Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura McMahan.
Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been around music my whole life. My Mom sings and I grew up watching her sing in the choir or be on stage in the theater. It was a natural progression for me to take piano and voice lessons and music was just always there as a huge part of my life, whether it was through lessons, choirs, or performance groups-music was always available to me.
Right now, because of COVID, so many kiddos aren’t able to have the experience I had. As a music teacher, I try my best to provide that music connection virtually. My sweet preschool is currently closed so I offer Pre-K Virtual Music Classes and have moved my Piano and Voice Studio all online. It’s not the same but I’m thankful to have a platform to keep the music going. If your readers have a little one, I’d love for them to reach out to me about joining my sweet classes. We meet Tuesdays at 12 and Wednesdays at ten. I myself am missing the opportunities to sing with my peers in person, I’m an active member of Oakhurst Community Choir and am so excited for when we can safely make music together again.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been a long and winding road but what journey isn’t? And it’s the journey that helps you become stronger in who you are as a person and for me as a teacher.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Laura’s Lessons in typical times is a private Music Studio in Decatur, where I offer weekly in person lessons with lots of performance opportunities such as Kids Open Mics and formal Recitals. Now I offer weekly virtual lessons for piano/voice and have found new performance opportunities like having my students join me in Virtual Choirs. I also teach two weekly Pre-K Music Classes via Zoom. I’ve curated an engaging, fun class that incorporates song and movement for little ones. They need that connection too and it’s been great fun.
My goal as a music educator is to create a safe space for my students to freely express themselves musically. I had many teachers growing up that scared me, made me play music I wasn’t the interested in-even one who (jokingly) threatened to chop off my fingers if I got the fingering wrong on a piece! I want to be the opposite of those teachers. I like to think of myself as a cheerleader for my students. I want them to play the music they like. I want them to enjoy going to the piano to play a song or sing because they have the confidence to share their voice. In hard times music has always been there for me and as a teacher, I feel I am passing on the tools to my students for music to be there for them as well.
I’ve also had many amazing teachers and keep in touch with many of my college professors. These relationships have fostered many opportunities, such as performing at venues like Carnegie Hall and touring Europe. Music opens doors and is a universal language I want to share with my students.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’m lucky enough to live in an amazing neighborhood, Oakhurst. I love the walkability. I love my neighbors who are always helping and supporting each other, especially during this hard time. We’re bummed this year we won’t be able to host Porchfest, a fun yearly event where we all host music on our porches for folks to come and enjoy. Hopefully, it will be safe next year!
In typical times I love and celebrate so many of our theaters in Atlanta. I love to catch a show at The Fox, The Tabernacle or Variety Playhouse. My husband is a huge Hawks fan so we are often at games cheering on our team (though sometimes it can be hard to be an ATL fan).
Contact Info:
- Email: lauraslessons320@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraslessonsoakhurst/
Image Credit:
Chris Mills Photography for headshot. https://www.chrismillsphotography.com
(my brother in law)
202-236-2543
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