MMA - California Coast

Our Last & Final Showcase

jessieclarke — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:38:06 +0000

Dear Students & Friends
Modern Music Academy has meant a lot to many musicians and song writers in SLO county for the past 9 years. It’s also meant the world to us. Starting the school from scratch and building it up to what it has become has been a labor of love and an adventure. We’ve learned a lot and have been honored to serve this community in this way.
But we’ve reached a point where we believe we have to let go of the academy… With a very rough economy it’s been harder and harder to realize our dream. We’re going to close at the end of this school year after our current programs complete. It is an incredibly emotional move for us, and though very sad we believe it’s a necessary move forward.
We’re hoping we can keep the recording studio for Darren to continue working as a music producer… But beyond that we don’t know exactly what’s next for us. There is a possibility Darren may be able to offer our Night School “Song Writing & Music Production program” again, but we’re not going to be operating as a full school any more. You can follow what we’re up to at www.ProducerDarrenClarke.com.

We’ll be ending this season with our last and final ‘Big Showcase Bash’ at SLO Brew on May 25th. Please please join us – all ages, $7 – and we’ll be selling limited edition MMA CD’s for $10. We have some great music lined up – and though a sad occasion we intend to have a great time!

We will always look back on these Music Lab / MMA days – the music and memories made & friendships formed. As we look to the next chapter we thank YOU for your support.

With big love, sadness and joy

Darren & Jessie Clarke
Modern Music Academy

Our Last BIG SHOWCASE BASH at SLO BREW!

jessieclarke — Sat, 05 May 2012 07:35:26 +0000

New Video of our Students “Sure of You”

jessieclarke — Sat, 05 May 2012 06:29:36 +0000

Thanks to Cameron Ingalls for this stunning video of our Song Writing students recording one of their collaborations with Producer Darren Clarke. Click here to watch!

Still a few days to get in on our Night School!

jessieclarke — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:32:18 +0000

Our all new ‘Song Writing and Music Production’ Night School program starts next week, on May 2. If you’ve missed the deadline and don’t have a demo for your application, we may still be able to get you in. We have a handful of spaces as I type. So get your application in right away, and email us about doing a short audition in person, so we can hear one or two of your songs.

Read Producer Darren Clarke’s blog post about this new program…

Visit the program page

Song Writing & Music Production Night School

jessieclarke — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:14:11 +0000

An all new Internship style program with Producer Darren Clarke…

Two nights a week, starting in May

Interested? Click here to read more.

Financing for Students & Applicants

jessieclarke — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:56:07 +0000

Coast National Bank in SLO have agreed to help our students with financing if they are applying for our professional music programs! Ofcourse, subject to your credit history or a co-signer… But this is great news! Thank you Coast National Bank, you Rock!!

New at MMA – Rehearsal Studios for hire!

jessieclarke — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:50:27 +0000

If you’re a serious band and want a professional space to rehearse on a regular basis, we can help you. Come and rehearse in our spacious studio – utilise the space or jump up on the stage if you want to practice your showman-ship.

• Great PA

• Great atmosphere

• Air conditioning

• Drum kit set up if you want it.

Another reason to rehearse here, is that if you want to record* your rehearsals and get a great sound, that’s easy for us to do and you can walk out the door with your material in your hands.

$60 for 3 hours, 5.30 – 8.30 pm or 8.30 – 11.30 pm (Closed on Sundays).

If you make it a weekly thing, save almost 20%, at $50 a pop.

*Extra charges to record your rehearsal live.

Mastercard or Visa required to book a session and / or to keep a weekly time spot.

Interested? Please email us for the quickest response.

Featured Student: Jasmin Poncelet

jessieclarke — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:36:17 +0000

Jasmin has always been a very dedicated and hard working musician, so to see her getting some great opportunities since graduating our Diploma programs, comes as no surprise.Jasmin owns the stage and lives for her music.

Since completing our Artist Development & Songwriting course, Jasmin moved to LA, and has signed with a manager. They have lots of stuff in the works and Jasmin is not only scoring a bunch of free gear from Fender, but they will be featuring her on their website soon. Whilst working on her EP (which she will showcase at the Sunset Marquis in Hollywood), Jasmin is writing sound tracks for the Sci Fi channel. Jasmin is getting to jam with and work alongside lots of great musicians and she’s enjoying the new Guitars Fender are giving her.

Well done Jasmin! Keep working hard and stay smart. We believe in you!

Auditioning Teen Musicians Now

jessieclarke — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:49:22 +0000

If you’re a teen singer, guitar player, bass player, drummer and / or songwriter – consider auditioning for our House of Bands GOLD program. In this program we put songwriters and musicians together to form bands, who then get to work with Producer Darren Clarke. He works with participants on their songs, band dynamics, communication skills, performance techniques, song arrangements and more… and then we put on shows around SLO Town to provide exposure and a great experience for the musicians and audience alike. This program has very limited space and a spot on this course is a great opportunity.

If you’ve been playing a while and your teacher or your friends and fans tell you you’ve got something good going on, then consider trying out for this program.

- $125 per month through the end of the school year (you may opt out at any time, provided you are not within 6 weeks of a show, so you don’t let your band mates down).

- Tuesday nights at 6.00 – 7.30 pm

- Several shows scheduled between now and then

Participants are invited into the program based on their skill, their creativity, their presence and their attitude. In some cases applicants may not be invited onto the program if for example, we have too many bass players or too many drummers – we have to make sure we have cohesive bands and fill the spots that we need. We look for musicians who want to learn and grow and work as a team player, whether they are a ‘front man’ or a ‘backing musician’.

Questions? Want to set up an audition consultation? Please contact us!

Can my whole band audition? YES, but you will be accepted onto the program as a unit only if the whole band is ready to work at this level. Certain member of the program may be ready and others may not. Another option would be to hire Producer Darren Clarke to do some band coaching, $25 per band member for a one hour session (minimum 3 members).

Christmas Showcase at Kreuzberg Coffee & Book Bar, SLO

jessieclarke — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:07:42 +0000

Really hope you can make it out THIS Friday, on December 16th at 7.30 pm for some great music, atmosphere, yummy coffee and cozy-ness- al la Kreuzberg (685 Higuera St, SLO 93401). We’ll be showcasing select students (who will definitely pleasantly surprise you) from our current programs AND featuring ‘History of Painters’ – an uplifting indie folk act, that just completed their latest EP here with us at Modern Music Academy. They will be playing all their new materials and warming up our chilly hearts! All ages, free show, no excuse to not come down and join the party. See you there!