Today we’d like to introduce you to Meg Bonta and Austin Bonta.
Meg and Austin founded SoundTide Music School in Portage, Indiana, with the mission to “Educate the Whole Musician.” Through private lessons and chamber music ensembles, SoundTide’s teachers create an individualized curriculum to guide students through the art of mastering and performing music from beginner to advanced levels.
They know how to educate because they are educators. Each is, in addition to being an accomplished musician, a certified teacher with the state of Indiana, and each brings his or her own unique experience of instruction to enhance the learning of the students. SoundTide’s teachers vary in age, instrument range, and careers in private and public schools, but they are all committed to the concept of pedagogy, recognizing that each student’s learning can be differentiated to best meet his or her individual needs and interests.
SoundTide Music School was named after the national lakeshore, connecting it to Portage, Indiana, and the Indiana Dunes. Continuing the vision for students to achieve excellence in music and performance, we encourage the students to interact with prestigious, professional ensembles and to perform in recitals, master classes, and competitions. This year, all SoundTide students who competed at ISSMA achieved a gold medal in their solos with three state qualifiers and three perfect scores.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
SoundTide’s story so far has been one of growth and development. The music school has nearly quintupled in size since its founding in November 2016, and one year later, it received a Community Improvement Award from the Greater Portage Chamber of Commerce.
Most recently, SoundTide has been in preparation to expand its number of rooms to increase student capacity and further teacher availability.
Meg and Austin work very closely as business partners and communicate on their different areas of expertise in both business and education. As the manager, Austin facilitates lessons, appointments, and new registrations in addition to managing payments. A special education teacher by profession, he brings his experience with administration and case-management to keep things running smoothly.
“As a professional violinist and teacher, I wanted to inspire students to achieve a level of excellence that helps them reach the advanced level,” explains Meg. “Having taught in Northwest Indiana for nearly a decade, I wanted to inspire the students to see that getting better and better at an instrument is just as enjoyable, and actually more rewarding, than remaining at the beginner or intermediate level.”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SoundTide Music School – what should we know?
SoundTide offers weekly private lessons in piano, classical strings, guitar, ukulele, voice, winds, brass, and percussion. All lessons can be scheduled for either an hour or a half hour, depending on a student’s interests and ability level.
“In addition to private lessons, we are excited to offer chamber music ensembles, recitals, and master classes, which allow the students to develop further musicianship and performance skills, while they grow as musicians,” states Meg.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Hard work and faith have been and remain essential.
“We have been blessed with teachers who really know how to teach students of all ages and levels of ability,” says Austin.
It has helped so much to be located in such a supportive community as Portage, where a great many people see music instruction as an investment to be made and appreciate the unique quality of instruction that our teachers offer.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2644 Hamstrom Road
Portage, Indiana 46368 - Website: soundtidemusic.com
- Phone: 219.734.6320
- Email: info@soundtidemusic.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundTide-Music-School-153592105123423/
Image Credit:
Ted Muta (Photographer), Ted Muta Advertising
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