HISTORY OF GRAY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Forty-three years ago, Gray School of Music was begun in an apartment in Richardson, Texas, as Vicki Gray began teaching piano on a spinet piano. Her beginning students were those she taught in music classes for Richardson Independent School District. Her class of students gradually grew as the studio moved to a new home in Plano and later a larger home in North Dallas with its own piano studio. In North Dallas, preschool classes and piano group classes were added to the program. Seventeen years ago the piano studio moved to Preston Hollow where a very large studio was custom built in the home.

The studio grew to 85 students, and new piano teachers were added to relieve the teaching load. Eight years ago, the studio moved to its present location in a commercial shopping center at Preston and Forest. At the Preston Forest location, Gray Piano Studios continued to grow. The original facility had four teaching studios. Faulty construction with molded soundboards in the walls, forced the studio to rebuilt in its present location in suite 136 at Preston Forest Village.

Piano lessons are now conducted in the nine studios in suite 136. Two years ago, an addition space next door was acquired and attached to include six studios for guitar, voice, drums, violin, and piano as well as a recital hall. The business was changed to Gray School of Music as guitar and voice were added to the program. Our present location now has 25 teachers with masters or doctorate degrees in piano, voice, percusssion, violin, or guitar. All the pianos are Boston or Steinway grands so that students can experience playing on the finest of instruments. Class piano lessons called “Keyboard Kids” are being taught on a new digital keyboards acquired last year. Guitar, drum, and voice studios contain large mirrors for teaching as well as amplifiers, digital pianos, and equiptment necessary for vocal, percussion, string, and guitar instruction.

Over the past forty-three years, the business has grown to meet the needs of musical instruction in the community. Lessons are still taught the old-fashioned way with creativity in a warm caring enviornment. Because the school has been in business for so long, many traditions of beautiful recitals, fun festivals, and performances have been incorporated into the teaching of students. We will strive to be here forty more years serving the musical needs of the community of North Dallas.