Have you always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument? Or are you always looking for ways to add beauty and creativity to your life or the life of our Hampton community? Well, the music ministry at St. John’s has been looking into these questions and more and has embarked on a new and exciting adventure.
The Hoffman House is a two-story property owned by St. John’s right next to the church building, and presently houses the office/studio of our favorite photographer Bob Harper, as well as the office of an architecture firm. Half of the second floor is presently vacant and has recently been the home to a drum set, some guitars, an upright piano and lots of electronic music equipment.
Danny McFarland and Bill Beach have been using this space to introduce their music to budding guitar and piano enthusiasts. So we decided to see if we could open a music academy in this space that would offer music lessons and group musical experiences to the Hampton community.
The Academy of Music of Hampton Roads has been in existence for over 20 years and has been offering musical training of all sorts for the Southside communities. Our music director Deborah Carr has connections to the Music Academy and learned that the Academy of Music was hoping to expand to the Peninsula. It seemed a partnership between the music ministry at St. John’s and the Academy of Music was just waiting to happen. And now it has happened!
With the support of St. John’s Vestry, the generosity of Charlie Edmonson and Towne Bank, who donated all our office furniture, and the enthusiastic help of the Academy of Music, the Academy of Music at St. John’s is beginning as an outreach effort of the church.
In addition to the work of Danny McFarland and Bill Beach, we will open our doors to music lessons for three retired veterans beginning in December. The Academy has partnered with Veterans organizations and others to offer scholarship lessons to veterans, and the students currently scheduled will be studying violin, guitar and piano.
We are exploring ways to partner with downtown development groups, after-school programs and child development centers to see what musical opportunities we might create for Hampton. One hope of our clergy and music director is that we will be able to provide opportunities for Hampton residents who might not be able to afford music lessons otherwise.
Originally published in St. John’s Epistle, December 2017.