CRENSHAW : Festival Sings Praises of Musical Institute

After eight months of reinventing itself as a vital fixture on the local music scene, the Institute of Musical Arts is throwing itself--and the community--a party.

The IMA Street Festival winds up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today in front of the institute on 54th Street between 10th and 11th avenues. The family-oriented event offers pony rides, clowns, face-painting, games and music performances throughout the day by about 20 rap, jazz, blues and African groups. Performers range from the First African Methodist Episcopal Church choir to Blay Ambolley and the African High Life Band.

Randy Woodard, who along with partner John Osborne began renovating the building in February, said their vision of a block-long, multifaceted musical center is finally taking shape. Woodard and Osborne have fashioned the 72-year-old music hall into a thriving spot for professional musicians looking to play, record, teach and otherwise keep up their chops.

The complex houses a full-fledged studio, performance stage and music history library, and there is enough space left over to film an occasional music video. The IMA is also home to the Preservation of Endangered Musical Art, Woodard’s nonprofit group that was inspired by the rich history of the venue, for decades a recording and performance hall for dozens of prominent musicians--Nancy Wilson, Patrice Rushen and Earth, Wind and Fire, to name a few.

Woodard, 37, speaks most proudly of what he claims is the real heart of the place: 48 low-cost courses that cover everything from drumming and dance to the basics of studio mixing and producing.

“We want to do things simultaneously: help musicians to eat and educate the young about all aspects of the music business,” said Woodard, himself a lifetime musician. “There are a lot of really good guys who have to go overseas to instruct. . . . We want to keep them here in town.”

At last week’s reception to kick off the festival, Woodard and Osborne were commended by city and state officials for their efforts not only in helping artists but also in creating a legacy of art for children.

Former state Assemblywoman Gwen Moore, who last year spearheaded an after-school arts program using Crenshaw-area sites, said Woodard was a valuable addition to her program and also the arts community.

“He’s doing great things,” she said. “Politicians have to involve artists more in improving the community, create new ways to fund and support them. There’s too little of that.”

Woodard said that’s fine with him, although those he is most bent on converting are musicians themselves.

“Musicians have a $50 mentality. You open up your doors and tell them there’s opportunity to make real money and they’re suspicious,” he said, laughing.

“The hardest thing in the world is to make them believe in what we’re doing. Once they settle into the idea they can make a sell-able product, they say, ‘Let’s get on with it.’ ”

Information: (213) 292-7044.