Category Archives: Teacher Spotlight

Alexia Apablaza

NMA Welcomes New Violin and Piano Instructor

We are very excited to welcome new violin and piano instructor Alexia Apablaza to Nashville Music Academy. Originally from Chattanooga, Alexia is a talented musician with over 15 years of musical training as both a pianist and violinist. She currently studies music at Belmont University and has over 5 years of teaching experience. Her teaching style is centered on developing a passion for music and exploring different styles. Fundamental technique and theory are also a focus. While she is primarily classically trained, Alexia teaches many styles of music including Fiddle and Folk music, Pop, Rock, Blues, Ragtime, Gospel and Country. As a performer, Alexia has played in a number of ensembles including religious bands, the Chattanooga Youth Orchestra, the Orchestra at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Belmont University’s Chamber ensemble and several classical quartets. Apablaza believes that putting practice to performance is an essential skill for any musician. Alexia is also great at adapting to the learning style of any student in order to give them a personalized and well rounded musical education.

Graham Northrop banjo teacher

NMA Welcomes New Banjo Instructor

Graham Northrop banjo teacher

Nashville Music Academy welcomes banjo, mandolin and guitar instructor to the staff. Graham has over 10 years of experience as a professional multi-instrumentalist. He has played banjo, guitar, dobro, and lap steel in several different bands since 2012. He graduated from Berklee College of Music summa cum laude in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Writing and Production. In person at our North Nashville location, and online lessons are available with Graham. Banjo lessons are available for any age or experience level. 

Learn more about Graham Northrop here.

Contact us today to book your lesson!

Drum teacher Ben Hans

Teacher Spotlight on Ben Hans, Drum Instructor

Ben Hans is a Nashville based musician and drum teacher. He has performed with many artists such as singer/composer and Grammy nominated artist Kip Winger, Eric Martin the voice of Mr. Big, Steve Brown, Todd Kerns (of Slash), in addition to Blues artists Altered Five, Jonny T-Bird and the MPs as well as Tallan Latz. Hans has also worked with Legendary Rudimentalists John S. Pratt, Dominick Cuccia and Mitch Markovich, as well as Percussionists Jim Sewrey, Jeff Salisbury, and Kaili Francisco.

As an author, Ben has released the amazon bestselling book “How to Play Drums in 14 Days” from Troy Nelson Music (https://a.co/d/d1s2cPj).  Ben is also a contributor, proofreader, freelance editor and session performer for Hal Leonard Publishing, with published works including: “Workin’ Drums – 50 Solos for Drum set,” “40 Intermediate Snare Drum Solos,” “Rudimental Solos for the Marching Snare Drummer,” “Modern School for Mallet Keyboard Instruments,” “Hal Leonard School for Snare Drum,” transcriptions of Ray Luzier’s “Double Bass Drum Techniques”, the compilation book “First 50 Solos You Should Play on Snare Drum,” as well as performing on and writing for the Hal Leonard DVD “Traditional Rudimental Drumming” by John S. Pratt.

Previous music instructor positions include the Milwaukee Area Technical College, the Wisconsin Lutheran College, the Wisconsin Academy of Music, SAE Institute – Nashville and Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Ben is a Yamaha Performing Artist who also endorses Aquarian Drumheads, Mike Balter Mallets, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Tycoon Percussion and Impression Cymbals.  Ben is a member of ASCAP and John S. Pratt’s ‘International Association of Traditional Drummers’. Learn more about Ben at http://nashvillemusicacademy.org/instructors

 

 

guitar teacher nashville

NMA Guitar Teacher, Rebecca Frazier

A guitar teacher is not an endangered species in Nashville. However, a great guitar teacher is definitely something a little more difficult to find. At Nashville Music Academy, we are very grateful to have several wonderful guitar instructors. One of them is Rebecca Frazier. Rebecca is great with beginners and advanced students, and has a remarkable career as a writer and performer. Frazier came to national attention in 2006 as the first female on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, and was later picked up by Compass Records for her flatpicking/songwriting solo showcase When We Fall (2013)The album received heavy airplay on SiriusXM Radio and peaked at #3 on the national Roots Music Report Chart. Other honors include Rebecca’s 2009 IBMA Recorded Event of the Year award for her work on the Daughters of Bluegrass’ Bluegrass Bouquet album. She also had a feature appearance singing “Keep on the Sunnyside” on Hank William’s biopic, 20th Century Fox The Last Ride movie soundtrack released by Curb Records in 2012.

While her primary focus is bluegrass (particularly flat-picking), she is also well versed in Pop, Country, and Americana. She is available for guitar lessons as well as mandolin and ukelele lessons. Rebecca teaches in both our Berry Hill location, and in East Nashville as well. To book a lesson with her, please give us a call at 615-521-1937.

Phil Yochum Nashville Drum Teacher

Drum Teacher Phil Yochum at Nashville Music Academy

Phil Yochum is our most tenured drum teacher at the Nashville Music Academy. He is also one of our best instructors. He is a graduate of Belmont University where he received a Bachelors Degree in Commercial Percussion. There he was exposed to different genres of commercial and classical music under the instruction of Brian Fullen, Chester Thompson, Todd London, Dr. Chris Norton and Derico Watson. In addition, Yochum has over ten years of teaching and studio/touring experience. He is also one of our most popular teachers for individuals with special needs and our students who are under the age of 5 because of his patience and intuitive teaching style.

He offers instruction for hand-drums, bells, xylophone, and many other percussion instruments. Mr. Yochum has availability for lessons on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings (after 4 pm) and Monday through Thursday daytime (10 am to 1 pm). The drum studio at NMA is private and comes equipped with all the percussion instruments needed to make your lesson a success. Some of the most memorable performances at the recital have been given by our drum students. Call us today at 615-521-1937 to make an appointment. Lessons are only $30 for the half hour and $55 for the hour!

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Tatia Rose, piano lessons, Nashville Music Academy

Tatia Rose Employee Spotlight at Nashville Music Academy

Tatia Rose founded Nashville Music Academy in June of 2015, but it had previously thrived as Rose Music Group since 2006. Rose is not only the owner, but also a piano instructor at the academy. Her primary focus is Classical Performance and Music Theory and Composition. Rose also serves as director of the Special Needs Music Program at NMA.

Upon graduating from West Virginia University in 2003, Rose moved to Nashville to pursue a career as a songwriter and pianist and eventually left that pursuit to work from home as a teacher and entrepreneur. This arrangement worked well for a young working mother, but the business (much like the baby) refused to stop growing. Her entrepreneurial work began including more diverse projects that reconnected her with the Nashville artistic community. Under the banner of Rose Music Group, this included production of concerts, artist bookings, and talent management.

In 2015, the school and the entertainment agency (RMG) were separated, and Nashville Music Academy was created in the rebranding. Tatia Rose serves as President of both companies. She is a member of the Nashville Chapter of the Nashville Recording Academy, proud supporter of Autism Speaks and the Alzheimer’s Association, and received an award from Nashville Mayor Dean recently for her work with individuals with disabilities. Her executive experience also includes aggregate management.

Please check out our sister company Rose Music Group LLC.

voice lessons nashville

Voice Lessons with Janine LeClair, a Teacher Spotlight

Looking for voice lessons? Janine Le Clair is one of Nashville’s best acting coaches and voice teachers. She played the leading-lady for international musicals and productions like The Sound of MusicThe Mystery of Edwin DroodThe Secret GardenBrighton Beach Memoirs, and Annie. LeClair also has extensive on-camera experience, and has been acting in network television commercials for financial institutions, home furnishings, restaurants and tourist destinations as far away as Australia.

Teaching under the same principles she was taught under (Stanislavski), LeClair also includes Uta Hagen and Meisner in her technique. Her personality is warm and inviting. This compliments her coaching style, which is patient, fun, and goal effective. She has been a music instructor at Nashville Music Academy (formerly Rose Music Group) for 10 years. Best-known for the results she achieves for both beginners and advanced students, LeClair provides a professional and experienced background enabling her to sculpt each lesson to the needs of the student. She is available (by appointment only) on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.

http://janineleclair.com