Celebrating 8 Years of Making Musicians on the California Coast!

This month Modern Music Academy celebrates our 8th anniversary in San Luis Obispo. We started out offering Guitar Labs in a Bagel Cafe after hours – back then recording students was still novel and there were no group Guitar programs that came close to what we were offering. When setting up and tearing down our labs became too much in the Bagel Cafe, we took half of the spot we still have now. It was all or nothing from the start for Founders Darren and Jessie Clarke. At this time in their life, Darren had stopped touring and decided to get his BA in Guitar & Music Business with a School in London, ACM – whilst starting the business. Along the way we’ve changed our name (from Music Lab to MMA) and expanded our facility, made a lot of records, added new programs and now offer Diploma programs licensed from ACM. Lecturers have included local celebrities like Terry Lawless (u2) and Jon Anderson (Yes), who said “It’s a great thing you’re doing here, and the students I saw last time were really talented”.  It’s been a labor of love and perseverance and faith. We’ve had to roll with the punches and adapt and evolve with the times, but we are Grateful to be here, making music and musicians 8 years later. Thanks to all our friends, family, clients and STUDENTS. MMA <3 You!