Pick-Up Notes – April Newsletter from the St. Joseph Arts Academy
| Pick-Up Notes The Newsletter from the St. Joseph Arts AcademyView this email in your browser  |
| LETTER FROM THE DIRECTORApril at the St. Joseph Arts Academy Dear SJAA Families,Spring is here, and with it comes a renewed sense of energy and momentum. It’s a great time to encourage our students to keep moving forward and growing.We recently had the privilege of treating a group of students and families to FREE Tickets at KC’s Kauffman Center to see Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. What an incredible experience! At 71, Pat is still performing—and practicing—at an amazingly high level. A true reminder that music is a lifelong journey.That brings me to this month’s theme: momentum.At SJAA, we are a year-round school for a reason. Summer isn’t a time to press pause—it’s actually one of the best opportunities for musical growth. Students often have more flexibility, more practice time, and even the chance to try something new or add an additional instrument.We also know summer should be fun. Vacations, camps, and family time matter, and we work hard to provide flexible options so you can enjoy it all while staying consistent. Options include advance make-ups, group classes, virtual or video lessons, and built-in make-up weeks during 5-week months.A recent American Music Teacher (MTNA) article highlighted how even small gaps in consistency can slow progress—and how increased engagement, even temporarily, can make a big difference. In other words, momentum matters.That’s why summer can be such a powerful time to “double down.” Some students take extra lessons, explore a second instrument, or simply stay more consistent—and the results are often remarkable.Plus, summer at SJAA is a lot of fun. We have great performance opportunities ahead, including AKMA Art Fair, Hawkfest Jazz & Blues Festival, Second Saturdays at InspireU, and the Silver & Gold Banquet.One important note: stepping away for the entire summer can interrupt progress and may make it difficult to return to your same teacher, day, and time in the fall. Just like athletes train in the off-season, musicians benefit from staying engaged.As we head into summer, my encouragement is simple:Keep going. Stay consistent. And if you can, lean in a little more. Wishing you a great season of music, growth, and fun!Thank you!!Jason & SJAA Join or Share us on Facebook/Instagram  “My granddaughter and I enjoyed spending this time together, learning songs and ways to incorporate music into our lives. Mrs. Jo has patience and is always prepared for the youngsters! Great experience.” – Shelly S.  #MusicAccomplishedOur April “Student of the Month” is…Jacob M.! We are so lucky to have Jacob and his family with us at the SJAA. Jacob enjoys spending time hunting and racing his 1000-horsepower mud jeep. He has also been going to metal concerts since he was four years old and has probably been to around a hundred shows. His first concert was Black Label Society, and his first favorite band was HammerFall from Sweden, a band he has met several times. He enjoys guitar lessons with his teacher, Mr. Brent! We’ll celebrate Jacob with a gift card for him! Thank you, Jacob for referring your friends and family to the Academy. Congratulations!!! To be considered for Student of the Month, be sure to talk to your teacher about all your musical and extracurricular activities, share pictures and refer your fellow musicians to the academy.  Our April Pet of the Month goes toRango!Thank you to the Nels family for sharing a photo of your sweet fur baby. Each month, SJAA will select a pet to feature and a donation will be made to Friends of the St. Joseph Animal Shelter in honor of all of our local pets in need. Share a favorite pic of your favorite pet and maybe they’ll be named the SJAA “Pet of the Month”! Bring on those adorable snapshots!   Grab a practice sheet from your teacher and write down your practice time. Turn in your practice log for this 30 day month and earn a Prize! Congrats to All Solo/Ensemble District Contest Players!!! Congratulations to our amazing and talented SJAA string and voice students who practiced hard to perform for the Solo/Ensemble District Music Contest! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication       Need a rental space for your graduating senior?  Celebrate this big moment at SJAA! We offer space reservations for graduation parties and other special events  Scan the QR code for more info or send us a message!      Google ReviewPrivate lessons spots are limited with our amazing coaching faculty at the SJAA but we still have room to grow. Thank you for referring your friends and family to the academy!We’ve now reached over 50 5-star Google reviews. So, thank you to everybody that put in their reviews. We so much appreciate it, but we want to get to 75 reviews. If you haven’t yet, please consider going to Goggle, giving us a review. We’d love your feedback and thank you so much again for helping us get over 50 5-star Google reviews.REVIEWS https://g.page/r/CZvsJULwejcCEAg/reviewMonthly tuition for private lessons (30 minute weekly sessions) is $116.Review Our Lesson Policy https://stjosephartsacademy.com/lesson-policy/ OTHER NOTES2026 4/1 – “30 Day Practice Challenge” Begins!4/11 – InspireU SJAA Second Saturdays, 1-4pm4/15 Baltezor Scholarship4/19 – SJAMTA Recital 2pm, 1st Presbyterian Church4/19 – SJAMTA “Honors Recital”, 3pm 1st Presbyterian Church4/19 – “St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day!” 1-3pm4/26 – Claire’s Spring Recital, 2pm and 3pm 5/2 – Addy’s Spring Recital, 2-3pm5/9 – InspireU SJAA Second Saturdays, 1-4pm 6/1 – “30 Day Practice Challenge” Begins!6/6 – SJAMTA Scholarship6/6 – AKMA Art Fair, 1130am 6/12 – “Hawkfest” Blues & Jazz Fest, Coleman Hawkins, 5pm6/13 – InspireU SJAA Second Saturdays, 1-4pmIs your Teacher Sold Out?Addy Gabriel – Wednesday 6pmAlex Rowen – Thursday 6pmAndrew Holmes – Tuesday 5:30pmAnthony Glise – Waiting ListBrett Wootton – Waiting ListBrent Isom – Tuesday 5pmClaire Gerhardt – Monday 6pmGarrett Branson – Thursday 7:30pmJack Wing – Wednesday 6:30pmJason Riley – Wednesday 3pmJolie Riley – Waiting ListDarren Verbick – Waiting ListDavid Parker – Virtual OnlyMarina Gurnovich – Friday 6:30pmTarquin Kellough – Saturday 9amTerry Brock – Waiting ListJohn Keck – Friday 5:30pmMichael Fuson – Saturday 11amSJAA Classes/Courses – Private music lessons in Guitar, Piano, Violin, Cello, Voice and Singing, Ukulele, Drums and Percussion, Steel Pan, Mandolin, Banjo, Acoustic/Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Trumpet, Strings, Early Childhood Classes, Group Guitar, Group Ukulele. Art Classes, Online Music Lessons & Adult Art Classes. All musical styles for all ages. We also offer… Discounts on music books & accessories, instrument rentals and rental space for birthday parties and special events.TeacherZone is our on-line platform for our students and our teachers. https://app.teacherzone.comUNITED FIBER has come to the SJAA! Free Wi-Fi – SJAA password “MusicAccomplished”Academy MissionOur mission at the St. Joseph Arts Academy is to provide the highest quality musical instruction and performance opportunities to beginning and advancing students in the Midland empire. We use our patience, enthusiasm and loyalty to encourage, inform and inspire others to happily share their skill and talent in love and gratitude to make the world a better place.OUR MOTTO… Music Accomplished! |
| Thank you for reading -“Pick-Up Notes” – Monthly Newsletter from the St. Joseph Arts Academy!It’s always a great month and they go by so fast!Thank you for encouraging the advancing musicians in your life and in our community. We are making the world a better place through music.It’s fun! Thank you for that.Jason Riley Director jason@stjosephartsacademy.com Call: 816-974-7656 Text: 816-623-2002 Here to help! Call or text if you need anything at all. {| o }===::: |
| Copyright © 2026 St. Joseph Arts Academy, All rights reserved. |