Student of the Month: March 2024 Edition

Mar 1

From talking to Rock 101 instructors, students, and families, one thing is fantastically clear: Community is at the heart of this music school. The music instruction is (obviously) top notch but it is the connections we feel to each other that keep us coming back. Our students are multi-faceted and so much fun to get to know. With that in mind, we have decided to highlight a few students each month, thereby spreading their awesomeness out into the Rock 101 community.

With that, may I present Rock 101’s first-ever Students of the Month!

AJ Pino

AJ is a Rock 101 fiend, enrolled in not only Band League but also Songwriter’s Collective as well as one-on-one lessons for bass and vocals. She loves to experience all aspects of music, from writing her own songs to trying out as many instruments as she can get her hands on during lessons. For AJ, music is a fun experience; however, it also has become a method that helps her to chill out when life feels a bit tough. Playing music helps her manage and express her emotions.

Allison, AJ’s instructor, loves having AJ as a student. In particular, she enjoys AJ’s passion for music. She has witnessed exponential growth in AJ’s ability over the past year and is proud of the hard work AJ has exhibited to experience this. Allison’s favorite part of having AJ as a student is her spunk. Says Allison, “She knows exactly who she is, and isn't shy being herself, especially on stage. Despite AJ's confidence, she is never arrogant, and she isn't afraid to laugh at herself, or be outrageously goofy. I love being Aj's instructor because I know every lesson is going to be a blast, I am constantly laughing out loud in our lessons. She has become a very open-minded musician, and I can't wait to see where it takes her.”

Tara Brinduse

Tara has been immersed in music since the age of 6. She has played piano, flute, and guitar, adding onto this repertoire about 2 years ago when she started taking drum lessons with Kenny. Tara - who, by the way, is the physical embodiment of a ray of sunshine - is drawn to music because of its emotional complexity. She loves moody music and is continually inspired by David Bowie’s evolution as a musician. As someone who is always on the move, she loves playing the drums because it challenges the coordination of both hands and feet.

As Tara continues down her musical path, her goal is to continue to uncover the joy she finds in music. Tara is currently part of two bands: The Eleanors (instagram: @the_eleanors_abq) and The Shim Shams. As someone who always engaged in music in a one-on-one fashion, she loves the new adventure of playing with a group.

Kenny enjoys working with Tara because of her strong work ethic and the cheerful attitude she brings. Says Kenny, “I enjoy the determined positivity she brings to each lesson. Even when something is challenging to the point of frustration, she is very good about managing her emotional response to it and maintaining her persistence. This results in her quickly developing proficiency in many difficult skills. I enjoy that she forces me to grow as a musician myself. I always need to be learning something new or refining my mastery of an old topic so that I have new things to challenge her. We also just have a good time, sharing our passion for the drums and for playing as a part of an ensemble.”