Thanks to professional drummer Michael Beauclerc, the Village of Lakefield now has its own music school.
With a soft-launch celebration on Sunday (July 6) prior to the official opening on Monday, Mad Music School provides beginner and seasoned musicians of all ages with expert-led group and private lessons to develop their skills, ignite their passion, and build their confidence.
The Lakefield-raised Beauclerc found his love for percussion at the age of three on a Muppets drum set, and has since developed a decades-long career spanning intimate jazz clubs and festivals attended by thousands.
In addition to being the music director for The Bowie Lives featuring Peterborough vocalist Michael Bell and being the executive director and co-founder of the Canadian Drumline Association, Beauclerc has been teaching — and instilling a passion for — drumming out of his home for decades.
When, just over a month ago, his brother mentioned an available space next to his mixed martial arts gym in Juliann’s Plaza at 3347 Lakefield Road, Beauclerc jumped at the chance to take his teaching out of his home.
“There’s almost 3,000 people in Lakefield and nowhere (here) to take lessons and nowhere north of here to take lessons,” says Beauclerc. “So it has a lot of opportunity, and we’re still very close to Peterborough.”
Mad Music School is an extension of Mad Sound Dynamics, the parent company for Beauclerc’s internationally sold innovative products which include original books on drumming exercises, and the Mad Practice Pad and Mad Cymbal Shield.
At Mad Music School, Beauclerc will be teaching drums and hand percussion (including conga and djembe) and beginner ukulele, while Taylor Flynn will use her music degree and 10 years of teaching experience to offer piano lessons.
Joining them to teach guitar and bass is Joshua Dorman, who can play a range of instruments and has been involved in a number of community groups, including performing with Kawartha Youth Orchestra and acting as music director at Camp Quin-Mo-Lac.
Beauclerc plans to have a vocal instructor working out of Mad Music School soon as well.
Lessons will be open to musicians of all ages, and Beauclerc hopes to attract some of the growing seniors’ population in the region.
“There’s so much research now about how much it can help cognitive function for our aging population, especially when learning songs because they have to learn when the chorus comes and how many verses are happening and (if this is ) the bridge yet,” Beauclerc explains. “That type of cognitive function is really, really helpful for aging populations.”
On Sunday (July 6) from 10 a.m. to noon, Beauclerc is hosting a family-friendly soft-opening celebration featuring live instructor demos, a tour of the studios, treats and refreshments from Stuff’d bakery, and raffle prizes donated by other local businesses.
“Everybody grows up somewhere and they move away, and they think ‘I’m never coming back to that little tiny place’,” Beauclerc says of why he chose to live in Lakefield.
“Knowing that I was going to be a professional drummer, I just assumed I was going to live in Montreal or Toronto. I’ve performed all over the world and the world is a beautiful place, but Lakefield is so beautiful and everybody here is so, so, so kind.”
At Sunday’s celebration, Beauclerc will also be revealing a mural created by Jason Wilkins, a muralist, live event artist, workshop instructor, and illustrator based in Peterborough.
Beauclerc and Wilkins attended the former Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School together and formed a bond after being the only two boys in their homeroom ninth-grade French class and have been friends ever since.
“Grade nine was a long time ago and we’ve been friends through it all — through all the travelling and careers,” Beauclerc says.
“I’m very flattered that he’s doing that for me and it’s a really amazing gift, and all part of the arts community supporting each other.”
To celebrate the opening of Mad Music School, Beauclerc is hosting a special group intro to drumming session on Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m., where musicians of all ages can test their skill on the practice pads.
“If you’re not sure if you want to be a drummer or if you’d like to just see what it’s all about, you can come to this class, and do this one-time thing to test it,” he says.
Beauclerc says he hopes to host the class a few times per year to get new musicians trying out the instruments.
As for how he feels about opening the music school, Beauclerc admits to some trepidation because he’s not a “traditional businessman,” but is confident the community will be supportive of the new venture.
“To open a brick-and-mortar space is something new and a little bit scary,” he says. “To have that community support and love — it’s just a great reminder of where I come from and how wonderful this place is.”
For more information on Mad Music School, to register for the intro to drumming session, or to schedule a lesson, visit madmusicschool.setmore.com.
