Daytona Beach Music Academy inspires love of music in community

Laveta Brigham

HOLLY HILL — Brejoya Smarr, owner of the Daytona Beach Music Academy, developed a passion for music which she then grew into a business in an area deprived of the art form.  “I was a music major in college,” said Smarr, 35. “My junior year in college I took vocal pedagogy. […]

HOLLY HILL — Brejoya Smarr, owner of the Daytona Beach Music Academy, developed a passion for music which she then grew into a business in an area deprived of the art form. 

“I was a music major in college,” said Smarr, 35. “My junior year in college I took vocal pedagogy. I was a voice major. As I was taking vocal pedagogy, we had to teach another student. After that class I went into the community and started teaching beginning piano lessons and voice lessons. I just kept doing it. I always knew my passion was to do one-on-one teaching. I really love teaching in general.”

Smarr has a bachelor’s degree in church music with a concentration in voice from Brewton-Parker College in Georgia.

Daytona Music Academy owner Brejoya Smarr at her facility in Holly Hill, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020.

The Academy is located in Holly Hill at 227 2nd St., nestled in the Woodward Business Center. 

Inside, the white walls are covered with musical quotes and photos of instruments and students. Behind the receptionist’s desk is a quote from Plato: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Another sign reads, “Support your local business. Students can rent their school instruments here.” 

Filling a void

Josh Kusmierz, an instructor at the Daytona Beach Music Academy, felt the community lacked arts programs when compared to other cities.

“I love it [teaching],” said Kusmierz, 24. “This is an opportunity that is very present in other cities like Jacksonville and Miami, but not so much down here, which is something that I was aware of pretty early after I moved here a year and a half ago.”

Kusmierz is one of 10 instructors who teach the academy’s 70 students. He teaches primarily piano, but also voice, guitar and ukulele. He also teaches saxophone if the need should arise. He’s available for lessons both in-person and virtually. 

“I started playing piano when I was 5,” said Kusmierz. “My bachelor’s degree is in theory and composition. Primarily I’m a liturgical musician. I play at churches. But teaching is where my real passion is.”

Music teacher Josh Kusmierz works with student Lillian Garcia, 10, at Daytona Music Academy in Holly Hill, Monday, Nov. 9, 2020.

Turning passion into a business

Smarr started teaching music before she opened her academy.

“When I started, I went into homes and churches,” said Smarr. “I’ve been teaching one-on-one since 2007. I started the actual academy in June of 2014. Once I had a brick-and-mortar, I partnered with two other business owners and we split the cost. As time grew, I’m the only one [business] here.” 

Smarr said her target audience is elementary school until about seventh grade. However teens and adults are welcome to take private lessons. 

Smarr said keeping up with lessons while you’re young is key.

“We reward consistency,” said Smarr. “We encourage our students. No matter if you can play one note or a million, we tell them not to give up. I have a colleague in London that wrote a book that said, ‘I wish I didn’t quit.’ There’s this concept that people start music lessons when they’re young and quit. They grow up and wish they didn’t quit.” 

A bit non-traditional

Smarr said her academy isn’t your traditional music school. 

“We teach classical and the basics,” she said. “We allow the students to also play what they want to play.”

The academy is open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lessons are by appointment.

Smarr said she partners with other entrepreneurs in the community. 

“I work with a company called EmployU. They work with people that have various disabilities, anything from autism to anxiety,” said Smarr. “They put them in a job and pay for everything. EmployU provided my very first office assistant. My husband does some of my media stuff, videography. I work with Kenneth Grant Inzpirations for photography and my promotional material.” 

Flexibility

Smarr said having a digital presence has helped make business more streamlined.

“We have a system where we can upload videos, send practice reminders and it’s automated,” said Smarr. “That helps with the whole process. It helps us stand out. Before the academy, I had clients in other states that wanted voice lessons. I’m trying to bring that back. It really can eliminate the borders.”

Smarr said for students unable to keep a scheduled lesson, there is an opportunity to make it up. 

“If you can’t make it we’ll send you a video lesson, the student can record it back and we give feedback. You’re not totally missing out just because you can’t make it here. Or you can have an online virtual lesson.”

Smarr said the academy does not currently compete in competitions, but it is something she’s researching.

“We’ve looked into that, but a lot of the competitions are very traditional,” said Smarr. “We’ll prepare them [students] here and they usually do it with their school. So, if the school has a competition they take lessons here. But we don’t go as an actual academy. At least not yet. We’re still trying to figure it out.”

The pandemic did have an impact on the academy’s staff and students.

“We did have a time during the stay at home order where we just did online lessons,” said Smarr. “We had a pretty good pivot with everything. We reopened to in-person lessons June 1. We still allow the option to have online lessons as well.”

Smarr said the pandemic had a positive impact, citing that the number of students increased.

“Honestly we got pretty lucky,” said Smarr. “There were a lot of calls asking for in-person lessons. A lot of people were not doing in-person lessons. Especially the elderly music teachers that taught out of their homes. So we actually got a lot of the market to call us because we were open. So, if anything it kind of did the opposite. It helped us expand.”

Daytona Beach Music Academy

Where: 227 2nd St., Holly Hill

Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact: 386-855-8487

www.daytonabeachmusicacademy.com

Lessons by appointment

About this series

The Gem Next Door is a occasional series that highlights local entrepreneurs operating businesses in your neighborhoods. If you are the owner of a business or if you want to nominate a business for recognition, please contact reporter Erica Van Buren at [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, phone number and a little bit about the history of the business.

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