It was not always in the same place, but from 1904 until the 1970s, there was a conservatory where people could go to learn and practice.

It was founded by world-renowned pianist Dr. LeRoy Campbell of Clarendon.

Joe Glarner returned to Warren after more than 20 years of teaching in music shops and children’s music schools.

Whether he was teaching in Long Island or Los Angeles, Glarner knew he would eventually return to Warren.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Jax Bass works on a piano lesson with instructor Paul Schwanke at the Warren Music Conservatory.

He didn’t always know he would restart a tradition of the conservatory.

“About 20 years ago, I met Dan Dan the Banjo Man in Lakewood,” he said.

Dan was in his early 90s.

“He came up to me and said, ‘You’re a jazz guitar player from Warren? I’m a jazz guitar player from Warren,'” Glarner said. And he used to be a part of the Warren Music Conservatory.

That got Glarner to thinking. “Maybe one day, when I find myself back in Warren, I’ll start that.”

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Instructor Mark Robinault guides Warren County Youth Network students — including director Cameron Erwin and subject Alix Peterson — through the audio, video, lighting, and other details of an interview.

Seven years ago, he did. “It was premeditated for many years that I’d be restarting this and rebirthing this.”

“Warren had a hole in its musical heart for a long time,” he said. “When we first opened seven years ago, a lot of people were skeptical.”

The Conservatory, now located at 220 Pennsylvania Ave. W., in Warren, has been bringing private lessons, orchestral groups, and generally musical opportunity to youth in the community.

“We were able to grow it one happy, healthy kid at a time,” Glarner said.

The opportunities are not limited to those with with highest aspirations.

“It’s a changing music environment. We meet kids where they’re at,” Glarner said. “Developmentally disabled or headed to college on music scholarships.”

“We do a lot of private lessons — guitar, ukulele, piano, woodwinds, brass… no concert harp,” he said. “We also have the Warren County Youth Orchestra.” That group meets at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Kids who want to take lessons but can’t afford them are encouraged to reach out. Instructors who have kids in their school bands that can’t afford instruments are encouraged to reach out, too.

“We are community partners with the Summer Music School,” Glarner said. “Their approach to music is high-level. Three weeks of intense music education. We can help maintain that joy and that love of music year-round.”

“We know that if we’re going to have kids have music be part of their life long-term, they need to love it first,” he said.

The Saturday, July 30, Music in the Park will feature conservatory musicians from noon to 9 p.m. at Betts Park. “Each teacher here gets about an hour,” Glarner said. “Daniel Nordin has been 100 percent blind since birth. He is better than Stevie Wonder. He’s going to perform from 6 to 7.”

“We’re going to end the day with the Warren County Youth Orchestra,” he said.

Lessons might be its bread and butter, but there is more going on at the conservatory.

It has taken on the role of musical supply and repair shop for the community.

Most recently, the conservatory has partnered with the Warren County YMCA on a Warren County Youth Network.

Students are able to work with high-level audio and video equipment with high-level instruction.

“These kids want to be YouTubers,” Glarner said.

That’s fine, but there’s so much more in the audio-visual world. “We teach them how to do production,” he said.

Students interview each other, rotating roles as director, sound, lighting, video, interviewer, and subject. Sometimes, they have been able to interview community professionals — like Conewango Township Police Officer Scott Neiswonger.

They edit the footage and post it.

The conservatory is open from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. “We ask that people come in and take a tour,” Glarner said.

“Every parent that comes in takes a tour with me,” he said. “I talk with the kid to see what teacher they should work with. By taking a little bit of time, I can match them better.”

It’s not a big space, but it is full of music.