Nick Dozer is a Buckeye transplant with an affinity for music who is forging a connection to Mercedes and the Rio Grande Valley.

The southern Ohio native opened his South Texas Academy of Music in Mercedes early this year. In moving to the Mid-Valley, Dozer has settled in his wife Dina’s hometown, of which Nick has taken an immediate liking to in establishing his music school. Dozer’s academy is “getting a ton of students’’ from neighboring Weslaco, he said, to go with his enthusiastic learners in Mercedes.

For now, his school is located at Rio Life Community Church in Mercedes. Dozer’s longer-range plan is to have his own space and to open a music school in downtown Mercedes. Some business owners have advised he move his school to McAllen, with the potential of attracting more business. Dozer sees it differently.

“My wife and I are dreamers,’’ he said. “I grew up in a small town, and now that I’m here, I see Mercedes as being a good location in the middle of the Valley. The timing is good for us to be here. Mercedes has a lot of hope to grow and improve.’’

Jumping Into Music

Dozer is in his early 30s and grew up a fan of classic rockers like AC/DC and Metallica.

He was also a member of his high school band in Chillicothe, Ohio. A drummer at school and a guitar player at home and wherever he could get together with his fellow young musicians in the rock bands of his youth. Dozer jumped into the life of touring with rock bands right out of high school, saying he “never looked back.’’

He would eventually find himself in Nashville, a city renowned for being a country music and entertainment hub of the South. It’s the city where he met Dina, who is also a musician, mostly as a singer and songwriter.

“Everyone is a great musician in Nashville,’’ Dozer said.

In Nashville, he began to learn from studio musicians and the techniques and tools used in what is widely described as the country music capital of the world. Dozer learned the Nashville Number System, which is a way of writing the chords of songs in a universal or neutral key instead of chord names. One of its best attributes is that the number system can used by anyone, including those just learning how to play an instrument and who have only a rudimentary background in music theory.

Dozer has implemented the Nashville Number System into his methods of teaching students. It allows for students to learn how to play an instrument faster without needing a knowledge of reading musical notes. Knowing how to read music on paper is a strength, Dozer said, but having it as a perquisite to learn how to play an instrument can be overwhelming and discouraging to an aspiring musician.

His students vary widely in age, from teens to students as old as 80. The vast majority of Dozer’s students are teenagers and those even younger in their pre-teen years. He relishes the opportunities he gets to reach youngsters through music.

“They are on the cusp of figuring out who they are,’’ Dozer said of his young students. “It’s very fulfilling to help them develop an outlet for their gifts. We also help them to learn how to socialize with others and work together in teams to develop social skills.’’

Making Mercedes Home

Dozer’s offers his classes in guitar and other instruments from 3 p.m.-to-7 p.m. at Rio Life Community Church at 1112 Rio Rico Road.

More information is available at http://stxacademyofmusic.com and by calling (956) 593-3326. Dozer also has an active South Texas Academy of Music page on Facebook with photos of the teacher working with his students. It should be noted, however, that Dozer sees himself as being more of a coach than a teacher and he looks forward to growing his business in Mercedes.

“Why not Mercedes?’’ he asked in pointing out the potential he sees in the city. “There’s no reason why it can’t be a thriving business community.’’

• Ric Cavazos