This story has been a while in developing, but now, it’s time to reveal the truth!
A long, long time ago…
A wedding proposition failed.
September. It was beautiful. I was swaying uncomfortably from my seat on the bus, knees locked in the seat ahead while I managed to uncover my phone. She had a problem. I agreed to meet her.
“Will you marry me?’
…she asked
Now let me explain. As a former international college student, my dear friend had been attempting to decide what to do with her life when she was discovered working illegally as a babysitter. Options were limited, and what seemed to her to be the last available chance to remain in America was to marry to acquire a green card, and legal residence in the country.
So…being someone naturally afraid of commitment, I said
“No, of course not!”
“I could employ you possibly…perhaps a work visa could solve the problem? A music school perchance?”
In no position to start anything outside of a pending homework assignment, this certainly seemed like an interesting idea. And I got very excited.
6 months later I had graduated college, and happened to find myself sitting in the elementary school principal office. I shifted nervously in my seat, staring intensely at fresh artwork on walls, straight from the hands of the establishment of 9 year old children.
“School of Groove is a contemporary music school providing students with an environment that is conducive towards exploration.” Concise, simple, very beautifully put I thought.
It puzzled me when in late November, I received a call from the Superintendent’s office effectively ending all possibilities for the future of School of Groove. To explain, School of Groove was initially meant be launched in a public or private school or church. This would allow us to build slowly and securely within a facility without the risk of renting or purchasing our own facility.
This seemed to be the end of a story very eloquently written.
I was traveling in a very plush RV frantically making phone calls. I had one realtor on call waiting, while I explained my pending needs to another. Meetings were quickly scheduled, and I took the plunge.
It was a relatively warm day in December when I wrote the check with the most zero’s. I felt a touch of anxiety…more like a ripping angst, as I instantly gave away more money than I had made that entire year. I had a building. An address. The little piece of paper in my hand attested to that. I suddenly had more responsibility than I had ever had. So I went home.
Hiding under the covers seemed to be the best option on January 2nd when I woke up to realize that I had just risked everything I owned on this place, and I was suddenly having second thoughts about it! So, acting on my best impulses, I proceeded to sleep the rest of the day.
The following morning, accompanied by a much braver spirit, I ventured outside, and made the short drive to the location of my school. I called my mom and dad, and we started building
…and building
…and building
….and when it was 10 degrees outside, we built some more
THEN! ON March 17th, 2007 School of Groove opened it’s doors to the World at 883 Cambridge Street in Cambridge.
A curious piece of trivia. Our first student was a violist!! Imagine that!
Well, the story continues now, with locations in three different locations throughout Boston, and a vision for School of Groove music education centers throughout the world, a custom curriculum, and an online resource center.
Oh…I got married too.
