testimonials

"As a parent of a child who participated in LJMA, I cannot speak highly enough of this music academy. From the moment we enrolled our child in LJMA, we knew we had made the right choice. The level of professionalism and dedication to music education was evident from the start.

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One of the things that really stood out to us was the emphasis on live performance opportunities. LJMA provided our child with numerous chances to perform in front of live audiences. These experiences were invaluable in helping our child build confidence and develop a true love for music.

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In addition to the live performance opportunities, we were impressed with the sense of community that LJMA fostered. Miss Laura and her team were always welcoming and supportive, and they truly went above and beyond to create a warm and welcoming environment for all students and families.

Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with our experience at LJMA. If you're looking for a music academy that will provide your child with top-notch instruction, ample performance opportunities, and a supportive community, LJMA is the place to be"

“Squad/LMJA is such an incredible gem of a program. Laura has cultivated a uniquely warm and nurturing community of young singers and musicians who truly support each other and encourage one another to challenge themselves and grow.  There are so many varied performance opportunities throughout the year, which really helps students to build their confidence on stage and foster a strong sense of community.  In terms of music education, this program is really second to none, as in addition to an emphasis on live performance, students also learn music theory, recording, and filming music videos. The growth that I’ve witnessed in these children over the past four years is truly remarkable in all spheres, not just their skill level, but also in terms of their confidence and maturity. “

"It has been just the most rewarding experience for my daughter as Laura’s student. Johanna has been with Laura for over ten years. From Johanna’s earliest days, Laura inspired in her a sense of personal responsibility and Johanna took it as a point of pride to show up prepared for her lessons. Under Laura’s tutelage, Johanna was accepted into Berklee College of Music and placed into advanced classes. I have been in awe to witness Laura’s complete dedication to her students, engendering camaraderie and passion to grow. I regard her as family. And Johanna has a big sister and confidante"

"As Lauren has grown, Laura— and LJMA — have been with her every step of the way. Not only has my daughter become a knowledgeable and passionate vocalist and musician, sight-reader but also a lover of all challenges, musical and otherwise. This is not only a music program. This is a program for living a better life, and being the best you can be — whatever your path."

"I can’t say enough about my daughter’s experience with Squad Harmonix and LJMA. Laura has worked tirelessly over the years, putting in 110% to maximize the experience for our daughter and her Squad family.  Our daughter has truly found her voice under Laura’s wing, both literally and figuratively, developing confidence and stage presence performing with Squad and at the LJMA recitals.  In turn, she has loved the opportunities to share these skills with the younger students, both formally during teacher training, and informally as a mentor to some of the younger students. During the isolation of the seemingly endless months of Covid, Squad gave our daughter a sense of continued community when so much in her life was disrupted. She has found lifelong friends in her fellow Squadlings, in part due to their shared interests, but in large part due to Laura’s Herculean efforts to keep Squad up and running through everything. Squad is a place where everyone is accepted and celebrated for who they are. Laura has fostered an environment where there is no competition among the kids, and they truly celebrate each other’s accomplishments and achievements."

"Our daughter has studied voice, music theory and songwriting with Laura and her LJMA team for over four years and is a founding member of Squad Harmonix.  Under Laura’s tutelage our daughter has gained the technical skills, confidence and ability to land solos and lead roles in all of her performing arts endeavors. Laura continues to find ways to engage and motivate our daughter to do more and be more, all the while making sure the process continues to be fun and not a grind. With Squad Harmonix, Laura has created a beautiful and supportive environment for the kids that is filled with kindness, respect and perseverance, a place where they all look forward to showing up for and supporting each other, both inside and out of their a cappella life. It is much more than a place to practice singing.  Laura is an amazing mentor and life-coach. Laura has not only taught our daughter musically, but has taught her life skills and business skills and helped her develop and mature as her own individual.  Through Squad Harmonix, our daughter has formed strong, close-knit relationships with the other Squadlings that she will carry with her for her lifetime. Laura’s vast knowledge of all aspects of the music industry and her unrelenting drive to continually raise the bar has provided amazing opportunities for our daughter to be part of award-winning ensembles and music videos, studio music albums, and featured live performances at Disneyland, the Hollywood Palladium, and Carnegie Hall to name a few!"

"Laura has been instrumental in helping develop Zander’s performing career.  He is now a professional singer/actor!  I credit much of his success to Squad Harmonix which gave him the confidence to be a performer.  Squad is unique because it is not just any a cappella group, it’s an a cappella family.  The kids are extremely supportive of one another and the atmosphere is always collegial.  Between the live performances and professional music video shoots, they have all developed as vocalists and performers.  Laura has perfected the balance between motherly caring and tough love.  The product is a professional level performance that is nothing less than stellar with a group of kids that are always having a good time."

"LJMA has impacted me immensely ever since I joined in so many different ways! There are so many different opportunities for students to showcase their hard work, and each class has been significantly effective for my learning. The community is also incredibly supportive so that each performance revolves around celebrating each others work enthusiastically, without judgment!"

"The confidence and courage to push themselves musically comes from a non-judgmental and most supportive environment. All that while the objectives and means of achieving them are very clearly defined. Much more than a music school!"

"I have been a student at LJMA for about 5 years and it has been one of the most impactful things I have done. From countless live performances to the point that I lost all stage fright, and to the amazing community of musicians I have gotten to be apart of along the way, LJMA has changed my life. The expected hard-work and dedication from the students is only matched by the level of constant and genuine support from our teachers is completely unique."

"My experience with Squad/LJMA has been an incredible experience. I’ve been a part of it for about 7-8 years and the many live performance opportunities/ shows are amazing and have really helped me grow as a vocalist and performer. But what has impacted me most is the community. Every single person involved is sweet, supportive and kind. It’s such an encouraging space to be in and now I can’t imagine my life without my Squad/LJMA fam."

"Being in squad has quite literally changed my life. It is indeed a family and I’ve made so many incredible connections during my time. I’ve also had the opportunity to perform in different venues including Carnegie Hall, Westfield Century City Mall, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. I’ve been able to hone my skills and I would say I’ve grown exponentially; learning about stage presence, mic techniques, and blending. Laura is an amazing teacher: funny, kind, and incredibly talented in so many different aspects. I love being in squad and I think it’d be a great and beneficial experience to anyone who loves to sing and is looking to learn and grow."

"Squad is my second family. At first I didn't know anyone, but after a few practices and my first show, I knew some people. Then my second show came along, and I almost knew everyone. Now, I'm friends with everyone in this amazing program. It's a place where I don't have to feel alone or uncomfortable because everyone is so inclusive, kind, open-hearted, and bright"

"Being In LJMA has been such a great experience. I have been with LJMA for about 8 years and Squad Harmonix for about 4 years, and due to the amazing teachers, I have always been able to bring my best to every single performance that they have been able to offer. The environment that the group provides is also fantastic, the friends that I have made throughout this shared experience are ones that I will hope to have for the rest of my life. One of the great things that I have always loved is that I have always felt that there was always more to learn, whether that be beatboxing, music theory, or singing lessons. "

"LJMA has honestly changed my life. My voice, which I couldn’t use for a long time for health reasons, skyrocketed in quality only a couple months after beginning lessons, and I’m so much happier for it. I’ve also joined Squad Harmonix, and the other members of it are like my family. We’ve performed as backup vocals for a touring artist at the Hollywood Palladium, featured at Carnegie Hall, and we’ve performed in local farmer’s markets, malls, and pretty much anywhere else where there have been performance opportunities. My voice, my confidence, and my friendships have all grown thanks to LJMA and Squad Harmonix, and joining was truly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made."