Even though the storefront of City Music & Education Center may seem small when driving by on Watson Road, once entering the facility one realizes it's actually a huge space. With 13,000 sq. ft., the facility plans to utilize every inch, with a performance hall, multipurpose classroom and outdoor stage planned for later this year. Additional oversized lesson studios also are in the works, and it's a good thing, because it's going to be a busy summer.

City Music is a full-service music and education center, which provides state-of-the-art private lesson rooms, an ensemble practice space, a professional recording studio aimed at students and/or amateur/semi-pro musicians, an Internet cafe, instrument sales and rentals and a "Live Music Fridays" concert series.

The business has come a long way from when it used to be a Brod Dugan paint store, and the building was completely gutted in the change over last year.

Brian Vaccaro, music education coordinator, has been in this line of work for 11 years. He used to run a program of approximately 600 students. He has been at City Music since January. Then they had 52 students, and the program now is approaching 200. 

"Where I was before was very guitar centric. And here it's very much inclusive of all the instruments," Vaccaro said. "The owners here are very enterprising in that I can run with any whatever crazy idea I have. This opportunity came up because it was something that started from the ground up."

Proclaiming City Music as a "Barnes & Noble" for music lovers, many come in to browse sheet music, wait for their children to finish lessons in the cafe or listen to live music. 

Camps alone this summer range from a pop vocal camp to songwriting summer camps and a jazz ensemble summer camp. There is even a "Parrot Head" party the first week in August, which is an ensemble camp designed for anyone who is interested in performing Caribbean oriented rock, pop, jazz or reggae. The final performance will be held on the outdoor stage, which Vaccaro said is the closest thing to being done. 

For a list of everything City Music has to offer, click here.