When it came to playing music, Mike Benninger was a late bloomer. He was 12-years-old when he discovered his uncle’s guitar in the attic and decided he wanted to learn to play. But age doesn’t matter, Benninger said. Children and adults can learn to play an instrument at any time.
As Benninger’s love of music continued to grow, so did his desire to one day teach. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in music performance from Keene State College in New Hampshire and his master’s in music performance from Yale. The Cornwall-on-Hudson native performed for many years, but now his primary focus is teaching music.
In 2003, he opened Mike’s Guitar Studio, a home-based business in New Windsor. He started out as a private guitar instructor, but the demand for lessons on other instruments continued to increase, so Benninger hired additional instructors.
With seven instructors and nearly 175 students, Benninger found it necessary to move to a bigger location. On Aug. 12, Mike’s Guitar Studio reopened as New Windsor Music Academy and is now located at 318 Blooming Grove Turnpike in New Windsor’s Oakwood Plaza.
The music academy offers lessons in guitar, piano, voice, drum, violin, viola, cello, bass, as well as rock band classes. Sessions are typically 30 minutes long. Lessons are offered seven days a week by appointment.
“Some want to learn to read music, some just want to learn their favorite songs,” Benninger said of his clientele. “We always welcome beginners.”
Children as young as 3-years-old can learn to play music, but more than likely they’ll start learning on the piano or drums. Benninger said, on occasion, a parent is adamant about their child learning to play guitar because the child already owns the instrument.
“Trying to get them to play guitar at that age is tough,” said Benninger, adding the more appropriate age to learn guitar is at 5 or 6-years-old.
Lessons are also offered to advanced students who may be heading to college for music.
“We can teach any style and any level,” Benninger said. “We try to fit the student to the right teacher. We customize lessons to meet the needs of the student.”
Sessions typically offer a balance between the educational aspect of reading music and the fun aspect of learning the songs the student desires to play. Practice outside of the sessions is recommended. Benninger said beginners are asked to practice for 15 minutes a day to start. More advanced students should practice at least an hour a day.
Moving forward, Benninger said he’d like to offer more to the students, but he said it’s too early to say what changes will be made.
