Young Musical Talent Shines as Music Meets Technology in Fair Haven

Is your young music lover aware of all the amazing ways he can use technology to showcase his musical talents? If not, you'll want to get his imagination flowing at this new class for boys and girls who love to play on computers as much as they love to jam out on the guitar and piano.

Small Factory Productions sees all the exciting opportunities available for young musicians who incorporate their musical talents into digital productions, and they're now offering classes to get their creative wheels in motion. 

Small Factory Productions now offers a technology-infused music program for young digital musicians at it's Emmy winning studio located at 560 River Road, Suite C in Fair Haven, N.J. The program offers lessons in piano, voice, guitar, bass, drums and audio production utilizing Garage Band, with progressive and personalized instruction by age and ability. Technology is incorporated into all instruction methods. Students will become skilled digital musicians under the direction of Small Factory’s new music teachers, Patrick Calvert and Mike Kuhi.

Open House, Sunday, March 9, 2-4 p.m.
Visit Small Factory Productions on Sunday, March 9 from 2 – 4 p.m. for an Open House with Calvert and Kuhi. All ages are welcome to attend the free event.

Calvert and Kuhi will share tips for recording music on an iPad and smartphone. Register for class at the Open House and receive 10% off enrollment. For more information or to register class, visit mysmallfactory.com or call 732-212-1088.

About the Teachers
Patrick Calvert is a graduate of Villanova University and has been pursuing his music and teaching career since 2004. He has taught in several area schools, including Oak Hill Academy, Our Lady Mount Carmel, Holy Family and Village School. He has toured all corners of the country performing his solo music as well as with bands such as The Ninja Party Lounge Band, Recreation, Arts and Pets, and the Churchills, which was featured on Fox Network's show 'Spin City'. He's written his own children's music albums, rock albums, and the music for the Discovery Channel's show 'Meerkat Manor'.

“There is nothing more rewarding than being challenged as a teacher, rising to the challenge with the student, and succeeding as a team,” said Patrick Calvert. “At Small Factory, every student brings a new perspective, a new set of goals, and a new set of challenges. I find it very rewarding to share the experience of discovery with those students.”

Mike Kuhi is a graduate of Rutgers University and received a Masters in Education from Monmouth University.  He has been playing piano for 20 years and has been teaching music for over eight years. Kuhi is an original songwriter, writing and performing in bands such as Hip Like Blank, Verity in Stereo, and currently his own project Hurst. Before teaching at Small Factory, along with being a private piano instructor, Mike worked in both Ocean Township and Long Branch public schools.  These experiences have had him working with children of all ages for many years. 

“I enjoy working with kids by showing them things I wish someone had shown me. Growing up, I never enjoyed going to piano lessons and always thought it was a chore,” said Mike Kuhi. “When I became a teacher I wanted to try and figure out ways to learn piano fun and exciting. With the iPad and other technology, lessons become a treat for me and my students. It's awesome to see kids get excited to learn an instrument, and very gratifying when they come to comprehend and put into practice what we have learned in a lesson.”

About Small Factory Productions
Founded in 2009 by producer and animator Christopher Dudick, Small Factory Productions, located at 560 River Road, Suite C in Fair Haven, NJ, helps to build innovative young minds through its children's arts and technology programs. Small Factory's instructors have created exciting art programs that meet NJ and NY Core Content Standards for Language Arts, Literacy and Visual and Performing Arts. Students in classes at Small Factory's production studio and at more than 30 public and private schools across New York and New Jersey have improved, both academically and socially, thanks to Small Factory's unique curriculum. 

For the past four years, Small Factory has been nominated for a New York Emmy, winning for children's programming in 2012. In 2014, the studio has been nominated again for its Create-a-Cartoon series. Winners of the 57th Annual New York Emmy Awards Gala will be announced on March 30, 2014.