A look at the new music school in Shelby
Shelby residents have new options when it comes to music lessons.
Tucked away on bustling Marion Street near Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Elliott School of Music opened a few weeks ago and is filling a void in the local music scene.
Founded by Elliott Denkers in 2022 in Gastonia, the business has since expanded to several Gaston County locations and opened one in Shelby last month.
“We’re closing in on 100 students weekly in Gastonia,” Denkers said.
Denkers opened his Shelby location at 231 E. Marion St. a few weeks ago and said he has already had a ton of interest from the community.
He said Shelby Music closed a few years ago, and he noticed there was a lack of private music lessons in the county.
“We saw a need in the area, really,” Denkers said.
Since he had opened locations in Gastonia, he was familiar with the concept of expanding into a new market.
Elliott School of Music now serves all of Gaston County in addition to Lincolnton, Cleveland County and the greater Charlotte area.
Originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina, Denkers said he worked in music retail for a decade, working in sales, store management and teaching.
He said he grew his personal schedule of students beyond what he could manage himself and decided to open his own business.
“I have a really fond memory of my guitar teacher, Randy Foster, as I was learning and growing up, and I enjoy being that person for someone else,” Denkers said. “It’s super fun.”
Brandon Davidson, one of the Shelby music teachers, said he gives lessons in guitar, ukulele and bass. He completed music theory and guitar through Berkley online.
Davidson, who has years of teaching experience, is also a professional musician and has signed with a record label.
He said he got into teaching because he wants to pass on his knowledge and love of music to the next generation and share that passion with the world.
“It’s very rewarding,” he said. “More so than being on stage, honestly.”
He said he has students of all ages, from 6 years old to 52 years old, wanting to study rock, heavy metal and everything in between.
Some people are beginners, others are returning to music, and some students want to dive into music theory.
There are three teachers at the Shelby location and between the three, they offer lessons in guitar, bass, vocal, piano, woodwind and brasswind instruments.
Denkers said guitar and piano are tied for most popular closely followed by vocals.
They teach all ages and children as young as 4 can sign up.
Lessons are available through the week and weekends and are 30-minute sessions once a week for $130 a month.
“We approach lessons in more of a personal way than other companies do,” Denkers said.
He said as a small business, they are able to provide a personal touch that larger companies can’t and are able to tailor lessons to the individual needs of the students.
In the spring, they host a student show to showcase what the students are working on for friends and family.
Davidson and Denkers said the school plans to be active in the local community with live music and food trucks planned for the future.
For more information on Elliott School of Music or to sign up for lessons, visit elliottschoolofmusic.com.
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Elliott School of Music opens Shelby location
