Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy promotes music and performance
By Holly Kline
The Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy offers a variety of music lessons and productions for kids and adults plus it boasts an impressive 206-capactiy concert hall. Co-owned by Seoul, Korea native Ji-Eun Lee and her husband Doug Whisman, the music school has been in business since 2005. Lee is a professional piano teacher with a degree from Indiana University; she met Whisman when he was her piano student.
Lee said she and Whisman talked then about having a studio. “Fishers doesn’t have a great venue yet and we want to be a part of the Fishers arts scene,” she said.
Private music lessons, which are set up as 30 minutes one day per week, are the academy’s core business; Lee and her instructors offer piano, violin, viola, cello, drums, guitars and voice. Everyone who teaches is degreed.
Kara Haven lives in Fishers and her 5th grade daughter takes piano lessons at Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy. “We are pleased with the quality of music instruction Sophia receives at JLMA,” said Haven. “She is not only learning how to read and perform music, but to appreciate and love it as well.”
In fact, Lee wants kids to know what music is all about. “I come from Seoul which is very music and arts oriented,” Lee explained. “We need to help educate parents about a balance between arts and music and sports. We want to help kids learn to enjoy music and let it help enrich their lives.”
Kids can also discover music is through Lee’s Theatre Program. Geared toward students in grades 1-12, Lee explained that each session is a semester-long production. “Kids learn acting, voice, dance, choreography and everything about productions,” she said. “They then get to perform in a show.”
Kids are divided into two age groups, 1st – 5th grade and 6th grade and up. Lee believes in the benefits of performance. “Kids get to be in front of people and that’s another learned skill,” she stated. “They want to encourage each other and it helps them develop relationships.”
“This semester we are doing Annie and Little Mermaid,” continued Lee. “Our musical theater director is Michelle Shea and she works to make sure the kids are experiencing all that a professional would experience.”
The Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy offers lessons for adults as well as opportunities for professional musicians and artists to showcase their talents. Local resident Theresa Treep takes lessons at the school and participates in the adult productions. “After a couple of years of piano lessons with Ji-Eun, I started taking voice lessons at the school,” Treep said. “I recently auditioned for a role in the upcoming ‘Mozart’s Magic Flute’ production and was awarded a role in the opera.”
Lee’s “Mozart’s Magic Flute” production is part of her Projekt: Opera initiative and she, along with other volunteer musicians and vocalists, hopes to make opera approachable. “We want to take important scenes and make them more modern so the public can understand it more,” Lee said. “I think that most people think opera is boring and I want to change that.”
Both Lee and Whisman are focused on promoting music in Fishers and their school supports Fishers Music Works. Co-founded by Whisman and Rob Lawyer, Fishers Music Works is comprised of a chamber orchestra, wind symphony, orchestra, the Mudsock Jazz Combo and the Nickel Plate Jazz Orchestra.
“We are so proud to be supporting Fishers Music Works,” Lee said. “Each group has their own director and each director auditions musicians. We provide their practice space and we help with cross-marketing each other.”
Treep praised the school’s focus on promoting performances. “There are many opportunities not only for music instruction but also for performance, which is very important to developing musicianship,” she said.
Lee wants to continue to grow the Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy’s offerings and influence. “Our long term mission is to have a performing arts center here at the school,” she stated. “I want to expand to all arts performance.” Visit www.fishersmusic.com for information on lessons, summer camps and performances.
About Ji-Eun Lee
I am Korean-American Female Pianist/Educator. I believe in music and early age education
Age: 44
Resides: Fishers, IN
Education: Master Degree from Indiana University in Piano Performance
Family: Doug Whisman (Husband, Co-founder of Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, Vice President of Fishers Arts Council, Co–founder of Fishers Music Works www.fishersmusicworks.org; two daughters, Christina (11) and Caylie (8).
Hobbies/Interests: Reading books, Craft and painting. TechnologyLife Philosophies or
Quotes: “Music is life”– I think I write this a lot on my social media.
