MusicMakers Academy

My faculty and I have been Joyfully and Comprehensively teaching music to children and adults for more than 24 years! Collectively, we have more than 90 years of music teaching experience. MusicMakers has taught over 4000 children in Connecticut and beyond, making lifelong friends whom we cherish.

Our mantra is We Create Independent Musicians. We have created Comprehensive Music Learning Approach tm to ensure that even our youngest students learn not just how to play an instrument or sing, but the entire 360 degree experience which ensures independence: technique, history, composition, repertoire, recital performance, and more.

Arts in Business and Community Award, CT 2007 Outstanding Teacher Awards 1998-2020 Grammy Nominee: Music Education 2012, 2015, 2019

Paula Penna, Director and Head Teacher: Master in Music Education, Florida State University. Master in Arts Administration, Florida State University. Bachelor of Music, Manhattanville College, NY. Certificate in Entrepreneurship, University of Hartford Entrepreneur Center. Certificate in the Science of Well Being, Yale. Certificate in Understanding Medical Research, Yale. Certificate in Creative Writing, Wesleyan. Certificate in Success and Mindset Coaching, Golden MasterMind, Inc.

Paula has taught History of Western Music at Florida State University. She has created the award winning Kindergarten music curriculum, Kindergarten Rocks! MusicMakers Academy faculty have continually been hired to train general education teachers on how to incorporate music into their own curriculum. Paula trained early childhood teachers through HYAEC for years. MusicMakers has hundreds of volunteer hours in our local schools, where we volunteer at concerts, workshops, and in the classroom for free.