Transformation of note

For years, the residents of Barbara Street had grown accustomed to hearing religious music emanating from the old church that crowded their tiny block.

Imagine their surprise when they instead heard an electric guitar wailing through a quiet, snowy night last month.

Those curious enough to venture into the church found a rock band holding court on what used to be an altar; the pews and congregants had been replaced by couches and spirited adults swaying to the music.

The family behind the new Fifth Stone Music School was offering just a few notes of what was to come.

By March 1, they hope to have finished hiring teachers and transforming the former church at 2829 S. 18th St., at the intersection of Barbara, into a haven for music students of all ages and stages of expertise.

The idea for the school was first kicked around three years ago, after Angelo Mattei of Mattei Realtors, 1616 S. Broad St., purchased the building and began taking suggestions from his son, Mariano, and daughter-in-law, JoAnn, on what to do with the property.

The couple initially considered setting up a daycare center, but scrapped that idea in favor of a music school that could accommodate both young and old.

Since Mariano is a member of local band Real — the group playing at the church last month — the Matteis know a thing or two about the area’s music scene.

"We recognized that there really weren’t a lot of places down here for people to get music lessons, so we thought it would be great to open up a school that could serve a wide-ranging audience," JoAnn Mattei said.

She added that the area’s long-established music institution, Settlement Music School on Queen Street, is too far away to qualify as direct competition.

Fifth Stone students initially would be able to take private lessons five days a week, from 2-10 p.m., for $25 per half-hour. Weekend hours will be added.

Mattei, who will serve as the school’s president, is anxious to fill the building’s 10 soundproofed classrooms with talented instructors who can teach piano, guitar, vocals and drums, and eventually branch out to violin and saxophone.

"We want instructors who already have experience teaching music to others," Mattei said, wryly alluding that her husband and his bandmates would not be eligible for the job.

"They’re musicians, but I don’t think that means they can teach a class," she added with a laugh.

However, Real plans to entertain the neighbors on occasion, as the band did last month.

"It was a church, you know, so the acoustics are just great," Mariano noted.

For more than four decades, a Reformed Episcopal church stood on Fifth Stone’s grounds, until the building changed hands five years ago and became the Berean Christian Academy, a church and school devoted to non-denominational worship.

Although Angelo Mattei owns the entire building, the music school’s classrooms will be confined to the basement, which the Matteis have spent months and about $75,000 renovating and refurbishing.

There was no need to desanctify the building, as all relics and statues were gone at the time of the purchase.

The top half of the building will be used primarily by Real for recording and practicing, although the Matteis haven’t ruled out renting the space or using it for Fifth Stone recitals.

And even though guitars and drums have replaced choirs and hymns, JoAnn Mattei said neighbors have been supportive of the church building’s latest incarnation.

"We’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback," she said. "People are happy to have a school in the area, and they’re pleased to know that the building is being taken care of and put to good use."

When the school finally opens, Mattei will have the added advantage of being able to work close to home and with members of her own family.

"It was important to me to get a job that could keep me busy every day, but I also wanted something that would keep me close to my kids," said Mattei, of the 1900 block of Shunk Street.

That advantage will become even more important by August, when JoAnn and Mariano are expecting their fourth child.

The newborn will have no impact on the school’s name — Fifth Stone was derived from the fact that the Mattei family consisted of five members.

Other relatives will participate in running the school. Mattei’s sister-in-law, Maria Mattei Carpenter, and mother-in-law, Rachel Mattei, will be the secretary and treasurer, respectively.

"We’re looking forward to the school becoming something special in the community," Rachel said, adding that Fifth Stone hopes to draw students from across the city.

For now, the work will continue, the excitement will build and JoAnn expectedly will receive more and more phone calls from inquisitive parents.

"It’s going to be a great place to be and a comfortable learning environment," she said. "We want to have couches upstairs by the kitchen area, so people can kick back, relax and enjoy some coffee."

The only thing the school will not provide is instruments — for now.

"Eventually, we’d like to be able to have guitar strings for the students and things like that," JoAnn said. "For the time being, though, people will have to bring their own equipment or rent [instruments]. We’re starting out small, but we hope to build this school into something really wonderful."

�

For information on lessons, call 215-551-1600 or visit www.fifthstonemusic.com.