Leading with the Beat Since Age Five
Drums, Percussion, Flashback · LSM Student Since 2012
When Solea Novelo walked into Little School of Music at five years old, she didn’t just want to play drums—she needed to. It wasn’t casual interest. It was a calling.
“She had such a strong pull to drums, even at that age,” recalls Miss Mindy. “We usually start students in our early childhood program, but we knew she needed something different.”
Solea began private drum lessons with Brian McLaughlin—a perfect match. Her first recital was unforgettable: tiny behind the kit, smiling from ear to ear, and nailing the Muppet theme like a pro. The video still lives in LSM legend.
From there, Solea’s musical journey only deepened. She joined LSM’s Spotlight Band, where she not only played drum set, but rotated through percussion as well. As the band grew into Flashback, Solea became the heart of its rhythm section—the one and only drummer, keeping time with a laid-back pocket and effortless solos that spoke louder than words.
“She lets the drums do the talking,” says Miss Mindy. “And when she plays, everyone listens.”
Solea’s impact on LSM goes beyond the music. She helped shape the band community into what it is today—tight-knit, collaborative, and filled with friendship. One of her early highlights was the band’s WorldStrides Heritage Festival trip to Anaheim, where students performed, stayed overnight in a hotel, and grew closer both musically and personally.
Through the years, Solea expanded her reach. She joined College of the Canyons’ Jazz Ensemble in her junior year of high school, traveling to Reno to perform at a jazz festival. That same year, she was accepted into GRAMMY Camp—a prestigious, week-long intensive for promising young musicians from across the country. The program gave her invaluable studio experience, mentorship, and industry connections.
“That was one of the turning points,” says her dad, Emilio. “She came back changed. Focused.”
Throughout it all, Solea remained grounded and humble. Her parents, Kisha and Emilio, have been pillars of support—encouraging her without pressuring, letting her find her own path through music, and cheering her on at every milestone.
“She chose this path,” says Kisha. “We just made sure she had what she needed to walk it.”
Now, Solea begins the next chapter of her journey as a Jazz Studies major at CSUN, where she has already been accepted into the school’s top Jazz Ensemble. With her sights set on a professional music career, she’s ready to take the stage in even bigger ways—armed with the groove, grit, and grace that have defined her from the start.
“I truly don’t know where I would be today without Little School of Music,” Solea says. “It gave me a foundation, a community, and the belief that I could really do this.”
Solea, we are incredibly proud of the artist and human you’ve become. You’ve always led with rhythm, and now you’re ready to lead with your voice.
You will always be part of the Little School of Music family. 🥁♥️