Waconia Music Studios is a place where chords are taught and vocal techniques are honed, but it’s also where the love and energy of music are shared and celebrated. Guided by their shared passion for teaching music, Jay Downie and Scott Brose opened the warm and welcoming doors of this creative space in February of 2015, and the journey so far has been a humbling and gracious one. “We weren’t sure there would be enough interest for a music studio to be a sustainable business for many years, but Waconia has come through with flying colors! The incredible amount of support we’ve received from the community has been awesome,” Jay shares.
The teaching and learning at Waconia Music Studios is a mutual exchange where both Jay and Scott have come to realize that this community truly loves the arts. “We feel honored and humbled to teach music in such a great place.” As the studio celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, if their talent and influence have touched you in any way, you’d agree this gratitude is shared by many.
If you want to play the guitar or want to learn how to sing, you’re in luck. The creative offerings at Waconia Music Studios, however, don’t end there. “We really try to cover anything and everything,” Scott explains. If you can think of an instrument, odds are they teach it, and there are 11 amazing music teachers ready to welcome you in. “We share different teaching techniques and instructional methods among the staff - and just as important, we share those we don’t find effective,” Jay explains. “As the older teachers in the studio, Scott and I make it a point to take time to pass on words of advice to our newer teachers and help them maintain a good work-life balance. Our goal is to put our teachers, just like our students, in the best possible position for success, and we believe that open communication is important in making that happen.”
The passion that shines through every measured beat and word of encouragement was instilled early in Jay and Scott’s lives. They were both fortunate to have excellent music teachers who inspired them to go into this line of work. “They lit a fire under their students to always do their best, which is what we strive to do at Waconia Music Studios,” Scott says. Not only did this artistic duo’s inspiration come from the classroom, but it also came from family. Jay’s grandparents were very musical, and his dad was a music teacher for many years. Scott felt a connection to music through his grandmother, who was a piano teacher and church organist.
These early life lessons and meaningful experiences have shaped their teaching style, helping Jay and Scott recognize that it’s the big and small moments that deepen their love for music education. “We have students who come in lacking confidence with a lot of anxiety, who, lesson by lesson, become more comfortable stepping outside their comfort zone and making mistakes. We have adult students who have thought for years about taking up an instrument, and they finally gain enough courage to put themselves out there and go for it. There are a ton of different stories we could share about students of all ages, further proving how good music is for the soul.”
So, when you’re ready to dust off that violin in the attic, allow Jay and Scott’s words to resonate in your mind. “It’s never too late to improve yourself. Just take that first step. You’ll be so happy that you did. Music does wonders for the soul.” And that’s a beautiful symphony to anyone’s ears.
https://waconiamusicstudios.com