There’s a motto at Music I.N.C. that goes something like this: theory and performance in sync at Music I.N.C. Essentially, this is how owner and instructor Michael James Mella helps his students translate the more obscure aspects of musical theory into creativity and musicianship in performance.
This is the core of what he and his wife, Maria teach students at Music I.N.C., which opened in Orcutt in January. The initials stand for instruction, notation, creation, which comes from the praxial philosophy of music education proposed by New York University professor David J. Elliott, which Mella said emphasizes the musicianship of the learner.
Here, students receive musical instruction in piano, voice, bass, guitar, drums, violin, and trumpet. Also, if you want to learn how to write, compose, record, and produce a song—this is the place.
Another niche the Mellas focus on is providing lessons to groups such as choirs and worship teams in church. Part of this lesson, Mella said, is teaching the music director how to lead his or her team effectively.
Lessons are open to all ages, and the lessons are based on the level of musical knowledge the students possess. For his voice students, ages range from 6 to 60.
In addition, the Mellas offer services such as piano tuning, bass and guitar repairs, and some instrument rental services. Music I.N.C. also provides musicians for hire for social events. The Mellas currently only serve the Santa Maria-Orcutt area but are thinking about expanding to other areas of the Central Coast.
“What makes us different as a school, given our experience in music production, is that we arrange or produce music that is appealing to our students making the learning more significant and relevant for them,” Mella said.
Mella made the move to establish his music business after several years in the industry. After studying music education at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music, he was a composer for a production company and TV show before becoming a conductor of the De La Salle Chamber Ensemble for five years.
In 2006, Mella became a college instructor for the Asian Seminary for Christian Ministries teaching philosophy of music education and Philippine instruments. Seven years later, he became music director and a pastor where part of his task was to cultivate and train more than 75 musicians and members of the music team.
Mella’s love for music goes way back. He started playing the piano at age 9 and, at age 12, he was a pianist for his church’s music ministry.
Now, he’s in the process of finishing his master’s degree in music education at Liberty University. Aside from running his business, he’s also busy creating a college preparatory curriculum and music production services.
For Mella, the importance of music goes beyond musical theory.
“The benefits of music learning affects and develops the student’s intellectual, emotional, and even psychological capacities far more than what we could imagine,” he said, adding that students who were and are involved have a more developed corpus callosum, which is the band of nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain. “Our advocacy does not really end in creating musicians. Our advocacy is for children to be better people and better members of society.”
Music I.N.C. is located at 1103 E. Clark Ave., next to the California Highway Patrol/Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office in the Oak Knoll Shopping Center. Basic lessons are $25 for 30 minutes; other services range from $50 to $250 depending on the work required. Contact Mella at at music_inc2015@yahoo.com or 878-6797.
Highlights
• The Santa Maria Valley and the Towbes Group team up to present the “biggest” business exposition of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco on Sept. 8. If you’re a business wanting to showcase your products and services to the masses, this could be the event you’re looking for. Exhibitors have a choice to have a 10-foot-by-10-foot booth either at the Park Plaza Building, Convention Center Building, or an outdoor booth between buildings. The event will be held from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg in Santa Maria. Sponsored by MIYB Spaces, the expo is open to the public and free with a business card, otherwise admission is $2. For more information about the event or to rent a booth, contact Jennifer Harrison at jennifer@santamaria.com.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Jul 14-21, 2016.