| History
This
exciting venture started in Jan’s home in
1984.
When she discovered the Suzuki- style piano instruction, demand for
music lessons began to explode. She added her first teacher
by
building a studio in half of her garage. Jan then
taught in
her living room and her first teacher taught in the garage.
(The
family loved that arrangement!)
Soon,
a long waiting list for students forced her
husband to
find another home with enough parking and location that allowed him to
convert that garage into 3 studios and a group teaching room.
Many of these students loved waiting for their lesson time in the
Williams’ park-like back yard, bordered by two
creeks. By
this time the Williams’ daughter was developing a
“farm
yard” in downtown Brentwood. She had ducks, rabbits
and two
dogs! Did it bother the neighbors? Probably
not. You
see, on one side they had dozens of prized show cats, and the neighbor
on the other side raised Bull Mastiffs!!!
As
demand continued, Jan began renting additional space
in
churches in the area. She was blessed with wonderful teachers
who
partnered with her to support this growth. In addition, she
began
contracting some of her teachers to provide music classes for
mother’s day out programs in area churches.
Finally,
in 1991, Jan had to admit that this had really
become
a business and moved to a commercial location in the Brentwood Business
Center, 500 Wilson Pike Circle, Suite 125. After knocking out
walls and adding studio space there, she again had to start renting
space in other locations. In 1999, she moved around
the
corner to a much larger location in Suite 104. The space had
to
be expanded again when suite 103 became available in 2003!
Over
the years, Jan has added more private piano, voice,
and
guitar instructors, all degreed professional musicians, but her
personal joy was fulfilled when she added Kindermusik in 1991, a music
class for children from infants to age 5. She then added a class piano method using
electronic keyboards for children ages 4 through 3rd graders.
After
several exciting experiences with musicals, Jan decided to add a
musical theatre department. Sondra Morton-Chaffin was hired as Theatre
Arts Director in 2001 and directs three musical productions each year.
Sondra is a professional actor with over 17 years of acting experience.
The Act Too Players are becoming well known in the area. Already, there
have been sold out performances for more than twenty shows including You're
a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Child in Me, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, A
Little Princess, Alice in Wonderland, Oliver!, The Seussical, Fiddler
on the Roof.
These productions take place in partnership with The Boiler Room
Theatre at The Factory in Franklin.
What
a rewarding and thrilling “musical
journey” this has been over the past 23 years!!!
We
are so grateful to all of our students and families who have ever
been a part of our studios, and look forward to being here to serve the
community for years to come.
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