October 29th, 2024

Music Authority Family Newsletter - October 29, 2024 Meet Melissa Loggins Melissa and Andrew Loggins are the owners of Music Authority, which opened July 4th weekend of 2002. Starting out with just six lessons studios and about thirty students, Music Authority has come a long way under their leadership.  This month, we're going to introduce you to Melissa. Melissa was born in Northwest Ohio and grew up in the country outside of the small town of Gibsonburg. She lived a mile from her grandparent's farm where she spent much of her free time. She loved to watch her grandpa and uncles farm, garden with her grandma, find cats hidden in the hay loft, and fish for carp and minnows in the creek behind the farm.  High school, with a graduating class of only 74, was in a town almost an hour away. She was a member of the choir, Future Teachers of America, the National Honor Society, and drama club. She also served for over 30 years in Girl Scouts of America.  Melissa loved living in a small town surrounded by farmlands. She was particularly close to her Grandpa, a descendent of German immigrants. They would take Sunday afternoon drives to distant cemeteries and farms where he would tell her stories of growing up, the farms his parents came from, how his mother (Melissa's Great-Grandmother) graduated from college when most women never finished high school. Her Grandma's family was from the hills of West Virginia, her Great-Grandmother (who Melissa knew well while growing up) part of the famous McCoy family. If you watch the movie staring Kevin Costner about the Hatfields and the McCoys, Melissa's ancestor is the McCoy wife who left to move away after her husband was killed in the Civil War.  Melissa's Great-Grandfather was part of the Jividen family from West Virginia. He was descended from the family that the French town of Gevaudan is named for. Ironically, this is where the legend of the werewolf first began. (It is ironic Melissa writes vampire novels as Anne Schlea, but has never included a werewolf in her novels.) In 1995, just before Melissa's Senior Year of High School, her dad got a job in Atlanta, Georgia.  Melissa moved in with her Grandparents to finish high school.  The next summer, she made the move to Georgia where she attended Berry College in Rome. The college was perfect for Melissa with a strong agricultural program, lots of open space, and a dorm complex that looked like a castle.  Majoring in music education, she originally planned on getting her degree and returning to Ohio to teach high school music. Unfortunately, she figured out very quickly that working in a traditional school structure wouldn't work for her. However, she fell in love with the contemporary side of music. In the golden era of Atlanta's music scene, she saw hundred of shows (many in the now fabled Buckhead music district) and was lucky enough to meet many well known artists in small venues.  After a concert at Atlanta Motor Speedway known as Rockfest, she changed majors to music business. She found her passion - concert production - but also spent time producing radio commercials, writing music, managing bands, and performing herself. Her biggest two performance highlights? Carnegie Hall, New York City. Such a beautiful stage and the most incredible acoustics you'll ever hear.  Number two is directing a Girl Scout Choir doing the National Anthem at the first of Chipper Jones' final three games with the Braves. That story also lines up with one of her most embarrassing musical moments, but you'll have to ask her about that. "I'd rather be a Kingmaker than a King" became Melissa's moto when she realized she got more fulfillment from helping other succeed than being on stage herself. She changed from focusing on her own performance career and instead decided to dedicate her life to helping others achieve their musical dreams.  Out of all of this, Music Authority was born. It was a dream from the beginning of helping others.  Helping them find the perfect guitar, making their guitar play a little better in our repair shop, and encouraging students of all ages to step on stage and live their dreams. She is passionate about all of her students - the ones she teaches and the ones taught by other teachers. She'll go the extra mile to help any of them and will drive all the way to Nashville to hear you play if you ask her and she's able.  Melissa still loves a trip back to Ohio where she can walk through the wheat fields and run her hands along the barn built over a century ago by her Great-Great-Grandfather. Time slows down there, where there are no concert venues, music stores, or gigs waiting. Melissa herself learned to sing from a woman down the street who taught in her living room. But after a few days, the need make music takes over. She hops on a plane and heads back to Atlanta where she feeds the need for energy, performance, and stage lights. Where she watches the next generation of musicians hone their talents, getting ready to take over the musical world. Melissa A. Loggins, Owner #MusicAuthorityFamily Click Here to Log In to Your Lessons Account Music Authority's Holiday Concert Registration is now open for Music Authority's Holiday concert, to be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Friday, December 13 at 7pm. This show is open to vocalists, pianists, and acoustic instruments. We're sorry, but no electric guitars or drums.  All music will be assigned by the front desk and will be holiday in nature, both secular and sacred. Students will expect to dress up for this recital. Space is limited. To sign up, stop by the front desk at Music Authority and fill out a registration form. Rock Ensemble Registration, Spring Show Sign Ups, and Eclipse Auditions Coming Soon! Does your student want to be involved in Music Authority's rock band program? Keep your eyes open, registration information will be coming soon! Rock Ensemble is our five month program.  Students who are already in lessons at Music Authority can register to participate once registration opens.  If you are not a student at Music Authority, you will need to register for lessons first. Registration will open in November and placement will be announced in December. It is highly recommended that your student participate in Rock Camp or a Spring or Fall Show before they join Rock Ensemble. Eclipse is one of our Showcase Bands.  This band is a year long commitment. The band plays gigs regularly and sometimes travels to away gigs. Students auditioning for this band should have been in Rock Ensemble previously. At least one position in this band will be opening up for the 2025 season. Watch Music Authority's email and social media for more information on auditions! If you're not ready for either of these programs, our Spring Show sign ups will begin in mid-November. The Spring Show is an 11 week program that places any Music Authority student into a band that will perform one to two songs in a concert. We recommend all students participate in this program before applying for Rock Ensemble. Stop by the front desk for more details or call 770-886-9066. The Music Authority Roadies The Roadies are a group of parents and adult students at Music Authority.  They meet the second Tuesday of every month at 6pm in The Backroom at Music Authority.  You can think of the Roadies as  Music Authority's PTO.  They sponsor special events, service projects, and work hard to make sure our teachers feel appreciated.  We welcome any Music Authority parent to come to our next meeting! Our next Roadies meeting will be on November 12 at 6pm in The Backroom.  We'd love for you to join us! Eclipse at the Because Moms Fall Festival The Holidays are Coming! Please don't forget about Music Authority's sales team during this holiday season.  Your purchases here help us support our lessons program throughout the year.  Before you go to the big music store south of us, or before you order online, allow us to serve you. Our prices are the same as online and often you get perks from us like free service or free lessons when you purchase from us.  So this holiday, shop local and support your neighborhood music store! Not in Lessons at Music Authority? Sign Up Here! Did you know Music Authority has a Rock Band program?  Click Here to see what events are coming up at Music Authority Copyright © 2024 Music Authority, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you want to know when the Music Authority Bands are on the road! Our mailing address is: Music Authority 123 Merchants Square Cumming, GA 30040 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.