A Word About Laurel Music Lessons
Laurel Music Lessons is owned and operated by the brother-sister dynamic duo of Joshua Rooks and Alexis Frenette. We have a combined 32 years of experience as instructors. We both teach violin and additionally, Alexis teaches piano while Joshua teaches guitar and bass guitar. We also offer exclusive music theory courses for those who want more out of their music, or need help with their school music courses.
We currently teach in Laurel, Mississippi. Laurel is best-known for it’s long history of industry and more recently, for the HGTV show “Hometown”. We are honored to be a part of this wonderful community and we aim to add music and flare to the vibrant tapestry of culture that is Laurel.
Here at Laurel Music Lessons, we believe that anyone can learn and everyone can benefit from the knowledge of music. We also believe that learning can be fun! It’s never too late or too early to start enjoying the universal language that is music. Through our careers in music education, we have instructed students ranging in age from 3 to 92.
As teachers, we strive for excellence and believe that progress is key, while tailoring our lessons to fit each individual student’s abilities and needs. Whether you are a hobbyist or aspire to be a professional musician, our mission is to provide you with the tools you need to achieve your goals in music. No two students learn the same, and we always adapt our teaching styles to suit your learning style.
We focus on learning by ear as well as sight-reading to give our students the ability to do both proficiently. As musicians, we have found that if you can sight read AND play by ear you can do anything in the music world. We offer music lessons on violin, guitar, piano, bass guitar and music theory. Contact us today for availability. We would love the opportunity to answer any questions you might have.
Joshua W. Rooks
Joshua W. Rooks is a musician of 26 years. He teaches violin, guitar, bass guitar, and drums. In addition to teaching these instruments, he also sings baritone and has basic piano skills. Joshua began learning music via the Suzuki violin method. He progressed further and began playing in youth orchestras. In high school, he attended an arts magnet school called ECA, or Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven Connecticut.
Following his move to Florida, Joshua was accepted into the Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra(currently the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra or TMYO) conducted by Dr. William Wiedrich. Upon graduating high school, Joshua was accepted into the music program at the University of South Florida under the tutelage of violin professor Carolyn Stuart. Since graduating from college with a B.S in Music Studies, he has continued his learning with study and performance with talented performers and composers.
Joshua began playing violin at the age of 6. He has played in churches for over a quarter century. In addition to this, he is a seasoned performer with credits ranging from small venues and weddings to grand stages and the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has played nearly every genre on one instrument or another including but not limited to Christian/religious, country, jazz, blues, rock, classical, metal and folk.
Joshua lead worship at his home church of ACTs(Apostolic Christian Tabernacle) and performs regularly on a contract basis for various groups such as Citrus Community Concert Choir, the Nature Coast Community Band, and the amazing Florida Orchestra. In addition to these performance credits, Joshua works as a studio session musician locally and abroad. In addition to this, Joshua was the director of the Ensemble group at Citrus Youth Educational Symphonic Orchestra in Inverness, FL. There, Joshua compiled and coordinated curriculum for learning and performances. He also composed pieces that were performed by the orchestra.
Joshua is motivated as a teacher by the belief that every man, woman and child has the capacity to appreciate the mystery and brilliance that is music. What better way to appreciate music than to learn how to play an instrument? His students range from age 5 to age 91. Joshua believes that it is never to late to learn to play.
Alexis Frenette
Alexis Frenette started playing the violin at the young age of 5 years old and knew from the start that her passion was music. She began her studies at Bethwood Suzuki School in Woodbridge, CT under the direction of Lisa Barca-Hall and several accomplished violinists at that school. One influential teacher, Stacy Phillips, helped to instill a love for fiddle music each year during his fiddle workshops. She and her brother, Joshua Rooks, had the high honor of playing alongside him at many Contra dances around Connecticut.
In 5th grade she began playing in Youth Orchestras starting at Bridgeport Youth Symphony in Bridgeport, CT. At 15 she went on to study at a Magnet school associated with Foran High School and Yale New Haven University called Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) in New Haven, CT, majoring in both Violin and Voice. She also studied at Neighborhood Music during that time under Salley Koo where she began to play Viola.
Her family later moved to Florida where Alexis continued to study music at Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra (currently Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra) under the direction of Dr. William Weidrich. She also studied Private lessons under Florida Orchestra member, Lei Liu. While at TBYO she performed with the orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Yankee Stadium in New York City. Upon graduating High School she went on to study at the University of South Florida, pursing a B.S. in Music Education majoring in both Voice and Violin and receiving scholarships for each. At USF she was under the brilliant violin instruction of professor, Carolyn Stuart.
Alexis has performed with many bands and musicians both up and coming and professional throughout her musical career. She has performed in weddings, concerts, and churches in various venues across the nation. She has played and sang nearly every genre from Christian/religious, country, jazz, blues, rock, classical, klezmer, bluegrass and folk/indie. When she moved to Mississippi she performed with The Bluegrass Cartel and won the title of South Alabama Fiddle Champion, the first and only female to win since it’s run of 33 years.
She is a violinist/singer/songwriter with a passion for teaching. Alexis has been teaching violin, voice, and piano for the last 13 years. She has taught at F.S. Music in Crystal River, FL., Suzuki Strings in Brooksville, FL., led a private studio at Christian Center Church in Homosassa, FL, and First Arts in Alexandria, VA. Upon moving to Mississippi she has been holding Skype Violin lessons as well as building a thriving music studio in Laurel and Hattiesburg with private lessons and group classes.