With the help of a keyboard and trumpet, a new music school opened its doors in Newhallville. The founders of the new Up Town Music School sent in the following release:
About 50 people attended the opening ceremony of a new music school in a Newhallville neighborhood at 681 Dixwell Avenue. Dee Dee’s up town Music school has been in the making for over 2 years.
“This has been a long time coming and I am thrilled to the vision turn into reality” Says Dee Dee Morris, the schools Executive Director and also longtime owner of Dee Dee’s dance Studio located in the same building.
“I have been instructing all forms of dance in this neighborhood for going on 29 years and I know the need for other performance arts is big.”
“New Haven is rich with talented musicians yet the Newhallville area has been lacking a place for people of all ages to go to and learn how to play an instrument, especially a reasonably priced and community oriented learning center.”
Hamden resident and musician Randy Boast has been selected as Director of the new school. Co-founders Andy Ross, Dee Dee Morris, Howard Taylor and the Reverend Donald Morris will be on the Board of Directors.
The school will start off with Piano and Trumpet lessons. Three custom rooms have been outfitted with electric pianos and sound proofing panels. Classes will be held Monday through Saturday. The school is a profit organization but is empathetic to the strain of family finances and is committed to finding a way to provide music lessons to any one with the desire to learn. The school has already received donations to be used as scholarships to help financially strapped families and will be seeking to continue building a reserve fund for that purpose.“I have been in business for a long time and if just profit was my only motivation I would not have lasted as long as I did. “Dee Dee claims to have watched over 5,000 students from her dance studio walk through her doors and boasts an impressive 30 to 40 former students who have gone on to make dance their lifetime work. “I hope I can say they same for the music school students 29 years from now” Dee Dee said.
The Reverend Donald Morris is Dee Dee’s husband. He is the Executive Director of The New Haven’s Christian Community Commission long time known for it’s out reach work to the areas at risk youth and sponsorship of the Gospel Fest. “There is no question about it, we need more places for our youth to spend their free time. God says Do not despise small beginnings and The Up Town Music School may be small but I assure you will carry a big stick and have a positive impact on this neighborhood and the city as a whole.” Says Reverend Morris.
For more information about registration or if you have an instrument you would like to donate or would like to teach a class please call Dee Dee at 498‑1110