The F.S. Furbert Building, part of the old Berkeley Institute, is to become the new home of the Bermuda School of Music when renovations are completed.

The $1.4 million make-over will include 22 studios, waiting, concert, staff and multi-purpose rooms and a library.

In making the announcement, general manager Greg Smith said the school, which has approximately 1,200 students, is having to move from its present location on Old Trott Road because the building is scheduled for demolition.

When major renovations to bring the building up to standard are complete, the new premises will add an additional 2,500 square feet to the school’s current 5,000 square feet, with the additional space making not only for a more comfortable operation but also a much larger one.

Work on the old Berkeley site will begin now that a building permit has been granted for plans drawn up by Linberg and Simmons, and Mr. Smith said he hoped the school would be able to move in as soon as possible.

Outlining the internal changes, the general manager said these would include an administrative wing, staff room, and 22 individual teaching studios, on the first floor, while the second floor would feature four larger, multi-purpose rooms.

“One room will have its own kitchen, and will serve as our concert room. It can also be used for some classes, such as group violin lessons and the Kindermusik programme, and our chamber choir will also practise in there.

“The second room will also be used for Kindermusik, group violin and guitar lessons, and the children’s choir, while the third room will be a library which the school will share with the Suzuki Association. A few years ago, Suzuki partnered with the XL Foundation to create a music library, so we are going to work on developing a general music library for us as well as Suzuki. This room will also house computer stations, Suzuki records, DVDs and CDs, and be a resource centre.”

According to Suzuki development co-ordinator Chas Arnold, the third room may also be used for music theory and other classes.

The fourth room will be additional practice room.

Space is also being earmarked for instrument repairs, and sales of instruments and music books, as well staff and student bathrooms.

Outlining just what the extensive renovations would entail, Mr. Smith said these included gutting the old chemistry lab area and removing the gas, water and electricity supplies, as well as getting rid of a lot of old furniture, including 100 student desk/chair combinations, which the school will donate to various organisations. Repairing ceilings and installing air conditioning were other requirements.

A capital campaign has already been launched to help fund the hefty price tag for renovations.

“In addition to requesting donations from local and international businesses, individuals are being offered an opportunity to help by purchasing an engraved tile in their name, or an entire room for $50,000,” Mr. Smith said.

Certainly, the Bermuda School of Music is a very active organisation, and needs all the space it can get.

In addition to teaching 800 music and Kindermusik students in-house, the 20-strong faculty is also actively engaged in community initiatives which have been significantly increased, and now include some 400 students.

Each week, 200 students at Victor Scott and Purvis Schools receive free or discounted violin lessons.

“There are free lessons for first and second-year Primary students at Victor Scott, and heavily discounted lessons for P3s at Victor Scott and Purvis,” Mr. Smith said.

“Free lessons for members of the community centres in Sandys, St. George’s and The Centre have also been greatly expanded over the last two years, and we have also taken over the strings programmes at four of the five middle schools.

“We have been working with the Ministry of Education to develop the strings programmes in the middle schools,” Mr. Arnold said of the latter.

“Two of the schools are going to add a year group to the programme, and the other ones we will continue to work on developing, as we did this year.”

The community initiative also includes music programmes at four nursery schools, the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital extended care unit, as well as music therapy at the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy, Agape House, the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute, and for the Hospital’s neuro-rehabilitation patients.

Small wonder then, that while the Bermuda School of Music has nothing but praise for its current landlords, it is eagerly looking forward to moving to new premises custom-designed and built to meet its burgeoning needs.