Wind Gap Music owner Holly Alessi stands by the emblem for her business, which is located at 207 South Princess Street Unit 205-7 in Shepherdstown. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — At the beginning of the summer, Wind Gap Music opened its doors at 207 South Princess Street Unit 205-7 in Shepherdstown.

Wind Gap Music owner Holly Alessi had long dreamed of opening her own music education center, so when she learned the space at the back of the strip mall was available for rent, she jumped at the chance to make her dream a reality.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own place,” Alessi said. “This is my own love child of what I think music should be for people.”

Alessi noted the space was especially attractive, due to its excellent location, its extensive parking area and its interior layout.

“There were rooms already here, so we could start right away,” Alessi said.

The Music for Munchkins classroom features a wide assortment of instruments for young students to play and learn about music with. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

The opening of the business was intentionally timed for the summer, when some students take a break from their music lessons. Alessi said she believed this would enable the business to grow gradually, rather than abruptly, as she knew would happen if she had decided to hold the opening at the beginning of the school year — the time when students return to taking music lessons or start studying with a new teacher. Yet, in spite of the timing of its opening, Wind Gap Music has already seem some significant growth.

“We officially opened on June 1, with just myself as a teacher,” Alessi, who has a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance and previously taught at Ellsworth Music, said. “Within 30 days of that date, we were up to five teachers and 50 students. It’s unbelievable.”

Wind Gap Music’s music teachers all come to the field with years of musical training and experience. The center’s teachers are: Alessi (clarinet, flute, piano, saxaboom, saxophone and music theory), Jeff Kaufman (guitar), Bridget Ellsworth (guitar, recorder, bass, general music, ukulele, percussion and piano), Pat Lowry (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, jazz theory, ukulele, saxaboom, clarinet, guitar and flute), Janet Hinzman (piano, trumpet and voice), Andy Tucker (percussion and tuba) and Angela Steele (violin and viola). Some of them, like Ellsworth, bring with them extensive experience in teaching music to people with disabilities or illness, or who have been discouraged in their previous musical pursuits.

“What I’m super passionate about, is that music is for anyone that wants to do it. Having that ability to meet students where they are — to give them the chance to make music — is a huge part of my heart here,” Alessi said. “We want to give people a chance to try.”

Alessi has also gone out of her way to make sure her business model is user-friendly, allowing classes to be scheduled on her website and to be paid for on a biweekly or monthly basis, rather than prior to each lesson. Students and their parents have the ability, through an online portal, to consult with their teachers in between lessons. Additionally, Wind Gap Music is building a digital music library, which students and their teachers can use, so less music will need to be purchased for lessons.

Sister Sicilian mastiffs Freyja and Valkyrie serve as emotional support animals for Wind Gap Music students, though they are kept at home when a student is known to be uncomfortable with dogs. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“I want it to be welcoming and open to any and all musicians, and any and all people who want to get a chance to do music,” Alessi said. “To me, music is about community. It gives so many things on a personal level and on a community level.”

With that philosophy in mind, Wind Gap Music places a major emphasis on not only individual music lessons, but also group and ensemble coaching.

Alessi added that the business heavily prioritizes student and teacher safety. For that reason, security cameras have been installed in every classroom and hallway. Though the measure might seem heavy-handed, Alessi said it has brought a sense of comfort to herself, her teachers and many of her students.

“My husband, Sean, has been my biggest cheerleader and my absolute foundation through all of this. He and I have always wanted to have a small business,” Alessi said. “The one thing he told me was nonnegotiable about opening this business, was that it would have security cameras installed in every room. He was adamant that it be the safest space possible.”

To learn more or sign up for music lessons, visit https://www.windgapmusic.com/.

Quilts and rocking chairs add a sense of comfort and personalization to Granny Janny's Room at Wind Gap Music. Photo by Tabitha Johnston