Teenage music dream now a thriving business helping others

Self-taught piano player Trevino Isaacs, 26, is living his dream, operating two music schools where people can take their talents and passions further by being taught by the pros.

A music school he opened in Mitchells Plain four years ago teaches children as young as seven, nurturing budding talent to grow to something bigger. 

And last month he added another school in the Kraaifontein area to his bouquet, where more than 20 children are being given the opportunity to develop a love and appreciation of music. Isaacs says hopes to grow these numbers in both music academies.

Isaacs started began playing the piano when he was nine years old and says he has performed with bands since the age of 15. He also taught himself to play the drums, guitar, bass-guitar, accordion and banjo. 

He always envisioned having his own music school and started by giving music lessons from his mother’s living room.

“The interest grew to such an extent that when I approached two of my friends who studied music, with the idea of opening a music school, my dream of teaching others became a successful business now celebrating its fourth year.”

“Growing up in Mitchells Plain I know what it’s like to come from that environment where you don’t get the opportunities you wish for. There’s a lot of raw talent out there that goes unrecognised and I thought to myself, we need to push that forward,” he says.

Isaacs left school at 16 and worked hard to get on to all the country’s stages big and small and has worked with some of the top names in the music industry from Emo Adams to Alastair Izobell to David Kramer. 

“From my own experience most of my success grew organically. Many of the young children around me followed my posts on social media and asked me if I could also help them get on stage. So ja, it’s all about giving and sharing,” he says.

He has performed on many diverse stages and in dozens of local small town music fests to concerts in big venues around the Mother City. “So that was always my working environment and I can pass on my experience to these youngsters - about audiences and what they like and expect,” he adds.

“Music has been and still is the only work I know. There are many students who simply can’t afford to study music.”

Isaacs says to this end the Mitchells Plain Music Academy and the recently opened academy in Kraaifontein offer a safe environment where children can live a life free of violence, drugs and alcohol. 

“For many it’s a way out of poverty and uncertainty by developing their natural talent into something with purpose,” he adds.

His initiative has been recognised and Isaacs is one of 19 small business owners in the Khayelithsha, Langa, Mitchell’s Plain and Gugulethu areas recently selected to take part in the sponsored Small Business Academy (SBA) programme offered by the University of Stellenbosch Business School.

The SBA, with main sponsors ABSA and the Distell Foundation, provides a platform for small business owners to gain business, financial and operational know-how over nine months to grow and strengthen their businesses.

Isaacs says his selection to the programme has already had quite an impact on how he structures and markets his businesses. “The knowledge I’m gaining will assist us to grow the business significantly and help uso assist more students who have the talent but simply can’t pay the tuition fees.”

The music schools follows the Trinity College London syllabus, recognised by all the major universities in South Africa and the UK. Classes teach pre-grade 1 pupils up to grade 8 pupils from 7 years up to 45 years.

Isaacs says his dreams for the schools are big. “We have started from the bottom but my long term goal is to offer music certificates, diplomas and degrees (and) other subjects such as finance and computer literacy. We’d like to support the community in enriching themselves and their families.”

Practising what he preaches, he’s also studying music literacy and says both diplomas will offer “a good stepping stone” for him to project his vision so that many others will benefit from what grew as a teenage dream.