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Friendly Neighborhood Music Store

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Student Spotlight

Feb 07 2025

Beginner-Friendly Instruments for Kids and Adults

Learning music is a journey filled with joy, creativity, and countless cognitive and emotional benefits. As your friendly neighborhood music store, Music Royale is dedicated to helping students of all ages find the right starting point for their musical adventures. Whether you’re a parent exploring options for your child or an adult ready to dive into private lessons, choosing the right instrument is the first step to success.

Ages 4-6 Early Exploration and Fun

Ages 4-6: Early Exploration and Fun

Introducing young children to music is all about sparking their curiosity and keeping the experience lighthearted and engaging. At this stage, lessons often focus on games, exploration, and small rewards, like stickers, to encourage participation.

• Music Appreciation: The basics of rhythm, melody, and listening skills are explored through fun, hands-on activities. This stage lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of music.

• Piano: Perfect for young beginners, piano lessons teach foundational skills such as tempo and practice habits. Children can begin reading simple sheet music while building their technique.

• Ukulele: A beginner-friendly string instrument, the ukulele is lightweight, durable, and easy to handle. It introduces chord shapes and strumming techniques, serving as a perfect stepping stone for guitar.

Ages 7-8 building skills and confidene

Ages 7-18: Building Skills and Confidence

As children grow, their physical abilities, coordination, and attention span develop, allowing them to tackle more challenging instruments and set concrete goals. At Music Royale, we also offer performance opportunities like Rock School, Open Mic Nights and recitals to inspire growth and confidence.

• Band/Orchestra Instruments: With options for rent-to-own, this is a great time to explore instruments like flute, trumpet, or violin, often through school programs. Ensemble playing helps develop teamwork and listening skills.

• Piano: Older students can progress at a faster pace, diving into more complex repertoire without a preschool curriculum.

• Guitar and Bass: These instruments are popular for students interested in playing their favorite radio hits. Electric and acoustic options cater to different musical styles.

• Vocals: Vocal lessons focus on breath support, pitch recognition, and reading sheet music, accommodating voice changes during adolescence.

Adult it’s never too late

Adults: It’s Never Too Late

Starting music as an adult may feel intimidating, but it’s never too late to embrace your passion. Private lessons at Music Royale are designed to help adults progress at their own pace with intentional practice and plenty of patience.

• Piano: Often recommended for complete beginners, the piano requires no additional equipment and is perfect for learning basic music theory and technique.

• Guitar and Bass: For adults who want to jump right in, these instruments offer flexibility. Whether you prefer learning with tabs, sheet music, or by ear, there’s a method for everyone.

• Band/Orchestra Instruments: While more challenging, learning a band or orchestra instrument can be rewarding, especially if you already know how to read sheet music.

• Vocals: No equipment is required, making vocal lessons a convenient and empowering option. They also help boost confidence and improve breath control.

Start Your Musical Journey

Whether your child is just beginning or you’re ready to pick up an instrument for the first time, Music Royale is here to guide you every step of the way. Our experienced instructors offer personalized private lessons for all skill levels and ages, ensuring that each student receives the attention and support they need to thrive.

Contact us today to learn more about our lessons and find the perfect instrument for you or your family. Explore why we’ve been Powell’s trusted music education destination for over 20 years!

Written by megan · Categorized: Student Spotlight

Jan 31 2025

Music Royale Student Spotlight: Megan P. 

Meet Megan: A Multi-Instrumentalist Shaped by Music Royale

At Music Royale, we love seeing students grow into passionate, well-rounded musicians, and Megan is a perfect example of what makes our friendly neighborhood music store so special. A dedicated student who first picked up an upright bass in fifth grade, Megan now plays six instruments—guitar, alto sax, bass guitar, upright bass, cello, and violin. She’s a member of her school’s orchestra and band, as well as the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra and Columbus Cultural Orchestra. With all that experience under her belt, she’s already thinking about a future in music education.

The Power of Private Lessons

For Megan, private lessons with her Music Royale teachers, Megan and Paul, have been instrumental (pun intended) in helping her advance beyond the traditional school music curriculum. “Some things in school move too slow,” she explains, “but with lessons, we can just push through them.” Whether it’s refining technique, tackling challenging pieces, or exploring new styles, private lessons have allowed her to move at her own pace and stay motivated.

That’s what sets Music Royale apart—our teachers help students grow beyond the basics, tailoring lessons to their needs and goals. Megan’s approach to practicing is a great example: she focuses first on what’s most pressing for upcoming performances, then shifts to other instruments just for fun. This balance keeps her motivated while allowing her to continuously improve.

The Joy of Playing with Others

While Megan loves music for its own sake, what really drives her is playing with others. “It’s fun playing by yourself, but it’s a whole different experience bonding with other people through music—even if you don’t know them very well.” That’s exactly why local ensembles, like the Columbus Cultural Orchestra, are so important. (And if you play an orchestra instrument, Megan has a message for you: Join CCO! It’s really, really fun!).

Advice for Beginners (and Those Thinking of Quitting)

Megan’s biggest challenge? Like many students, sometimes she waits until the last minute to practice before a lesson—something she’s working on! Her advice to new musicians is simple: keep practicing, have fun, and play things you like. And if you’re thinking about quitting? “Stick with it a little longer and think about why. If you don’t like the instrument, maybe you just need to switch.”

Why Music Royale?

Music Royale Lessons

Students like Megan thrive because of the supportive, personalized instruction they receive at Music Royale. Our experienced teachers don’t just follow a one-size-fits-all curriculum—they help students build confidence, explore their musical interests, and develop the skills they need to succeed.

If you’re ready to start (or continue) your musical journey, we’d love to help. Sign up for lessons today and become part of our growing community of passionate musicians!

Click here to get started.

And if you haven’t yet, check out our video interview with Megan—it’s proof that music education can be fun, challenging, and life-changing!

Written by megan · Categorized: Student Spotlight

Sep 12 2024

Music Royale Student Spotlight – Austin Kurtz

Austin started music lessons at Music Royale at the age of 6, taking multiple lessons from various teachers until he joined Jesse’s studio. Now, even moving all the way to Salem, OH won’t stop him from taking lessons with his favorite teacher. Virtual lessons haven’t held back Austin’s learning, as he has been accepted into his school’s jazz band as the only electric guitar player. Watch his interview video.

Austin’s main instrument is electric guitar, but he is also proficient on drums, electric bass, piano, woodwinds, tuba, trumpet, and trombone. Austin plays in his school’s school band on the Tuba, electric guitar in jazz band, and drums in the Slipknot cover band, Sick, he and his friends are starting. 

His tastes have changed since he started taking lessons, but learning beginner songs have helped Austin ramp up his passion for music. His advice to beginning guitar students is, 

“Please do not go for speed first…[learn] technique and really [learn] how you can use that technique to go into solos…”

Even with natural talent, Austin has to put in a lot of hard work to know this much. He said memorizing chord names has been his biggest challenge. As a Rock School Alum, Austin says he learned teamwork and stage presence. He says Rock School prepared him well to start improving in the jazz band. 

Want to know more about lessons at Music Royale? Give us a call or send us a message. Read our teacher bios here. 

Interested in Rock School? Teach your young musician the business of being a musician at the same time helping them form healthy habits for practice, rehearsal, and teamwork. Sign up next time registration is open.

Written by megan · Categorized: Student Spotlight · Tagged: music education, Music Royale, Student spotlight

Jul 24 2024

Music Royale Student Spotlight: Neil Taylor

Neil Taylor

Neil Taylor has been a lesson student at Music Royale since he was 6-years-old, taking lessons for a variety of instruments: Alto Saxophone, Guitar, Drums, Piano. Neil was diagnosed with mixed phenotype acute leukemia, a rare cancer that is a blend of AML and ALL leukemia, when he was 12-years-old. This interrupted his music lessons, but not his love for music. Watch his interview!

Neil’s Lore

While Neil was in the hospital, he found that hospital food was fine and all, but it wasn’t something he wanted to eat every day during his stay. In his experience, by the time a family member could get to the car, leave the hospital, wait in line at the drive through, re-park, and deliver the food to his room, his appetite wasn’t the same anymore. He figured, if he was going through this, then other children probably were as well.  

Neil’s Mission

After going into remission, Neil’s Meals was founded through the Feel Better Foundation. Donations are turned into gift cards to various restaurant brands and made available to pediatric patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Families can request a warrior volunteer to pick up food or place an order on a food delivery service app. If you’d like to help Neil with his mission, click here!

Neil’s Advice

Each musician has their own challenges they face. Neil reminisces about being a “video game kid” and not wanting to practice, but ultimately glad he made himself do it.

“I learned that practice was absolutely necessary, especially in higher level music… You can’t just get it in one go and you can’t just wing it because it will show”

Not being able to play music during treatment, Neil faced a different challenge when he came back to Music Royale. Learning his lesson about avoiding practice, Neil likes to think he’s pretty good at all his instruments again. 

“…and practice can be a lot of fun, especially if you like what you’ve picked up. And if you don’t like what you’ve picked up, you don’t have to feel like you have to stick to it. You can always change it around. And always try something new.” Watch the video to hear all of Neil’s advice.

Neil’s Influences

Neil’s musical influences are Imagine Dragons, Frank Sinatra, his Aunt Niki and his grandfather. Imagine Dragon is a band he listens to all of the time and Frank SInatra has inspired his love if jazz music. Aunt Niki is a professional musician herself and sing with various bands. She fostered her nephews natural talent by paying for his music lessons and musical instruments and his grandfather made sure he was present by driving him to all of his lessons. Neil would also like to thank teachers, Ron and Erin

Now What Neil?

Now Neil is in high school and has been part of many musical and non musical theater productions. Including: Didn’t See That Coming, Little Mermaid, Into the Woods, Bye Bye Birdie, Girls of Road Manor. He is currently taking singing lessons to help his theater career.

Music Royale

Music Royale is your friendly neighborhood music store and we are proud to present such a fine student as Neil Taylor. It has been a pleasure to watch him start his musical journey at a young age and it was even more a pleasure to see him return and continue music with a new found love of practicing!

We believe that every student is unique and their lessons should be, too. Our highly trained instructors customize lesson plans for each student, ensuring that every student’s goals and ability are considered. Theory, technique, composition, and music production are all taught at Music Royale. We are happy to work with all types of students; beginner to advanced, young and old, and students with special needs. We feel that anyone with a passion for music has a place at Music Royale. Read our teacher bios.

Contact us

614-793-2222
info@musicroyale.com
480 W. Olentangy St. Powell, Ohio

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Written by megan · Categorized: Student Spotlight · Tagged: alto saxophone, guitar, leukemia, music education, music lessons, piano, singing, Student spotlight

Jun 03 2022

Student Spotlight: Evan Gardner

Meet another student spotlight, Evan Gardner, a private student at Music Royale for 8 years.

Evan is a graduating senior at the Delaware Career Center. He has a lot of exciting things planned for this upcoming summer. He is participating in an exciting internship working with multiple radio stations, WDLR, MY967, an CD929, hosting a show called ”Delaware County Matters” and producing an own original album, “Songs for All the Haters”.

Watch his interview to hear his great advice to beginning students.

Evan performed a full 45 min set in his last Rock School performance this past February with fellow senior, Alex Haas in their band, Salem.

Check out their set. To skip to where Salem starts playing, start the video at 16:22.

Read Alex’s Student Spotlight interview!

Sign Up for Lessons and Get a Student Spotlight Feature

https://musicroyale23.precisionnewmedia.com/lessons/

Our instructors create lesson plans tailored to each student’s needs and goals. Music Royale teaches theory, technique, composition, and music production. We are happy working with all types of students; beginner to advanced, young and old, and students with special needs. Anyone with a passion for music has a place at Music Royale.

Here at Music Royale, we understand that life happens, so always feel welcome to discuss with our flexible lesson planners! We are always enrolling students for all instruments. Since the lessons are private, there is never a bad time to start. Read our teacher bios!

Ask about setting up a new student interview to be able to look back on the progress of a new student throughout their lesson years.

Music Royale
Info@musicroyale.com

Written by admin · Categorized: Student Spotlight

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Your
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Music Royale
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Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 8pm

Friday: 12pm- 6pm

Saturday: 10am - 5pm

Sunday: 12pm - 5pm

Address:

480 West Olentangy Street
Powell, OH 43065

Phone:

(614)793-2222