For most aspiring songwriters, the achievement of releasing a full, 10-song album might come well into their adulthood – or late teens, if they're a prodigy. But for 9-year-old Avi Sigal-Verier, all he needed was a platform and an instructor to collaborate with him – as well as loving support from his family – to accomplish something well beyond his tender years. On May 31, friends and family will celebrate the release of the 10-song, 25-minute album, "GINGERHEAD," by the Taylor Avi Band.

Sigal-Verier was enrolled for classes at Music Compound at the age of 6. At 7, he signed up for private drum lessons with Music Compound instructor Taylor Galford, a multi-instrumentalist and recording artist with a background in music production. As the teacher-student relationship grew, Galford shared some of his recorded music with Sigal-Verier, which ignited the youth's curiosity for music-making. Soon, the two launched into an unexpected yet highly productive collaboration.

Known for his long, ginger locks, Sigal-Verier surprised himself (and everyone else) with a significant haircut. That experience provided the inspiration for the Taylor Avi Band's very first song, "Fresh Haircut." Their next song, "Murder Dog," was inspired by Sigal-Verier's new puppy, Ivy, who destroyed everything in sight. They continued to generate new music, leading to some fan favorites such as "Pickle Punk" and "Clean Machine." Once the duo reached 10 songs, including the Music Compound jingle they wrote for last year's Back to School Bash, they were ready to release their music to the public.

"It was important for us to find a place that valued exploration, collaboration, and fun while instilling a love of music. We feel so lucky to have discovered an incredible community within Music Compound and a teacher who harnesses each of those qualities and more,” said Leah Verier-Dunn, Sigal-Verier’s mother. “Taylor has served as an invaluable support system while fostering Avi's artistic curiosities and whims. We feel especially grateful to call Music Compound an artistic home for both of our children." 

In the Taylor Avi Band, Galford writes all the music and helps Sigal-Verier with phrasing, to ensure the lyrics are congruent with the music. Sigal-Verier writes all the lyrics and chooses the cadences he prefers. The two work together in a truly collaborative process, from start to finish. 

"Making music with Avi has taught me that true collaboration occurs without age being a factor,” said Galford. “The amount of fun we have with a song idea's genesis, to performing it live, is unparalleled. ‘GINGERHEAD’ was the culmination of a lot of hard work, laser focus, and big laughs!"

'GINGERHEAD' is now available on all streaming services. For more about Music Compound's programs for all ages, visit musiccompound.com.

About Music Compound

The Music Compound (775 Bell Road, Sarasota) provides an environment to inspire, collaborate and educate children and adults in pursuit of their love of music.  The goal is to transform dreams into reality by providing a contemporary and influential environment for musicians of all ages. For more information, visit musiccompound.com.