Meet Nathan Pangrazio of Angeles Academy of Music in Westwood Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Pangrazio.

Nathan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I came from an artistic family in the film industry, and knew from age 12 I was going to be a musician. At age 15 I knew that would mean film composing. I studied music at Indiana University, and then make my way to Los Angeles like so many aspiring artists.

I expected the that doors of opportunity would swing open at my very approach. I was in for a surprise. When I arrived in Los Angeles seven years ago, I had no friends or family, no job, and very few connections. I looked for a job in music industry, and when that didn’t work, I started to walk on foot to every restaurant in Beverly Hills searching for a job as a bus boy. Out of forty applications, I only got only one interview, and I didn’t get the job. The manager said I need to be able to speak Spanish.

Frustrated, I began looking for piano students, I had always enjoyed teaching. I remember I put a flyer under hundreds of doors in the Westwood area, and recall returning home with bloody feet from too much walking.

So much effort, energy, but still no results I remember I told my old mentor, “I should just give up, all the evidence says this”. He shouted back at me, angry, “You never give up. Ever”. I liked that, it kept me going. Finally, I got one student. In an effort to appear more official, I called my new business, a “Angeles Academy of Music,” a story soon shattered by my first student’s comment, “This isn’t a school, it’s just you, isn’t it?” I did my very best to teach her, and three months later got my second student. Now things were really moving. I got better day by day, and a few years later my studio was full. I decided to make a real school, and I rented rooms in a church and started hiring teachers. It was more than just a business for me, I felt a bit of a mission to help musicians just out of college who really deserve opportunity. Since we became a corporation in 2014, we have grown to about 150 students and 10 instructors. All the while, I’ve been writing music and getting involved in film projects. I finally had one of my greatest moments last year, when I won an Emmy award for best soundtrack for a 90-minute soundtrack I composed for PBS. Last year one of the film I scored got shortlisted at the Oscars and I got the opportunity to work with producer Steve Tisch, Mitchell Block and director Vanessa Block.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Most of the struggles I mentioned. I spent a lot of time searching for work in the wrong direction.

I had a very door to door approach for marketing that was both not very effective and also hurt my feet.

Every business has many more challenges then one expects. I’ve said in the past that if an entrepreneur really had a realistic view of the challenges and struggles the first few years of starting a business, that they would not ever start. You have a be a bit of a dreamer, a bit naive to really do it.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Angeles Academy of Music – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We offer piano, voice, violin, guitar and cello lessons. We specialize in private lessons, of the highest quality level. The quality is high because of the people. We interview hundreds of instructors and pick people based on these criteria. 1 Personality and likability, 2 organization and reliability, 3 their teaching experience and their musical abilities. I hold firm to my believe that a great school is nothing more than a great group of instructors.

I tell new clients to look back at their favorite subjects in school as a child. Much of the time, what people like can be traced back to a person, not a subject. By having likable people in a good mood, we have a great chance of really maintaining their interest in music and even fostering a passion.

I would say what I’m most proud of, and what sets us apart is the people.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We would like to grow to become a very prominent school on the westside. We will continue improving our quality, and add more classes and programs. My personal goals as a film music composer include getting involved with some amazing filmmakers and meaningful collaborations, winning more Emmys and an Oscar!

Pricing:

• $168 per month 30 minute lessons weekly
• $228 per month, 45 minute lessons weekly
• $300 per month, 60 minute lessons weekly

Contact Info:

• Address: 10808 Le Conte Ave Los Angeles CA 90024
• Website: www.angelesacademyofmusic.com
• Phone: 3109078687
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pangraziomusic/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pangrazio-music-lessons-los-angeles-3
• Other: www.nathanaelpangrazio.com

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