Prodigy Music Academy: find yourself, find your voice

By Cambrea Parry 

“I want kids to get that feeling of what it is like to be a rock star,” says Corwin Belnap, founder of Prodigy Music Arts. 

In January of 2024, BYU-Idaho student Corwin Belnap founded Prodigy Music Academy in Rexburg, Idaho, to teach kids how to sing and perform. He recognizes the importance of showing children their potential and seeks to help them develop their singing skills.  

Inspired by his time at the Playmill Theatre in West Yellowstone, Wyoming, Belnap’s love of music grew and his view of performing changed from a hobby to a passion. After he spent a week in many of these theatre classes and workshops the theatre hosted, he realized what he wanted to do most in the music industry. This was helping youth find the confidence and potential to sing and perform in front of audiences. 

Belnap explains, "I know so many people who are just phenomenal singers that feel like they're just born to watch. I want to help bridge that gap and eventually turn into a place where kids can learn, help them land performing gigs, and connect them with the music industry.” 

Through the course of his work, Belnap travels extensively to teach children from multiple different locations. In the spring of 2024, he traveled down to Marsh Valley, just southwest of Pocatello, to teach and lead students in their performances in the Marsh Valley Performing Arts Center. This was a wonderful opportunity for his students to display their true talents and look for more opportunities in the future. His main goal in his company is to help children find their voices, and in turn find themselves. 

Along with wanting to showcase the children that he teaches, Belnap looks to hire professionals and teachers in the area. He does this with the intention of expanding his business while also giving others the opportunity to grow and teach.  

Belnap explains, “I want to be able to really revamp the game and give people who are legitimate professionals that chance. I want to get beyond the expertise from other voice teachers in the area.” 

As he continues to work hard, Belnap hopes to expand his business. He explains, “Eventually, I want to turn this into a recording studio where kids can put out their own music, record, and get a full, professional-style music experience.” 

He loves seeing the growth of every child and is grateful for the opportunities to show them their potential and build their musical confidence. Belnap states, “It's watching them go from where they were then to where they are now.”  

At the moment, there is no physical location for Prodigy Music Academy. Belnap visits students in various locations, including at their homes and classrooms on Brigham Young University-Idaho campus to make sure they get the best tutelage and wonderful experience of finding themselves through music and performing. Visit Prodigy Music Academy here to learn more.