Rosie’s House: The Music Academy that Goes Beyond Sound

By Doyal D'Angelo Bolin

From its origins in a modest two-bedroom house where founder Rosie Schurz enrolled 15 students in 1996, Rosie's House has expanded into a sophisticated 15,000-square-foot facility serving nearly 700 K-12 students annually. 

Schurz's vision was shaped by her childhood experience during World War II when she was forced to flee from Munich to the German countryside, eventually arriving in the United States a few years later. After losing her violin during this process, Schurz understood the relief she felt when she was able to again practice and eventually established Rosie’s House as a safe haven for disadvantaged to access music education. 

Today, financial accessibility remains paramount for Rosie’s House. The program serves students from households meeting federal low-income guidelines, with participating families averaging $40,000 in annual income. Every aspect of music education—from expert instruction to instruments and materials—comes at no cost to families. The selection process prioritizes equity through a lottery system rather than auditions, ensuring opportunities remain accessible to all interested students regardless of prior musical experience.

Through funding from the Burton Family Foundation, which recently established the Burton Digital Creativity Center (BDCC) and enabled the hiring of additional program staff, the organization's capacity to serve Phoenix's youth has expanded. This investment addresses critical gaps in digital literacy and creative technology access, which are cornerstones of modern music education and career preparation. 

Within the BDCC, students engage with professional-grade music production software and recording equipment that meets industry standards. 

Beyond basic composition, students learn audio engineering principles, sound design, and music production fundamentals. This technological integration prepares students for modern creative careers while maintaining connections to classic musical training.

Dan Stoddard, program manager at Rosie’s House, is there to also assist students in the center for homework help three times a week. There was good engagement in the 2024 fall semester. 

"We've documented 218 hours of focused learning time, with 76 regular participants utilizing our resources,” Stoddard said. “Students maximize their time here, arriving early for lessons or staying after class to complete academic work." 

The space is equipped with 16 computers loaded with professional-grade software, giving students access to both educational resources and industry-standard music production tools. This technology serves multiple purposes: students use it for Google Classroom assignments, college applications, and when coursework is complete, educational activities that combine music and mathematics.

The College Path program, operated from the BDCC, provides crucial support for the many aspiring first-generation college students at Rosie's House. Staff conduct detailed reviews of academic profiles, assist with FAFSA applications, and provide scholarship guidance.

At Rosie’s House, you’ll find siblings working on assignments during family members' lessons and students maximizing learning time before and after their own classes. The BDCC has evolved to meet community needs, providing resources that many families lack at home while creating an environment where academic and artistic growth reinforce each other.

Jack Schwimmer, development director at Rosie’s House, says that over the past five years, 100% of Rosie's House graduates have pursued their chosen post-secondary paths—whether through college, military service, religious service, or apprenticeships.

This is achieved with an organizational focus on support beyond music studies. 

Staff members conduct detailed reviews of each student's academic profile, developing tailored strategies for post-secondary success. This hands-on approach has contributed to the success of Rosie’s House in college attainment. 

“We're very clear-eyed about our mission, and our purpose is not necessarily to be cranking out Juilliard students,” Schwimmer said. “Our purpose is to eliminate barriers to education and we believe, at our core, in the power of music education to help kids fulfill their potential." 

Comprehensive support services also address barriers to student success. A partnership with St. Mary's Food Bank distributes 7,500 meals annually, ensuring students can focus on learning rather than hunger. 

As the organization works hard to provide a suitable learning environment, this helps to keep students energized and ready to learn. 

Digital music lab instructor, Emilio Vargas, makes sure the experience is personalized through his teaching. 

"Each student's path is their own. When I sit down with them individually, several times during the semester, we really try to unwind what it is they want to accomplish in their own music. A lot of the times, we're able to get something that they feel really proud about."

With growing popularity, the digital music program has doubled from two classes to four classes in just a couple of years. No experience is required for students to join the class, and the sequence of class levels takes students in grades 5-12 from basic music production all the way through advanced music production with composition and recording. At the end of each semester, students showcase their works for their peers and family at a listening party recital.

"Students begin with foundational digital tools," Vargas said. "They progress from manipulating pre-made loops to programming complex rhythms and developing original compositions. This technical mastery parallels their personal growth."

Expansion of Rosie’s House 

Rosie’s House is looking to expand and reflect a sense of care for community needs, as the organization plans on expanding their facility to accommodate the families they serve. Future plans include acoustically engineered practice rooms, additional multimedia production spaces, and flexible learning environments designed to accommodate 100 new students annually. 

A huge reflection point has been family engagement, which has transformed over time from simple drop-off arrangements to active community participation. The facility serves as a sort of hub where parents build social connections while students practice and study, allowing Rosie’s House to be that safe place Schurz originally envisioned. 

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For more information about Rosie’s House and its impact, visit https://rosieshouse.org/