Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Inside Out Studio In Farmington Moves To Larger Space
As Farmington grows, more people are looking for mediums to build and find communities locally. Inside Out Studio in Farmington has experienced rapid growth since opening more than five years ago, providing a home for those inclined to an artsier lifestyle. To accommodate the growth, it was time to move to a bigger floor plan.
Last fall, the studio moved a few doors down from its original space at the DTS Center on Southwinds Drive into a larger suite.
The studio’s new step in growth is not only shown by having more space, better gear and more teachers, but also branching out into the arts. This summer, the studio is offering art camps and classes for kids who are more inclined to the paint brush, not the guitar.
“We really want to help students in all means capture what they love to do and really build a community where all artists can come together,” said Jacob Paul, who along with his wife, Sarah, owns Inside Out Studio.
The studio joined Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce this spring and celebrated with a ribbon cutting and a grand opening event to invite the community to see its studio and all it offers to students in music and other fine arts activities.
Around 250 people attended the community event and many were eager to see what steps the studio was taking to support local artists.
“Seeing all these people in the community come through our doors, and see all our progress felt incredible,” said Paul, looking back on the event.
The studio opened almost six years ago with 12 students and now its enrollment has grown to 200 students who come from all over Northwest Arkansas. Lessons vary, from the mandolin, piano and guitar to artist development and song writing.
“The studio has morphed and developed over time to meet the needs of our students and community,” Paul reflected.
Paul, who has always had a passion for music, playing in bands with his friends as a kid, is looking to give students a chance to show- case what they can do, offering lessons coaching and even a recording studio. The name for the studio comes from his passion for music and his passion to help children and teenagers.
“For me, music is something you feel on the inside, and bringing it out to others is the challenge.”
Starting a studio wasn’t easy. Paul was working fulltime in mental health and taught music to children on the side. With the support of his wife, he quit his job, bought a small space, and brought all the gear he was using to his studio.
“I looked around, and I just had to fill this place up with gear.”
When the studio first opened, Sarah Paul was rearing their first child, and it was a risk financially to choose to follow their passion. However, they both knew this is something they had to do. With that, the studio opened in 2010 with Paul’s primary goal being to “impact kids with music the way it’s impacted me.”
It was a big investment, Paul said, because he realized he needed to have the best gear and equipment to compete with other studios in the area.
“At first I wasn’t confident in my ability, but after I’ve worked with it some, and started finding the right sounds, I feel confident now,” he said.
One of Paul’s students is Kaylynne Shaw, a 2015 graduate of Farmington High and a member of the school’s honor choir. Kaylynne has loved music ever since she was little.
“Music brought my parents together and has always been something that brought our family together.” Looking for a way to bring her music to more people she found herself in Inside Out Studios, working with Jacob and Sarah Paul on an album that captures her own sound.
Recording her own album gave her a taste of professionalism in the music industry. “Jacob was so easy and fun to work with. He listened to what we wanted the song to be, and provided the expertise in making the CD reach its full potential.”
As Kaylynne looks back, she sees how far she has come. Her parents encouraged her to explore her talents and create something that would last forever.
In the same way, Inside Out Studio wants to have an impact on young artists that will last forever.