Inspiring through the gift of beautiful music at Rockton studio
Studio 3 owner Jenny Maragia firmly believes that music is a gift to be shared.
When Jenny Maragia was four years old she climbed up on the piano bench in her family home tapping out the first measure of an old hymn she had heard at church, while singing the rhythm.
Shortly thereafter she started learning lines from songs by ear and playing with one hand, singing along at the same time.
Maragia reflects, “My mom was smart and musical enough to know that I needed to start lessons. She began teaching me to read music by the time I was five.”
At eight years old she began taking lessons from a private teacher, expanding on what her Mom had previously taught her.
“We lived in Freeport, Ill. My mom would drive me to Monroe, Wis. every week for lessons with Mrs. Ferris,” Maragia said.
Maragia continued to take private piano lessons, throughout all of grade school and high school.
Taking her talents further she was involved with every musical venue she could find including live theater, and accompanying and performing with school bands and choirs.
She also played with both the youth and adult bands at church, all through middle and high school.
“I was talented enough, as a young adult that more than one prominent musician in the area has taken their time with and without financial compensation to teach and to train me,” Maragia said.
Maragia moved to Rockford in the early 90’s with her mom and brother.
“There was a well-known and respected piano teacher in the area. My mom called her to get me into lessons, and after asking about my past training she refused saying that she was full and couldn’t take any more students.
Not wanting to take no for an answer, my mother called the Mendelssohn Club downtown and asked to have me play at a recital knowing that Mrs. Glasford (the teacher) would be present. They put my name in the program, and I performed,” Maragia said.
“After the recital Mrs. Glasford approached my mother and told her she would be pleased to take me as a student.
Mrs. Glasford has passed on now but despite her strict approach to teaching I remember her fondly, she taught me a lot,” Maragia said.
Throughout high school Maragia taught at Jackson Piano Store, both group and private lessons. She played weddings on the weekends.
“I’ve always loved to teach music and I’ve done it from the age of 14 on and off, especially with my own four children,” Maragia said.
“As a young mother I had gone back to taking jazz piano lessons with a teacher I respected in Rockford, in a location in the Eastwind strip mall.
After a lesson one night he asked me if I would consider teaching piano alongside him.
He said that young children were not his specialty and that parents are usually more comfortable with a woman teaching a very young child.
He told me I could have all of the younger students and he would take the older ones, Maragia said.”
“I knew we especially needed the income and I was already teaching part time in another studio, where I put in my notice and prepared to take the risk.”
A week after signing the lease on a space to teach next door to her own piano teacher.
Maragia’s husband left her and her children and he filed for divorce. Her youngest was two at the time and her oldest was nine. Maragia with almost no child support.
A woman in the LIHEAP office who was in a similar situation assured that Maragia and her children were taken care of.
“Every week I’d drive to a food Co-op that a Catholic Charity ran to get food for my family. I was able to get food stamps and WIC and I even went to food banks for a while. God made a way for us,” Maragia said.
“I knew that as a single mother of four I couldn’t expect to start a business especially not in my financial predicament. The only paid job I had in 10 years was teaching piano part time at a Rockford studio,” Maragia said.
Maragia actively began calling any place where there was music, churches, schools and daycare’s looking for any teaching or piano playing jobs, with no results.
“I told my dad that I didn’t have the energy, that I was broken, discouraged and tired. My dad encouraged me that all I had to do was to show up, teach, and that they would take care of everything else, a promise that was kept.
Maragia’s dad made sure the studio was painted, lights were installed and that keyboards were purchased.
Her brother gave her money to feed her kids. He was also a computer tech who acquired and installed all of the necessary software on a computer, purchased by her father.
The rent on the first studio at Eastwind was paid for by Maragia for the first couple of months, and her dad rented a room down the hall from the studio. He installed cameras in that room and a monitor in the studio to allow her children to play and to do homework, where Maragia home schooled her kids.
Maragia started her studio in October of 2000 with one private student that first week. Within two months she had five private students and by the end of the year she had enough students to make the studios first CD- A Christmas album,which was given away at the Guitar Center. They also did a Christmas Sing-Along at the store for kids.
Maragia caught a break when she helped one of her students make a demo cd of a song she chose and even let her record her own vocals over the top. Her student went on to college.
In late 2010 I got a call from a mother of three who knew my former student’s mother who expressed that her children had been to various piano teachers and remained disinterested and uninspired to practice the piano.
She had heard that demo made by my former student and her mother encouraged her to contact me regarding lessons.
The catch was that she wanted me to come to her home to teach her three children.
“Today, in 2025 I would never agree to teaching three children who did not even want piano lessons in a home with people I have never met, but in those days money was hard to come by and I was struggling,” Maragia said.
I was dealing with overwhelming court costs in a divorce that lasted almost four years, due to various unforeseen circumstances.”
“I took the risk because I was about as close to desperate as I’ve ever been in my life. I showed up at that lesson in that home with six pieces of red felt, a pencil and a notebook, which resulted in the kids giving me a thumbs up.
“Keith Country Day school hired me as subcontractor the following fall on this mother’s recommendation. They gave me a studio to work out of after leaving my previous space.
They set me up to teach after school hours at their location. A week later I had 14 students lined up for piano lessons in addition to the ones I had already gained.
A group of mothers with young children asked me to write a curriculum to teach introduction to music classes for young children. By integrating various curriculum I was able to do what they asked. Even though that first class didn’t go so great they were patient with me and I developed a curriculum that I use to this day to teach at daycare, and home school co-ops. It has been very successful!
Maragia has changed studios four more times, and has hired other music teachers for a short time. She has worked in well over 50 homes in the Rockford/Belvidere area.
For over 10 years she has taught students in their homes, on a weekly basis.
About Studio 3
The name Studio 3 originated from Maragia’s dad. The number 3 in the name stands for the three stages of learning an instrument, discover the musical gift within you. Explore the depth of that gift and then develop your musical talent.
At Studio 3, in Maragia’s Rockton home students piano and vocal lessons come with learning fundamental sight reading skills reinforced with theory basics, as they cover different genres.
Studio 3 has three recitals every year, each has a unique type of reception.
Inside of Studio 3 in Rockton students start as early as six years, (five years old is the youngest to be accepted) old up to 90 years of age. “Not all children are ready for a 30 minute lesson at age five, but many are.
Over the years students have had many opportunities to perform in nursing homes and churches.
Maragia even performed at a Kiwanis Brat Days one year.
Full details about Studio 3 can be found at http://studiothreetoday/.com.
“Performance is probably the most important and enjoyable element of learning an instrument and it does not come naturally,” Maragia said.
“I have spent time with wonderful families through all of the seasons of our lives. They made me feel like family at a time when I needed it more than anything. I’ll never forget these beautiful life experiences.”
A few years back I was teaching 50 students per week. My two day long annual dinner recital events at various country clubs became much anticipated at Studio 3.
Students were offered a chance to play with other musicians and vocalists and to present their favorite songs in their own unique style, using their best musical skills.
After COVID happened in 2019 that ended Maragia’s time working in homes and ended dinner recitals.
“I was financially and emotionally stable through, and finally ready to be a piano teacher who teaches out of her own house. “
“I have often retained waiting lists, and currently still do, but the joy of teaching has never left me,” Maragia said.
“So many people told me that I couldn’t support four children on a piano/voice teachers income. Other women told me to put my kids in public school and to go get a real job before something worse happened.
“I wanted more for my family and because I had enough faith to be brave, it happened,” Maragia said.
Outside of the studio, Maragia teaches two adult students online weekly, one lives in Minneapolis and the other lives in Delaware.
Adults are accepted online in special situations, but no children.
Maragia’s children each plays piano and a secondary instrument. They also accompany Studio 3 students during recitals.
Maragia lost her brother in 2011 from a drug overdose, Maragia remains grateful to everyone who helped to care for her, and her children through the years.
“I have met so many wonderful parents and students that helped me heal and to become a better and not a bitter person. There are no accidents and I believe that Studio 3 was and is the greatest miracle of my life.”
“Many of my student families got to know my children over the years and we have many fond memories as a family of that time.
Even in those days when I only had a few students I have always enjoyed opening up the joyous world of making music! It is my passion. I never guessed that I would do it in this capacity but the desperate times were a driving force to give it my all.”
In addition to running Studio 3 Maria is the former Music Director at the Old Stone Church in Rockton. Currently she is the choir and band Director at Covenant Church in Rockford.