Creative Music Adventures started as a simple vision in 2003.  I wanted to expose students to the joys of playing and learning music. 

My parents both taught music in the public schools.  I was fortunate enough to attend the Univesity of Miami and earn a Jazz Piano Performance degree.  I have been able to tour and play music with some truly inspiring people and musicians over the years.  After exploring these many facets of the music world, I developed some strong opinions about how music should be presented to beginning level students and beyond.

I began to feel an obligation to help make the piano lessons we experienced as kids evolve into something much more profound.  Too many times in music education we tend to chase the traditions without questioning them.  I have the utmost respect for the musical traditions that have led to the amazing sounds we currently organize into music.  Unfortunately as teachers, we often tend to lose sight of the true power of music by clinging to traditions and standards that have nothing to do with the music itself.  This can lead to kids hating their lessons and playing music.

I want to help students respect the music of the past and present, while also respecting and learning about the spirit behind the music.  The attitude and soul of the music are the elements that can turn playing music into a lifelong passion - not just something you do on Thursdays at 4:30 after school.

I find it very exciting that within the first couple years of lessons at Creative Music Adventures, a piano student may be working on Bach, Mozart, The Beatles, blues, improvisation and composing their own pieces.  I wish my lessons were like that when I was eight-years old!

We would be irresponsible, if we didn’t expose kids to the minds of great classical composers, the important jazz artists, the influential rock bands or today’s cutting-edge electronic music.  I want every student to have a choice and a voice through music.

My hope is that someday the students will have a powerful outlet of communication with their music.  Whether they choose to communicate in the language of Bach, Mozart, Charlie Parker, Stevie Wonder, Green Day or things that I am too old to listen to; it will be their choice. 

First we are here to provide the foundation they will need to speak the language.  Then we can help them speak the language fluently.

Michael Stegner

Founder of Creative Music Adventures