Tisbury Music School, which opened in 2015, could close at the end of the year.
Since it opened, more than 200 students have had one-to-one lessons with one of its teachers, and it has run community choirs, ukulele groups, youth choirs and toddler music groups as well as its own events, such as small productions and plays, and Tisbury Summer Festival with acts from the local area as well as gold record-selling international artists.
Mark James set up JNX Productions 10 years ago to produce local plays and events but also to teach singing at home.
“I used to love teaching at home: after all I didn’t really have to go far for the morning commute,” Mark said. “However, when I became busier, my family didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as they were banished upstairs for the lesson times.”
So Mark decided to find somewhere else to teach. His new school was warmly received by the community, with some people travelling up to an hour to get to its facilities. The inside was purpose built with help from locals who donated their time with Mark. Now the school has two teaching rooms, a classroom and reception area with kitchen.
For the last few years, Mark has been dealing with illness and although he has been trying to maintain the school, he has come to the hard decision that he can no longer manage the school.
“I have been trying to find a buyer for some time, but this has not been successful. My main concern is the amount of people that use the school and rely on it for lessons and the teachers that have an income from the school.
If no buyer has been found by the end of the year, the school will close at the end of December.
The school is being sold with all the instruments and rooms, with the websites and social media pages too, making this a perfect opportunity for anyone in the music industry that wants to make the next stage in their career. But finding the right person may not be possible in time. Mark has said he has reduced the price ‘significantly’ from what was advised ‘just to ensure it continues running’.
“My aim has never been money, but making sure people have access to music. That again now is my main priority.”
To enquire about the school, contact Mark through the website www.jnxmusicschool.co.uk