Megan Navarro
DRIPPING SPRINGS — An Austin-based school that offers private music lessons, workshops, programs and more will be bringing a new location to Dripping Springs in January.
The Band Aid School of Music — currently located in South Austin and Westlake — was officially started in 2009 by James Mays, who had a passion for teaching and helping form bands of youth musicians in the early 2000s. He knew that he wanted to help the younger generation thrive in the industry, as he himself was in a band called Bob Popular in the '80s. This drive of music education even inspired the making of Richard Linklater’s movie, “School of Rock.”
For Mays, it took him some time to realize that he was good at teaching kids music, recalling that, back in 2010, a young band he put together — starting out at only 8 years old — won the National Champion Rock Band competition when they were 12-14 years old. This secured him the title of being a National Champion Rock Band coach.
“I grew up in a musical house. My family's all musicians. My mom taught piano in the house all the time. I always had great music teachers, but I just never thought that I could do it,” he said. “So, it took me a while to admit. Becoming a National Champion Rock Band coach, I finally admitted to myself, ‘Okay, I know what I'm doing. I know how to teach kids music.’”
The school is in its 16th anniversary of operation with a “great staff” of world class musicians who play the major festivals, such as Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and South by Southwest, Mays said.
Starting the school was important to Mays because it allows for the staff to create a healthy alternative where parents feel happy and know their kids are safe in an environment where they are having fun and living their dreams. He added that their mission has become empowering people to enjoy a lifetime love of music.
“There are all kinds of people who want to explore music. Not everybody wants to be a professional musician. We understand that; there's room for everybody. All the science shows the benefits of how much of the brain is lighting up when you play music and how it helps you to think outside the box and to be more creative in whatever endeavor you decide to go into in life or whoever you decide to be,” he explained.
He added that in his experience of teaching for the last 30-plus years, he has heard countless stories from parents that their child was lost, they did not have a great friend group and were outcast or bullied until they found their voice and tribe at Band Aid School of Music.
“Whether they're going to be a musician for the rest of their lives or not, that experience benefits them in whatever they do. It's powerful,” he shared.
Being a Dripping Springs resident himself, Mays has had plans for a long time to expand outside of Austin and, according to him, there is already a rich music culture and it allows families to have a place to go to local without the burden of commuting.
“There's a rich culture here, with Wimberley and Dripping [Springs]. There's a real attention to music. There's big art festivals and that sort of thing here,” Mays said. “We wanted to create something where people didn't have to drive into Austin for this kind of beneficial offering for their kids, where they could stay closer to home.”
At the Dripping Springs location, there will be the following programs:
• National Champion Rock Band program: Ages 8 years old to adult
• Private lessons: Ages 4 to 94 years old
• Intermediate to advanced class: Ages 10 years old to adult
• There will also be an eventually mommy and me class for preschool children
Most of the students who are starting young have little to no experience, so it’s a good opportunity to explore what the best instrument is for them, Mays explained. However, at 4 years old, the students start out with piano, drums and voice because those are the easiest to access.
Also, while there are instruments at the school, such as piano, they will need something at home to practice, the director said.
Band Aid School of Music is not an accredited school like a student would attend for kindergarten through the 12th grade, rather it's considered an afterschool program, where each student’s schedule is built around their interests and what kind of music they like, Mays explained.
The Dripping Springs location — at 30305 Ranch Road 12 — will be holding a grand opening on Jan. 4, with lessons beginning Jan. 5.
To learn more about the school and pricing, visit www.bandaidschoolofmusic.com.
