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For more information Columbia Arts Academy 3630 Rosewood Drive, 787-0931 columbiaartsacademy.com, info@columbiaartsacademy.com The Columbia Arts Academy is the largest school offering music lessons in the state of South Carolina, with more than 625 students. The academy has more than 35 teachers and offers lessons in acoustic and electric guitar; electric bass; drums; voice; and piano.
Pierce McLaughlin, 9, at his drum lesson. Photo by Sean Rayford
pate in group lessons or rock band classes. Some 600 students from around the state arrive for weekly lessons.
What Will it Cost? A weekly 30-minute lessons costs $24. Beginning age ranges start at 5 (piano), 7 (guitar) and 9 (drums.) The instruments themselves need not be expensive: a basic guitar, a full keyboard, or, for drummers, a practice pad and sticks and you’re good to go. “We’re on the parents’ side,” Fort says. “They don’t have to shell out a ton of money.” Students also perform in public each May and December at the USC Recital Hall. That
“gives them a goal to work toward,” Fort says. Rock bands also perform every March at Jillian’s in Five Points. “There’s a musical benefit,” Fort says, “but it also teaches conflict resolution, because the show has to go on.”
Confidence Builder — or Career? Vocal coach Megan Miller — who fronts the almost-all-girl local band, Chick Flix, with drumming teacher Jason Summers providing the backbeat — has kept a full schedule of classes since arriving at the Academy six years ago. The economic downturn, she said, hasn’t made a dent in it.
A few of her students come in with a specific goal in mind, she says. Sometimes they just want confidence. “A lot of the ones who come in are insanely good,” Miller says. “They just want to sing in front of people more.” Others might have an audition coming up, or they’ve been inspired by American Idol. “They think, ‘If they’re making it, why can’t I?’” Confidence is exactly what 9-year-old Pierce McLaughlin experienced when he started playing drums. The young headbanger, who likes Metallica and Iron Maiden, now knows what he wants to do when he grows up. For other students, music is just an enjoyable social activity. Timmy Golden, 16, sees playing guitar as “a side thing, but not a main career.” Ditto for Sarah Fabrizio, 13, who loves singing Beatles songs, but thinks a career in it is “too unpredictable,” and isn’t going to let it stand in the way of becoming a United Nations ambassador. Taylor says about 90 percent of the students just like the idea of playing an instrument, while the rest are more serious and focused. “I have a few rock stars that will totally shred,” he says. “If I live long enough, I will see them on TV.” “The classes are really fun,” says future shredder Michaela. “It’s the one thing I really look forward to all week.”