Our Mission at YMU is to help close the gap in youth access to music education and music technology by providing opportunities for students across the nation between the ages of 4-18 to access highquality online music education at a fraction of the cost of traditional music lessons
The YMU Campus offers students a unique learning experience Our specially designed online platform uses powerful integrated software in a collaborative connected environment for our learners
So whether students are exploring our online music library, participating in a collaborative music project, creating music in our online recording studio, participating in a virtual field trip, or improving their musicianship through music instruction, The Young Musician’s University is where learners thrive and discover their love and passion for music!
I hope that you enjoy this publication of The YMU Collective!
Mrs. Gray Director, The Young Musician's University7 Happy Birthday YMU
Celebrating 20 years of "Giving The Gift of Music"!
10 Gonzalo Eyzaguirre
Meet YMU Instructor
12 Alex Drakes
YMU Alum Spotlight
15 YMU Drum Clinic
Free for YMU Students
Register Today!
Asteenagersgrowandbecome moreindependent,theyoften takeonresponsibilitiesbeyond schoolwork.Frompart-time jobstosportsteamsand volunteeringtomusiclessons. Teenscangetbusy.
Extracurricularactivitiescan enrichtheirlivesandhelp themexploretheirpassions. However,toomany commitmentscanquicklylead tostress,burnout,andeven negativeimpactsonacademic performance.Asaparent,you wanttosupportyourteenager's interestswhilehelpingthem maintainahealthybalance.
#01
Prioritize:Encourageyourteenagertoidentifytheirtop prioritiesandcommitments,andthenworkwiththemto createaschedulethatbalancestheirtimeaccordingly. Discusswhat'smostimportantandwhatmightneedtobe scaledbackorpostponed.
#02
Berealistic:Helpyourteenagersetrealisticexpectations andgoals.Makesuretheyunderstandthetimeandenergy requiredforeachcommitmentandencouragethemtobe honestwiththemselvesaboutwhat'spossible.It'sbetterto doafewthingswellthantospreadthemselvestoothin.
#03
Planahead:Encourageyourteenagertoplanaheadasmuch aspossible.Thiscouldincludecreatingato-dolist,setting remindersontheircellphone,orbreakingdownlargertasks intomanageablesteps.Bystayingorganized,theycan reducestressandmakethemostoftheirtime.
#04
Maketimeforself-care:Remindyourteenagerofthe importanceofself-care.Encouragethemtotakebreaks,get enoughsleep,anddothingsthattheyenjoy.Thiscanhelp themrechargeandstaymotivated.
#05
Communicate:Keepanopenlineofcommunicationwith yourteenager.Askhowthey'refeeling,listentotheir concerns,andbesupportive.Ifyounoticesignsofburnoutor stress,talktothemabouthowtoadjusttheirscheduleor seekadditiona
Remember,eachteenagerisdifferent,andwhatworksfor onemightnotworkforanother.Beflexible,supportive,and opentofindingtherightbalanceforyourfamily.Witha littleeffort,yourteenagercansuccessfullynavigatethe challengesofschool,work,andextracurricularswhile maintainingtheirphysicalandemotionalhealth.
Marking YMU’s 20th anniversary, Byta will be providing YMU students with a series of workshops and guest lectures across the Summer of 2023. Covering topics focused on key aspects of their music career strategies, entrepreneurship, and digital best practices such as file formats and metadata
Equipping students with better tools to better help move their careers forward. They will also receive an upgraded Byta account during their time at YMU - completely free of charge Removing barriers to access such necessary creator tools
The Byta platform is specifically built for music. It enables the sending and receiving of digital audio in a clean, simple, and secure way. Byta is unrivaled in taking advantage of audio files' unique properties – reading and writing file metadata, converting file formats, and delivering fast yet secure streaming.
The Young Musician’s University is a virtual space where students thrive and discover their love and passion for music! For 20 years YMU has reimagined music education, providing an
ecosystem where students can learn, explore, create, share, and connect as a community nationwide. Their specially designed online platform uses powerful integrated software in a collaborative connected environment for students aged 4-18.
Byta has always had a passion for education which lead to the launch of #HowWeListen (howwelisten.org), the platform’s nonprofit arm. Enabling the consistent delivery of high-quality content and events to tomorrow’s artists and industry leaders from every background, and all levels of the music ecosystem.
"We instantly connected with the amazing team at BYTA because our goals are aligned. We both aim to educate and empower individuals involved in and around music. At The Young Musician's University, we provide project-based learning. Through our partnership with BYTA, students can become active participants in real-world scenarios as they progress through our Music Industry Curriculum and participate in masterclasses hosted by Byta founder Marc Brown. BYTA brings a wealth of knowledge to the table for our students to learn from, and we can't wait to see how this partnership impacts the lives of the next generation of young musicians!" -
Tembi Gray, YMU Director"One of our goals at YMU is to help close the gap of youth access to music education. Partnerships are vital as we connect and build meaningful relationships across the country and beyond. Our mission is big, so we can't do this alone. We are excited about our partnership with BYTA and the wealth of information and educational resources they'll provide our students. This association will help them grow as young musicians and thrive as young individuals."
- Bevis Gray, YMU Executive Director"We’re delighted to be partnering with The Young Musician’s University. Byta’s goals match perfectly with those of YMU’s, providing artists, musicians and creators of all disciplines with the tools and knowledge needed to move their careers forward. Being a part of any YMU students’ journey, as they move closer to a career in music, is important to everyone at Byta. On a personal note, I’m also looking forward to meeting the YMU students when I present a series of masterclasses this Summer!"
- Marc Brown, Byta Founder & CEO
Beingabletosharethegiftofmusic withothersisoneofthegreatest opportunitiesweprovideour students,whethervirtuallyorin person.RecentlysomeYMUstudents cametogethertosharetheirtalent withtheircommunityattheMidlands KidsFestinColumbia,SC.
JoshuaAdams,16 KyleeOtto,16 JadonEmokpae,12
Giveyourchildmorethanjustmusiclessons, immersetheminanonlinemusiceducation experiencethatwilllastalifetime!
ProfessionalTeachingStaff, VirtualFieldTrips,ElectiveClasses, Workshops,Clinics,Seminars, MusicCompetitions,Collaboration Opportunities,OnlineMusicLibrary, aStudent-RunRecordLabel, andmore!
MTheYoungMusician'sUniversityistheperfectplacefor youngmusicianstolearn,explore,create,share,and connect.Weprovideavirtualcollaborativecommunity foryoungmusicianstobuildafirmmusicalfoundation anddevelopalifelongloveformusic!Joinustoday andbecomeapartoftheYMUCampus!
Gonzalo Eyzaguirre is an experienced musician, composer, and producer. His experience as a session musician and live musician with world-renowned musicians such as Gary Willis, Victor Mendoza, Abraham Laboriel, Patrice Rushen, and others has earned him a great deal of recognition.
Originally a drummer, Gonzalo pursued music production and received a degree in composition and drum performance, followed by a full scholarship to study for his Master’s Degree in Performance and Production at Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, Gonzalo learned advanced techniques in Ableton Live and sound design, and now produces music for film, TV, and video games, in addition to composing and designing sounds
He has his own project called Stas, which combines electronic music with live acoustic instruments. Gonzalo is constantly striving to learn and grow in the music industry and his biggest talent is his ability to learn and communicate through music
How has being a former student at YMU impacted where you are today?
As a former student, I was able to take classes with other brilliant musicians, attend summer camps, and perform in front of live audiences Because of those experiences, I am now able to execute with assurance and confidence.
Mr. Jenkins, my former instructor, laid a firm foundation for drummers like me Any place I perform or practice, my fundamentals, techniques, posture, rudiments, and rebounds are easily recognized by other musicians and educators
What advice would you give another YMU Student?
In addition to studying, watching, and listening, I would advise YMU students to pursue their own musical interests rather than comparing or judging their accomplishments against those of other musicians Your particular musical journey will be special and useful to you if you are patient with the process.
What words best describe you?
Very methodical, structured, and focused
What are your latest performances and milestones?
I was a Guest Percussionist for the District 2 Honors Orchestra Performance
I performed in the High School Band named ”Black Keys", for The Black Excellence History Program
I was a Percussionist for Westwood's High School Concert Band
I was also a Featured Percussionist for Spanish Heritage Month
This one is for you mom. As a former YMU Parent, how has YMU impacted your child?
Alex joined YMU at the age of five As a result of YMU’s instruction, he developed an early passion and enthusiasm for music and drums Alex's ability to read music has evolved into a strength and an advantage, now presenting him with favorable opportunities He is constantly improving his ability to hear, read, and interpret music Alex appreciates music and aspires to broaden his musical abilities beyond the drum beat.
"I am a skilled musician and percussionist thanks to YMU and my former instructor, Mr. Jenkins."
YMU Legacy features past GMG throwback videos of recitals, concerts, workshops, and other GMG moments that are now a part of the YMU Legacy!
Check out this YMU Legacy moment as Alex Drakes plays a percussion duet with his instructor, Mr. Jenkins. Alex said, "one of my favorite YMU memories was being able to perform with Mr. J."
YMU welcomes Baby Lion Media as an Educational Partner. Baby Lion Media is a creative production company based in Los Angeles, California. Their team of storytellers provides YMU students with information and resources through workshops, masterclasses, and access to industry professionals.
Baby Lion Media is currently providing an opportunity for Music Production students to submit work for possible selection that would be used in a Pepsi Commerical for one of their director's reels. Their team also provides feedback on student projects and has access to multimedia content created by our students for periodic review, feedback, and possible opportunities with Baby Lion Media.
We are thankful to Digby and Ramon Nuñez, founders of Baby Lion Media. Through this innovative and collaborative relationship, we can collectively connect the next generation of creatives with information, industry-specific experiences, and educational resources.
Music education has come a long way over the years. Traditionally, it has been seen as a subject that requires in-person instruction and hands-on learning. However, with the rise of technology and online learning, music education is rapidly changing.
Online music lessons and resources are becoming more common and accessible, and music technology is opening up new possibilities for musicians and educators alike This has opened up opportunities for students who may not have access to a local music teacher, or who prefer the convenience of learning from home.
Technology has also opened up new possibilities for musicians and music educators. Digital audio workstations, or DAWs, allow musicians to record and produce music from their own homes, without the need for expensive studio equipment. Software synthesizers and virtual instruments allow musicians to create a wide range of sounds and textures, and music notation software makes it easier than ever to create and share compositions.
At YMU, we believe in embracing the power of technology to provide high-quality music education to students across the country. Our online platform is designed to be engaging and interactive, with features like virtual field trips, collaborative music projects, and an online music library. We also provide personalized support and guidance to ensure that our students have the best possible learning experience With the help of technology, we are working to create a future where music education is accessible to all, no matter where they are in the world.
Free for YMU Drum Students
General
Enrollment: $25 with Gonzalo Eyzaguirre
Open to Students Ages 12-18
Registration Deadline April 17th
REGISTER
Little Music Essentials
is our online piano course designed for students ages 4-6. Parents can choose our group class option or our group AND private class option.
1
Concepts taught are: How to sit at the piano; Correct hand position; High and low; Loud and soft (forte and piano); Keyboard topography; Bar line and measure; Quarter, half, whole notes and rests; and Repeat signs. The first pieces in the book are played on the black keys Later in the book, C D E for the RH and C B A for the LH (Middle C position) are taught with beginner pre-reading songs
Little Music Essentials 3 has students reading music that is completely written on the staff After a review, the new concepts taught are: Staccato, Legato, slurs; Melodic and harmonic 2nds and 3rds; and Melodic and harmonic 4ths and 5ths Bass clef C D E is also taught for the LH Students then know all notes necessary to play in the C position Playing both hands together is taught near the end of the book
With imaginative instruction and fun interactive games, your toddler will gain new skills through music exploration.
Group Class Size: 6 students max Group Class Duration: 45 minutes each week
2 3
Little Music Essentials 2 starts with prereading, then moves to reading on the staff After a review, the new concepts taught are: Dotted quarter notes and 4/4 time, 3/4 time, Mezzo-forte, Staff and note reading, Steps and skips, and the Grand Staff New notes taught are F and G in the LH and RH, completing the Middle C position
4
Little Music Essentials 4 introduces students to new concepts such as: Flat and sharp signs; Ties; and Crescendo and diminuendo After reviewing C position and Middle C position, G position is also taught All three positions are used alternately throughout the rest of the book, with flat and sharp notes incorporated.
Private Class Duration: 30 minutes each week
MARCH