Check Out Robby Schechter’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Robby Schechter.

Robby began playing piano at the age of four and guitar at the age of six. Robby always had a passion for sharing his music with others and was performing at talent shows at school and summer camps by the time he was eight. Robby began playing in bands shortly after that and performed with a band for the first time when he was 13 at the historic Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, Mo. At the age of 14, Robby began teaching guitar professionally at Dave Simon’s Rock School, where he taught guitar and bass and helped coach bands. Robby played in a handful of bands throughout highschool, winning his highschools battle of the bands two years in a row.

After high school, Robby studied at the University of Denver Lamont School of Music where he graduated with a bachelor’s of Music in 2012. Robby maintained a roster of private students through his time at university and began teaching at Broadway Music School after graduating. Robby also started his own band, Robby Schechter and the Motion Detectors, and recorded and released a full-length album in 2012 as well. Since then, Robby has stayed busy playing in a host of different bands such as The Tent Show Kings, Moment’s Notice, Club X, as well as doing solo gigs. In 2016, he left Broadway Music School to start Musical Life Denver, a 100% locally owned and operated rock style music school, complete with lessons, bands, and virtual classes.

At first, Musical Life was a one-man operation, Robby teaching all the lessons and classes. Over a year or two, however, the number of students grew to the point where Robby had to bring on extra teachers to help. Currently, there are four instructors teaching lessons in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, and Voice. Robby currently teaches most of the bands and group classes. However, recently Nick Iereisi, head guitar instructor, began teaching the new At Home Recording and Production class, a class written by Robby that is now in its third cycle. The class is taught remotely and has helped a lot of aspiring producers and songwriters be able to create their own recordings at home. When Covid hits in March 2020, Musical Life Denver swiftly reacted and began doing all programs remotely, not missing even a week of lessons. In order to help with the new quarantine lifestyle, Musical Life Began offering a host of extra, free, virtual programs such as “virtual practice room,” “video concerts,” “Netflix parties” to try to keep the students occupied during that transitional period. They also ran a 6-week health care appreciation drive, in which each week, they selected a healthcare worker to give a free month of lessons to.

In June, they re-opened in a limited capacity for lessons and small groups, of course adhering to all the CDC, City, and State Mandates for safety. In late fall of 2020, three weeks before their scheduled concert, the Tri-County area went back to Code Red, and with great luck, The MLD bands were able to continue rehearsing at their business neighbors, Birdsall’s showroom, which had enough space to accommodate proper social distancing and mandates of capacity. Instead of concerts, the bands were able to make a high-quality video recording of their final performance in the beautiful space of a garden boutique. Currently, Musical Life is about to embark on its next round of classes and workshops for the spring and continues to offer the highest quality music lessons, bot in-person and remotely.

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?
Finding an affordable location to lease and constructing a functioning space (private lesson rooms, a waiting area, all flooring and ceiling, HVAC, etc) from scratch. Competing with the behemoth, Swall Hill, which was only two blocks away, and managing to build a thriving lesson and band program. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Business owner, school/education director, instructor and coach, program writer, composer and producer, and music and arts lover.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The biggest asset we have is each other and the support we can provide. The customers, families, employees, other businesses, and the City of Englewood have been an invaluable pillar of support during this whole time. How important music is in the lives of our students, and how it can continue to provide a sense of normalcy and light through a disaster. The importance of persevering and thinking outside of the box for creative solutions to obstacles. Being flexible and able to change from a plan and pivot based on the real world. The importance of leadership, and guidance, and being there for your people.

Contact Info:

• Email: office@musicallifedenver.com
• Website: www.musicallifedenver.com
• Instagram: @musicallifedenver
• Facebook: facebook.com/musicallifedenver
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1KjcHPso0nz_oEyQJ1ICoA
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/musical-life-denver-denver
• Other: https://nextdoor.com/insights?active_page_id=31793003