Colors Fine Arts Center celebrates 28 years spreading the joy of music

MADISON – Colors Fine Arts Center recently celebrated their 28th year in Madison with an open house last month. The performing arts school created a little mini porch fest in front of their location at Richland Plaza, 7185 Hwy 72 W Suite I-J, that included vocalists, guitarists and students performing.

“It was a great time for the community to hear what our students can do, meet some of the teachers and tour the center,” said Colors Fine Arts Center founder and director Justine St. Louis.

Colors Fine Arts Center has been teaching students music since 1997. They offer private weekly music lessons in piano, guitar and voice for ages 4 years old through adult, from beginners to advanced. Their location features seven private studios, two group classrooms, 17 teachers and have over 250 students. They also offer various music camps for kids and group lessons for all ages.

St. Louis said at Colors new students are matched with a teacher that will fit their stage of learning best.

“We have tons of information on our website, and we have bios of all of our teachers,” she said. “People interested can request an inquiry, where they tell us a little bit about the student, what they have to practice on at home and what their availability is. Then I can find the teacher who can best suit their child’s age, ability and commitment level.”

While many students receive music lessons in school, St. Louis said personal lessons can challenge students in a unique and personal way.

“Music is in the schools, but not really at the depth students can really benefit from it the most, where they can have a personal relationship with music and develop it,” she said. “Being able to show people what it is like to really have a musical experience is exciting.”

St. Louis said she is thankful for the community of teachers at Colors Fine Arts Center. She has seen students grow up taking lessons and start teaching as well.

“Some of the people who teach here were once students themselves,” she said.

St. Louis said that along with teaching music, she is interested in the science behind music instruction and ensuring students are given the tools they need to learn.

“I’m really interested in a lot of the neuroscience behind learning and music, and that helps me find new ways, materials and things to share with the other teachers, too,” she said.

Since opening in 1997, St. Louis said many of her instructors have worked at Colors Fine Arts Center for years, and the relationships that have been built over the years create collaboration and companionship.

“We are a family, and we share ideas,” she said. “If somebody finds some music somewhere, they share it with the others. So that is a big part of the studio too, the community of teachers wanting to help each other. And when a young teacher moves in, we can mentor them in a little bit.”

With technology growing, St. Louis said that providing an artistic space for students is important and encourages creativity and passion.

“Music and art are going to help us learn to separate from technology a little bit, trust our own mind and let our own mind start to work,” she said. “This will not just affect music, but anything you do once you learn to think creatively, once you tap into that, you apply it to all areas of your life.”

St. Louis said that her goal for her students is not for them to become professional musicians or major in music; it is to empower her students to be lifelong musicians.

“The majority of students are not going to major in music, and we’re fine with that,” she said. “We want them to have it as a stress relief when they go to college. We have kids who, even if they are not going to major in music, will take a digital keyboard down to play in their dorm room with their headphones on. Then I know I’ve done my job. Because now it’s all about them. It’s not about the parents, not about the recitals and not about anything else. They’ve made a connection with music, and that is their source of comfort.”

For more information, visit www.colorsfinearts. com or follow them on Facebook.