SUPERIOR ACADEMY OF MUSIC, LLC
MIAMI, FLORIDA

. They have pursued their careers internationally as concert pianists and have taught over 1000 students ranging from beginners to college level students. Dr. Claure and Dr. Villaverde both hold Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Miami where they also served as teaching assistants to undergraduate music and non-music majors. They earned their Masters of Music and Artist Certificate Degrees from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and their Bachelor of Arts in Music from the College of Charleston, SC. Through their experience teaching around the US, they have seen the need for a comprehensive music curriculum at the pre-college level and have envisioned a unique educational program for SAM. Students enrolled at Superior Academy of Music receive a comprehensive curriculum based on a combination of private lessons and a weekly musicianship course. This program will allow students to be fully prepared for a life in music, whether they wish to be professional musicians or to enjoy music as an extra-curricular activity. SAM’s faculty is comprised by musicians of the highest caliber who have extensive experience teaching from elementary level up to College level. They all have Masters in Music or even Doctoral Degrees in Music. In addition, all faculty members are accomplished and active performers recognized nationally and internationally. , the national standard for accreditation in music education at the pre-college level. This program allows students to receive certification, track their progress, and measure their improvements based on an international standardized music curriculum. SAM’s students receive preparation for these national music assessments held twice a year and receive a National Certificate as well as detailed written feedback from national and international experts in the music field. In addition, SAM is also the local testing center for The Music Development Program so students can take the assessments directly at our Academy. Frost School of Music Dean Shelton Berg has praised the school’s selection of the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program for those who aspire to study music stating that SAM’s program is “based on benchmarks and verification levels. It’s a great idea to know what you are shooting for.” Berg also said a serious music instruction facility in Miami is a boom for the community and the university as it considers college-bound applicants. “It’s very important because they [SAM’s Founders] have a philosophy of teaching music that is very comprehensive. [Students] are not only going to learn an instrument but they will learn music history and ear-training, and that’s what we train in our school,” Berg told the Miami Herald. SAM and its Founders have been featured twice on national television as part of PBS’s Nightly Business Report. SAM has also been covered in various Miami publications including the Miami Herald, the Pinecrest Tribune, the KnightArts Blog, and the BusinessMiami Magazine. To view our complete press coverage, Did you know that Superior Academy of Music is a Founding School for The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program, the national standard for accreditation in music education at the pre-college level? . Zoe Aldana won second place in the Young Musician’s category (ages 5-10). Anastasia Bozhenova won honorable mention in the Junior category (ages 11-14). Ryan Kim won honorable mention in the Young Musician’s category. We are incredibly proud of our students. All selected students and their teacher will travel to NYC in May. We wish them a fantastic experience performing in this historic concert hall. Congratulations to Ryan, Zoe, Anastasia and to our wonderful piano teacher, Ms. Elena Fomicheva! SAM student Nicolas Velasquez has been a student for the past 5 years since SAM opened its doors back in 2011. Throughout his studies, he has taken full advantage of SAM’s comprehensive program receiving lessons in classical piano, jazz piano, music theory, ear training, harmony, voice, digital recording and music production. He has been the recipient of several awards including Certificates of Excellence for earning top grades locally and state-wide in the national assessments from the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program. Most recently, he received a Superior Academy of Music LLC