The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Music in Chappaqua

A Summer Music Day Camp Unlike Any Other!

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Music in Chappaqua’s New York Rock Academy is a Sanctuary for Campers, an Uplifting Environment where Kids & Teens Experience Self-expression, Camaraderie and a Stimulating Music Education

Angie Angier is the founder and owner of the New York Rock Academy Performance Summer Camp and of the famed Music in Chappaqua.

Chappaqua, New York–The New York Rock Academy Performance Summer Camp is back for 2022! Established by musician, educator and longtime Chappaqua resident Angie Angier, the New York Rock Academy Performance Camp, under the auspices of the famed Music in Chappaqua, is about music community and togetherness. In the wake of these challenging times we are all experiencing, Ms. Angier explains, “Now more than ever, music becomes a great unifier, an ultimate healer, and an essential element that allows campers/students to reclaim their identities, connect with their peers, and share in the joy of self-expression.”

Our New York Rock Academy Performance Camp, Ms. Angier states, “allows each camper to develop their own voice as budding artists. Here we celebrate and have a great love of every individual. We care for them, and we value their individuality. It’s a nurturing music environment where students make great friendships. It’s truly a safe haven, and a mecca for young artists.” The Academy is an immersive rock ‘n roll day camp consisting of five independent week-long sessions for aspiring rock stars.


Sessions include:

– Beatles Week
– The Ultimate ‘70s Rock Camp
– Green Day Vs. Red Hot Chili Peppers
– The Amazing Music of the Big ‘80s
– The Ultimate Nirvana Grunge Rock Camp

The structure of the Academy, with its five week-long sessions geared to specific rock eras, represents the future of the summer program, Ms. Angier says. “We stand on the shoulders of giants,” she says. “The musicians of these different decades gave us so much musical intelligence. We delve deeply into the riches they left us.

“This is really the vision for the Academy and the music school,” Ms. Angier adds. “I like the ‘deep dive’ idea into the decades of rock and roll. I think it’s a wonderful, unique approach – to cover five weeks of different periods of rock and roll.” She hopes ultimately to allow campers/students to take their expertise on the road and travel to different areas of the country, emulating the great rock musicians of decades gone by.

Music in Chappaqua provides instruction in a range of musical instruments for campers, and features a series of programs aimed at bringing out the inner musician in every child. Programs include:

• Private Lessons: Offering instruction in piano, voice, violin, guitar, bass, guitar, cello, double bass, flute, trumpet, drums, clarinet, voice and songwriting

• Rock Workshops: Ensemble play providing a practical, exciting way for students to participate in a real band in an actual band setting

• Indie Workshops: A terrific opportunity for young vocalists to find their own voice, sound and style

For more information about the Summer 2022 New York Rock Academy Performance Camp and all programs at Music in Chappaqua, Call Music in Chappaqua at 914.238.3123, contact the school via email at mail@musicinchappaqua.com, or log on to its Web site, www.musicinchappaqua.com. 

 

25 Great Reasons to Discover Music in Chappaqua

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Proudly celebrating its silver anniversary–a quarter century of service, music and harmony in the community, Music in Chappaqua, lead by director Janet Angier, salutes its students past and present, thanks its outstanding faculty and is excited for the next 25 years of music making! Here’s why:

1. You’re Never Too Young: Early childhood beginners, middle school and high school students are encouraged and welcomed to take up an instrument or improve their skills with our award-winning faculty

2. …And, You’re Never Too Old: Stopped playing when life became busy with career and family? In celebration of our quarter century, Music in Chappaqua is offering new adult students a 15 percent discount to come play and study with us.  Just mention this article during the month of June for your first time discount..

3. Amazing Faculty: Enthusiastic, caring, supportive, encouraging, accomplished, and dedicated teachers on staff

4. We Listen to You: We match teachers with students’ learning styles, music preferences, and personalities

5. Award Winning Students: Whether you’re interested in classical music competitions, NYSSMA, NYSMTA, singer-songwriter or vocal competitions, our students are prepared to perform at their highest potential and go on to win across the board

6. Students Pursue Their Passions: Many of our students go on to continue their study at prestigious colleges and universities including The Manhattan School of Music, Interlochen Arts Academy, Julliard, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Berklee, and more

7.  Students Become Professional Performers: Thriving careers in music started at Music in Chappaqua; such as world renowned mezzo soprano Stephanie Marshall, who now performs with the English National Opera, began her studies with our director, Janet Angier

8. All Genres of Music: Classical, Jazz, Broadway, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Pop, Hip-hop, Rock, Progressive Rock, Metal and everything in between – we teach all styles and levels

9. All Instruments: Voice, Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Clarinet, Flute, Saxophones, Trumpet, Guitar, Electric Bass, Drums, Songwriting, Harmonica, and Ukulele

10. Easy Scheduling: Open 7 days a week all year round; generally follows the public-school calendar, extremely flexible summer opportunities

11. Flexible Teaching Locations: Lessons are offered in our Chappaqua studios or in the comfort of your home

12. Custom Tailored Curriculum: Your musical aspirations, needs and wants are listened to and a custom tailored program is designed for your private lessons or Rock Workshop experience

13. Specialized Approach: We aim to suit each individual student’s personal artistic and educational requirements

14. Serving Pros and Non-Pros: From absolute beginners to professionals who are preparing to go into the recording studio, all levels of skill are welcome to study with us

15. Positive Learning Environment: With opportunities to meet and make new friends performing or collaborating in rock bands, songwriting sessions, and recitals

16. Confidence and Self Expression: Students are encouraged and inspired with enthusiasm and exuberance; we believe real music making creates students who are comfortable and confident in their performances and with who they are as a person

17. Regular Performance Opportunities: Year-round performances offered including Open Mic Nights, Singer-Songwriter Shows, Formal Recitals, and Rock & Roll Shows

18. Fantastic Performance Venues: Performances take place where so many stars have launched careers; notable venues have included Steinway Hall, The Wainwright House, Rockwood Music Hall, and NYC’s The Bitter End

19. Beautiful Facility: Clean, modern exterior and interior designs, a relaxing lobby welcomes students and guests with visibility into cutting-edge, lesson studios

20. State of the Art Equipment: Four grand pianos, a fully equipped Rock rehearsal room, plus the latest computer hardware and software, all designed to enhance the learning and performance process

21. Beautiful Landscaping: Modern culture, art, architecture and design tucked into a convenient Chappaqua location, our space exudes peace and tranquility; a proud recipient of The Beautification Award from the Town of New Castle

22. Summer Rock and Roll Camp: A highly successful day camp that runs for 6-week long sessions, The New York Rock Academy places kids and teens at any playing level into bands with others of similar age, musical taste, and playing ability

23. Giving Back to The Community: Local groups and activities are sponsored by Music in Chappaqua such as the Town of New Castle’s Summer Concert Series and the recent March For Our Lives Benefit Concert

24. A Trustworthy Business For 25 Years: Proudly celebrating a quarter century of service, music and harmony in the community

25. You! Music in Chappaqua looks forward to welcoming you into our studios soon!

Safety and Beauty in Musical Expression

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Janet Angier
Janet Angier

As the long time director of Music in Chappaqua, Janet Angier’s approach is one of nurturing students and unleashing the creative eager to surface in every budding musician.

At Music in Chappaqua, that is accomplished in a safe, non judgmental environment. Imparting the rudiments of music and exploring avenues to musical enrichment do not have to rely on memorization and forced instruction, she insists. As such, Angier has cultivated the concept of teaching through a freer and more passive route to musical enlightenment.

“What I’ve seen in public schools and in the many generations that have passed through my teaching and school is that the way music is often taught through the written page, works for some, but not all,” Angier explains. She envisions one day articulating her alternative methodology to public school music teachers and hoping that they will embrace it as fervently as she has.

Accentuating the positive, rewarding successes along the way, and reveling in the joy of creating music supersedes traditional study for many and is their preferred route to fluency, she says. “I’d like an approach where the intellectual level is reduced and the ‘feeling’ is more embraced,” she adds. Allowing students to choose a few chords and give them a rhythm to play with can set them on the road to understanding and improvised creativity. “It’s instant gratification,” she adds.

Angier’s own visits to Nashville have confirmed her observations: “I’ve seen how they teach bluegrass and the same applies in such things as African drumming circles. The non-Western approaches are very successful, and socially based, rather than intellectually based. This could be very gratifying” if offered as an alternative in the regular public school music curriculum, she feels. Angier champions the idea of students relying on self-expression early on in their study, rather than waiting years for their teacher to say “Add expression.”

“In teaching, it’s important to notice the good things: What you see and what you focus on is what develops. If you notice what the student is doing right, they’ll notice that as well, and it will grow. I encourage everyone to see the good, and not to focus on the things that are not.”

For more information about registering, write to mail@musicinchappaqua.com, or call 914-238-3123