Owner of local music shop opening third location where her roots began
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AMMON – Owning a music shop in her hometown is a dream come true for Shelby Murdock.
The 28-year-old Ammon native is the owner of Snake River Strings Co., a business providing private music lessons for students in multiple states. Lessons are available for anything with a string, as well as piano, drums and vocal training.
A Pocatello location opened earlier this year after operating in Blackfoot for four years. Ammon is the studio’s third and largest location. It’s inside the Ammon Office Park at 1488 Midway Avenue and has 10 classrooms — twice the size of the Blackfoot and Pocatello stores.
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Murdock is hosting an open house and grand opening for the Ammon building this Friday and is thrilled with the opportunity to reach more students.
“We’ve had a lot of requests to offer lessons here in Idaho Falls (and Ammon) and we’ve had a lot of students travel to Blackfoot for those lessons,” Murdock tells EastIdahoNews.com. “We can fit twice as many students here. I’m really excited to be opening a new location.”
Ammon is the place where Murdock’s interest in music began. She started taking guitar and fiddle lessons at a young age and by the time she was 11, she was hungry to share her knowledge with others.
She got her first students from a poster with tear-away phone number tags she hung up inside Ammon Speedi Mart.
“I remember the very first phone call I got. She signed up for lessons and I still keep up with her today,” says Murdock.
One of her first students, Tessa Dalton, was offered scholarships to three prestigious universities, ultimately choosing Belmont University’s School of Music in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dalton teaches remotely at Murdock’s studio during the summer, and Murdock is happy to see her succeed.
“She actually premiered at The Station Inn (a renowned concert venue in Nashville) this past week,” Murdock says. “It’s really fun to live through her, see my fiddle child living out her dreams.”
Providing a space where other musicians can teach their students is another aspect of the business that Murdock finds rewarding.
Sixteen-year-old Maggie Wight has been taking lessons from Murdock for years. She started teaching violin lessons about 18 months ago and is happy to have a professional building to work one-on-one with students.
“I have about nine students and I’m hoping I can transfer them over to the studio now,” Maggie says. “I absolutely love the environment that Shelby brings. I love the diversity she allows. That’s what music is about.”
Watch Maggie and Murdock play together in the video above.
This spring, Murdock’s business was awarded Idaho’s Best in the music lessons category from the “Best of” awards program in the Gem State. Murdock appreciates being recognized for her efforts in students “become musicians.”
Murdock invites the community to tour the new building on Friday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free classes for all ages and skill levels will be available and there will be a drum circle (an informal public gathering of percussionists who play a random beat in sync) for attendees to see.
Local singer Paige Ann, one of Murdock’s former students, will be there. Raffle tickets will be provided for a variety of prizes, including free lessons, a guitar, accessories and other items. Those who’d like to attend need to RSVP here.
Snake River Strings Co. is open by appointment. To sign up or learn more, call (208) 681-0035 or email snakeriverstringsco@gmail.com.
