Who we are
Band Aid School of Music is Central Texas’ premier performance-based music school, teaching hundreds of students from early childhood to adult. We are also a National Champion Rock Band School!
Started by James Mays, the South Austin location has six large teaching rooms, three stages, and a recording studio. We have top of the line amps, keyboards, and drums throughout, as well as high end microphones and recording equipment. Whether your goal is to learn to crush karaoke, write songs to sing around the campfire, study music in college, or jump into the music industry as an artist or producer, Band Aid can help you achieve that goal.
Whatever instrument you or your child wish to play, odds are we teach it: Piano, Guitar, Drums, Voice, Band, Music Production, Songwriting & more all taught under one roof or online in your home!
We have more awards thaN
any other music school in Central Texas.
Band Aid School of Music has won more awards than any other music school in the area. We are also Central Texas’ only National Champion Rock Band School. For years, we’ve been the school of choice for hundreds of families.
Students come from Barton Hills, Zilker, South Lamar, Travis Heights, Bouldin Creek, East Austin, South Austin, Tarrytown, Rollingwood, Westlake Hills, Lost Creek, Rob Roy, Davenport Ranch, Northwest Hills, Steiner Ranch, Bee Cave, Oak Hill, Sunset Valley, Buda, San Marcos, Circle C, Dripping Springs and more love to study music at our state of the art facilities in South Austin, Westlake Hills and Dripping Springs.
Meet the Director
I began earning my living as a musician at age 19 with my band Bob Popular in Austin. We were a bit of a thing in the 80’s. The biggest show we played was around 6000 people. That’s where I put in my 10,000 hours. I played over 500 shows before the age of 21. I did study music and finance at UT, but my real music education was playing on 6th Street and for college parties, 3-5 nights a week.
After studying a bit of Opera in Italy, I moved to New York to sharpen my skills as a songwriter, playing venues like CBGB’s and the Bitter End. My coolest venue ever was Carnegie Hall. I got to open for Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. That was a life-changer. In New York and London I recorded my first few records with the help of some pretty legendary guys like Rob Fraboni, (Rolling Stones, The Band, Clapton, Joe Cocker) and Donald Fagen (Steely Dan). They showed me how to record and produce records. Donald let me use his studio from 10 pm to 8 am while no one else was there. Rob showed me how to get the right sound.
After moving back to Austin, my ex-wife Kate and I formed MRANDMRSMAYS. Our record in 2009 got a lot of radio play and was the thing that gave me the credibility to be asked to join The Recording Academy, so now I’m one of the people who votes on the Grammy’s. Along the way I produced SXSW music for 6 years, where I created SXSW Underage, a national showcase for young bands age 18 and under. That led to producing The Kids Are Alright Fest, Miami Music Festival and ACL Fest. I’ve also scored some videos for Nike, one that was debuted by Bono from U2, as the score for Nike’s Red Campaign.
As far as teaching goes, that’s something I grew up with. My mom is still a classical piano and voice teacher, so I’d hear her students practicing in my home mostevenings. Everyone in my family plays and sings, so it was normal. I started teaching in the 90’s in NYC, and it kept growing when I moved back to Austin. One of the student bands I formed and taught for years, After Math, entered a contest held at Disneyland, called School Jam USA, where they won Best Teen Band in America. They also won Best Teen Vocalist, Best Teen Guitarist and Best Teen Bass Player. That milestone helped me to clarify my vision for helping young musicians play in bands and giving those bands the skills to succeed in the music industry. So in 2009, Band Aid School of Music was born.
Contact us
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