MyTown Music LA: onward the adventure.

It was just about a year and a half ago that I packed up pretty much everything I could jam into my car - keyboard, guitar, PA system, my dog.. oh yeah and some clothes... and left my hometown in Tucson to move to Southern California.
                         
Let me tell you, it's been the most exciting, scary, challenging and borderline insane journey of my life. Extreme highs, unfortunate lows and everything in between. But out of all that has changed or hasn't necessarily gone the way I expected, the one thing that has never waivered or been shaken at the end of the day; is my dream.
It was in my early 20s that this larger-than-life vision of being a professional musician, songwriter, and eventually a social entrepreneur began to take form. Ever since then I have been completely dedicated and relentless in the pursuit to see into fruition the purpose for my life I sensed deep in my heart. Now 28 years old, I couldn't be more passionate, motivated, committed and full of wonder of all that this vision is leading me to. It's been a wild ride over the years (to say the absolute least) up to this point. But I honestly wouldn't change or take anything back. Especially when it comes to pivotal, monumental milestones like what's about to go down very soon here in LA.
       

This coming weekend my incredible team of my talented friends and I will embark on spearheading a project that could potentially change everything as I or we have known about education, entertainment and culture. In all of the hundreds and hundreds of hours I have invested into developing young aspiring music artists as a craft, the manifestation of this weekend has the potential elevate that to a whole new level.

Four of my top student artists that I have been developing over the past year will enter into a major Hollywood recording studio alongside industry professionals to produce a commercial quality single of their original songs they wrote through the MyTown experience. This entire journey and their stories will be captured into a short but powerful documentary.
Now, meet the cast..
                    Spencer Flores: the humble, kind, yet incredibly gifted all around artist, piano player, composer & singer.
                     Ryan Ramirez: a passionate, charismatic, teen who shines like a star as a drummer in various bands and now as a solo artist.
                      Kate Cassiano: a lovable, open, bright and joyful little girl. One of my newest stars who has insight and vision for creativity that could inspire anyone young or old.
                       Rylee Gibson, a sweet spirit who is naturally very gifted and fearless to express herself as an artist far beyond her years. My very first private client in California, and to this day my most advanced student artist I have developed.
                        These two are basically the dynamic songwriting duo of the century.
                        Ryan Federico: major label artist turned music producer aficionado, successful entrepreneur and business leader.
                       Eric Von: rapidly up and coming music producer, engineer, and visionary leader. A creative mind with a big heart.
                                        Then there's this guy. My role?... Well, I just do my best to ask great questions, stay inspired, childlike, and motivate kids like the above to explore all their potential has to offer through music expression and the artistic process. Oh.. and I'm known to shake things up a bit. (I.e. via corny jokes like that one.)
Cheers to creative expression, pursuing your dreams, exploring individual potential, empowering others and making a difference.
Vlog: http://youtu.be/aOvFGLG8FPg
Onward the adventure...
-C

                       

MyTown's strong commitment to early childhood development. Why?

"85% of brain development occurs before the age of 5, but only 14% of public education dollars are spent on early childhood education in the U.S." -National Institute for Early Education Research

5yo Eli performs an original song he created through guided critical thinking and free expression.  

6yo Madison performing an original song she created that was inspired by her about her joy of summer. 

Mia (7yo) and Ava (8yo) perform their "Family Theme Song" that they wrote together about each member of their family.


What are all of the ways that the process of music artistry empowerment can inspire, enrich, and release individuals throughout their communities?... 

That's our mission. 

Dreamt into life; The Inaugural Southern California Artist Showcase

In less than 1 year since moving the MyTown vision with me to California, it really happened... and I still can't even believe it. 

Set on the prestigious and historic oceanfront venue, the Long Beach Museum of Art, 14 student artist performers ranging in age from 5-20 along side some if the best professionals from the music industry like Shoshana Bean (lead role in "Wicked"), Mat Devine (frontman & singer/songwriter of "Kill Hannah") and Julia Price (up and coming LA singer/songwriter). 

Since I first setup shop here in Long Beach before I even met my first student client, not only was this showcase a dream come true, but even down to the exact location where I had envisioned my "future" students and colleagues coming together at a space so picturesque and gorgeous. The joy on each young artist's face all celebrated by friends, family, and one another... couldn't put a price tag on moments so magical. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to show Southern California what the essence of MyTown is truly all about. 

And the best part, this was only just the beginning... 

Recap Video:

http://youtu.be/IEPH2KKQxpQ

Corey Ferrugia

Founder | Leader 

corey@mytownmusic.com

The Inaugural Southern California Artist Showcase!

An encouraging word.

It sounds basic, but I really thrive off of text messages and affirming words from parents of my students like this one below.

The reality is, you can't pay or convince anyone to do that - and you wouldn't want to. I figure even if I'm putting my best effort forward and doing my part to the best of my ability to connect music artistry to my student, yet don't get the validation from my clients it's actually happening... I'm missing the mark somewhere. It begs that something would need to change or improve until a response like this happens naturally & organically. I am not necessarily motivated by the "response", but it's a vital byproduct tin the service industry; let alone mentoring & educating young people.

I love what I do so much. Every lesson is a challenge and a thrill. It is my mission to set the standard and rise a bar so high within our model so that every student who will ever encounter the MtM learning system with any given instructor, anywhere ...will have the most memorable and valuable experience, compared to none. I won't rest until it is so...

-C

3 layers of empowerment, in one single image.

I love this photo. It was taken from a kindergarten teacher at Johnson Elementary School during a summer "Jump Start" 3-week camp for kids ages 4-5yo.

I have been experimenting with early childhood techniques based in principle from the pedagogy I have learned from my mentor, Dr. Carroll Rinehart.

The role of a, Teaching Artist.

To me, education facilitation feels no different than composing or performing a song.

It's not work.
It isn't void of passion.
It doesn't come easy for it to flow naturally.
It's heartfelt and heart-centered.
I always receive more in return than what I share.

I don't care what anyone says, education is an art.

Thoughts on learning

This morning the MyTown Staff had a great meeting where we discussed (among other things- you know, as our Corey is an excited rambler) the experience of learning. It got me thinking. Our whole purpose in providing private lessons at Mytown is to provide a different type of learning- to blow away the barriers that our education system has built and release artists, confident and creative in their own merit into the community. So what does that look like? Are we dancing flower hippies that hoola hoop in your living room with hawaiian lays on? Or do we revolve around a structured platform of textbook learning, standardized for all students in a method book, void of personal ambitions or experiential learning? Neither, really. Mostly because I've never been able to hoola hoop. Our mission is to create a balance between an artistic student-centered curriculum that is individually defined, and that whimsical artistry that is born in a space created by a platform of freedom. Freeeeedom, the keyword. So what's it look like? Excited to find out.

On Early Childhood Development

In all honesty, it was never apart of our scope of focus to serve young children when we first began. It wasn't until the introduction to Dr. Carroll Rinehart, my mentor, where this not only changed but became a central focus for our services.

According to Dr. Rinehart, from prenatal to 4yo a child who has been exposed to both a language and experience-rich environment, he or she can have up to 40,000+ words in their vocabulary. The opposite is true that by depriving those essential elements to their development, he or she can have less than 10,000 words in their vocabulary. That is a massive neurological gap.

After 4yo the development begins to diminish rapidly and all growth in their communication, social, literacy, math, and science skills are built upon the already established foundation.

So what does this have to do with music?

Music is unique in that it is one of the only learning entrees that is both experience and language rich.

After I discovered this it really inspired me to see music empowerment as much more than even helping students enjoy and express themselves through an art form; I wanted to see MyTown Music partner with families in the process of building great individuals and contribute to a brighter future.

Meet, Polo. (16mo)