South Bay School of Music Arts celebrates 40th anniversary in Milpitas

The South Bay School of Music Arts, located on S. Abel Street in Milpitas, first opened its doors on December 9, 1984. 

Over a span of 40 years, the school has offered private music lessons and performance opportunities to thousands of students living in Milpitas and surrounding communities.

The school was opened by business partners Joe Santoro and Deborah Goldstein. Although Goldstein passed away in 2021, Santoro has been dedicated to keeping the business going. 

“Both of us used to work at a music store called Milpitas Music on the other side of town, next to the Togos on Park Victoria,” said Santoro to The Beat in an interview. “That store was going out of business, and all those students and teachers had nowhere to go. So Deborah and I decided to start this place.” 

It was at the age of 6 when Santoro’s lifelong passion for music began. He started out by playing the accordion. The technique and understanding of music that he gained from the accordion gave him a foundation to learn other instruments, including the clarinet. When he was 12, he talked to his parents about letting him play the drums. 

The drums, he felt, were his true calling.   

“There’s always this stigma of volume with drums and whatever. I remember bringing it up, and one of my brothers was there, and he said, ‘Well, maybe he’d be good at it,’” said Santoro. 

The next day, Santoro’s parents surprised him with a new drum. 

Then a couple months later, he got a new drum set.

“The guy I bought the drum set from became my first drum teacher, and he passed recently,” said Santoro. “He was one of the assistant conductors of the Milpitas Community Band.” 

Santoro has taught drums to students since he was 17 years old. Not only does he continue to do private lessons at his music school, but he also teaches three days a week at two middle schools in the Cupertino Union School District. He also used to teach at Milpitas High School on and off for about 30 years.  

At the South Bay School of Music Arts, there are teachers who will teach kids as young as 4½ years old. In general, the school trains children all the way up to adults in the areas of voice, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, and baritone horn. They also teach music composition and music theory. Throughout each year, there are also opportunities for students to perform in recitals. 

In fact, last month, they held a recital to celebrate the South Bay School of Music Arts’ 40th anniversary. There were siblings performing duets together, and even a father-son duo. Having students come out to make music and perform for the celebration brought a spark of life back to the music school.  

Before COVID, the school had 400 students enrolled at one point. But ever since the pandemic, business hasn’t been what it used to be.  

“It wasn’t until a few months ago that I was able to rebuild the staff,” said Santoro. “So it took me almost five years to finally rebuild.” 

Santoro is hopeful that after four decades of business, students will continue to find a path toward learning and loving music at the South Bay School of Music Arts. 

“Music is something that was important to me when I grew up,” said Santoro. “I want kids to be exposed to the arts. And I want people in Milpitas to know that we’re still here.” 

Learn more about the South Bay School of Music Arts on their website.