Join us for this FREE open mic night featuring Halloween themed tunes! Costumes are encouraged. Space is limited - please sign up in advance HERE
Join us for our annual Winter Recital on Saturday, December 7th from 4pm-8pm and Sunday, December 8th from 1pm-8pm.
Students/parents have been e-mailed their assigned performance times.
Please direct any scheduling questions to Grant at: grant@westmainmusicacademy.com , and direct any performance questions to your individual teachers during lesson times.
Families and friends are invited to attend! If you anticipate bringing a group larger than 6 people, please contact Grant at grant@westmainmusicacademy.com so we can ensure there is space for your party.
This event is FREE and open to the public but please do inform us of extra large parties - thank you!
Join us on Friday, October 18th for a seasonally themed Open Mic night, featuring spooky tunes and Halloween treats.
Costumes are encouraged!
House instruments will be available for borrowing on a first come, first serve basis. Speakers for backing tracks will be provided, as well as microphones and amplifiers.
This event is FREE but advanced sign-up is encouraged as we do have space limitations - please sign up using the form below….
Please contact Grant with additional questions, at 203-806-1342 or grant@westmainmusicacademy.com
Acoustic stage from 11am - 5pm
WMMA Jam Session from 6pm - 8pm…sign up and perform with the WMMA house band!
Song list for Jam Session can be found HERE - choose your song(s) to practice at home and participate in!
For more info contact Grant! grant@westmainmusicacademy.com or 203-806-1342
Saturday performances will be from 4pm - 8pm
Sunday performances will take place from 1pm - 7pm
Students/Parents: Please be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your assigned performance block. You should have already received your assigned time via e-mail - if you have any questions about your assigned performance time please contact Grant at grant@westmainmusicacademy.com
Be sure to tune your instrument and do your warm-ups before arriving, and don’t forget to bring any sheet music/books you may need.
Our staff photographer will be on-site photographing this event. We will be sharing these photos with each participating student/family later in December. We also use them on our social media, website, and promotional materials - if you do not wish to have your/your child’s photos shared publicly, please e-mail info@westmainmusicacademy.com and let us know.
There is no specific dress code for performers - please come as you are! Some performers choose festive attire, others dress as the artist whose music they’re performing - we encourage students to wear what makes them feel comfortable and confident!
We encourage you to stay for the duration of your full performance block to enjoy the performances of your peers and support fellow students. Please join us after each performance block for cookies and punch, and an opportunity to snap some photos with your teachers and friends.
12-2 pm: West Main Music Academy Jam Session, featuring the WMMA teacher house band! Students and musicians of all ages can hop on stage to share a song.
Find the Jam Session setlist HERE
12-3 pm: Musical Instrument Petting Zoo featuring West Main Music Academy, as well as handmade creations of musical instruments including hurdy gurdies and organ grinders from local artisan, Anatoly Zayaruzny
3-4 pm: FLOWER POT MUSIC: A Participatory and Meditative Music-Making Experience with Jessica Cerullo. Bring your own pot! Mallets provided. No musical experience required.
Recommended parking locations will be provided in advance, and we appreciate your help making sure our visitors don't block the driveways of neighborhood businesses. And please walk or bicycle to the event if at all possible!
Please bring your own instruments/accessories - with the exception of keyboards, drums, and amplifiers (these will be provided in-house).
Attendees will check-in at the start of the event (4pm) and will be called up to play with the house band. Please arrive on time!
You do not need to learn the entire setlist to participate! You can choose which song(s) you’d like to jam to…
Johnny B.Goode - Chuck Berry
Back in Black - AC/DC
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Cissy Strut - The Meters
Twist & Shout - The Beatles
Crossroads - Cream
Just the Two of Us - Grover Washington Jr./Bill Withers
Purple Rain - Prince
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Luke Hendon - Guitar
Nick Blanchette - Bass
Jonathan Hardwicke - Drums
Mike Stearns - Vocals
Grant Eagleson - MC & Keys
***Please note that the venue has changed, and we have added an additional day**
New Venue: St. Peter’s Church, 59 Main Street in Cheshire
New Dates: Friday December 9th AND Saturday December 10th
All students are encouraged to participate, although performing is not a requirement. For those who do not wish to perform, we invite you and your families to come and cheer on your peers as you enjoy a day of music with us.
A schedule of performances will be sent out in late November. Students will be given a block of time in which they will perform, and will be expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to their time block.
Exact performance times are difficult to pinpoint, so please plan on being in attendance for the entire block of time to which you are assigned.
For example: If your performance block is 12pm - 2pm, please arrive no later than 11:45 am, and plan on being there until 2pm.
Students should arrive warmed-up and ready to perform.
Unfortunately we are unable to take requests for specific performance times.
Student performances will run from 3-6pm on Friday, and 9am-4pm on Saturday.
Time assignments will be announced in late November.
PLEASE NOTE-ONLY WEDNESDAYS AVAILABLE
8-Week Series: $175
($135/ea for 2 or more siblings)
Individual Class: $24
Pre-Registration Required
In this 8-week series, kids will sing and dance along to musical favorites such as Disney music, Pop hits, the Beatles, and more! Teacher Kaylin Spaulding will lead kids aged 4 -10 through a different musical theme each week. This series was designed for children who love to sing and want to learn more about music. Perfect for current music students and young music lovers alike!
Wednesdays 10:30 -11:15am
Pay per class OR enroll for the full series and save! Sibling discount also available.
Advance payment required. Space is limited - call or click below to sign up!
For more information, call us at 203-806-1342 or e-mail grant@westmainmusicacademy.com
View Kaylin’s bio here
This event will take place at the Cheshire Public Library, just up the street from the Music Academy. Save the date of Saturday, May 14th from 10am - 4pm.
Current Students: You must sign up for this event in order to participate. To sign up for the Spring Student Showcase, please speak directly with your teacher at your next lesson. You will be added to the participation list, and your teacher will help you develop a plan and select your performance piece(s).
Parents and Families: You must RSVP to reserve your seats. If you wish to attend this event, please RSVP no later than April 1, 2022. When you RSVP, you must specify the number of guests you will be bringing. Please send RSVPs to grant@westmainmusicacademy.com or call us at 203-806-1342.
This is a public event that will be published on the Library’s website. We will be extending the invitation to our local community to come and enjoy the music with us. Priority will be given to families and guests of performing students, so please get your RSVPs in to reserve your seats!
All participating students will be assigned a time within the window of 1p-4p.
Performance schedule will be sent to all students/parents via e-mail in mid-April. It will also be posted on the bulletin board at the Music Academy.
Please keep an eye on your e-mail for updates! If you are not sure whether we have your e-mail address on file, please visit the front desk or call us at 203-806-1342 to ensure your contact information is up to date.
Please note that effective Monday, February 28, 2022, masks will no longer be required for vaccinated visitors and employees in any municipal facilities, including the Cheshire Public Library. We continue to welcome mask wearing by all individuals who choose to do so, and strongly encourage everyone to wear a mask when meeting closely with others when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Register by phone at 203-806-1342
Cost: $79.00 Space is limited! Reserve your seat now.
Imagine your favorite musician invites you up to jam during a show — a dream you have always had; the band kicks in and the leader points to you to solo, what do you do? What notes do you play?
Improvisation is the art of spontaneous composition; a skillset often misunderstood, under-utilized, and poorly explained. In this intensive clinic, master of improvisation Isaac Young will work to remove the mystery of crafting a “meaningful solo” and unveil the simple truths about the art of improvising. Ranging from music communication cues, rhythmic themes, and creative harmonic devices, this class will take a multi-faceted approach to improvisation.
Improvisation isn’t always about fast lines and flashy passages, it’s about the story behind the notes. Come unlock your creative genius in this one-time master class!
Requirements: Age 12 and over. At least ONE YEAR of experience on your instrument, and a base knowledge of reading music on a staff.
This will be an interactive clinic where every student is encouraged to play, regardless of experience.
Masks will be required for the duration of the clinic.
About the instructor:
Isaac Young is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist who specializes in keyboards, synthesis, and woodwinds. Known for his work with the ever-rising improvisational duo P(x3), and rock outfit No Mind, Young has worked alongside many luminaries including members of Grammy- winning Lettuce, members of Dickie Betts’ Band, Rick Derringer, Dopapod, Lespecial, Kung Fu, members of Max Creek, The Box Tops, Wyclef Jean, and many in the jazz scene as well. Young’s unique approach to improvisation has garnered a lot of attention from his contemporaries and his playing has been highly regarded in the national touring and festival scene. Having graduated from the prestigious Hartt School of Music, he has studied with some of the world’s greatest improvisers where he mastered his craft. With over 16 years of teaching experience, many of Young’s students have been accepted into prestigious university music programs as a result of his mentoring. When not touring with his projects, Young teaches out of his studio in West Hartford, records and produces a variety of music, runs clinics, and spends time with his beautiful family.
2021 “HERE COMES THE SUN” SPRING RECITAL
APRIL 12-24
SONGS INSPIRED BY THE BEATLES
CALL OR EMAIL FOR MORE INFO
