As one of the few music schools on the west side of Lake Norman, Keys & Strings LKN has become a community staple. The school specializes in teaching local children and providing them with the opportunities they need to excel in music.
It was founded in 2012 near the heart of Chronicle by musicians Dana Lineberger Berry and Brian Keith Suddreth. Dana has a long history of teaching music.
“I used to teach at Notable Music in Denver,” she said. “It was a long time ago, probably 15 or 20 years ago, and the owner got sick and she passed away, so it closed up.”
For several years after the closure of Notable Music, there was virtually no place in the Chronicle area where children and adults could go for music lessons.
“Keith Suddreth, who also worked [at Notable Music], he talked me into opening this,” Dana said. “At first, I was driving around to homes teaching. I kept my students [from Notable] and was going to their homes and teaching them. And he talked me into opening this.”
Dana and Keith worked together to open the school. From its founding until 2015, Keith was an integral part of the business, becoming one of the primary teachers.
“Keith passed away in 2015, unfortunately, unexpectedly. But he was a big part of getting this place started, and helped me get it off the ground.”
Keys & Strings honors Keith by carrying on his legacy through teaching and by bringing joy through music. According to Dana, his students grieved in a positive way, putting more passion into their music than ever before.
“He said he felt like part of his purpose in life was to save rock and roll,” Dana said. “We miss him.”
Today, the school has several teachers and dozens of students. They specialize in piano, guitar, drums, and vocals. Dana remains the primary music teacher.
“Usually I teach about 30,” she said. “And then between the other teachers about 50.”
The school also rents out instruments and equipment.
“It started out as just some lessons, and then when my daughter joined school band, I realized there was a need for instrument rentals closer without having to drive to Hickory or Charlotte.”
The rental program partners with local school band directors to ensure that children interested in music have access to instruments.
“This time of year, I'm very focused on the band rentals. It's a rent to own program, and [the instruments] have insurance, so if they need repairs, we'll repair it at no cost to them, and provide a loaner for them to use while it's being repaired. They can pick up their instruments here, or if they live farther away, have it delivered directly to their home.”
Students at Keys & Strings are often given the opportunity to perform onstage. In the past, students have performed at locations such as Carowinds amusement park and the now-defunct Queen’s Landing. The music school also hosts recitals, and frequently helps kids find a place to play at open mics and festivals.
“Every year for the past six, seven years or so, they invite us to come out for the [Sherrills Ford Elementary School] fall festival,” Dana said. “We set up, and the students get to come perform. We've had some student bands get to do some performances there. They always really enjoy that. We usually get some other kids excited about wanting to play.”
The performances double as a recreational activity and an educational experience for the students.
“It's very rewarding to see the results,” Dana said. “Just seeing them develop and grow and hearing them perform is probably more rewarding than [performing] myself. It's really cool, especially to see some as they get older that continue with it, and know you helped nurture that talent.”
In addition to its other activities, the school has a small storefront that sells basic musical equipment.
“We also do the retail too, although we're more or less based without a full blown store. But we do have strings and the necessities and some guitars.”
Despite the impending NC-150 widening project, which will likely force the business to relocate, Dana intends to keep providing her services to the community.
“I just try not to let it take priority of my worries,” she said. “I hope to help spread the love of music in the community and for the future generations, just to pass it on and keep it going, and spread the love of music. Music makes people happy, and without music, it would not be a very pleasant world.”
Keys & Strings LKN is located on NC-150 next to Butcher Boy, across from the General Store and Mt. Pleasant Road. For more information on lessons or rentals, visit their website at www.keysandstringslkn.com.
Dana failed to mention that a couple of very successful people in the music world studied at her school, Keys and Strings.