Rose City Music Academy Takes Over in Portland, Oregon

Back in July, I wrote an article on where aspiring musicians could take violin lessons in the Portland area (Violin Lessons in Portland, Oregon) and one of the violin groups I mentioned was My Smilin' Violin. As a division of the Portland Music Academy, My Smilin' Violin was a well known group offering a variety of opportunities to learn and perform in and around the city.

Unfortunately, around the time that the article was published, Portland Music Academy closed its doors. For a moment violinists, violists and cellists throughout Portland set down their bows to mourn yet another casualty in the battle of changing commerce.

But the silence lasted only a moment.

Rose City Music Academy, launched in the wake of Portland Music Academy's closure, is working to continue the sounds of bows on string through their violin, viola and cello programs. Additionally, Rose City offers lessons in guitar, piano, rock violin, music theory, composition, clarinet and Suzuki parent education courses.

A web release by Dr. Miriam English Ward, one of the two directors for Rose City Music Academy, lists many of the ways they are working to help students transition from the former My Smilin' to Rose City. While keeping much of the same structure that My Smilin' offered, they have made some small changes that make a big positive impact for students.

Rose City Music Academy has kept overall pricing of lessons competitive, with only a $30 increase annually over the former My Smilin' lesson costs. Amazingly, that extra pocket change adds up to a greater bang for your buck by extending the lesson plan to include an additional 7 to 10 lessons per year over the former program, as well as three weeks of recital.

Also, Rose City has absorbed many of the teachers who worked with My Smilin' Violin. This has allowed them to work to keep students with their original teacher assignments, creating a truly seamless changeover without the discomfort of having to build a new teacher/student rapport and structure.

From the ease of their website (www.rosecitymusicacademy.com), the long roster of faculty, the plans for community involvement and quick response to questions and comments, it's very apparent that Rose City Music Academy intends to make a long-lasting impression on the City of Portland.

An e-mail I received from Dr. Ward states, "We are looking forward to growing a musical community for Portland area families." With local fundraising by students to provide scholarships for others, a 10 week Suzuki Parent Education course by Dr. Valdine Mishkin and plans to work on forming a West Side Orchestra, I am confident that Rose City Music Academy will do just that.

If you would like to learn more about Rose City Music Academy, please visit their website at www.rosecitymusicacademy.com. If you would like to read the web-release outlining information on what to expect when transitioning from My Smilin' Violin to Rose City, click HERE.

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