Opus School of the Arts expands

A Camas business known for its music lessons is quickly becoming a “one-stop shop” for youth art classes in east Clark County. Music instructor Rob Melton, 55, of Vancouver, opened his first Opus School of Music — now the Opus School of the Arts — in Ridgefield in 2006. Nine years later, he launched a second location in Camas, transforming a nondescript building near the Camas Safeway into a colorful spot for budding musicians as young as 2 years old. The Camas school’s popularity has exploded since then, growing from 60 students in 2015 to 460 students today. But as thrilling as it was to watch the school cultivate a loyal following, Melton knew Camas families were longing for a more convenient way to supplement their children’s arts education. Opus School families, he said, were often running all over town after school, dropping their kids off at the Opus School for music lessons, then driving across town or into another city for dance, theater or fine arts classes. In 2022, Melton began searching for a Camas building large enough to offer those other kinds of arts lessons, too. “The need was here,” he said. When a building next to the Camas Opus School came on the market in 2023, Melton jumped at the opportunity to expand. He has since converted that building, a former chiropractic center, into a light-filled annex for theater, dance and music lessons. Melton hopes to also offer adult fitness classes, such as yoga, in the new building beginning later this year. In the original building, the school continues to offer the private and group music classes that are at the heart of the Opus School experience, as well as new classes offering students a foundation in fine arts through clay, watercolor, drawing, collage and oil pastel media. And while more traditional arts programs may focus on perfecting a particular piece of music or nailing a specific dance move, the goal at both Opus School locations has always been to nurture a love of music and the arts. “Our vision is to grow artistic spirits,” Melton said. “We want them to have fun.” When they began their Opus School journey, Melton and his wife, Janet Melton, wanted to fashion a program different from the music classes that punctuated their own childhoods. “We wanted to create a vibrant place of music, learning and fun — a place we wish was around when we were taking lessons,” the Meltons say on their Opus School website. Rob Melton said he started taking guitar lessons at the age of 6 in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho, but that something about the individual lessons left him wanting. “I would show up in basements, back of businesses, in closets, halls of churches,” he said, “but never with other students or a consistent teacher or curriculum, something I was longing for.” After graduating from Fort Vancouver High School in 1988 and attending Mt. Hood Community College and Clark College, Rob Melton tried his hand at songwriting in Los Angeles before returning to the Pacific Northwest. He earned his bachelor’s degree in piano performance and master’s degree in teaching from Portland State University. He and Janet met in Portland while participating in an African drumming group and married in 2002. The couple have tried to instill a love of music in their own children, 17-year-old Jack and 15-year-old Simon, and even formed a family band, The Meltones, in which Janet plays the accordion, Rob plays the upright bass, guitar and mandolin and their sons play the guitar, harp, piano and banjo (Jack) and ukulele and piano (Simon). In his professional and family life, Rob Melton said his philosophy for teaching music is rooted in the sheer joy of creating. “Our philosophy is to keep music fun by having fun teachers, effective curriculum and giving students an opportunity to play music together,” he said. Many Opus School classes, particularly for the school’s youngest students, often incorporate games. “Life is a game,” he said, “and students love discovering. They love learning about themselves.” Opus School Summer Camps For families interested in learning more about the Opus School of the Arts in Camas, 726 N.E. Second Ave., the school's summertime camps for children between the ages of 4 and 12 years offer a great chance for children to experience the school's range of music, dance, theater and art classes. The summer camps, which run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, include: Crash, Boom, Stomp (July 7-11): Inspired by groundbreaking shows like “STOMP” and the Blue Man Group, this camp “brings music, movement and art into a theatrical show where each participant’s character is brought to life using nontraditional instruments in the final performance.” Opus on Broadway (July 14-18 and July 21-25): Students will hone singing, dancing and acting skills in this Broadway-themed camp and will also learn how to play in a pit band, paint sets and design costumes. Comic Creations (July 28-Aug. 1): Students will create a “comic story that saves downtown Camas” in this comics-oriented camp while also composing and creating music in the style of Marvel, Avengers and other comic movies; learning martial arts-inspired choreography; and creating a comic or graphic novel. This camp wraps up on the same day as the Downtown Camas Association’s popular Camas Comic Con event on Friday, Aug. 1. Hip Hop and You Don’t Stop (Aug. 4-8): A camp combining hip-hop beats, breakdancing and “stylized graffiti art” inspired by hip-hop culture in an age-appropriate format. Opus Eras Tour (Aug. 11-15): Inspired by pop musician Taylor Swift’s recent “Eras” tour, this camp teaches a medley of Taylor Swift songs, Swift-inspired choreography and art — including friendship bracelets and collages — and will culminate in a student concert. To learn more about the Opus School of the Arts, visit opusschoolofthearts.com. Kelly Moyer: 360-735-4674; kelly.moyer@columbian.com

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