On August 21, 2006, The Master’s Academy for the Arts, Inc. opened its doors to over 40 students from around the Southern Crescent for a variety of fine art classes. The school’s administrator, Sharon Salzmann, said, “We are thrilled but not surprised at the great initial response.” The director of the academy, Ben Mason, realized that there was a need for quality instruction that merges the arts with personal faith when he started getting frequent calls soon after his arrival at Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church as their music and worship director a year ago. The vision of The Master’s Academy, the caliber of its instructors and the classes being offered are the attraction for those attending.

The academy currently has four departments and plans to expand as there is opportunity. The music department is by far the largest department, offering classes for infants through adults.

The academy is excited to introduce Musikgarten, an early childhood music and movement program, to Peachtree City. Musikgarten has been successfully used around the world for decades. Valli Farmer, who heads the early childhood music classes, is quick to point out the value of systematically introducing children to the musical building blocks of pitch, rhythm patterns, focused listening, and music notation all within the context of beautiful music and fun with a parent or caregiver. When children are naturally and lovingly infused with good music at an early age, they develop a superb foundation for all learning, both musical and academic.

The director of the academy, Ben Mason, with a double master’s in piano and composition from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University, brings his expertise and passion for music as he teaches group and private violin and private piano. Nan Hill Burnett, who has a MA in music education from Georgia State, has been faithfully serving the youth of Fayette County for over 40 years as an instructor in voice and piano. She has prepared many of her students to major in voice at the college level.

The academy’s art instructor brings years of instruction and a wide variety of experience to the academy. Peggy Aldredge has been instructing and challenging children for 30 years privately and in a school setting. Her enthusiasm and love of art lights up every class and inspires each of her students. Many of her students have placed in local competitions.

Writing is an art when executed well. Teaching students to craft their words, express their thoughts creatively and concisely while using good grammar is the goal of the literature class that uses the curriculum of The Institute for Excellence in Writing. Homeschoolers are quickly filling up these classes taught by Peggy Aldredge, a former christian school teacher. Additional classes will form as needed.

The Master’s Academy for the Arts, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

The academy invites you to visit their Web site for specific class offerings and enrollment forms at www.tmastersacademy.org or call 770-487-0981. The academy looks forward to serving the families of Peachtree City and the surrounding areas for years to come.

login to post comments