Mountjoy Music StudioMusic Lessons And Recording Sessions | A better relationship with a smaller audience. |
| Guitar, Drums, Piano, Violin, Uke, Banjo, Vocals, Notation, Theory, and more... | |
 | ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯ 𝄪 𝄫 𝄞 𝄁 𝄂 𝄃 𝄆 𝄇 |
Dylan Shipowick, the coolest music guy in Yorkton who used to work down at Saddles And Steel is now a Mountjoy Music Studio associate drum/guitar teacher!
And resident luthier starting in mid April. So we are now excepting requests for instrument setups and repairs as well as working on a more advanced drum program for more experienced students. This way we can keep my general lessons inexpensive and accessible while the more advanced classes with a more advanced teacher becomes a premium option. While my basic lessons are only $15 for half an hour and $25 for an hour, more advanced classes with Dylan will be $25 for half hour and $35 for an hour. Guitar setups will be in the range of $80-$125 depending on the complexity of the instrument. I am so happy to have Dylan involved with my studio. He has such a great vibe and everyone loves him. Just a great dude all around. Special shout out to his woman, Cynthia, for convincing him to get back in the game!
Recording sessions at Mountjoy Music Studio are expanding beyond music.
Got a local author, Jewell H. Vanstone, reading/recording her audio book Tales From The Trail this Friday. Its actually a fairly inexpensive service I can offer since there is way less mixing involved I don't have to charge as much per hour. I hope I get more authors coming through in the near future. There is a growing demand for authentic human voice work as the AI slop is just a little too sloppy.
10 minutes ago a lady calls me and says she's going through her daughters closet and wondered if I wanted her old violin books.
I said I do. She asks if I'm open right now. I said I am. 5 minutes ago a lady walks in my studio's front door. She says she called a few minutes ago and hands me the books. I say thank you. She says goodbye. I say good bye and she leaves. She didn't smile or look long at me. She didn't look around and I could tell from her tone that she didn't want to talk about it. I've seen this before when a mother has lost a child. They don't want to throw away the music they remember bringing so much joy into their lives, but when they see the notes... unplayed... its just too much.
So I take this music gladly, and to another child it shall pass. Honouring the life that inspired it. A mother's gift from the past.
"Sorry, I have to cancel again. Two kids came home from school with fevers. I sent you twenty, though, for your time."
Its all good. I appreciate the 20 bucks, but there is no penalty for missing a class so I'll put it in the song pool to help studio artists pay for jamtime and recording sessions. I designed these lessons to be affordable and accessible pay as you go so that learning music is always something to look forward to rather than yet another expensive obligation on top of so many others. I'll see ya guys next time. :)
Why do I yell "practice" at my students when they leave the studio?
Because every student at every age intuitively feels the investment of attention, of hope, it places in them. They may not notice at first but after awhile they look forward to it then wonder where it is if I forget to do it. It costs nothing but a thought, yet something in that effort, over and over again, tells them I really believe in their potential and I'm paying attention to their progress.
This Is The Year Of Original Music!
I am laser focused on producing more original music this year than all my previous years in the business combined. Ambitious, maybe. Possible? Absolutely!
Most of the last few years has been directed toward startup costs at the new Yorkton location, renoes, and connecting with enough local artists to make anything at all. Several students are showing great promise as well so if I play this right we can build, together, a creative engine capable of producing new music and $$$ for those who produce it.
Expect big things in 2026 at Mountjoy Music Studio!
Are you cash poor but energy rich? Interested in music lessons or recording? Need a place for your band to jam? Consider putting in time at the studio helping with renovations and other odd jobs in return for studio credit! Earn services and lessons by helping the studio be all it can be. Join Mountjoy Music Studio's growing legion of labour! Even as little as an hour of basic labour a week earns you a half hour private music lesson. Down the road legion members can earn by participating on paying projects brought in by other artists.
Want to invest in local music production? Consider making a small donation ($20 a month goes a long way for these kids) to the Mountjoy Music Fund. Your generous contribution will help young artists make original music right here in Yorkton, Saskatchewan!
The long game is to convert as many students as possible into composing/recording musicians. If you want to be part of that process of making new music then directly investing in emerging local talent is how you can do it. And yes those who donate get to push notes/suggestions during production if they care to... all part of my secret plan to trick some of you into becoming fully engaged associate producers on specific projects.
Ok, this is a bit of a humble brag but I am approaching 30 regular students. My goal is to peak around 50 before summer approaches which is when most students drop off until next season!
Really enjoying teaching drums to the cadets from the 64th Field Battery 2834. Having passed all my background checks I am now officially a Civilian Music Instructor partnered with the Department of National Defence through the local cadet corps. So if I mention being a paid military specialist with a wink you'll know what I mean. If you have a kid in the cadet corps then consider joining our band, if you need your kid to join the corps first then you can register here.
Hey, since I have your attention make sure you check out the Studio's Youtube channel!
Affordable And Fun!
Productive studio time for everyone who loves music! That's what you can expect at Mountjoy Music Studio. High ceilings, great sound. Cement floors. Old school feel. I wanted to build a studio that was like I imagined when I was a kid. The high-end studios are too expensive, too formal for the development/composition stage of music making. Imperfection is the key to great content. Original, unique, unpredictable, unexplainable, enigmatic, with no way to creatively replicate, at best imitate. Welcome to the human condition. You're a one of a kind.
45 Betts Ave, Yorkton, SK | 1-306-708-0860 (No Txting) | Email tony.mountjoy@gmail.com (auto-deposit engaged for e-transfers) or try calling the land line or stop by the studio between regular business hours.
45 Betts Ave, Yorkton, SK
Corner of Smith and Betts
More Music With Less Gimmicks!
Walk-ins welcome as time allows. Monday to Friday 1PM-6PM (before/after/weekends by appointment).
1-306-708-0860 (No Txting)
Call or stop by to claim a weekly or bi-weekly lesson slot. Half hour $15 or full hour $25 (+$5 per extra student). Or schedule recording/production sessions starting at $30/hr(+$10 per additional artist). All ages.