Our Story
Our Founder: Maria Scuderi LaMon
Maria received her M.S. as a special education teacher from Touro College. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Dowling College and her A.A.S from State University of New York at Farmingdale. Before receiving her Masters, Maria worked as a 1:1 Assistant in a public school environment. Music has been a part of Maria Scuderi LaMon’s life since the age of seven, when she began 12 years of piano instruction with one of the finest piano teachers on Long Island, Mrs. Sandra Kane. In 2001, Scuderi began working at the Kane Piano Studio in Nesconset, NY, teaching children and adults of various levels of experience. After seven years of a teacher-student relationship having become a true friendship, in 2008, Kane and Scuderi opened The Music Academy for Special Learners in Ronkonkoma, NY, where they introduced Scuderi’s new concepts and ideas for Visual Music Concepts (VMC).
In 2008, Maria founded The Music Academy for Special Learners, in Ronkonkoma, NY – a music and art program open to all participants. Having experienced academic and social challenges with her son, she is familiar with the caring, time and discipline essential to help just one special learner become successful and navigate through life. Maria developed an immediate connection and fondness for working with children during her graduate school internship in Huntington, NY. Shortly after completing her graduate studies, Scuderi began to see how music could empower her students and create an opportunity for expression along with numerous additional benefits.
The Music Academy was one of the primary focuses in a documentary. Maria and her school have been featured in various publications including Newsday, Touro Links Magazine, Fios News, Push Pause and Heroes On Our Island as well as a weekly radio segment.
Maria is an avid volunteer. She provides a day of music and musical activities at Camp Northstar (a 501 (c) (3) organization that holds a camp on Shelter Island, NY.). She is a speaker at several Special Ed PTA organizations throughout Long Island. She also is part of the Advisory Board for a 501 (c) (3) Public Charity called Changing Hands and a member of the Woodbury Syosset Rotary.
In 2023, Maria retired from The Music Academy to spend more time with and care for her family. She shared that she felt most fortunate to have the opportunity to work with so many gifted children at The Music Academy!
Her Book: Visual Music Concepts
The purpose of the Visual Music Concepts (VMC) book and the supplementary materials provided is to present a simplified, visual and auditory approach for teaching keyboard. Maria Scuderi LaMon created the music book and the materials provided in this program after receiving her M.S. as a special education teacher from Touro College and her honorary degree from School of Hard Knocks – credit for life experience – in motherhood.
Maria developed VMC based on motivational techniques. The VMC program helps keep the learner focused and on task and uses tools in the form of game play for reinforcement of notes and note progression. In addition, her exclusive piano books are designed to give the student an immediate sense of accomplishment. Visual Music ConceptsTM (VMC) is a unique, research-informed teaching method, designed to ensure that students of all levels have the ability to succeed. The student is first taught how to play, utilizing the important mechanisms of piano instruction that are conducive for the student’s style of learning. VMC’s unique teaching method incorporates six components of motivation (self and social image, novelty, coping skills, pleasantness, self esteem, relevance to goals and needs) to engage the student and to insure a positive and successful experience for both the student and the instructor.
VMC is a program that has been recognized by Columbia University Medical Center Research Neurologist, Dr. Harry D. Schneider. This new program was first piloted by trained therapists to use music in a positive way with participants at a Speech and Hearing Center in Ohio. VMC is now a sought after program both domestically and internationally!
Our Offices
Ronkonkoma, NY: 2008-2018
In 2008, Kane and Scuderi opened The Music Academy for Special Learners in Ronkonkoma, NY in a small white house on Smithtown Boulevard. Next door to Vincent’s Pizza, the space had three session rooms and a small waiting room that housed Maria’s desk. These “vintage” photos are the first taken of the original Music Academy!
Hauppauge, NY (Wireless Blvd): 2018 – 2021
In 2018, The Music Academy moved to Hauppauge, NY, expanding to a 5+ session room office suite! More “vintage” photos!
Hauppauge, NY (Engineers Road): 2021 – Present
In April 2021, The Music Academy moved to Engineers Road. Now, we have an office suite with 7+ session rooms, including our first art room and a group room!
West Babylon, NY: 2022 – Present
In July 2022, The Music Academy opened a second location in West Babylon, NY! Here, we have a music room, an art room, and a group room!
Riverhead, NY: 2023 – Present
In November 2023, The Music Academy team opened a third location in Riverhead, NY, which has a music room!