Music school expands from Fall River with second spot in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD — After a quiet opening of the New Bedford Music Academy on Ashley Boulevard in April, owner Todd Salpietro refers to the time since as something of a “light practice run.” But a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23, marked the end of that, and the start of recognizing the music school as the flagship institution Salpietro has envisioned.

“In that little amount of time we got just under 100 students and hired like 15-18 teachers,” Salpietro, a Westport resident, told The Standard-Times. “So being here has been great.”

Salpietro — who got his start in music education as a drum instructor — has owned TJ’s Music in Fall River, where he operates Fall River Arts Academy, for 29 years. He’s had his sights set on opening a second music school for a while now, and bought the former Santander Bank branch building at 909 Ashley Blvd. several years ago, knowing New Bedford was where he wanted it to be.

“I’ve participated in well over 1,000 musical performances in the city of New Bedford throughout my lifetime … playing at various bars and clubs, events,” Salpietro said. “So New Bedford is near and dear to my heart.”

What goes on inside New Bedford Music Academy?

The New Bedford Music Academy facility has nine lesson rooms where students meet one-on-one with instructors once a week for 30 minutes to practice their instrument of choice.

“We offer private lessons in guitar, bass, piano, violin, drums and more,” Salpietro said, also noting woodwind and brasswind instruments, as well as the ukelele and voice lessons. “Our main mission is to offer the highest quality music lessons to community just like we do in Fall River. Between both we’re teaching over 600 weekly students.”

“I’m usually on that one over there,” said drum instructor Jessie Hoyt, pointing to a neighboring drum kit as he took a seat at the one usually used by students. “This is my favorite job; I get to play drums all day.”

Hoyt, a Lakeville resident, said he bases his instruction on students’ individual interests and tastes.

“I start with their interests first and I find that, no matter what genre it is, there’s always like a bare minimum version of that where there’s just like a snare and kick, so I can make it a very easy rhythm for them,” Hoyt said. “Then it’s cool because I get to show people different genres of music and explore their creativity.”

Who takes music lessons?

Programming at both New Bedford Music Academy and Fall River Arts Academy is geared toward students age 5 and up, but there’s no limit to how old one can be.

“We have a woman who comes for ukelele lessons and is 89,” Salpietro said.

When it comes to younger music students, Salpietro says getting kids interested in a musical instrument can be a parent’s secret weapon against screentime excess.

“Everybody’s going through same thing today, I’ve got an 11-year-old. We’re all battling screentime,” he said. “An instrument is something you can learn, interact with others, and at the end of the day, it’s something you can take with you the rest of your life.”

What’s different about New Bedford Music Academy?

Salpietro describes New Bedford Music Academy and Fall River Arts Academy as having a “very performance-driven” approach.

“If you want to just take lessons weekly we support that, but if you want to perform, we offer two annual recital performances — one in June and one in December, so students are always preparing for a performance,” Salpietro said. “Then once a year we take students to do destination recitals. We’ve been to Carnegie Hall in New York City, Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee; the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio; and in April we’ll be doing one at the County Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Can you imagine being a dean of a college and seeing a kid had performed at Carnegie Hall and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? These are things kids can put on college and job applications which is amazing.”

State, local officials glad to support ‘the arts’

“The arts are so important,” said 11th Bristol State Rep. Chris Hendricks at the ribbon-cutting on Thursday, hosted by One SouthCoast Chamber. “As electeds, you know, we worry a lot about education, health care, housing, but it’s easy to have the arts kind of recede into the background. So I’m really glad you’re putting this up front….”

“We hold music and arts programs to the highest esteem and we’re going to keep doing that,” said Al Medeiros, legislative director for 13th Bristol State Rep. Tony Cabral. “I remember when this was a bank…. I got my first loan here as a kid so it’s nice to see it as a music academy now. This is great. You have our support, this delegation’s support.”

“Music and the creative arts are so very important, not only to the city of New Bedford, not only to our district, but for every human being, particularly now,” said 10th Bristol State Rep. Mark Sylvia, also Fairhaven’s town moderator. “And this is just one of those catalysts to bring hope and joy to people through the creative arts.”

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“We’re thrilled to have you here in the city of New Bedford,” said New Bedford City Councilor At-Large Linda Morad, “and I know that not only for New Bedford residents, but for surrounding communities, you offer programs that will absolutely bring out the talents of the young people we have in our area and give them an opportunity to perform.”