MMA - California Coast

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!

ALL NEW “Pro Music Lite” Program for Song Writers

jessieclarke — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:10:57 +0000

We’ve just opened up enrollment for a new ‘lite’ version of our professional music programs. So many people we’ve talked to say they would love to do a program like our Diploma programs, but they just don’t have the time or the money. So, we have heard you and we’re meeting you half way and now offering a limited number of students the chance to do a lighter package that still packs a huge punch! Just 6 hours a week, January through May, and $295 / month – or less if you pay upfront. Click here to read more about this amazing opportunity!

• Study Music Business, Song Writing & Live Performance

• Perform in a bunch of shows

• Get more exposure & experience

• Learn in an exciting creative atmosphere with Professional Musicians and Industry experts.

Click here to download the ProMusic Lite Admissons Packet Packet now.

Celebrating 8 Years of Making Musicians on the California Coast!

jessieclarke — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:03:50 +0000

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!

Congratulations to Red Skunk!

jessieclarke — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:10:36 +0000

Congratualtions to Molly Reeves, Ken Davis & Sam Boorman (all MMA students or Grads) on winning 3rd place for “Best Album” in the SLO Newtie Awards, recorded here at MMA in 2010! Check out “Hot & Haunting” by Molly Reeves & the Red Skunks here…

Check out “History Of Painters”

jessieclarke — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:36:44 +0000

‘History of Painters’ recently won California in Charter’s Center Stage competition, and scored 6th place on a national scale. MMA Director Darren Clarke recorded their first EP, and is now Producing their second EP which will release this Fall… ‘History of Painters’ is a hopeful, melodic band that is comprised of two songwriters who together strive to create genuine, heartfelt Alternative/Folk music. If you like FOLK music, you’ll love these guys. Click here to check them out…