The conversation in this episode is inspired by the article, "Me and (My) Mental Health",  written by Dr. Victor Ezquerra. We discuss how mental illness manifests itself for musicians and artists and the difference between identifying versus expressing one's self through art and music. Our guests share the importance of having the awareness that someone may be struggling with their mental health and how to approach that person in a helpful and meaningful way. Dr. Ezquerra shares with us his decision to enter a treatment center and his journey through recovery.  If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, resources are available at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help. More resources mentioned in the show: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/, 800-273-8255 Crisis Text Line, Text "HOME" to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor, https://www.crisistextline.org/ Dr. Victor Ezquerra's bio is available here. For more information about our music therapy services, please contact us at [email protected] and visit us at https://www.metromusicmakers.com/music-therapy-program/ where you can schedule a free phone consultation.

In this episode we speak with Ben Ivey, owner of Living Oaks Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has worked with several of Georgia's finest artists. Ben learned the ropes through the "school of hard knocks", and his dedication and hard work have led to really cool opportunities along the way. In addition to studio life, Ben spends a lot of time on the road as a sound engineer. We dive into what it's like to be on tour and away from home and what it takes to create your own success in the music biz. Are you interested in sound production? Learn with us! For more information contact us at [email protected].  Engage with our co-hosts, Mark Grundhoefer and Allison Jarrell (aka Life As Mary) on IG. We are on there too! @metromusicmakers

Our co-hosts Allison Jarrell (Life As Mary) and Mark Grundhoefer geek out over vinyl with musician and record store owner, Carl Frazzano of Ghost in the Garret Records located in Roswell, GA. This episode is for all vinyl lovers and anyone who is curious about the hype around the vinyl revival. Some of the cool stuff you'll hear us chat about includes:  the rise of LP sales who exactly is buying all these records the phenomenon of Record Store Day discovering the value of your vinyl collection what Mark unwrapped in his mystery box the meaning and story behind Ghost in the Garret Records All you Atlanta folks be sure to check out Carl's store, Ghost in the Garret Records, located inside Roswell City Antiques & Interior Arts, 700 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA, 30076. His website is coming soon! In the meantime, follow Ghost in the Garret on Facebook and Instagram. Connect with our co-hosts on Instagram @lifeasmarymusic and @markgrundhoefer. Interested in learning how to play an instrument?! We've got you covered!!! Contact us at [email protected], and visit metromusicmakers.com to learn more.

What do Breakfast at Tiffany's and NOT making it into graphic design school have to do with becoming a successful songwriter? Well, just about everything if you are Ronny Criss.  Today, we discover what it takes to make the cut in Nashville as Ronny shares his journey from picking up guitar for the first time in high school to becoming an accomplished songwriter and performer in the Music City scene.  Connect with Ronny on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to watch his latest music video releases on YouTube. Visit Spotify to stream more music by Ronny Criss. Podcast hosted by Allison Jarrell and Mark Grundhoefer. Learn how to write songs and nurture your creativity with us at Metro Music Makers! 

Guys! Today we interview our very own Mark Grundhoefer and learn about his journey as a professional musician starting in Pensacola, FL, where he started busking at the young age of 14 up to his recent accomplishments in songwriting and production. Mark describes his experience growing up in a musical family and how he honed his skill in high school and college. We follow his story from Florida to L.A. and right back here to Atlanta. Join us for this cool conversation with Mark about musician life. It's everything you need to know. If you are interested in lessons with Mark or one of our other instructors, visit us at Metro Music Makers for more info.

Co-hosts Mark Grundhoefer and Allison Jarrell kick off a new series as they interview professional musicians and do a deep dive into the progression from music student to a thriving profession. Our guests include studio musicians, producers, touring musicians, songwriters, and a club owner. Today we share the story of Matt Nichols, dueling piano player and co-owner of the popular dueling piano club D's Keys located on D Street in Boston. Matt describes his experience as a music student and how he got his start in the music business. This fun interview is a must-listen for anyone interested in pursuing music as a career. Enjoy the show! Interested in learning how to play the keys or another instrument? Contact us at Metro Music Makers for more info.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Christa Reeves, Au.D., pediatric audiologist and founder of Little Listeners, a full-service auditory clinic located in metro Atlanta. Dr. Reeves is known for her specialty in Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) and is currently one of the few audiologists in Atlanta with the training and expertise to test and treat for APD. The team at Little Listeners developed PASE, an auditory therapy program that is both effective and engaging for young patients.  Dr. Reeves discusses the importance that learning a musical instrument has on auditory development and why she refers her patients to Metro Music Makers to take music lessons.  Early intervention resources mentioned in this episode include: Babies Can't Wait Early Hearing and Detection Intervention (EHDI) Georgia PINES International Guild of Auditory Processing Specialists (IGAPS) This episode is hosted by Allison Jarrell and Mark Grundhoefer.

Our founder & CEO, Allison Jarrell (Life As Mary) discusses the decision to move our music lessons and music therapy services online at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Co-host Mark Grundhoefer had a key role in training our entire staff to use an online platform. Everything changed for us in a matter of a few days, and we've learned a lot along the way. We're excited to share all of this with you in today's episode. Interested in online lessons with us? Visit metromusicmakers.com for more info.

In this week's episode, Mark Grundhoefer and Life As Mary, discuss the benefits of collaborating with other musicians and artists. What does it take to pull off a successful collaboration? Our hosts share their own experiences collaborating with songwriters, instrumentalists, and producers. Improve your songwriting and production skills with us! Visit metromusicmakers.com for more info.

Our hosts discuss the importance of branding as indie artists as well as the use of social media to engage with fans. Discover several of the do's and don'ts based on their own experiences in building brand recognition and using social media platforms to connect with their audiences. This podcast is brought to you by Metro Music Makers. Tap into your inner artist with us! Hosted by Mark Grundhoefer and Allison Jarrell Boyd (aka Life As Mary)