ABOUT
MGA
MISSION
STATEMENT
- At MGA our
mission is to give individuals the music training and
encouragement needed to effectively learn and enjoy playing
music on the guitar.
-
We promote music as a shared experience in our studios,
at home and in the community.
-
We use progressive methods to develop a firm basis
for advancing.
OUR
FACULTY
| Stephen Miller, Joellen Miller,
Nick Paluzzi |
Stephen Miller teaches mostly advanced classes and
lessons. With over 40 years of experience in guitar, songwriting
and composition Stephen brings a wealth of experience
and knowledge to his sessions from the most basic elements
to advanced techniques and interpretation. “My greatest
challenge is to remember the process of learning from
my own stages of growth and to stay focused on the fundamentals
that work”, says Mr. Miller. “Many of the methods I have
experienced are full of obstacles rather than steps to
learning. They don't make sense in practice and performance. It
has been my goal to remove obstacles and design a method
that gives the essential building blocks in a clear and
progressive way”. This goal has lead to the instructional
series Guitar Academy by Stephen and Joellen Miller that
has been successfully used to teach hundreds of students
at Notre Dame, I.U.S.B. and at Miller Guitar Academy.
Stephen currently teaches at Notre Dame and Indiana University
at South Bend. He has performed in several states as a
soloist and with ensembles of all sizes including the
South Bend Symphony. He has composed for many instruments
and ensembles including the guitar. He holds degrees from
Indiana University at South Bend and The University of
Redlands, CA. in Guitar and Composition. His guitar teachers
include Dick Wisner, Terry Graves of the Defalla Trio
and William Kanengiser of the L.A. Guitar Quartet. His
composition professors include David Barton, Wayne Bornsteadt
and Barney Childs.
Joellen Miller is co-creator of Guitar Academy
and with her husband Stephen owner of Miller Guitar Academy.
Joellen studied with Stephen at Notre Dame for four years
assisting in classes. She currently teaches beginning
classes at Notre Dame and adults and children at Miller
Guitar Academy. Her years of experience in the business
world and as a mother of three gives her unique gifts
in relating to students and their families. Joellen has
been instrumental in developing the children's program
and arranging student performances for patients at St.
Joseph's Hospital, Mishawaka and for the retired Sisters
of the Holy Cross at St. Mary's College in addition to
regular performances at Barnes and Noble, Bethel College
and The Mishawaka Penn Public Library.
Nicholas Paluzzi-associate
faculty at MGA is a composer, arranger and performer.
Nicholas Paluzzi studied with Stephen Miller earning a
Bachelor of Music in composition with a concentration
in guitar at Indiana University .
|
