Lozier Music, Rochester Hills

Carrie Lozier began by teaching students how to play piano from her home studio in 2003, with just 10 students on her roster. By 2011, Lozier Music had 70 students enrolled and new digs of its own. Staff began by teaching only piano, using the Simply Music method, which emphasizes being able to play music before being able to read music, in the same way children learn to speak before they are able to write long letters to the editor about rescheduling Yo Gabba Gabba during naptime. Some of the concepts of this method is translated to other instruments, where classes mirror four steps on learning to play. First is immersion, where students up to age 5 get comfortable being surrounded by the sounds of music; then introduction, where they learn to makes sounds with instruments; finally, musical instruction followed by integration, where musicians learn to play together with other musicians.