Music studio for kids comes to Westlake Village

Without question, Shawna Rose has sacrificed much in order to turn her vision into reality.

Four months ago, the former marketing executive sold her West Hills home and moved her four children into a nearby apartment in order to finance Performing Arts Reaching Children (PARC), a new nonprofit performing arts studio in Westlake Village.

Rose said she wants PARC to be the studio where Conejo Valley youngsters can hone their musical talents, meet other musicians, and receive a muchneeded boost in the musical education that is often lacking from public schools.

Rose said that even though her children, Sterling, 13; Ashton, 11; Maverick, 8 and Rami, 7, also have made sacriices on behalf of PARC, hey’ve supported her decision rom the beginning.

Rose has been thinking about

he idea since her husband, a

ormer magazine publisher, died six years ago.

It’s a big a gamble that she hopes will pay off.

As California schools con

inue to face statewide budgetary cutbacks, music courses are often the first programs to be SOUNDS GOOD—These young musicians have a new home in the PARC center in Westlake Village which is open, though still under construction. The instructional facility will have rehearsal rooms, a performance theatre and professional musicians teaching the basics of music. From left, Sterling Rose, 13, Jacob FIelds, 12, Jeffrey Fields, 16, Rami Rose, 7, Ashton Rose, 11 and Nikki Osder, 9. eliminated. Rose hopes PARC will help fill the musical and creative voids created by the loss of these school-run programs.

Still under construction, the newly opened 7,200-square-foot studio will feature 15 soundproof rehearsal rooms, as well as a state-of-the-art theatre for live concert performances and special events. Rose also is putting together a music library and study room.

“My son Ashton is excited that he doesn’t have to give band performances in our garage any more,” Rose said. “And I’m sure the neighbors are happy about that too.”

What makes PARC different from a privately run music school is that youngsters don’t have to take private lessons to use the studio’s facilities. The school has received nonprofit status.

“We’re trying to differentiate ourselves as a place where you don’t just come and take a lesson,” Rose said. “We’re a youth organization. . .The children will participate in all aspects of production, including stage design, sound, lights, recording, costume design (and) event coordination . . .This is their organization and every one counts.”

According to Rose, PARC not only offers a full roster of accomplished musical teachers, but it also encourages youngsters to build bands, play in live performances and develop their own recordings.

Individual and group lessons are open to the students. Classes are available for all types of instruments and all styles of music from rock’n’roll to classical.

When she first put out a call to local musicians to teach at PARC, Rose said she was inundated with resumes.

“We were very selective in choosing the teachers,” Rose said. “We wanted artists who had actually performed before, not just scholar-educated, but who had been through performances.”

Guitarist Don Schiff, who has worked with such rock notables as Elvis Presley and Tina Turner, teaches guitar and music theory classes at the school.

Tony Avalon (Frankie Avalon’s son), Luis Antonio Oliart Jr., Mike Tovar and John Love, among others, make up the roster of teachers.

Schiff said he likes PARC because it’s a total music program that doesn’t require students to study only one instrument.

“It becomes a whole program for students to develop in,” said Schiff, adding that the program offers a “well-rounded” music education.

In addition to the musicians who teach a wide variety of instruments, PARC offers vocal instruction and lessons in recording engineering.

For more information about PARC, call (818) 874-9369 or visit www.parcmusic.org.