SOUTH SHORE INSIDER: Weymouth's Ron Bosse writes his own score for music education

Staff Reporter

Wicked Local

WEYMOUTH – To Ron Bosse, music is everything – including the way he makes his living.

“I’ve always aspired to become a musician, but I started to develop this urge to learn about business and economics in high school. I didn’t feel conflicted, though, because I knew that music had to be the core of what I would do the rest of my life.”

The Bosse School of Music, which includes Bosse Studios and the School of Multimedia Technology, is among the largest non-degree-granting schools for the study of contemporary music in Massachusetts, he said.

The Weymouth-based school offers private instrumental and voice instruction, ensemble and summer programs, and classes in music theory and composition. Its student body consists of 400 children, teenagers and adults.

Most recently, Bosse expanded services with the School of Multimedia Technology.

You started out as a musician, then became a music producer and engineer. Why the shift to the business side?

I wanted to create an infrastructure and atmosphere that gave music students the ability to play in a group setting, learn about music technology and video production, and provide access to courses in ear training and composition so they could become musicians, and not just guitarists or saxophonists. That was the inspiration for the school.

You’re a graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music. Did going to school in this area make you want to open a business here?

I don’t think it was because I went to school in Boston; instead, it was growing up on the South Shore, knowing this geography, performing in this area and having students here. This was a good place to start my business.

The school was formed in 2004. How did you start it?

The funding for Bosse School of Music came from saving money and investing in key stocks over time. But the majority of money I saved was from my production of concerts at venues along the South Shore.

How competitive is this market? And how do you differentiate your business from others?

There are numerous organizations and individuals that teach music lessons on the national and local level. However, there aren’t many regulated professional players in the market.

We differentiate our business from others because we put our staff through rigid guidelines. Each teacher must minimally have a bachelor’s degree in music, preferably a master’s degree in music, and a minimum of three to five years teaching and performing.

What is the biggest challenge in your business model?

As a business starts to grow, trying to communicate what it does to your prospective clients and community is a challenge.

We’re aware that we need to market toward the right demographic and communicate our offerings clearly.

What is your long-term business goal?

In the future, we’re looking to solidify and sustain our position as a leader in education and technology, and we’re doing that through our three schools.

We cater to a very distinct yet broad demographic that we feel the community needs. The community needs a practical way people can learn about technology and music, and clients can learn about graphic design and video production.

Genevieve Olson may be reached at golson@ledger.com.