2012 MARKS 20 YEARS FOR PROGRESSIVE MUSIC CENTER

Nationally Recognized Music Lessons Provider Started With Less Than One Dollar, A Hand Made Flyer And Tons Of Determination.

Founded in 1992 as Progressive Beat, a drum and percussion only teaching studio in Greenville, North Carolina by local drummer and music fan Billy Cuthrell, Progressive Music Center was the combination of Cuthrell’s desire to make music a full time flexible job with enough income to help pay his way through college, and a way to get out of working on a farm in the summer heat. Cuthrell started the company with only seventy eight cents to his name and a handmade flyer while going house to house teaching out of the back of his car. Once he grew his student base large enough to consider an actual brick and mortar location Cuthrell rented a small broom closet at Pearson Music. Today, Progressive Music Center teaches thousands of music lessons annually in multiple locations and is credited as being one of the first music schools in the United States to offer a “Rock School“ format through their Rock Academy program.

In June 1996 Cuthrell had an idea to incorporate a “rock school” style format he called Rock Academy into Progressive Beat’s offerings where his drum and percussion students were placed with guitar, bass, vocal and piano students to form bands with other students from other teachers in the Greenville, NC area. Rock Academy was introduced as a summer camp option for both students and non Progressive students and considered a “never before heard of” concept at the time. The bands then rehearsed with the teachers for a week ending with a grand finale concert showcasing their talents. The Rock Academy program was well received and now 16 years later Progressive is still innovating the “Rock School” format with weekly Summer Rock Academy camps from June through late August and a year around Rock Academy program open to anyone.

In July of 1998 Cuthrell relocated from Greenville to Wilmington, North Carolina to open a second location in Wilmington. Cuthrell spent several years between Greenville and Wilmington developing the business model while writing music education articles for various national publications and playing in several semi-national and national bands.

In October of 2000 Cuthrell opened a new location inside the Music Loft in Raleigh, North Carolina. Teaming up with longtime friend and professional musician Dexter Horton, Cuthrell and Horton started building a student base while expanding into other instruments and bringing the Rock Academy program into the Raleigh market. In late 2002 Guitar Center bought the Music Loft business and started renovations on the building toward the end of the year forcing a relocation with only a few month’s notice.

Cuthrell sold the original Greenville location and closed down the Wilmington branch to concentrate on growing in the Raleigh market and moved his newly renamed studios, Progressive Percussion Drum Studios, Inc., into a new location on Glenwood Avenue in February 2002 with the help of then partner Heide Dorfman. It was during this time that legendary musicians such as Rick Latham (B.B. King, Edgar Winter), Jim Chapin (Harry Chapin’s father, Author, and drummer for Simon and Garfunkel) and drumming sensation Johnny Rabb started teaching classes at Progressive. Chapin was such a regular at Progressive that he began bringing other legendary drummers to town with him for clinics and master classes and had his own house key to Cuthrell’s home. Cuthrell reflects, “Jim was my mentor and I studied drums with him for years. He really put us on the map and brought a lot of attention to our efforts. Once he started teaching here we had a lot of validity and it reinforced that we were a serious place to study not only drums and percussion, but all types of instruments and music.”

In 2003 Cuthrell saw the need for more teachers and added instructors for guitar, drum and percussion, bass guitar and keyboard/piano. Adam Sturt, a phenomenal guitarist and teacher, was the first guitar instructor to come on board in the Raleigh location and has worked with Progressive ever since. Voice and saxophone teachers were added in 2004 and the name was changed to Progressive Music Center to incorporate the addition of the new instruments and teachers. No longer a drum and percussion only teaching studio Cuthrell saw opportunities to start new classes such as The Guitarist’s Night School, Audio Recording classes with top producers from the area and “How To” classes where students could learn anything from guitar repair to how a guitar string is made.

START TIMES:

6:00 — Main group starts, including the “Leave No Runner Behind Crew”

6:15 — Late-Arrivals start. Tim Hinton starts this group at 6:15

CHILDCARE: If you need childcare during the group run then please contact Linda Banks at lbanks@nc.rr.com or through the Wake Forest Area Runners Facebook page.

Fantastic venue, wonderful courses, the best friends, and of course those great WFAR wine & ale specials during our post run social. Gary Taylor, the owner of Cellar 275, extends a welcoming hand and a glass of cheer to all Wake Forest Area Runners.

Every week we offer both 3 mile and 5 mile courses that are very well marked. Just look for the baking flour on the road at every turn.

We will meet inside The Factory at Cellar 275 (south entrance near Ziggy’s) in the large, dry, and warm foyer where you will find our familiar sign-in table. It is dark now when we start our runs so wear reflective clothing or reflective gear. Thanks to Raleigh Running Outfitters we have reflective gear that you can borrow from the club until you get your own.

After the run return inside to the warmth and comfort of Cellar 275 where you will find Gary at the counter ready to pour you a great glass of wine for only $2.00 or a frothy pint of craft ale for only $2.00. Of course, if you like your ale on the tall side, then grab the 23 oz. for only $3.00. Cellar 275 is also providing post run snacks. And, of course, all your take-home wine purchases are discounted 10% because you are a member of the WFAR!!

Cellar 275 is the official wine store of the Wake Forest Area Runners!! We love our sponsors and thank them for their support!!

See ya Thursday!!!
Run Happy!!!

The 3rd Annual RYHA Outdoor Carnival is fast approaching. This year’s carnival will be held Saturday April 21st at the Factory in Wake Forest. There will be lots of games, activities, food and fun.  Games and activities include the Hurricanes Moon Bounce, Street Hockey, and Slapshot booth. We’ll also have the Dunking Booth, Climbing Wall, Pedastal Joust and much much more.

A great time for the entire family. Please join us.

• Date: April 21st
• Time: 11:00a – 3:00p

Donors and sponsors for the RYHA Carnival are: The Carolina Hurricanes ,The Factory, Hockey Mommy, HomeTowne Realty

We’re more than a gym; we’re invested in the community. Our goal is a healthy lifestyle for everyone. That’s why joining the Y just got easier.

We’d love to welcome you to the Y, so come in soon, let us show you around, and become a Y member. Members of each unique Y enjoy the benefits that their branch has to offer, such as:

• Resources and guidance to help maintain or improve physical activity, health and wellness
• Group fitness classes for a variety of fitness levels
• Strength training and cardio fitness areas with free weights, resistance circuit and cardio equipment
• Indoor/outdoor pools offering water fitness classes, family swim and lap swim
• Drop-in childcare while parents are in the facility
• Basketball, racquetball, indoor track
• Sports leagues and/or fitness challenges
• Member discounts on youth programs

Offer cannot be used in combination with any other discount or offer. Rates are based on automatic bank draft system. Activation requires one month down and the joining fee. Financial assistance is available to reduce the monthly fees. Please ask for details.

*Good through January 31, 2012