Today we’d like to introduce you to Oregon City School Of Music.
Hi Oregon City, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Oregon City School of Music is the Home Studio of Chelsea Luker and Dan Duval. A small family business, they offer private instruction and rock band class for voice, flute, sax, guitar, bass, piano, drums, mandolin, ukulele, and songwriting. Outside of their teaching, Chelsea and Dan play in the Jam Band / Space Rock band Moon Music. Beyond that, they operate Wild Life Soap and Oils, a business Chelsea created which sells natural body care products in local farmers markets and small businesses.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have been active in music our entire lives, and there have always been challenges. Music is a calling and a lifestyle, not just a profession or performance art. To balance a practical life with a life in the arts is not easy for any practitioner, by they student, teacher, or wealthy international celebrity performer. However, the rewards are deep and rich, and life without them would be unimaginable. We operate three businesses – performing, teaching, and the soap biz – and all of them ebb and flow seasonally and in other ways. They come together to take care of our needs and allow for the occasional vacation as well. We are grateful.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are teachers who perform regularly in town, in the region, and beyond. Our lessons focus on the fundamentals, repertoire, and group playing skills. Students present pieces either alone, as duets with their instructors, or in ensembles with their fellow students at our recitals, which happen twice each year. Seeing the social interactions between students, and watching their motivation deepen as their fellow students witness their efforts, is really exciting. Whenever we are not with students, we are rehearsing, composing, practicing, recording, performing, occasionally touring. Beyond our collaboration “Moon Music,” we are involved in many other bands. Chelsea plays in Future Ensemble, the Get Down Funk Collective, Quadraphonnes, Scott Law Band, and as a sideman with many other groups. Dan plays in Dub Orquestra, Morricone Music, Duval Organ Trio, Outsider, Galen Clark Organ Trio, and as a sideman as well. You can hear these projects in Portland at venues like the Goodfoot, the Laurelthirst, the Mekong Bistro, the Get Down, the Jack London Review, at some festivals in the summer, and occasionally opening for bigger national touring acts at places like the Aladdin Theater.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Reach out about lessons; send us referrals from students; hire our bands to play your private events; buy tickets and come to our shows; pull up our music on Spotify and play it on repeat (these numbers really matter; higher numbers impress booking agents and talent buyers!); follow us on FB and Instagram; repost our music and our posts; and promote a world where original music is celebrated and financially supported. Between AI and the phenomenon of Tribute Acts in the music biz, things can be discouraging. Seeing a packed crowd get down to our original music is the most encouraging and exciting thing! Go out and support local and regional bands playing original tunes!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oregoncityschoolofmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonmoonmusicmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonmusic9/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoonMusicPdx
- Other: https://share.google/fJx7pIxaTXr6YHBmF
