When Stages Music Arts opened its doors in 2016, it was meant to serve as a space where people of all ages and ability levels could grow their musical abilities and access high-quality instruments and equipment. In the years since, the Cockeysville music school has become one of Baltimore’s premier music schools and a popular place to record music.
Now, the school is celebrating its 10th anniversary, with staff reflecting on how Stages Music Arts has grown, the many students that have come through its doors over the years and its plans for the future.
From Learning to Producing
Stages’ founder, Rob Smith, originally opened the school with the intention that it would serve as a “one-stop shop” for musical instruction.
“The idea was that whatever you wanted to be able to do in the world of music, that we would be able to offer a service to help you along your journey,” says Charles Simon, a music educator who has served as Stages Music Arts’ general manager since 2018. “It’s why our clients range from people who have never played an instrument before taking their first lesson to international recording artists who come here to record or play concerts.”
What sets Stages apart from other music schools is its on-site recording studios. In addition to learning how to play instruments, students can record their own songs and learn about music production.
The recording studios aren’t just utilized by students, either. Renowned musicians like Leslie Odom, Jr., Dennis Chambers and alt-J have come to Stages to record music.
Simon adds that working at Stages Music Arts has even helped him learn more about music production. Originally, he was more interested in playing live music, but Stages has helped him develop a passion for recording. Many of Stages’ staff are former students who are now teaching the next generation of musicians.
Setting the Stage for Success
Others have gone on to become professional musicians themselves. Former student and Baltimore native Morgan Gonce started taking music lessons with Simon when she was 5, shortly after she had gotten her first guitar, and continued those lessons with him when he became the general manager at Stages.
Now, she’s a student at the Berklee College of Music and is the guitarist and lead singer of her own band, the Morgan Gonce Band. Gonce says she owes much of this success to her time as a student at Stages.
“Stages always felt like a second home to me,” Gonce recalls. “Throughout my middle school and high school years, I would spend time at Stages multiple times a week. I have made some of the best friends that I have ever had through Stages, and I have made some very meaningful musical connections through Stages at such a young age.”
She also notes that being able to record in Stages’ studios was crucial to her development as a musician, giving her early experience with the music production process. By the time Gonce started releasing her own music at 14, she had already become well-versed in the recording process.
“Even though I recorded high-quality audio and video recordings with my Stages bands at such a young age, I never felt awkward or unworthy of having an opportunity like that at my skill level. I just had fun,” Gonce says.
Finding the Fun in Early Childhood Music Education
Some of Stages’ youngest students are part of its early childhood programs, which are meant to foster a love of music early in life. The positive effects of children being exposed to music at a young age are well-researched, which is why music is so often incorporated into preschool and early childhood programs.
According to the University of Maryland College of Education, immersing children in music early in life helps them to develop socially and emotionally, improve their cognitive and motor skills and develop formative ties to their culture and family.
“We want to make sure that students who come here associate music with having fun,” Simon explains. “We don’t want it to feel like it’s another school subject; we want them to look forward to coming to their lessons. … Students learn fundamentals through music and play, and they get to experiment.”
Stages’ “Mini Music Makers” classes give young children the chance to try out different instruments, which could foster a long-lasting interest in learning to play the guitar, piano, drums and more. Even students who do not go on to pursue music education will take away the benefits of engaging with music at a young age, and they may even make new friends.
Looking Ahead: The Next ‘Stages’
Stages has come a long way since its doors first opened, but it isn’t just resting on its laurels a decade later — the school has a lot planned for 2026. Currently, Stages is working on opening a second building across the street. The new addition is a restored church, with classrooms and recording studios meant to replicate the acoustics of a church setting. A grand opening and a 10th anniversary event is scheduled for Aug. 1, and more details on the event will be made available later in the year.
“The way we’ve grown is through seeing our students grow,” Simon says. “A student who started here when they were 10 might be in a band and releasing their own music now. Our mission has stayed the same, but time passing has allowed us to fulfill it.”
