BY DEB HEDLEY
ISSUE NO. 53 | JULY 2023
Modern Day Musings
Happy July, everyone! We hope everyone is having a rockin’ start to their summer vacation! In this month's newsletter, we are going to dive into our Rock School 101 and learn what it’s all about! What is Rock School 101? Our Rock School 101 is a group band program open to students from ages 10-17. The Rock Band program is a wonderful opportunity for students to play and
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF MODERN DAY MUSIC SCHOOL
perform the music they love with other kids their age in a professional setting! Back in 2011, Paul Benedetti, owner of Modern Day Music, got the inspiration to open a music school when his eldest son was a teenager looking to play in a band with other kids his age. However, scheduling rehearsals and communication among teenagers themselves was not a simple task. Finding places to perform was also difficult.
Let’s Rock!
After struggling to help his son put together rehearsals and find age-appropriate places to play, Benedetti had the vision to open up a music school where students could rehearse and jam together in a professional setting! In April 2011, Modern Day Music opened its doors for the first time and welcomed students to start taking music lessons. It wasn’t long before MDM grew and gained enough students to officially start the band program! Roughly eight months after opening, the first Rock School Band Program started at Modern Day Music. Long-time student, Moriah Formica, was among the first students in one of the first bands ever at MDM! The Rock School 101 band program lasts for ten weeks. The genres include rock, pop, country, alternative and more. During the duration of the session, students will meet ten times, once a week for a structured group session run by an MDM coach for 1.5 hours. Week ten is a dress rehearsal of the final set-list and the program concludes with a live band performance at Wicked! This gives students a chance to showcase what they have been working on over the past several months! MDM band shows are so much fun and filled with supportive parents, additional family members, MDM staff, and friends!
let's rock!
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At Modern Day Music, we believe students should love what they play! Not only do students grow and learn throughout the band program but they have the chance to make new friends each session! There are so many other wonderful benefits to joining Rock School 101! Students can express themselves through their instrument and have so much fun! The band show can act as a supplement for a formal school concert. And most importantly, students will learn the importance of teamwork and meeting deadlines! With each band session comes a ton of hard work, dedication, and practice! Students can grow so much in a single session! This month we are so excited to watch our students perform at Wicked Eatery on Sunday July 2nd! You don’t want to miss it! These students have been working so hard over the past several months and cannot wait to showcase what they have been working on. If you are interested in auditioning for Rock School 101, please stop by or call the office for more information! The next session starst on July 8th! For this month's student spotlight, we were so excited to interview one of our youngest rock school members, Camden Maloney. Keep reading to find out more about Cam and why he loves Modern Day Music and Rock School 101!
Student Spotlight - Camden Maloney How did you first get started with music? My brothers played in band in school and so I wanted to play an instrument too. I have always played around on the piano and still try to play the electric guitar sometimes. When did you start taking lessons at MDM? I started taking lessons at MDM in December 2019 when I was 9 years old. What is your favorite thing(s) about MDM? My favorite things are that everyone is so nice and I get to learn new music every time I go there. I also love that I get to see Tony every week. Who inspires you (musically)? Tony inspires me. What is your favorite genre? Why? I have so many it's hard to choose. I love hard rock music like AC/DC because it gets me excited to play.
How long have you been a part of the MDM Rock School 101? I am practicing now for my third show. My first show was in December 2022. What are your favorite things about performing? I love when I get to do solos and when I am done with a song seeing my family go crazy clapping and cheering for me. Advice to other students? Believe in yourself and if you make a mistake just keep on going! Thank you so much for your time, Cam! We cannot wait to see you perform this Sunday, July 2nd, at Wicked with your bandmates! You rock!
M: Which upcoming gig(s) are you most looking forward to and why? D: I have a monthly gig called “Psykick Dancehall†the first Saturday of every month at a little bar called Pint Sized in Saratoga from 8pm-12am. It’s a lot of fun DJing a mix of Soul, Reggae and even a little early Punk and Rock n roll. I think we can all assume that David is very involved in music outside of MDM, but that is not the only thing! He is also a loving husband and father and tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife and son when he is not at MDM. David’s shared that “I can say without a doubt I would not be where I am today without their love and support!†They have supported David in innumerable ways over the recent months as he took on this new role at MDM, and they were even a part of the MDM family long before that! David’s son was a member of our Little Rockers program for a number of sessions before testing out private lessons where he caught on to everything very quickly. Even back then, David and his family were thrilled to be a part of MDM, and the experience also gave David a look at what things are like from the student perspective. Now that his son is a little bit more mature at age 7, he plans to start private piano lessons in the fall! David’s son loves playing piano in his room and we can’t wait to see where he goes in his private lessons. He also takes after his dad and started his own record collection, which he spends much of his time listening to. David is so proud, and we can tell that music definitely does run in the family! We are all so excited to have David on board, are are looking forward to many great years to come. There are so many possible directions for the future of MDM, but we know that no matter what, that direction will be up!
David's Corner
2- MDM Rock Show at Wicked 4- Independence Day 6- On this day in 1957: 15-year-old Paul McCartney and 16-year-old John Lennon meet at a church picnic near Liverpool 6- Alive at Five with Plush and Super 400, 4:30-8pm 8- Under the Den (Ben Zolekski) at Helderberg Meadworks 1pm 8- Ben Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano at Ravenswood 6:30-9:30pm 11- On this day in 1969: David Bowie releases “Space Oddity†as an ode to American space travel to the moon 14- Under the Den (Ben) at Spa City Tap and Barrel 10pm-2am 15- Ben Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano at Frog Alley 5-8pm 16- Ben Zoleski solo at Adirondack Winery 11am-2pm 17- On this day in 1967: The Jimi Hendrix Experience opens for The Monkees at N.Y.’s Forest Tennis Stadium 20- On this day in 1965: Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone†is released by Columbia Records 21- On this day in 1990: Roger Waters performs “The Wall†at the former site of The Berlin Wall 22- Under the Den (Ben) at GEM Fest 22- Ben Zoleski solo at Spa City Tap and Barrel 6:30-9:30pm 25- On this day in 1969: Neil Young makes his first appearance with Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Fillmore East 27- Ben Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano at Peddlers 7-10pm
28- Ben Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano at Katie O Byrnes 7-10pm 29- Lucid Street (Cait Tizzone) at The Heritage in Colonie 25- On this day in 1969: Neil Young makes his first appearance with Crosby, Stills & Nash at the Fillmore East 27- Ben Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano at Peddlers 7-10pm
28- Ben Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano at Katie O Byrnes 7-10pm 29- Lucid Street (Cait Tizzone) at The Heritage in Colonie
juLY CALENDAR
Happy July, everyone! Our rock show at Wicked is Sunday, July 2nd! Which also means It is that time to sign up again for Rock School 101! If you have any interest at all, please let myself or one of our lovely office staff members know to get you or your child involved!
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEW STUDENTS iN JUNE!
Brian M Tracy B Keith S Marie N Alivia E Nuria C Eleanor A Henry H Judy C Gerorgia C Alex E Ayumi I Charleigh G Aareev R Leah B Greyson P Matthew S Caterina M Shari L Alex W Nora K Jacob W Eden S Miles M Tiernan D Colin B Chris P Katie D Demari J Dakari J Anthony E Avery B
1673 RT9, Clifton Park, NY 12065 ~ 518-261-1920 ~ www.moderndaymusicschool.com
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