Music Maker Four years ago Trisha Hogan Craig ’87 decided to start her own music school in Kittery, Maine. "I thought it would be a fun little thing to do," laughs the musician and teacher. Music Makers has about 90 students, ranging from age 18 months to retirement-age, and 12 regular faculty members (including Craig), who teach piano, flute, bass, guitar, violin, clarinet, saxophone, and voice, as well as a Kindermusic program for ages 18 months to 6 years. The staff otherwise consists of, well, Craig. She painted the storefront building and handled all the advertising, accounting, site management, procurement of furnishings ("I bought the piano on a credit card!"), troubleshooting, recruitment of faculty and students, janitorial services — you name it. How did a flutist learn all these skills? "From my residence life involvement at Ithaca College. Absolutely. I was an RA for two years and head resident for one. I learned time management, people skills, working with a group, setting goals, crisis intervention. You know, sometimes students fall apart and it becomes a reality check, not a flute lesson. At Music Makers I’m constantly in demand." And she’s demanding. She wants this school to be the best in New England. "All the faculty are brilliant performers," she says. "Students pay a lot for private lessons, and they deserve the best. They have many opportunities to perform here, with several recitals a year." Many of Music Makers’ students are winning awards and performing in state and regional orchestras. Craig studied flute at Ithaca with Professor David Berman, who is now retired. "I adore him," she raves. "I learned so many things from him that didn’t sink in until I heard them coming out of my own mouth a few years later as a teacher — about sound production, how to practice, learning in general . . . and life." Music Makers is a fun and energetic space. The front room is lilac. One studio is eucalyptus green, the other buttery yellow, and the bathroom is "screaming pink." "People come in and smile and laugh," says Craig. That’s important to her: "I want to create community. I try to teach our students that we can all win, all play the repertoire, all be superstars. "We help students achieve their own goals. And we’re not stuck in a classical mode — we also teach rock, folk, and jazz if they want. We have a sax guy who plays in a rock band and a lot of adults who sing in church choirs. They want to do solos, so they come here to learn." It’s not all a song, though. "There are huge challenges," says Craig. "It was tough at first. Everything’s been shut off at some point. But we’ve just entered our fifth year, and by its end we should be debt-free. We get all our students by word of mouth; now we have a waiting list for flute students. I have a flock of high school flute players who have been studying with me for years. Their dream is to come to Ithaca College!" This year she’s had five students arrange their own recitals. They order music, hire the accompanist, book the hall, do their own promotions, get the audience. They schedule rehearsal time, choose their outfits, and learn the music. "I’m trying to prepare them for college," says Craig. "When they go off to Ithaca, I want them to know how to do all this." — M.S. Photos by George Sapio
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