We are so thankful to all of our parents and students. 2010 has been a great year, certainly, we have a ways to go in building the school programs to peak, but we want you to know that all we do FOR the community would be impossible with out you!  Ballard School of Performing Arts is your school, Debbie and I; along with our staff; Amnee and Brenda are at your Service!

 We are ready to serve our community by teaching the wonder filled experience of playing music, learning to dance and now acting! Below is a list of classes that we offer here at Ballard School of the Performing Arts:

Piano...with  Sue Hewitt, Teresa Kelly and Marc Lilly

Guitar...With Charlie Watson. Joel Tolley, Leo Garcia  and Rob Hunter

Violin:  Sue Hewitt

Cello: Marc Lilly

Percussion:  Dan Robins and Jose Rossy

Voice Instruction: Rob Hunter & Erin Watson

Dance: Nikki Hooper and Meghan Richards

Woodwinds:  Rachel Hartgrove and Penny Michalec

Ballard Street Kids: Cheryl Mabry (prerequesite to playing and instrument ages 4-1/2 - 7 years old)

Cherish Music Together:Cheryl Mabry (Exploring and making music with your child; ages birth to 5 years old)

We have now added a new class...DRAMA KIDS INTERNATIONAL! It is a wonderful course which will inspire your child to act and speak with confidence!

Check out the Drama Kids website: http://www.dramakids.com/tx3

Around town,  people that knew about our music school kept mentioning that there was a lady that I just had to meet.  They said Rob,  you and Cheryl would work great together,    I would just smile and nod my head,  all the while thinking to myself,  yeah, yeah, yeah...blah, blah, blah, I've heard that statement before...

Cheryl Mabry is a wonderful addition to the instructors at Ballard School. She teaches our new borns through 4 years old in the Cherish Music Together Program.  This music program is an interactive class where moms and dads share in the musical experience with their children.  Cherish Music together is  designed to start children on their life's musical journey, and Cheryl is the perfect instructor to teach that course! 

Your child will learn about musical instrument families such as Woodwinds, brass, strings and acoustic instruments. Our Ballard Street Kids also learn musical styles and composers. Besides all that your child will love using their most important instrument...their voice!

Fall classes start August 30, 2010.  Get your child started now by registering them for this amazing course, let Cheryl show you how music builds character in your child's life!

Jose Rossy...Virtuoso Percussionist to Join The Ballard School Team!

Percussionist - Jose Rossy

Ballard School of Performing Arts is an organization motivated by the belief that  promoting  music and dance can enhance the lives of those that choose to pursue those disciplines.  I am a strong believer that parents who choose to include music and dance as an activity in their child's life will absolutely see the benefits to the child.   The pursuit of  music and dance, and falling in love with the same,  can absolutely change your life!  

My Mom and Dad, both musicians and singers are responsible for introducing  me to the world of music. It was not until I was a grown up that I realized how lucky I was to have grown up in a home with music and musicians all around.

My folks fostered an environment saturated with music and dance!  Subsequently my syblings; 3 brothers and 7 sisters along with myself  were literally thrust into the world of music from birth!

I started playing piano and entertaining at the age of 5.   At 9  I was playing the alto sax. From there I played the tenor sax, then flute!  After the wood winds I found great interest in percussion instruments (Congas, bongos and all kinds of shakers and other percusive  instruments).  What a wonderful musical life I have had...the last two instruments that I fell in love with was the guitar and my voice!  Those two instruments opened the door to my performing  for  the public.   Performing is an experience that I wish on all my students!  

At Ballard Street we believe that you are never too young or too old to experience the benefits of pursuing your dream of playing music or dancing!  We have programs for everyone!  Seniors are not only welcome, they are encouraged to come in to see what we have to offer especially for them!

PERCUSSION...
There is a wonderful feeling that comes from keeping rhythm on a percussion instrument.  To be one with the beat is simply awesome.  I know because I have been there!  The rhythm carries the song and is the very heart beat of the musical message,  and if you are the one playing the percussion instrument...you become the life's blood of the song.

PRESENTING JOSE ROSSY...

Ballard School is pleased to present our newest instructor...Master percussionist Jose Rossy;   a virtuoso percussionist most often associated with the jazz-fusion, AND world-music sounds he produced with super group Weather Report  in the early 80's.  Jose Rossy has amassed a body of work that defies "genre-lization." From symphony orchestras and philharmonics to Talking Heads and Sesame Street, Rossy's colorful hand print can be found on some of the most creative musical collaborations across a full spectrum of styles over the past 30 years.

MR. ROSSY COMES TO BALLARD STREET
by way of the Kiowa School District in Eads, Colorado where apart from his illustrious musical career he taught music to kids K-12. In his own words Rossy says "education is so important, not only for discipline, but for encouragement.  I remember when I was first starting out in Humacao [Puerto Rico], my first instrument was the E-flat clarinet. My teacher, Herman Pena, saw something in me. A couple of years later, I was in a car accident that left my lips and teeth in a different position, and I couldn't play the clarinet anymore. It was Herman Pena who steered me toward percussion, and later it was Herman Pena who gave me the encouragement to audition for the Conservatory".

Prior to starting as instructor this fall,  Mr. Jose Rossy will host a Percussion clinic on August 7, 2010. (Specific details to be announced soon).  He will give demonstrations on all types of hand drums, timbales  as well as conventional drum sets.  This clinic will also serve as a time for early registration for the fall and spring semesters at Ballard Street.  If you want to be taught by one of the best,  be ready to come out and experience this world class performer and instructor!  Class space will be limited!

Click this link to see more information:  www.joserossy.com/

Ballard School of Performing Arts
130 North Ballard
Wylie, Texas 75098
972-429-0047
www.ballardmusic.com

Cheryl Mabry is a new addition to the instructors at Ballard School. She teaches our new borns through 4 years old. Her course is called Cherish Music Together; an interactive music class where moms and dads share in the musical experience with their children. A wonderful course designed to start children on their life's musical journey.  Cheryl Also is the Ballard Street Kids instructor.  BSK is an interactive music course designed to equip children 4 to 7 years old with a fundamental awareness of music structure and symbols...Call  Cherylfor more info!
www.musictogether.com



Rachel Hartgrove - Woodwinds

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Marc Lilly - Piano Instructor
Marc is one of our newer instructors; he is rapidly building a positive reputation with his students and their parents. Marc is a is very good pianist as well as a good instructor.
I consider him to be a great asset to the Ballard School team.


Sue Hewett - Violin and Piano
When Sue joined the team in March of 2008, the violin program was struggling to get off the ground. She began by teaching voice and piano to suppliment her violin student roster. To date her violin program is one of the stongest disciplines here at our school!  What ever Sue teaches she does it with the passion of a musical artist and the patience of a saint! Sue recieved the 2009 teacher of the year award this year at Ballard School of the Arts! 


Erin Nelson - Introduction to voice
Erin is like a breath of fresh air! Along with her wonderfully trained voice, her personality is one that supports and encourages her students. Her introduction to voice class is filling up, so you'll want to come in and sign up soon!

Charlie Watson - Classical, Jazz, Blues Rock guitar
Charlie joined the Ballard team at the beginning of the 2009 fall season; he quickly began to win the hearts and trust of his students and their parents. Charlie really has a style of his own when teaching, and his students are responding very well. Charlie has the musical knowledge to pass on to his students just what they need to become musicians. If you want to meet an all around good guy and great instructor, ask for Charlie!

Joel Tolley - Bass and six string guitar
Joel came aboard when we opened the school in 2006. He has been an inspiration to me as well as many of the other instructors.  Joel is serious about his trade and has played with many famous musicians across the nation. Whether your choice is contemporary christian, rock, or jazz, Joel is the instructor for you!

Rob Hunter - guitar - voice
Rob is the founder and owner of Ballard School of the Performing Arts. He is a singer and has performed in many venues in various states across the country. One of Rob's most memorable performances was when he had the pleasure of performing with the Joan Hammel Band for our troops in Guantanamo Bay Cuba..."What an experience", says Rob.

At Ballard Street Rob is known as the motivator, he teaches beginning guitar but motivates his students to develop a love for music and their instrument. Introducing music of all types and styles to our children is Rob's quest!

I met Jimmy in May of 2006. Our school was brand new and we were looking for instructors that we could depend on to teach the guitar to our students.  We weren't just looking for anyone, we were in search of someone that could make a lasting impact on the students and at the same time assure parents that if his students stayed with it and practiced; they would emerge musicians! 

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