On and off the beaten path: The Oxford Music Academy

We can extol the uncountable virtues of music, ad nauseam. Its effects are as profound and intrinsic to humans as they are variable and relative. Even individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) describe how they can experience music. Studies abound on the effects of music on animals and the plant world.

A very close friend of mine described how being denied access to music affected her from a very early age. As a young child, she begged for a piano until her parents begrudgingly gave in. But, they put the piano in the basement, and when she began to tinkle the keys, they slammed the basement door to shut out the noise. She felt that as a sharp and swift denial of her creativity, which followed her throughout her life.

How do we find our way to music? How can we learn to play and explore the different ways that music might influence our lives?  

Oxford has an answer – the Oxford Music Academy. 

Jon Sanford started the Oxford Music Academy, “to help students discover the joy and fulfillment that music can bring.” Jon said, “I know firsthand that a caring teacher or parent can make all the difference in helping a student stay with music long enough to experience that breakthrough moment. As a fifth grader, I watched my mom return to the piano after years away from it. I remember asking her out of curiosity, ‘do you think I could do that?’ She started teaching me herself before signing me up for lessons.”

“I looked a lot like many of the students who walk through our doors today,” Jon continued, “I enjoyed going to lessons, but I never imagined music would become my career. By high school, my schedule had filled up with work, school and other activities.”

Jon said he remembered asking his mom if he could quote his piano lessons, to which she replied, “absolutely not.” 

“Looking back, I'm grateful she helped me stay with music long enough to discover what it would one day mean to me,” Jon said. “It wasn't until my senior year of high school, after attending a music camp, that everything clicked. Making music alongside other students opened my eyes to an entirely different side of music. That experience changed the direction of my life, and it's a reminder that you never know when a student's breakthrough moment will come.”

Jon earned a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Cincinnati Christian University and a master’s degree in piano performance from Miami University, where he was struck by how many families were looking for music lessons. After graduating, he stayed in Oxford to help meet that growing interest in music education by founding the Oxford Music Academy in 2017, when he was teaching from his home. He moved the academy into its commercial space in 2018.

Like many businesses in Oxford, the Oxford Music Academy suffers from lack of awareness simply because they are not operating on High Street. Being located at 421 S. Locust Ave. in the back row of buildings on Bishop Square and above Great Clips makes it easy to miss. Jon is grateful that so many families find the academy through word of mouth, and would love for more people in the community to discover that music lessons are available right here in Oxford.

“One of my favorite things about (the) Oxford Music Academy is the diversity of our students. We teach everyone from preschoolers taking their very first lesson to retirees, fulfilling a lifelong dream of learning an instrument,” Jon said. “Some students aspire to study music in college or perform professionally, while many simply enjoy making music as a hobby. Every student's goals are different and we believe every musical journey is worth celebrating.”

“Our instructors are accomplished musicians, but more importantly, they're caring, encouraging teachers who are passionate about helping students succeed,” Jon added. “They understand that every student learns differently and strive to make lessons engaging, challenging and enjoyable, helping students build a lifelong love of music.”

Gini Maddocks is a local holistic practitioner, an author and owner of Snazzy Boutique and Gifts in Oxford, Ohio.