The goal of the Maine Academy of Modern Music is to provide students with the “thrill of making contemporary music.”

Portland music school to add downtown location

By Kate Irish Collins on May 29, 2018

PORTLAND — The Maine Academy of Modern Music, which has grown rapidly and now serves more than 1,600 students statewide, has decided it’s time to open a second location.

“I started MAMM in 2007 with just a dozen or so students (and we’re) now serving over 1,600,” [MAMM executive director Jeff Shaw] said. “The community support that we have seen over the years is absolutely amazing.”

“MAMM is offering to do for garage bands what Little League did for sandlot ball. It’s structured, safe, well organized and led by local adults and educators who want to help kids build their skills and share with them the thrill of accomplishing goals as a team. It’s (also) fun and educational,” Shaw said.

“Another reason for our success is that more and more public school music programs are being cut, so families are looking elsewhere for quality music instruction. As those programs fold, the need for organizations like MAMM become more and more important to our local communities.”

The academy also benefits from partnerships with the Portland Public Schools, the Maine Seacoast Mission, the Preble Street Teen Center “and other organizations serving at-risk youth.” Full story