About
Triumph is West Michigan's highest rated music school! The Academy is the foremost leader in cutting edge extracurricular music education; starting the first year round rock band program in Grand Rapids, facilitating lessons in electronic music, and offering a recording program through Grand Rapids' most professional rcording studio - to name a few. No other school in the area offers mentorship under respected professional performers and composers like the staff at Triumph.
Every single teacher at Triumph has a passion for assisting students and musicians of all ages and skill levels in reaching their personal goals and dreams. For us, sharing music and helping achieve success is what we live for!
Reviews
Thomas W.
interesting. I have played for 40 years and still find I have lots to learn.
Jerry S.
imaginable. We have had my daughter taking piano and drums lessons in that time and
she has excelled more than we could have imagined, I have also been taking guitar lessons
with James and have had a great experience. My daughter has also been pla... Show more
David Y.
bass and James has made the learning experience enjoyable. I am my own worst critic and
can be very hard on myself when try master a particular difficult song or technique. But I
can count on James for words of encouragement and to point the bright spot... Show more
Dana N.
years and years—a poor one at that and terrified to play in front of ANYONE. About six
years ago, at age 50, I decided it was time to change those things and walked through the
Triumph doors and smack into James Hughes. Right from the get-go James to... Show more
Don M.
year old dude btw......James has allowed me to direct the flow of the lessons in a way I
really never thought possible when we met. James has encouraged me to write my own
songs to the point where it has become more of an obsession for me. In oth... Show more
Loyd H.
grasp those concepts. I had never picked up a bass guitar until five months ago and can
now play the bass parts of a dozen different songs of my choosing. James is patient,
encouraging and challenging in his approach with me. It is exactly what I ne... Show more
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We first do a FREE initial appointment as both an intro lesson and an assessment of where the potential student is at, where they want to go, and how we can assist them to get there.
Next, we schedule regular weekly lesson times and the instructor will spend the next couple of lessons understanding the goals of the student and how they learn.
Triumph is centered on individual, one-on-one learning. The instructor will take from and suppliment from various methods that will fit the needs and goals of each person that come through our school. We work diligently with students to start accomplishing small goals from week to week in order to accomplish larger ones over time.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
All of our instructors are professionals at the top of the music industry - performers, composers, producers, and touring musicians from right here in Grand Rapids, MI!
Those on our staff all have a collegiate-level knowledge of music and professional experience from stages to studios. Collectively, our staff has the expertise to take you to where ever you want to go.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
To make it affordable to study with the area's top professionals on the Triumph staff, we have a monthly membership fee based on the length of lessons. Here are our packages:
$125/month, Weekly 30min lessons
$145/month, Weekly 45min lessons
$165/month, Weekly 60min lessons
How did you get started teaching?
James Forrest Hughes, School Director, started teaching in 2005 to suppliment his income while attending music school. He fell in love with teaching, along with continuing to perform as a touring and session musician. James founded Triumph in 2011 and the school has grown into offering the largest selection of instruments and programs in West Michigan!
What types of students have you worked with?
We have worked with all ages and the following:
Children (8 yrs old, +), Teens, Adults, and Seniors.
We also have worked with children that have special needs.
Our facility is handicap accessible, with ramps, elevators, and restrooms.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
We love enabling students to creat and produce music, whether on their own or in a band. Recently, one of our students, Mica, needed assistance for a school project. She wrote a song and got help recording it and she documented the process. She learned how to program digital drums and how to take an electric bass line and turn it into a whole project! She also wrote lyrics and recorded vocals. This is a common occurance at our school!
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
If you are serious about music, invest in a teacher that has been where you want to go with music, even if it is just learning how to play songs around the campfire. The right teacher has to be invested in YOUR goals, not theirs.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
-What are my goals?
-What is my favorite music?
-Is there a list of songs that I want to learn?
-Can I carve out time to have fun with and practice my instruments at least 5 times a week?
-Do I have questions about my instrument or which one should I purchase?
-6 months with a teacher is recommended to start seeing noticeable improvment. Can I commit to that?