“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato
The last time I sang vocal scales, it was the mid-90s and I was likely wearing Doc Martens and a plaid flannel.
It’s not the quite the same as scream-singing Alanis Morissette in your Nissan Pulsar as you cruise down Harbor Boulevard. Vocal scales are straight-up scary.
But I’m surprisingly non-terrified as I find myself standing in a vocal studio on a breezy spring afternoon, dutifully sliding up and down scales, across the piano from local music maven, Molly Webb.
Molly is smiling and nodding with encouragement as she edges me up the scale, watching and listening intently, occasionally peppering in some praise to keep me going.
She definitely knows what she’s doing. I mean, her name is on the door.
I’m at the Eastside studio of Molly’s Music, a music school specializing in voice and instrumental lessons for kids, teens and adults.
Molly is taking me through a warm-up before we dive into the song I’ve chosen for my first lesson, the folk classic “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac.
Local Music Maven, Molly Webb, at her Eastside Costa Mesa Music School: Molly’s Music.
Photo: Samantha Chagollan
I’m super nervous to be here, belting out scales in front of another live human being. But Molly is incredibly good at giving me honest, helpful feedback. She immediately puts me at ease and makes me want to keep going.
Molly’s Music has been around for 13 years now, and while it all began right here in Costa Mesa, the organization has expanded with two additional locations in Orange and Irvine.
15 different teachers help more than 250 students, throughout Orange County, to follow their musical dreams, whether they’re beginners or seasoned pros.
“We really try to tailor the experience to the student and the style they want to learn,” says Molly.
Some students need help preparing for an OCSA audition, or want to learn how to accompany themselves on an instrument. Others come in to work on performance technique, or to fulfill a lifelong dream.
It’s Never Too Late To Learn How To Sing, at Molly’s Music, Costa Mesa.
“It’s never too late to start,” Molly says. It’s a myth that you have to start early to learn to play—or sing. And if you’re thinking you can’t sing because you’re “tone deaf”—guess what? That’s a myth too.
“Only about 4% of the population is actually, truly tone deaf,” she explains. “Most everyone can learn to match pitch and sing in-tune—it’s just a skill you need to practice.”
Molly should know—she’s been a musician for more than 25 years. Her musically-inclined parents started her young, with music lessons beginning around age 3. Like so many local, musically-minded kids, she studied musical theater and acting at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Repertory. She started writing pop music as a teen, and later went on to study and train in New York.
As we start to practice my song, Molly points out a few tips to help tackle some of my specific issues—physical tone and visualization tricks that immediately make a difference.
I can certainly see how coming to lessons regularly would make a huge difference, not just the quality of my performance, but in my confidence, too.
Molly says consistency is key for any kind of musical learning. She laughingly points out that sometimes the reason kids are thought of as better musical learners is because they have parents encouraging them to practice! Adult learners have to be more self-disciplined to put in the time it takes to see improvement in their skills.
But with the variety of programs offered here, Molly’s Music make it easy to commit. Aside from private, in-studio lessons at one of their physical locations, Molly’s Music also offers a new virtual program called The Inside Voice that can be an affordable virtual alternative.
Molly Webb, and Sarah Rohrer, sing a fond farewell, at Molly’s Music in Costa Mesa.
Photos: Samantha Chagollan
The Inside Voice and Molly’s Music are both part of the non-profit Molly and her husband C. Travis Webb founded, called Culture Hum. Their goal is to make culture and music education available to as many people as possible.
“Music is our birthright,” says Molly. “Everyone is naturally musical. You can see it in kids who are drawn to it from the very beginning.”
Coaxing that natural ability out of her students is a talent she shares with all of the teachers at Molly’s Music. “There’s no right or wrong here,” she says. “We want our students to feel comfortable, and get to work on the music they like.”
The studio offers several events throughout the year, including student performance recitals. They are now offering help with artist development, performance skills and songwriting.
There’s so much to learn!
As my lesson draws to a close, I don’t want to leave. Molly gives me an option—be done, or go through it one last time. I don’t even pause for a single beat.
“Let’s do it again!” I say, and I totally sing my guts out. ♥
__________________
For more on Molly’s Music, find them on Facebook and Instagram, or go to their website to start your own musical journey!
