When freshman Hugh Hopkins picked up the guitar two and a half years ago after finding inspiration in guitar-driven music by the likes of Led Zeppelin and The White Stripes, longtime childhood friend and classmate Evan Moffitt quickly followed suit, helping to realize their special talents and solidify their friendship. Now, the pair refine their skills together at the Uptown Music Collective, a Williamsport “community of local musicians who devote time to teaching a culmination of performance, technique and theory,” as described by Moffitt.
The nonprofit organization founded in 2000 offers private lessons for guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and bass, as well as workshops for specific genres of music such as rock, blues and jazz. Both Moffitt and Hopkins participated in a blues workshop this past semester and plan to enroll in the jazz workshop in the upcoming semester.
In addition to the workshops, the two attend private one-on-one lessons and music theory classes, further expanding their musical knowledge. This knowledge comes at a price, though. “I devote my Monday and Tuesday afternoons to the Collective,” explains Hopkins.
While time consuming, the Uptown Music Collective offers an unmatched experience according to Hopkins. “The Collective’s goal is to not only teach us where to put our fingers on the guitar but also why we do so. That is what I feel I’m getting out of my experience there – a more complete musical education.”