Since music was so much a part of his life, it seemed only natural that he’d set up Prodigy Studio someday, a place where just about anybody can learn how to play a musical instrument of their choice and excel at it.
In a recent interview with FMT, Mika, 48, said it had always been his dream to teach music to underprivileged children, like he himself once was.
And since learning music can be rather expensive, he wanted to make it affordable to all, especially those without the financial means to learn it. “I didn’t intend to open a school. The opportunity came, and I took it on,” he said.
For Mika, music is about community and accessibility. So, he wanted his school to be a place where anyone of any age and income bracket can receive training in creative arts.
“Our youngest student is a two-year-old ballet dancer and our oldest was a 77-year-old grandma learning piano,” he said.
Mika has standard rates for all classes, but he offers a sliding scale for fees based on need. Even those with special needs can learn music at Prodigy Studio, he said, adding that no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Plus, having been raised by a single mother himself, Mika has a special place in his heart and at his studio, for others like him.
He said he works on a case-by-case basis to find a rate that won’t put too much of a financial strain on either the student or their parents.
The quality of the instruction remains the same. Every student receives one-to-one attention from the instructor and access to the instrument of their choice.
Mika’s vision for the studio is shared by principal, Yanti Hasim, who described playing and teaching music as her “passion”. While she handles the day-to-day scheduling of classes at the studio, she spends most of her time there teaching music.
Norish D, 25, who teaches guitar at the studio, said the reason why so many instructors like teaching here is because emphasis is placed on enjoying the process of learning as much as it is on picking up techniques.
Mika said it was important to allow students to develop at their own pace. “You cannot force passion for the music,” he said. The emphasis on working with a student’s needs is a big part of the draw for many working adults who take classes at Mika’s studio.
Dr Azfa J, 42, is a long-time student of Prodigy Studio. After taking a few violin classes, she enrolled her children in the school as well.
She said she had been learning the violin for a few years but stopped when it clashed with her work and family commitments. Now, almost ten years later, she is learning the violin again thanks to the studio’s flexibility in accommodating her needs.
“Prodigy is very flexible with my timetable, I can adjust my lessons based on my work and family schedule,” she told FMT.
Mika was happy to tell FMT that he has already achieved one of his initial goals of offering the best quality musical instruction to students – Prodigy Studio is now a qualified testing centre for the United Kingdom-based RSL Awards (Rockschool).
This is a big achievement for a small, homegrown music school like his. It is also a definite step on the path to the bright future Mika has envisioned for his music school and his students.
He told FMT that he hopes to open other Prodigy Studio outlets so he can bring opportunities to more students from diverse backgrounds. Mika said he lives by the belief that music should be affordable and accessible to all.