It’s back to the music the Fall with Warner Music Studios in downtown Lewisburg. Offering music lessons to everyone of all ages, the team here uses a progressive teaching method unlike many other studios. “We’ve worked with new students with years of lessons who knew less than what we teach them in the first 6-12 months,” says Rachel Warner, the studio’s founder, owner, and piano teacher. Rachel also happens to be the step-daughter of the syndicated radio personality, Delilah, who offers inspiration, helpful advice, and tasty recipes across the nation. At Warner Music Studios, you can choose from piano, guitar, drums, voice, ukulele, bass guitar, or flute lessons, with an optional yearly recital starting in 2018. Lessons range anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes; and since the studio offers multiple programs, it makes it easier to enroll siblings in different programs at the same time.

As many of us know, music lessons benefit everyone! For youth, music is a wonderful source of creative expression and has been known to be critical for brain development, fostering self-esteem, improving language, and building many other great skills. It’s not all about the kids though! Studies have shown that adults who learn to play an instrument can make significant improvements in their brain. Close to 50% of the studio’s students are adults. The oldest students are in their mid 60’s and Rachel tells us that they are doing amazing.

Rachel says that Warner Music Studio is progressive in a few ways. 1.) They don’t force or shame the student when practice isn’t completed. 2.) Students are always encouraged to challenge themselves and try to play whatever they want, at any point in their education. 3.) The team moves their students as quickly as they are able to go. 4.) Lastly, they work with students to achieve what they want. There is no agenda with students because they see that music is THEIR art, and they are just helping them find their way. “We want them to be originals, not impressionists. If they want to learn rock or musicals or classical or hymns or pop music… it’s their journey.

This studio was created because of Rachel’s love for music and being around people. She loves to see the many students, their families, and the other music instructors in action. The list of instructors include: Jacob Goodale on guitar, Amy McIntire on voice and banjo, Kiersten White on voice, Ben Hunt on drums, Kelsey Pressnall on ukulele, Langhorne Preston on piano, and Taylor Cook on flute. Rachel teaches piano and she tells us she began her own lessons 26 years ago. As a child, her dream was to play piano and her neighbor happened to be a composer for the Seattle Symphony. Rachel says, “He was working on developing his own teaching line and very kindly took me and my sister on as his test subjects. I began teaching 9 years later.”

We asked Rachel if there is any such thing as the “easiest instrument to learn.” She tells us “no” but that she and her team encourage younger students to take piano or ukulele lessons. They usually recommend a child start lessons somewhere around 4 to 5 years of age, however there is a preschool piano curriculum for their littlest Mozarts, and this class is appropriate for even younger students.

If you are interested in music lessons, contact Rachel at Warner Music Studios, located at 300 E. Randolph Street in Lewisburg. 304-520-6060. Their classes will introduce music and instrument exploration to help set the stage for a lifetime of family music-making.

– HashtagWV #93. September 2017