Before her arrival at The Music School of Roanoke Rapids, a girl much younger had just plucked Old McDonald on the piano as Katie Ammann patiently instructed her.

For the 11-year-old Terry, a student in the gifted music program in the Emporia-Greensville school system, the memory began coming back.

This is what Ammann and the other instructors at the school in the old Freid's building want, a chance to teach music to the beginner and those like Terry who want to pick up where they left off.

In the two months since it has been open, the school has grown to 64 students, said Ammann, who came to Roanoke Rapids from Illinois through the Teach for America program. About the same number attended camps held throughout the summer at the building.

Although she teaches math at Northampton High School West, music is her passion and her major, having taught private lessons since she was 16.

A note serves as a decoration.

Putting in her Teach for America application she wanted to go to Eastern North Carolina, Ammann landed in the area two years ago. She saw the potential the area had for music and assembled a group of music instructors to help teach children and adults most any instrument from piano to brass. “We don't do some of the obscure instruments like the oboe and English horn,” she said.

The school does teach clarinet with Danielle Vandeventer and Beth Porch serving as instructors; drums with Reginald Mack serving as instructor; violin with Claudia Powell serving as instructor; and guitar with Jordan Hoffman and Chad Reed serving as instructors. There are several Roanoke Rapids High School students who volunteer, Ammann said.

Since opening two months ago, the response has been tremendous. “We had 64 campers this summer and about the same in weekly lessons. We had a bigger response than we anticipated.”

The summer camps gave Ammann a way to judge the interest in classes as she and instructors took students through lessons that not only encompassed the instruments, but lessons in rhythm and music history.

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Reminders of the summer campers.

Posters on the wall are a reminder of those camps, the names of the students who participated and some motivational art made during the events.

With the summer camps over, the school is focusing on lessons and the students, some beginning as early as age 4 to a retiree wanting to pick up on the piano.

The school, however, isn't ending with lessons, it is gearing up for a community choir and community band. “The community choir is for anyone who wants to sing, ages 12 and up. A lot of people love to sing but don't have a place to do it.”

The same applies to the community band, she said, with the practice culminating in a community choir and band concert.

A view of the avenue from inside the building.

Helping those who have had musical training is one of the reasons behind the choir and band. “About one quarter have studied music and are getting back into the swing of it.”

Ammann has seen the lessons inspire children. “I've had some say they that maybe they will study music in college. That's empowering for them to feel good about something.”

The reason Terry is starting again is simple. “I took piano when I was younger. I want to learn it again.”

For more information contact the school at 252-678-4954 or visit its website at www.themusicschoolofroanokerapids.com