Life & Work with Treana Havranek

Today we’d like to introduce you to Treana Havranek.

Hi Treana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I own a music and performing arts school in Morrisville called Melodiya Music n’ Stage.

I grew up in a family that studied and enjoyed music and the arts. Music was our creative outlet. So, it was only natural for me to gravitate towards music and performance as my choice for what I’d like to do with my life. From performing in every drama camp out there to singing anywhere and everywhere, you knew I had the “bug.”

When I was 13 years old, my parents moved me and my family to the Philippines. My mother is Filipina and both of my parents wanted me and my sister to know our other culture, as well as get to know our family that resided over there.

This is where my love for the arts grew exponentially!

Talent is practically oozing out of it! Almost everyone can pick up a guitar, sing beautifully, or they are willing to act out anything that you want them to. It was a beautiful way to experience my roots through the arts, especially the resourcefulness of people whose art was part of a way of life.

And that was it! I was inspired to become a Music Major once I attended college. I went to a school called Silliman University and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

When I had graduated with my Bachelor of Music in 2013 and moved back to the states, I knew that I wanted to provide the same type of enjoyment of the arts to others around me. So, the dream was to have my own school!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road definitely was bumpy from time to time. And we still are hitting speed bumps all the time. One of the main hurdles was taking the leap from just teaching out of my house to realizing the dream of having my “storefront” so to speak.

To continue providing for my school, I was also working at our family business.

Unfortunately, due to COVID, we had to close that business down. It was a hard time for the family, but it was also the final push I needed, and I knew that it was my time!

Starting a business during a pandemic might not be ideal but, I took the risk, and I am now completely booked up! And in an almost desperate need to expand my business, which as most business owners know, is the best problem to have!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started small by teaching out of my house and doing what I could to teach music and creative performance. I now offer:
* Individual Lessons (piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, and drums)
* Tater Tot Classes (Pre-K classes)
* Show Choir Camps
* Theater Camps

We are a performance-based school that focuses on developing the confidence of our students and engaging them with fun activities while performing. We pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our students and cultivate the right teaching method for them individually or even in a group setting.

We do four performances a year, two of them live and two of them are recorded for video. This gives our students a chance to experience different ways you can perform and what you need to do in those situations.

One of my main goals as a Music Teacher is to boost my student’s confidence. In these times, the sense of self is sometimes worn down by many challenges. I have experienced great confidence as my musical skills grew and when an audience is presented with my work, I feel that I have given back to my community. This is what I want to accomplish with kids who can learn from my experience and my skills in music and performance.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
When I can see someone truly enjoy themselves on stage or even finish a song that I know they’ve been struggling with, it is a beautiful thing to witness! I truly believe that the arts are a wonderful way for a person to express themselves. I am a testament to that in my own life. If I didn’t have music, I don’t know where I would be right now. And if I can show someone this path and touch a part of their lives, I know I’ve done my job.

Pricing:

• $25 per half hour per week for Individual Lessons
• $32 per 45 mins per week for Individual Lessons
• $42 per hour per week for Individual Lessons
• Pricing for Camps are slightly different

Contact Info:

• Email: treana@melodiyamusic.com
• Website: melodiyamusic.com
• Instagram: @melodiyamusicandstage
• Facebook: @melodiyamusicnstage
• Youtube: Melodiya Music n’ Stage

Image Credits
Melodiya Music n’ Stage Recitals Devin Hunter