Jamie Massa, the daughter of a steelworker and a Cub Scout leader, grew up in Shadyside; a tiny village along the Ohio River where the Ohio and West Virginia state borders meet.
Because the steelworkers were frequently on strike, her family didn’t always have money coming in. But Massa didn’t let that hinder her love for music.
“I built a keyboard from a cardboard box,” says Massa, who has lived in Upper Arlington for the past 18 years. She drew the keyboard keys and would practice “playing” different notes. Her father saw just how deeply his daughter loved music and eventually bought her a small piano – which Massa still owns.
“Everyone has their passion, and mine has always been music,” Massa says. “Ever since kindergarten, when the teacher asked for volunteers (for a music-related activity), I was always right there, the first one.”
Massa started taking piano lessons in third grade. In fourth grade, she started playing clarinet. By sixth grade, Massa says, she could “sight read anything.” In the music world, sight reading is playing or performing a piece the musician has never seen before. Word got around to Shadyside’s high school, and soon Massa became the accompanist for the school choirs, musicals and competitions on the piano.
“My nickname was ‘Fingers Massa,’” she says.
During her sophomore year of high school, Massa picked up a guitar and discovered she loved singing, too.
“I started playing popular music – like Simon & Garfunkel – and I’d be playing in the pit orchestra, but I also wanted to be on the stage.”
Massa went on to study piano and music education at St. Mary’s College in Indiana, and eventually completed an assistantship at the University of Miami in Florida. She was placed in the university’s lead choir.
“Everyone had perfect pitch but me,” Massa recalls.
Photos courtesy of Jamie Massa
Photos courtesy of Jamie Massa
Throughout her college years, Massa toured Europe and performed at Washington, D.C.’s famed Kennedy Center, her choir even sang for the Pope. Her choir performed a mix of classics and contemporary pieces, and sometimes incorporated choreography.
“I would often play piano and sing – like Carole King,” Massa says. “It helped prepare me to be a better conductor, but also realize there was more I could teach.”
Massa’s first job was in Boston, where she was music director at Newton Country Day School. As a self-described “small-town girl,” Massa was excited to experience a big city. She directed the school’s musicals and toured the choirs around the east coast. She participated in regional theater herself.
Eventually, Boston’s cost of living sent her back to Ohio – this time to Columbus, where she taught music at Yorktown Middle School. When Massa found herself drained at the end of each day, she discovered she was an introvert, and teaching large groups of students was exhausting for her. Massa didn’t want to give up music, though. Instead, she decided to get her master’s degree in vocal pedagogy at The Ohio State University, which helped her learn how to teach others how to sing.
Her private vocal and piano lessons business, Massa Music Studios, celebrated 20 years in January. She teaches second grade through adulthood, her oldest student being 75 years old.
“It’s been a blast,” says Massa, who previously lived in Grandview Heights for about four years. “I’ve been blessed.”
Her students have regular recitals where they perform a variety of pieces, but Massa says one of her biggest strengths is helping students prepare audition materials for school musicals, and readying high school students for performing on the college level.
Meanwhile, Massa enjoys performing in her spare time. One of her favorite show tunes to perform is “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” from Show Boat. Massa and her husband also visit New York City about twice a year to see the latest Broadway shows.
“The best teachers are also still performing and improving their technique,” Massa says.
For students apprehensive about starting music lessons, Massa says, it all comes down to finding a good teacher.
“You need someone who can encourage you to be positive, but can still gently push you,” Massa says. “You need someone who can teach you sight reading, and someone who can give you the opportunity to perform.”
Massa doesn’t think her career as a voice and piano teacher happened by chance. Instead, she says her path opened up to her when she was in search of “what was best” for her.
“Music feeds me spiritually, you could say,” Massa says.
Hannah Bealer is an editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
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