Germantown Music Studio Still Melodic After 25 Years

Rich Rudin with a student at his 25-year-old music studio. (Photo by Beth Brooks)

by BETH A. BROOKS

Twenty-five years is a long time to be in one place. But that’s how long Rich Rudin and the Maplewood Music Studio in Germantown have been together. Rudin is the founder, owner and artistic director of the studio.

Rudin, a graduate of Central High (228th graduating class) grew up in East Mt. Airy/West Oak Lane. “While I was going to Temple University, I moved to Germantown and stayed there for 17 years,” he said. “I’ve always loved the northwestern section of Philadelphia with its feeling of community and with its great diversity of races, religions and economic backgrounds.”

Rudin didn’t start out to be a teacher. After receiving his master’s degree in 1978, he spent some time performing before beginning the studio in 1980. In the late 1970s, he taught at Lighthouse Arts and Music Camp. During the last two years he was there, he was head of the piano department. There he “fell in love with teaching.”

Rudin began teaching by giving private lessons in the ’70s, while still in high school. Maplewood’s first teachers were found through Rudin’s musical connections. The main impetus for Maplewood came from Rudin’s father, who wanted him to have a permanent source of income, and Maplewood allowed him the creativity he craved along with a steady income stream. “I didn’t want to live my musical life alone,” he said.

Harry Butch Reed has been teaching drums at Maplewood for almost 10 years. “There are not many community-based music schools,” he said, “and this school provides a real service to the community.” Vocal teacher Sandy Day, who has been with the studio since 1990, insists that “it has a very congenial feel.” Day also likes the variety of students, ages and cultures that come to the school.

As she prepared to warm up for her third vocal lesson, current vocal student Diane Reimer remarked, “Day has a dynamic personality, with a lot of expertise to pass on to her students.” Former student Rich Curtis, who now plays bass with the blues group Dukes of Destiny, commented, “There were a few places to study in Philly, but thankfully we had Maplewood, with a staff of terrific local musicians who wanted to be there. I think it says a lot about what people thought of Rich, what he was trying to do then and the fact that he’s still doing it today some 25 years later.” Curtis and the group play locally and plan to do some traveling abroad.

Office manager Debbie Syzdek has kept things running smoothly since July 2001. Rudin credits his uncle, Nat Rudin, a piano teacher and performer, as an important early influence. Rudin made a successful CD 10 years ago and has penned over 150 original songs. Rudin also seems happy performing for live audiences. He continues to perform locally, sometimes with some of his teachers, playing classical, jazz, pop, folk and rock.

According to Chestnut Hill resident Lois McAffey-Lopez, a student of Rudin’s for about a year, “Rich is showing me how to bring a tremendous depth to my music, a depth of listening that I have never had before. This translates into a much stronger connection with music.”

Another Hiller, Liz Farmer, has had two children take lessons at Maplewood. “My son Alex started piano before he could read. Rich was patient teaching Alex his first written language. Alex took lessons for three years and then didn’t want to practice. Fast forward six years later, and Alex expressed an interest in drums. Back we went to Maplewood, and now he ‘swings and jives’ with Butch Reid. My daughter, Judy, took piano with Rich for five years and had a wonderful introduction to music. She has been interested in journalism and now at age 19 has been writing music reviews for the Lancaster New Era paper for three years as a paid job.”

Sadie Shorr-Parks is another of Rudin’s students who hails from Chestnut Hill. Her father, Steve, says she has been a student of Rich Rudin for about four months, “focusing on jazz and blues piano. Rich seems to have an innate sense of how to draw out the skills my daughter already possesses and help her to build upon them.”

Patty Segal from Mt. Airy describes herself as possibly Rudin’s “longest standing student; I have been taking piano lessons from him for 18 years. My daughter was a student of his from age five to age 18. After a few years of doing classical work, Richard introduced me to the world of jazz. I have been attempting to tackle this musical art form under his tutelage. About 12 years ago, he connected me with other musicians and with guidance and leadership from both Richard and Lynn Riley, we formed a band which lasted for 10 years. We were basically an amateur band, but performed a few times at the Mermaid Inn and other local venues.” Rudin said that Segal’s family has been connected in some way to Maplewood for the entire 25 years.

Maplewood is planning a celebration in September or early October marking its 25th anniversary. For more information, call 215-848-8353.