07/02/2021
Thanks for all the memories...
Thursday, July 1 was my last day teaching and effectively the last day of Luc James Music Studio. I started my journey in 2012 teaching and began the full studio experience in 2013 with our first studio bands. I have been so blessed to work with all of you and with so many employees and volunteers that have helped me along the way.
Branden Garner and Cole Hansen will be taking over the studio and they have lots of new experiences in store! If you haven't already, please like Red Rose Music Lab on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Red-Rose-Music-Lab-106226151661114
Because of the short lead time Branden is still working on setting up a permanent location for Red Rose Music Lab but he is continuing lessons in a temporary location (that he and I will be a sharing for the next couple months) pics of "the barn” below.
As for me, my last day in my home is July 10. Moving forward, I plan to work on better developing and growing a sheet music production company and working on bettering myself as a songwriter and musician with my band "Le Mec". When I am ready to fully launch I will pass on this information to you and hope that you will continue to follow and support me.
I am excited about the new challenges ahead of me, but looking back on my teaching career from 2012 until today I can't help but be very emotional.
Again, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for supporting me and entrusting your children to me. I have been overwhelmed with all of the positive messages and well wishes I have received.
It has been a long journey with lots of ups and downs and together we have had some pretty amazing experiences!
I want to thank all of the amazing teachers who have worked with me and your kids over the years. Without their skilled musicianship, enthusiasm, and friendship I never would have been able to take the studio to the next level.
Zac Wisner
Nic Heidt
Mic Becze
Brit Herrøn
Jayk Ortiz
Branden Garner
Your students would not have been able to learn as well as they have without the talented John Neil writing all of their sheet music from scratch. I am amazed by his natural musical ability and musical ear. I could not have offered the quality music I did without him. John's keyboard skills are mind blowing and he plays in so many amazing local bands such as “Troll for Trout", "The Soul Syndicate", and a Neil Diamond tribute band called “The Frog King” just to name a few. Check him out if you get a chance.
Special thanks go out to students that I have known since they were small children who have grown into adults and have volunteered for me over the years, some of them eventually becoming paid employees. The fact that these kids have such a love for music and what we do means more to me than I can express. They have assisted with setting up concerts, filling in at concerts, editing videos, and literally doing the dirty work I don't want to do such as returning my recyclables haha!
RJ Hoin
Ben Ruffer
Xander Hoxworth
Ryann Seymour
Aidan Hillman
Zan Mulligan
I want to thank two people in my life that are not only volunteers and employees but two of the best friends I could ever hope for.
Travis Miller generously built me our mobile stage for free and drove us to countless events and parades and let us host video shoots at his place. He played in my adult band and lended his contractor skills to me every single time I had a crazy idea for renovating my home. His son and daughter both took lessons from me when they were younger and Travis was so excited by the program he insisted on helping me and did not take no for an answer.
He selflessly volunteered his time for me thru the years and never asked for anything in return.
Kristin Stell Hoin also came to me because her son RJ took lessons from me starting at age 9 and played in multiple bands until he graduated from highschool in 2020. He is still working for me editing video and is studying Digital Media and Information at Michigan State University. Kristin was so enthusiastic about the program that she also begged me to help. I told her she could come help drywall and sand my basement when I was turning it into the main studio room. I figured it would scare her away. It didn't. She showed up and sanded and cleaned and never left. She volunteered her time for a couple years and eventually became my right hand man. She is the person who organized my life at the studio for the past 6 years by helping with my schedule, sending invoices, finding employees, and hauling gear to countless gigs and video shoots. She kept us on schedule during those day long shows and made sure I drank enough water, ate enough food, and wore sunscreen.
Travis and Kristin were basically my hype crew who saw all the potential my ideas had for growth. Travis signed us up for countless parades and gave up vacation time just to drive us down the street for 10 minutes every July 4 while Kristin walked along the float with so many amazing parent volunteers handing out candy and promotional flyers. They both relentlessly pursued every community event in the area and found us so many of the gigs we played for years and years. These are things I wanted to do but never had the time to pursue. I'm the world's worst hype man and it's hard for me to ask for help and promote myself. I am so thankful that these two people came into my life and helped bring the studio to the next level.
Last, I want to thank all of the wonderful parents/friends who helped over the years with finding opportunities and hauling gear, giving advice. So many of you stepped up and offered your homes as a place to jam during the pandemic and you kept the ball rolling.
Mark Nelson
Melisa 'Henriksen' DeWitt
David Darling
Tim VanderMeulen
Michael Brown
Geoff Brown
Im sure there are countless others that have helped a ton that I have left out.
It's been a crazy wonderful ride. I hope you all had as much fun as I did.
I am planning a celebration for the weekend of August 7/8 and you are all invited. I will be sending out more info within the next few weeks once I have more details.
Until then - It's been a hell of a ride it was hell-a fly!
Much Love,
Luc James
