Now that the doors are open, Murphy said, he's able to offer some but not all of his full vision. The limitation, he said, is student enrollment.

For example, Murphy would like to put together some small jazz combos and several big bands, but there isn't the critical mass of students playing the necessary instruments to do so.

Still, he's optimistic as the fourth-quarter student recital is being prepared. For this he has hired several professional musicians to play with the students. "The parents really caught the vision of what we're trying to accomplish," he said, "and as we get more students there and have more of these recitals, I know that it will continue to feed itself."

Most of the faculty, Murphy said, are working musicians themselves — so far, coming mostly from the jazz/pop world. But Murphy intends to include the classical spectrum as well. Already he has recruited violinist Isabella des Etoiles, who is busy putting together chamber ensembles for the summer, and teaching a "Circles of Music" class. And last month the first rock-band recital was held.

An outreach effort — working with local public and private schools — has also been started. Groups of faculty, four to nine members each, have gone into various schools to perform, offer coaching and work with students, free of charge to the schools.

The academy has also started coordinating with the University of Utah's jazz department to offer, possibly by next year, summer classes that would correlate with the U.'s program.

Eventually, Murphy says, he also hopes to establish a nonprofit arm to the studio so that students who would otherwise not be able to afford the lessons can also participate.

It's been a long time in coming, but Murphy is excited to see his dream finally materialize. And while there's still more to come before it reaches his full vision, Murphy says it's growing.

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If you go

What: Recital, Wasatch Music Coaching Academy students

Where: Salt Lake City Library auditorium

When: April 9, 2:45 p.m.

How much: Free

Phone: 560-6437

Web: www.wasatchmusic.com

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E-mail: rcline@desnews.com