PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- There are students and teachers in every room of the Portland Conservatory of Music, fueling the fire to the passion they have for creating music.
There are around 30 instruments that students can learn to play at the conservatory. From drums to saxophones, lessons are offered regardless of age, skill level, or ability to pay. More than 50 faculty members are available to provide lessons to the 250 students signed up at a cost they can afford.
"Music lessons are very expensive," said executive director Jean Murachanian. "We've tried to do whatever we can to keep the prices down. We offer payment plans and things like that and scholarships and extended lessons scholarships as well."
If learning to play an instrument has always been on your to do list, look no further than Moira Choi for motivation. She's a 5-year-old student at the Portland Conservatory of Music learning to play the piano and sing.
"It's easy because I'm a really smart person," said Choi with confidence. "A long time ago I wanted to play real music and then I started to play this piano."
If you're lucky enough to get into the Portland Conservatory of Music, you'll want to make sure you put in the work. The staff will check in with you to make sure you're improving in order to keep your scholarship.
The most common misconception that people have about the Portland Conservatory of Music is that you have to audition in order to get accepted, according to Murachanian. They take on new students, no matter their skill level.