10 Years Later, KidzHitz Continues To Grow
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Patrizia Floro, owner of KidzHitz in Huntington, wanted to give back to the community by offering children the opportunity to experience music to its full capacity. Long Islander News photos/Janee Law
By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Back in 1998, Patrizia Floro heard her songs “Voices” and “Just Say Yes” featured on radio stations like WBLI.
Now, in 2018 as the owner of the KidzHitz music space in Huntington, the singer-songwriter has been working to help kids reach their own music-centric goals.
First, Floro came up with the idea of a mobile recording studio that would host after school programs in several Long Island school districts. That idea became successful and Floro, of Huntington, said she was approached by Time Warner Executive Brian Wolf who offered to help her launch a Main Street studio for her program.
KidzHitz officially opened in October 2008 at 304 Main St., and kids have been writing and recording their own tunes there ever since.
The space has gone through some changes over the past decade. It’s morphed from a recording studio for kids, to one that also offers music lessons, and now doubles as a recording karaoke party venue for both kids and adults.
“It’s a great space and venue for anybody, from the general public to groups that need a karaoke space for fundraising for just for fun,” Floro said.
The 1,000-square-foot location is equipped with a drum room, guitar room, piano room and a recording studio, and offers all types of music lessons from beginner to advanced. With 10 staff members, lessons are taught by certified New York State Department of Education instructors with a background in music education.
In September 2017, KidzHitz launched its Rockstar Parties, where both children and adults record a song, perform karaoke, and design their own CD cover. Floro said songs then get published to the KidzHitz radio show.
KidzHitz also serves pizza and juice for the Rockstar Parties, which are $35 per child and adult. A booming success, the Rockstar Parties are booked until the end of June.
With that, Floro is excited to introduce the KidzHitz mobile karaoke studio, which will be launched this spring. The mobile studio van is equipped with speakers, microphones, flat screen TV’s and a disco ball for karaoke festivities at home and private parties.
“It’s a 24 track, digital recording facility and karaoke studio,” Floro said. “They can either record, do karaoke, or both.”
Floro has a lot to offer students with more than 30 years in the music industry as a published singer-songwriter.
“It’s a very fun and safe environment that’s been here for almost a decade,” Floro said. “We have a proven track record of success in providing an education, a recording experience and fun.”
A Melville native and Half Hollow Hills High School East graduate, Floro loves that her job allows her the opportunity to be innovative and be part of the community she grew up in.
“I think Huntington is one of the most artsy towns on Long Island and it’s really great to give back to the children in the community,” Floro said. “It’s been amazing to be an influence to so many young children in the area and now it’s very exciting for me to provide this space to also adults looking for an outlet and to offer something else that’s not currently available in this town.”
