CHICO — The creative process is alive and well at Kai Music and Arts in downtown Chico.
The four owners are Jacob McDonald, Michael Whittemore, Gypsy Andrews and Gary Smith.
Art and music lessons will be taught in both the music and the arts spaces of the new business.
There are several private lesson studios in the music building, and several in the arts building. Artists can also rent space to use as their studios. Artists can engage in drawing, painting, sewing and many other mediums.
Music lessons are taught are for both adults and children. Music lessons cost $30 for a 30 minute lesson, $40 for 45 minutes and $50 for one hour. There are also group music lessons for children.
Bands, locally and from elsewhere, can come in and rent the music studios to rehearse for $15 per hour. Some bands come from Redding and Willows and some from as far away as Oregon and Seattle.
“We provide a support system while they are here,” McDonald, who is also lead music teacher, said about hosting the bands.
The art studios hold events such as mother and child classes such as Mommy and Me along with wine tastings with art.
One of the bands performed at Naked Lounge over the weekend. Bands can also make records in the music building.
McDonald graduated from Chico State in 2020 with a music industry degree. The music lessons are taught for every skill level.
“We want to connect everything,” Whittemore said. “The mission statement is to be a hub and connect everyone. We want to form a network and make Chico better.”
Art lessons are expected to begin in January. The art space teachers will teach any medium such as ceramics, animation, paper mache and photography. The owners plan to install a dark room in the arts building.
McDonald said one of the goals of the music space is to teach children about how to produce and record their own music.
“It’s important for kids to learn how to record and produce instead of just knowing how to play,” McDonald said.
All of the owners are musicians as well.
Whittemore is a drummer for a band called the Pretty Pills, is a Montessori methods middle school instructor and has a bachelor’s degree in child development.
The owners provide many services between the two buildings such as recording studios and learning/co-working spaces.
More information can be found at www.kaimusicandarts.com. Kai Music and Arts is on Facebook under Kai Music & Arts and on Instagram under kaimusicandarts. The phone number for the business is 717-5949 and the addresses are 515 Wall St. and 525 Wall St.