They've been in business for nine years, but now Sound Factory has moved three small locations into one big downtown location.

Sound Factory has been around since 1999, but the owners have now opened up a new downtown Little Rock location where they offer fine arts classes to students who don't usually have the opportunity to have music lessons.

(Rodney Cummings, Sound Factory) “It grew from 20 students to over 200 students in nine years.”

Rodney Cummings grew up in a musical family, and wanted to share his passion for the arts with others. That's why he and his mother opened up a public fine arts studio.

Over the years, it's grown to offer music, vocal, and now dance lessons to students of all ages.

(Talisa Austin, Artistic Director of Dance) “It's just a blessing to be able to come back here and teach girls some of the things that I've learned--and not only to teach them dance, but also life lessons, and just help them to just have confidence and believe in themselves. And I want them to know that they can do anything they want to if they set their minds to it, whether it be dance, being a doctor or whatever it is.”

And, because they want to offer instruction to all who want it, they also offer 50 scholarships a year.

For the owners, it's all about passing on their love of the arts.

(Cummings) “Over the past nine years we've had students that go on to college. They graduate in the music background. We've had students that come back here and show us where they are now with their musical careers--and we have several students that go on and record CD's. It's just a great joy for us to see.”

For more information on Sound Factory, call (501) 375-3600.