Water Tower instructor to open music school in area
Mickey Leone with one of his students, Matt Hoffman.
by GAIL COHEN
A new music school will be opening in Oreland this October. SoundStage School of Music will occupy the schoolhouse on the property of St. Philip’s in the Field Church at the corner of Oreland Mill Road and Lorraine Avenue. The school offers private instruction and group sessions on a variety of instruments including piano and keyboard, guitar and bass, violin and other strings, voice, choir and musical theater, woodwinds, brass, drums and more. All students are welcome, from beginner to advanced, pre-schoolers to senior citizens. Any style of music can be studied from classical to rock.
In addition to private lessons, SoundStage offers ensemble classes for those who wish to work with other musicians. According to co-director Mickey Leone, 53, who was born and raised in Flourtown, “We really believe that it is important for musicians to learn to play together. It is really the best way to develop discipline for rhythm and listening skills.”
Leone, a graduate of Springfield Township High School, La Salle College and Chestnut Hill College (master’s degree in psychological counseling), has been teaching music for over 25 years. As the director of the guitar school at the Water Tower in Chestnut Hill for nine years, he has taught hundreds of students of all ages and abilities. His partner in the SoundStage School project is Geoff Hansplant, a fellow musician and longtime friend.
According to Hansplant, “We have a different approach to teaching than most other music schools. We truly believe that music is the world’s universal language. As such it can’t exist in a bubble. Where most schools fail their students is in their cloistering them away for individual lessons without developing the community aspect of being musicians. We want our students to play music, to take what is musical in them and put it out for the community’s enjoyment and benefit, while having fun in the process. To that end we will stress ensemble playing and feature as many performance opportunities as possible including coffeehouses, senior citizen centers, church benefits and other functions. Perhaps it’s because we are children of the 1960s, but we see music as a force for bringing community together.”
The schoolhouse at St. Philips in the Field Church is about one mile from the Flourtown exit of Route 309.
“One of the mainstays of our school is our workshop program,” according to Hansplant. “The subject matter will vary greatly from ‘vocal technique for non-singers’ to ‘famous hot guitar licks.’”
“Makin’ Music” is a special parent and tot program that is offered weekday mornings at St. Philips. According to Mickey Leone, “Everyone loves music, and pre-schoolers really benefit from seeing their parents model the joy of music participation with them.”
In the “Makin’ Music” program each week, kids and their caregivers play shaker eggs, bang marching sticks, jam with rhythm instruments and dance with scarves. Every class features lots of finger plays, songs and movement to music.
For information and a free brochure, call 267-682-0965.
