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Prelude Music Academy provides high-quality, year-round, at-home instruction on piano, guitar, and other instruments to K-12 students in North Carolina’s Research Triangle.
Prelude Music Academy was established in 2011 and provides high-quality year-round instruction to students in grades K-12 residing in Cary, Morrisville, and Apex, North Carolina, and the surrounding area. Instruments include piano, guitar, contrabass and bass guitar, ukulele, violin, viola, and voice lessons. Other instruments are also available, please inquire.
Lessons are personalized to meet the goals and personality of the student. Music pedagogy includes various musical concepts emphasizing good technique from the beginning, reading musical notation, musical theory, sight-reading, and ear training, and fostering creativity by exploring sounds with musical composition.
For many children, music lessons are the beginning of a strong musical foundation and a lifelong love of music. Playing and learning an instrument can be an enjoyable experience, with exposure to different musical styles and successful experiences through recitals, performances, and community events.
We Offer:
Instruments
Prelude Music Academy’s professional music educators provide expert instruction, customized for the student’s level and potential, in a variety of musical disciplines
The queen of music Instruments, and Prelude's flagship offering
Acoustic or Electric? We teach both, and will have you rocking in no time!
The rhythmic foundation of any band or orchestra, be it Electric or Upright Bass
The Uke, as it's affectionately known, is both easy to learn and fun to play!
Be it in our own program, or assistance with your school's ensemble, we're here.
Your voice is an instrument unto itself; we'll teach you how to use it best
Our mission is to assist our students on their musical journey and instill love for music to last a lifetime. Sharing the gift of music makes our hearts sing and there is nothing we teachers would rather do. This does take commitment and support from the family and discipline, dedication, and practice from the student.
Prelude implements a holistic musical education approach. The piano curriculum books consist of a series of several books which complement each other. In the lesson book the fundamental concepts are introduced. The performance–recital book expands on the taught concept with additional pieces and enables the student to develop a musical repertoire. Technique develops strong fingers and artistry the interpretation of music. The study of theory promotes the understanding of the language of music.
The guitar teaching curriculum books are all-inclusive and enrichment materials are supplemented as needed.
Lessons typically consist of 30-minute sessions. Advanced students may benefit from longer lessons, up to an hour in duration.
Performance is an integral component of the music education process, and is strongly emphasized at Prelude. We offer multiple events each year, including Halloween, Winter, Spring recitals, community performances, and Federation Festival student grading events, as well as preparation for piano competitions for advanced students. We believe that music is a gift meant to be shared and accordingly hold the recitals venues where community members are invited and encouraged to attend. We are continuously exploring, adding and providing opportunities for students to perform in a variety of settings.
Prelude Music Academy’s faculty is comprised of university-educated teachers and professional musicians, dedicated to guiding students on their exciting musical journey.
Founder, owner and instructor at Prelude Music Academy. Patty has over 30 years teaching experience in multitude of settings including public school music teacher and private instrument instruction, and has been playing the piano since she was five years old. She presents at conferences and workshops and holds Master classes for various Piano Teacher Organizations. Her students consistently receive Superior and Excellent ratings in Federation Festivals, Sonatina Competitions and theory events. She is married with three children who all love music as much as she does.
Patty has a BA from SUNY Buffalo in music Performance and Education, and an MS in Music and Recreational Therapy from University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is a NC Licensed Music Teacher.
Sandra has worked as an educator and tutor for over 25 years. She taught overseas in Bogota, Colombia for over 14 years, as a first-grade teacher, a music teacher, and a high-school chorus director. Upon returning to the USA, she taught public school music from 2001 to 2017. She used her knowledge in Spanish as an interpreter for the Durham Schools Department, a High School Spanish tutor as well as an ESL teacher.
Sandra has a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Music-Piano & Voice from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and has taught private piano for 30 years. She is currently the music minister, choral director and accompanist at a local church in Chapel Hill.
Nick believes the most important aspect of music-making is sustainability. By learning to use their instrument properly, students can avoid long-term health issues associated with poor technique, so that music-making is physically sustainable. Nick also thinks it’s important to keep the spark of joy from music-making alive, so it is emotionally and intellectually sustainable too. Given his extensive experience in a multitude of genres, Nick is comfortable teaching in a variety of styles, including musical theater, classical, jazz, rock, folk, country, and bluegrass. In addition to voice and mandolin, Nick is also qualified to teach guitar, octave mandolin, music theory, songwriting, and audio production.
A native of Durham, NC, Jackson has been a guitarist and vocalist for the past 21 years, performing and recording with a variety of different artists, bands, and school ensembles. He began his college education in the Music Industry Studies program at Appalachian State University, focusing on Guitar and Recording & Production.
He later transferred to Boston’s prestigious Berklee College Of Music, where he completed a BM in Professional Music with a concentration in Guitar Performance. Jackson’s playing and teaching draw from a variety of styles, most notably rock. He has previously taught guitar privately and through Cary School Of Music. He currently plays with the original funk/rock/soul group, The Chit Nasty Band.
Rowena Rantanen has been involved in musical productions for over 45 years, having worn several hats including Director, Producer, Music Director, Choreographer, Dance Captain, Stage Manager, Costume Mistress, Properties Mistress, and various principal and ensemble theatre roles.
She has a B.A. in Music from the University of Massachusetts and has over 30 years of experience as a professional musician. Her career in the performing arts has included being a piano instructor, an organist, a choir director, a dance teacher, and a published playwright. She is the founder of RMC Fairy Tale Theatre, FUMC Theatre Ministry Group, and several ensembles (both dance and instrumental).
TJ is an internationally known performer, composer, and music teacher from Raeford NC. He grew up in a musical family, and while his mother directed choirs, his father and brother became accomplished drummers. He spent his childhood playing whatever he could get his hands on.
In college, composition classes helped him to expand his piano skills while Orchestra and Jazz Bands introduced him to the Double Bass. After earning a BM in Bass Performance from UNC-CH and a Master of Film Scoring from Berklee, he has been on a quest to spread the joy of music.
I began my musical education at the age of twelve. Listening to music from cartoons sparked my curiosity. I studied piano under the tutelage of Galina Vinokurov and Cyril Deaconoff. Throughout my journey as a musician, I aspired to become a concert pianist performing in competitions, recitals, and festivals. Throughout my musical path, I have been given opportunities to work as a composer; I have composed original music for a main stage theater production of Frankenstein and composed a sixty-second “jingle” for the institution I previously attended. As an educator, it is my wish to share the knowledge I have gained from my journey in music and provide a well-rounded musical education in piano through teaching music fundamentals/theory, developing musicianship through ear training, sight singing, and rhythm reciting. It is my intention that within these lessons you are instilled with the skills and knowledge of being able to teach yourself down the line and figure things out on your own, thus developing a deeper appreciation for this art. I can teach anyone who wants to learn, if you feel inspired to begin this journey then I am here to serve you. See you in our lessons.
Music Pedagogy
As the study of the teaching of music, Pedagogy involves how children learn and how someone teaches it. It begins with competent instructors who understand how to convey the music principles to the student. Lessons are focused on the individual student as children learn differently. Identifying how they absorb the information presented is significant to establishing trust and rapport between teacher and student.
Knowledge
Expanding the student’s awareness and understanding is critical. Learning an instrument and theory are essential components in understanding of the composition of musical form. Discovering the formulas of chord structure and how they relate to scales to create tone color and movement, is a musician that does not have to continuously rely on reading musical notation alone. Introducing and playing a variety of musical genres allows for experimentation of musical styles. Harmonizing songs and improvisation skills are enjoyable and allow for experimentation. A well-rounded musician should be able to play anything.
Technique
These exercises are established to strengthen the form, fingers, and posture of the developing musician. Playing any instrument involves many specific detailed fundamental formulas of how to practice and play a variety of sequences. Focus is placed on proper fingering for scales, primary chords – which are the basis of music composition, and patterns. Mastery and understanding of these progressive exercises and etudes are vital to a flourishing musician.
Performing
We all know that performing is a component of lessons. The skills are rudimentary and apply to many types of situations. The goal here is to combine the skills to perform in a way that is effortless and accurate. One that portrays confidence!
Enjoy the Process
Learning new skills takes dedication, perseverance, and practice. Students take music lessons because they want to. There is a love and a passion that drives them and the sense of accomplishment is gratifying. The journey is not always easy, but the outcome is wonderful.
Our Events
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Testimonials
Prelude Music Academy is a high-quality music program that has faithfully served my children for 11 years. It is an organized program with many benefits and extra opportunities for students to grow musically. It is a well-rounded program that has been well worth our time!
Parent
Ms. Patty is devoted and patient in order to help students plant successful lessons, build effective practice habits with excellent technique, and musical analysis skills. Her teaching method is thorough and instructive, which helps Sharvali to build a solid foundation & develop interests/skills in playing piano.
Parent
Patty is a wonderful teacher. The children really appreciate her knowledge and musicality, her patient encouragement, her friendliness and humor, and the community she builds around her music academy. The fact that four children have happily studied with her is a testament to her capacity to teach and inspire young musicians!
Parent
I switched to Prelude Music Academy about 5 years ago with the goal of being able to play piano melodies with my left and right hand. Since joining this music academy, I’ve surpassed my goals and found interest in playing faster melodies with more advanced chords.
Student
Prelude Music has helped to bring music into our house over the past 5 years. My four children have loved learning to play the piano from Ms. Rowena. She challenges them with technique exercises and encourages them to pick music that inspires each one of them, meaning that they want to practice and perfect their songs.
Parent
From age 10 to 16 my daughter benefited greatly from piano and guitar lessons and music education from Prelude! I highly recommend them! They are easy to work with, reliable, and most of all talented. Their recitals are fun also. You will be satisfied.
Designation
Offering exceptional in-home and online music instruction since 2011
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