“I grew up on a small farm just out of the Foley area. From a very young age, I was exposed to a lot of great music by my parents. As a family, we were always listening to bands like Tom Petty, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) while working around the farm. Later on, I really got into the Heavy Metal music of the ’80s – Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Ozzy. That’s when I fell in love with music and knew this was who I was. I got my first drum set and started trying to learn songs so I could join a band. After high school graduation, I was accepted at McNally-Smith School of Music in Minneapolis. Oddly enough, I ended up eventually joining a band from St Cloud and moved back.”
Brain Helmin opened St. Cloud Music Academy (located in the same building as Bridge of Harmony) over 10 years ago, and they’re going strong! “In between gigs, I started doing private lessons at Al’s Music. Before long I had a fairly large student base. Unfortunately, they closed – but I saw an opportunity to start up my own lessons program including other various instruments. That was over a decade ago, and the program just continued to grow. We offer voice, piano, guitar, bass, drums, ukulele, and violin lessons for all ages and skill levels. We also offer a band program for students wanting to perform live.”
And did you catch that all ages and skill levels part? It’s true! St. Cloud Music Academy sees students from the age of 4 to senior adults! SCMA believes you’re never too old to revisit a skill you once had, develop a new musical hobby, master a talent, or just enjoy and spend time with music. “We want people to know that St. Cloud Music Academy is all about passing on our passion for music to anyone who wants to learn. If you love music too, this is the place to be!”
As mentioned, there are a variety of types of lessons you can take at the Academy. And if you’re already a master of your musical gift, teaching is a great way to get involved! “We are also in need of additional instructors. Just call the Academy at 320-293-0588 for more information.”
If the music is calling you, St. Cloud Music Academy is there for you!
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