetime dreams come true and create a space where musicians can impact one another.
“This has been a long term goal of mine and seeing it come to fruition is absolutely incredible,” she said. “I’m just so grateful that my dream is really becoming a reality.”
Moore said the music academy is already developing group classes to engage students including a princess music class which will incorporate rhythm and pitch exercises for children ages 5 through 7. She said these classes will be led by professional princess instructors as children sing along to popular songs.
“The group class component is very important to me, because I don’t believe we should just make music in a vacuum,” Moore said. “It’s meant to be shared and to be done with others.”
However, Ann Arbor Music Academy is hoping to do more than just teach others how to play instruments, Moore said, adding she has been able to learn accountability, discipline and interpersonal skills through her own music lessons. She said she hopes she can teach others these skills as well.
“When I was young, school was kind of difficult for me and it was hard for me to focus until I got to music class,” she said. “That’s where I learned focus and I think that private music lessons especially shaped me from a very young age. It was profound.”
“It’s coming full circle for me because of the impact that those lessons had on me -- I want to share with all the students I can. I want to be the person that brings that to Ann Arbor and gets more students taking private lessons because they can change a life.”
Find Ann Arbor Music Academy online, on social media or by phone at 734-578-1378.
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