Just about everybody likes music. The sounds, the emotions. It’s what we wake up to, fall asleep to, listen to in the car, while we clean, while we’re supposed to be doing work… How many of us have sat and dreamed, “If only I could sing/play like that?” Well now you can, and you don’t have to drive any farther than Tipp City to learn.

Allow me to introduce you to Sing Watson Studios, located in the Hotel Gallery on Main Street where your romantic dreams of serenading your sweetheart or playing a profound tune on the guitar or piano might just come true. In existence since January of 2007, founder Amie Watson’s business has grown from two students to over thirty and let me tell you why.

“We teach each student individually according to the way they learn and what they’re passionate about,” guitar and piano instructor Barbara Cooper explained. She has been working alongside Amie since this spring.

“Sing Watson Studios goes far beyond teaching the basics of music through voice, piano and guitar to encourage every student to delve deep into themselves and allow their heart to find its voice,” the studio’s website explains.

Both Amie and Barbara, students of music from a young age, are passionate about what they do. Amie, who has traveled all over the States and had her hand in nearly every musical genre and studied with world-renowned vocal coaches, simply stated that, “My real passion was not the New York Stage.” She returned to Tipp City to teach others to love music as much as she does.

Barbara also “absolutely loves” what she does. And nothing makes a better teacher than one who’s passionate about what she teaches.

The music instruction is of course open to all ages. Amie has students from age five to 69, as a matter of fact (and if you happen to be the 69 year old, sorry, the word’s out.) “It’s never too late to learn,” Barbara said.

As a student, you’ll be taught a broad base of musical technique and literature with a focus on whatever it is that strikes your chord (bad pun intended, in case you were wondering). And if you’re going to sign yourself up, you might as well start your kids or grandkids in the program, too. The studio has a great program available to junior high and high schoolers called Sing Watson Academy and Sing Watson Academy Kids for, well, kids in which the students are challenged to their highest potential and then given opportunities to showcase their talents in a plethora of concerts and venues.

“We try to take artists from where they are to where they want to be,” Amie said. Already she is seeing students’ dreams fulfilled as they begin to win prestigious awards for their abilities. “I have confidence that one day I’ll see one of my students making it big in the world of music,” she continued.

The students are equally enthusiastic. I had the honor of meeting a few of them at their recent “Movie Music Showcase” in August and witnessed their talent and excitement to be doing what they were doing.

“I’ve been into music since the womb,” Ryan Mouser, a senior this year and a student of the studio said. “I started with Sing Watson Studios this summer and it’s been the most amazing experience of my life.” He plans to pursue his own place in the world of contemporary Christian music.

If you’d like to check out what they do before deciding to join the program, or just enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon with some music, mark your calendar for September 14th and make yourself comfortable in the Tippecanoe Room at the Hotel Gallery for Sing Watson Studios’ “Back to Classics” concert at 2 p.m.

---