A few years ago, there were just 18 students.

Now, Barrington Music Studio boasts more than 100 students, a full slate of camps and programs, and recently  the local business expanded its space in the Kent Street shopping plaza. 

Will Malloy, the owner of Barrington Music Studio, said the decision to expand into an adjoining space was something he had considered for a while. Mr. Malloy said he plans to use the new space for music workshops and performances, and also to host birthday parties. 

The expanded space features a stage, room for seating, and a "creation station" with a modern sampler. 

"I've already built a curriculum for … workshops," he said. "I know some people who are in the industry and who are successful, so I want them to come down and do workshops."

Mr. Malloy, who studied music and business at the University of Rhode Island, began working as a music instructor at a studio in Carver, Mass., and learned quickly that enjoyed the experience. "I loved it immediately," he added. 

Mr. Malloy began working at Barrington Music Studio in 2011, and in 2015 he learned that the former owner was interested in selling the business. 

"The owner at the time let me know that he planned to put the business up on craigslist. I was like, 'Hold off on that,'" said Mr. Malloy. "I was actually looking at a spot in Greenville, RI. I was going to start a studio there. I was like this is serendipitous."

In the summer of 2015, Mr. Malloy took over Barrington Music Studio with 18 students. He worked on the curriculum, established summer camps that he runs in partnership with the town and now has more than 110 students.

Mr. Malloy said he follows a few basic tenets with his business. For starters, he knows it is important to offer a quality service. 

"Regardless of what room you're in or what teacher you have or what instrument you're working on, I have a standardized lesson guideline for all the instructors so that we go over a warmup in the beginning, work in the book for another portion and whatever's left, we work on a popular song choice," he said.

Mr. Malloy also organizes performances for the students and special events — recently he brought a group of students to the Dunkin Donuts Center where they performed the National Anthem at a P-Bruins game. 

Mr. Malloy is also working with Bradley School, tailoring a curriculum for students who have behavioral and developmental issues. 

Mr. Malloy said the process of working with music students and watching their skills improve and confidence grow is very rewarding. It is what makes him truly appreciate going to work each day.

"When you get to see them progress and you get to see that look in their eye, and they're like 'This is mine.' A musical talent is something that can't be taken away," said Mr. Malloy. "In a world where so much is going on, and a lot of people don't have that — having music and having that gift is really a blessing."