Learn Music with James

Jim Bach, owner of newly opened School of Bach, is teaching new musicians how to play instruments and styles at their own pace in downtown Lapeer.

LAPEER — For as long as many people can remember, there have been music lessons taught in downtown Lapeer. Jim Bach 30 of Lapeer, started teaching lessons at Lapeer Music when he was in his late teen years, and continued teaching guitar at River Street Music & Cafe for several years.

When River Street closed earlier in the year, it looked like downtown Lapeer was going to be without a music school for the first time in a long time.

Bach, however, decided to carry on the musical legacy on Nepessing Street and opened the whimsically named School of Bach.

Located on the second story of the office building on Court and Nepessing Streets, above Dagwood’s Deli and Blondie’s Sweet Botique, the School of Bach is offering music lessons in guitar, bass, and ukulele for people of any age or skill level.

Bach is an experienced music teacher, and despite his young age he has a wealth of experience and knowledge in teaching others to play. He is currently weeks away from receiving his Bachelor’s of Science in Music Performing from University of Michigan. His education over the past several years has been a mixture of performance and teaching, learning how to instruct different types of musicians how to play different types of instruments and styles.

Jim, who is married to his wife, Alissa, has had a love affair with music his entire life. Growing up going to Bible Fellowship Church in Flint, he was able to hear amazing musicians every week, as well as seeing the positive affect the music had on people. When his older brother got a guitar for Christmas as a child, Bach said he snuck into his room and started playing it right away.

He continues to perform regularly each week in Lapeer and the surrounding area, as well as finishing his degree and teaching lessons at the School of Bach. He currently has around 20 students, ranging from elementary age to senior citizens, and he is eager to get some more students to teach.

Describing himself as easy-going and patient, rather than demanding and structured, Bach said he prides himself on being flexible and able to teach new musicians the style they want to learn.

“I set realistic, achievable goals that students can conquer,” Bach said. “That’s what makes my lessons work. I don’t demand things they can’t do.”

The School of Bach is open for lessons by appointment Tuesday through Friday by appointment. The music lessons are taught at suite 204 on the second story of the building on the southeast corner of Nepessing and Court Streets. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Bach, call 810-441-8929.