The Music School — Boy who hated piano is now founder of institution that enriches lives

The last thing Caleb Chapman ever pictured himself doing is running a community music school.

After having a negative experience with piano lessons at age 6, Chapman decided to pour his energy into sports and became an anti-music jock. However, his mother changed his plans for a music-free life when he was in sixth grade by sending him to music camp instead of soccer camp. And Chapman discovered a passion for music.

Eventually his passion led him to study music at Brigham Young University on a full-tuition scholarship. While giving private lessons to help support himself during college, Chapman realized Utah doesn't have any community music schools like there are in New England where he grew up. With this vision in mind, he opened The Music School in 1999.

Despite his friends' prediction that it would last only six months, eight years later it's still going strong. The student population has also grown from its humble start with 100 students to 1,100.

"I don't think I ever planned for it to get this big," Chapman said.

The Music School, 350 E. State Road, American Fork, is a community music school geared for youths, ages 11-18. The school offers private music instruction, workshops, music theory lessons and emphasizes performance. Its focus on performance makes it unique from other community music schools, Chapman said.

"A big part of the educational experience here is performing opportunities, so we have performing opportunities from jazz to big bands to rock bands of all different styles to orchestras," he said.

The school also has a Visiting Artist program where celebrity players come to the school once a month to work with students. Some of the most recent artists include the drummer from ACDC and the Steve Miller Band. Jam Camp, held in June at Snow College in Ephraim, was another star-filled event, where students could rub shoulders with music legends.

Jacob Veloo, 17, from Sandy, said meeting celebrities inspires him.

"It gives me something to look forward to (and) something to work at, like an example," he said.

Jaydon Bean, 18, from North Salt Lake, said celebrities also help students see the reality of a music career.

"Probably the most memorable clinic we had was with Lenny Pickett, (the sax player in the Saturday Night Live Band)," he said. "He gives it to you straight up. If you don't love it, don't do it. If you don't have the heart to do it, you won't succeed. If you don't have the heart, you'll be shot down."