By Ethan Hunt and Annie Carbutt
A euphony of sound can be heard over at the String Academy at 1293 S Boulevard. From cellos to violins, the String Academy of Idaho Falls is making all sorts of marvelous music with the help of some very talented teachers.
Emma Rubinstein, Jessica Cooley and Christine Hutchings are highly qualified individuals with years of experience in string instruments and music theory. Emma teaches violin and viola, Jessica focuses mainly on violin and Christine teaches cello. All three have excelled in their music careers and have performed with some exceptional symphony orchestras including The Orchestra at Temple Square and the Idaho Falls Symphony.
The idea for the academy first began to take shape in the spring of 2021. As the concertmaster for the Idaho Falls Symphony, Emma tries to keep a finger on the music pulse of the community. She began discussing the possibilities of an academy with Jake Durtschi, who serves on the Idaho Falls Symphony board and is also highly invested in the music and arts scene for Idaho Falls. The idea for an academy had been thrown around for a while but now they discussed it with the intention to make it happen.
They wanted to create a place where students and teachers could thrive in music. They dove into planning and with Jake’s help, procured an old two-story home on South Boulevard, which they immediately began to renovate. One step inside is all it takes to see that they’ve succeeded in creating something extra special and beautiful.
The academy occupies the first floor of the building. Students enter into a spacious and relaxing front room with comfortable seating, large windows that let in an abundance of natural light and a piano for group lessons. Further inside, they’ll find three cozy studios, a beautifully renovated restroom and a waiting area on the back side of the building that offers students a peaceful and relaxing place to work on their homework or just sit and think while they wait for their lessons.
Everywhere the eye can see, there is something beautiful to take in. The walls are lined with carefully selected artwork, end tables hold vases of bright flowers, and thoughtfully arranged furniture invites students to sink in and settle down. The space is a haven.
Every student of the academy is enrolled in private lessons but is also encouraged to attend group lessons as part of their experience.
“These group classes are an important piece for students,” Christine said. “Not only do we offer important instruction on technique during these lessons, but this is also where we create a sense of community. It allows students to get to know each other, and, of course, it’s loads of fun because we all get to laugh and play together.”
The academy accepts applications for students anywhere from 5 to 18 years of age, though they hesitate to put a “limit” on the allowed ages.
“We want this to be an inclusive space,” Emma said. “We are more concerned about saying who we do welcome than who we don’t. We welcome everyone.”
Emma shared that at the end of one of her lessons her student cried out, “I don’t want to leave!” Truly, Emma, Jessica and Christine have worked hard to build an environment where students feel happy and comfortable.
Jake feels that the three instructors are overly modest about their significant contributions to their students.
“The all-state orchestra is filled with students from this academy,” he said. “It’s really impressive to see that in the entire state of Idaho, these are the students that are performing at the highest level.”
The goals of the academy emphasize the importance of achieving the highest potential for students at any level, whether beginner or advanced. Emma, Jessica and Christine push their students to better understand aspects of music while developing lifelong learning skills in many areas of life. These experiences especially help lay the foundation for students who are interested in the performing arts, either as professionals, amateurs or patrons.
The academy was recently granted status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Emma and the others are excited about the possibilities this opens up for obtaining grants and offering financial support to lower-income students so everyone in the community can have access to quality music lessons.
To fill out an online application for lessons through the academy, visit www.stringacademyif.org or call 208-357-4080 with questions. Details for an online financial application can also be found on the website.