MUSICAL MINDS
Our Team
Our Team
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THE DIRECTOR
My name is Warren Mendes, and I am the Director and founder of Musical
Minds. I began offering after school music programs back in 2001, after spending a
few years as the Director of Marketing for the music education division of the
Rhodes Music Corporation. At Rhodes I worked to promote the highly acclaimed
teaching methodology of the legendary Harold Rhodes, developer of the famous
Fender Rhodes piano. Before that, I was a recording artist, a session musician and a
songwriter. I was lucky enough to have several of my compositions recorded by
successful artists, and I was able to work with many "big name" artists, but I was
always frustrated by the state of the music industry. Growing up in the United
Kingdom and the West Indies, and being exposed to so much incredible music as a
youth, I developed a huge passion for all things musical. I studied law at university
(my pragmatic side made that decision), but my understudies were always music
courses. As soon as I graduated I promptly sought out a career in music. My
friends and I soon secured a record deal, and away we went!
By the time I became involved with music education, my passion for being in the
mainstream of the music industry had significantly mellowed, and I believe that in
the realm of teaching I had found my knish. I love working with kids and showing
them how to experience a little of the passion for music that I have enjoyed through
the years. I'm a strong advocate of music and art as two key formative building
blocks of childhood development. I believe that for kids, music is one of the keys to
self confidence, self esteem, creative thinking (essential for problem solving in
subjects like math and science), and even social awareness. I have seen all kinds of
kids in our program - gifted and talented kids, slow learners, kids with behavioural
issues, autism, ADD, ADHD, shy kids, happy kids, you name it. They all love
music, and they all enjoy learning to play music and they get so much joy learning
to make music.
From the very first class that I started in West Los Angeles I could see the vision of
bringing a high quality program to schools everywhere. Slowly I assembled my
team, and together we have grown steadily, so that our program can now be found
in schools up and down the West Coast, from as far north as Seattle all the way
down to San Diego.
My name is Warren Mendes, and I am the Director and founder of Musical
Minds. I began offering after school music programs back in 2001, after spending a
few years as the Director of Marketing for the music education division of the
Rhodes Music Corporation. At Rhodes I worked to promote the highly acclaimed
teaching methodology of the legendary Harold Rhodes, developer of the famous
Fender Rhodes piano. Before that, I was a recording artist, a session musician and a
songwriter. I was lucky enough to have several of my compositions recorded by
successful artists, and I was able to work with many "big name" artists, but I was
always frustrated by the state of the music industry. Growing up in the United
Kingdom and the West Indies, and being exposed to so much incredible music as a
youth, I developed a huge passion for all things musical. I studied law at university
(my pragmatic side made that decision), but my understudies were always music
courses. As soon as I graduated I promptly sought out a career in music. My
friends and I soon secured a record deal, and away we went!
By the time I became involved with music education, my passion for being in the
mainstream of the music industry had significantly mellowed, and I believe that in
the realm of teaching I had found my knish. I love working with kids and showing
them how to experience a little of the passion for music that I have enjoyed through
the years. I'm a strong advocate of music and art as two key formative building
blocks of childhood development. I believe that for kids, music is one of the keys to
self confidence, self esteem, creative thinking (essential for problem solving in
subjects like math and science), and even social awareness. I have seen all kinds of
kids in our program - gifted and talented kids, slow learners, kids with behavioural
issues, autism, ADD, ADHD, shy kids, happy kids, you name it. They all love
music, and they all enjoy learning to play music and they get so much joy learning
to make music.
From the very first class that I started in West Los Angeles I could see the vision of
bringing a high quality program to schools everywhere. Slowly I assembled my
team, and together we have grown steadily, so that our program can now be found
in schools up and down the West Coast, from as far north as Seattle all the way
down to San Diego.
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ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
David Carruthers is one of those unique individuals who employs both
sides of his brain equally. He has an extensive background in business and
finance, having been a Chartered Accountant in Canada (the equivalent of
a CPA in the United States), and he's held the post of chief financial
officer of various prominent corporations during his lifetime. On the other
hand, David is an accomplished musician, and has been involved as a
player with numerous jazz outfits and big band orchestras in the Los
Angeles and Orange County areas, and before that in Toronto, Canada.
David is a lovable guy whose heart is completely in this program, and he
brings that good Canadian sensibility to Musical Minds. He's well liked by
kids, parents and school officials alike, and he wears many hats in the
organization, so his true job can best be described as our operations
manager (or maybe the heart of the program).
David Carruthers is one of those unique individuals who employs both
sides of his brain equally. He has an extensive background in business and
finance, having been a Chartered Accountant in Canada (the equivalent of
a CPA in the United States), and he's held the post of chief financial
officer of various prominent corporations during his lifetime. On the other
hand, David is an accomplished musician, and has been involved as a
player with numerous jazz outfits and big band orchestras in the Los
Angeles and Orange County areas, and before that in Toronto, Canada.
David is a lovable guy whose heart is completely in this program, and he
brings that good Canadian sensibility to Musical Minds. He's well liked by
kids, parents and school officials alike, and he wears many hats in the
organization, so his true job can best be described as our operations
manager (or maybe the heart of the program).
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR (SAN DIEGO)
Ihui (pronounced "Eee-way) Wu took over managing the San Diego area last year.
She's been a member of the California Youth Symphony and the San Jose Youth
Orchestra in Northern California, from where she hails. She is an accomplished
classical trumpet player and she sings and plays several other instruments. She's
worked extensively with indie record labels and concert promoters. She has set the
bar high for our San Diego instructors, and the best way to describe her would be as
"highly energetic, always fun"! And oh, yes, she's a big time surfer, so if you need to
know how to ride a wave, she's your girl!
Ihui (pronounced "Eee-way) Wu took over managing the San Diego area last year.
She's been a member of the California Youth Symphony and the San Jose Youth
Orchestra in Northern California, from where she hails. She is an accomplished
classical trumpet player and she sings and plays several other instruments. She's
worked extensively with indie record labels and concert promoters. She has set the
bar high for our San Diego instructors, and the best way to describe her would be as
"highly energetic, always fun"! And oh, yes, she's a big time surfer, so if you need to
know how to ride a wave, she's your girl!
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION)
Kristin Manna
Kristin has a B.A degree in Communication: TV & Film Production and worked as
an an assistant editor and editor in the LA area for many years working on
M.O.W's, documentaries, and feature films. One of her important tasks as an
editor was creating a soundtrack to market versions of the film to sell the cut to
the producers! She developed a strong love for music and the emotional power it
has on its audience! She has also worked as the Events Coordinator for Diamante
Music Group. She worked as the liason between the music labels and the music
distribution group. Kristin is a mom of three great kids, so she also brings her
parental talents to the mix.
Kristin Manna
Kristin has a B.A degree in Communication: TV & Film Production and worked as
an an assistant editor and editor in the LA area for many years working on
M.O.W's, documentaries, and feature films. One of her important tasks as an
editor was creating a soundtrack to market versions of the film to sell the cut to
the producers! She developed a strong love for music and the emotional power it
has on its audience! She has also worked as the Events Coordinator for Diamante
Music Group. She worked as the liason between the music labels and the music
distribution group. Kristin is a mom of three great kids, so she also brings her
parental talents to the mix.
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR (NORTHWEST REGION)
Nick Shadel is music through and through. It's all he talks about. He
has devoted his time to various music projects, including his incredible
band, the Bedouin Jacks. He works great with kids, and school
administrators usually praise his intellect and dedication, so he's a
fabulous individual to have on the team.
Nick Shadel is music through and through. It's all he talks about. He
has devoted his time to various music projects, including his incredible
band, the Bedouin Jacks. He works great with kids, and school
administrators usually praise his intellect and dedication, so he's a
fabulous individual to have on the team.
With over 100 trained Musical Minds instructors, we feel that we have more depth in musical experience
than virtually any music education enrichment operation. Our folks come to us with a wealth of
experience, with degrees from venerable music institutes such as USC Thornton School, New England
Conservatory and Berklee College. They are classically trained, jazz players, roll & rollers, singers and
instrumentalists. They are teachers and performers and composers.
Most importantly, they are the kind of music instructors who we feel will bring a positive exuberance
and energy to each and every single session.
