In keeping with our theme of music in families, check out this fantastic photo of one of our Cello instructors, George, with his daughter and three of his grandchildren. George’s family just moved back to the area, which is wonderful because it allows them more time and opportunities to practice together. It was truly a gift to be able to sit and listen to the three generations play, and as we know, when parents are engaged in their children’s musical abilities, students have the support and knowledge they need to not only learn and complete new pieces, but also develop a lifelong love of learning music. Welcome to Vernon, Ardeth and family!
This is a picture of my family sitting down to enjoy music together. This is an ideal of mine. A regular set time in the day that we enjoy making music together. I am still working towards this. Right now I am enjoying my children’s interest in music. My daughter Eva is growing in her musicianship as a young singer. My wife and I both have taken some piano lessons so we are able to play vocal melodies on the piano to help Eva practice her songs. Eva is not very disciplined when it comes to practicing, but if she has a performance coming up she is very motivated. She also likes to play ukulele and is learning the basics. She has taken to writing songs at times when she is stressed. I enjoy doing some chords to accompany her. Usually if I have the ukulele out my son David wants to learn as well. He has a lot of abilities already that will make learning music enjoyable for him. The Jamin family band is still a work in progress. Life is very full trying to give our children a well rounded education, without leaving them exhausted. Work pressures sometimes make for late days and challenging relationships between us. Whether you already have your child in lessons and have some set times to enjoy music together, or you’re trying to have your child practice enough to meet the challenges of taking lessons. Your participation in your child’s musical development goes a long way. – A.J.
Here we go! Another new start to the school year! We are so happy to reopen the Music School for private, one on one lessons. Students are happy to be back to experience music again, and we’re happy to have people coming in for lessons. One month into lessons, the Fall newsletter is ready for reading. Boil the kettle, sit back, and enjoy reading all that is new at the school.
*Update – Since this newsletter was published, we received another Natures Fare donation of $336.44, bringing our total up to $2,213.82! All monies raised through the 3% Club goes towards our programs and instruments for children, so bring your Natures Fare receipts in!
For a link to a .pdf version of the newsletter, please click here.
Wahoo! The Vernon Community Music School has been nominated in the Non-Profit Excellence category in the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards Presented by Valley First! What an honour! We are so excited for this news; we are going to continue to work really hard to excel in our community because we know that by supporting each other we are better than before. Thank you so much for your support, we couldn’t do it without you!
Let’s get started! We are reopening for private one-on-one lessons in September, and we couldn’t be more excited! We are working hard on our COVID Safety Plan for WorkSafe BC, and we are confident this year (although looking a bit different) will be AMAZING. Once complete, the Safety Plan will be posted on our website and in our school, and of course will likely change because of new information as we move forward from month to month.
Registration for September is ongoing, and there is still space for several instrument lessons. If you are more comfortable taking lessons using an online platform than attending lessons in person, that option is also available. If you have always been thinking of delving into your musical self, now is a great time to get started!
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
COVID has been a stressful time for many businesses and non-profit organizations, and the Music School is no different. We have had to make tough decisions over the last couple of months, including to close our doors to prevent the spread of the virus. For most students, lessons were transferred to a virtual format, and while certainly not ideal, it was a great alternative in a chaotic situation.
We are working on forming a plan to reopen our musical doors for lessons this Fall for private lessons, which, as I’m sure you know, involves several moving pieces. Social distancing in small classrooms, sanitizing processes for every person and instrument, maximum capacity requirements…the list goes on. Using the Worksafe BC COVID-19 Safety Plan, we are confident we will be able to meet the provincial and health requirements.
Through all of this uncertainty, we received some very welcome news. We are very excited to announce some COVID relief that has been so graciously given to us through a grant by the Vancouver Foundation. The Vancouver Foundation exists to bring together community assets to address current and emerging community needs. They set up an Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), offering grants of up to $50,000. The ECSF is a rapid response fund program initiated by the Government of Canada through an investment of $350 million to charities and non-profit organizations across Canada. Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC), and the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) are working together with the federal government to deploy funding at the local level.
With this grant, we are able to continuing doing what we do best: continue to build community within our school, while supporting and encouraging future community leaders through the art of music.
You may have taken a drive by the Music School sometime in the past 7 weeks, and noticed our beloved Smith House getting some work done. The beautiful pillars on the front of the house were in need of some attention, as the bottoms were rotting. As you can imagine, this is a lot of work and takes community support to be successful. We are deeply grateful to the Kalamalka Rotary Club, for their generous grant donation to help us on our quest.
We would also like to thank and acknowledge The City of Vernon for awarding us a grant through the Heritage Restoration Grant Program. This grant also help us on our quest to restore the historic Smith House.
Below are some photos of the restoration thus far:
We would also like to acknowledge Willerton Engineering for all of their time and dedication put into this project. The Music School is so grateful for their expertise, we would not have known where to start without them.
As well, we would like to acknowledge Greyback Construction for all the work they’ve done to restore our Smith House. Not only do the pillars look incredible, but they will withstand another century of wear. Greyback’s knowledge of the structure of heritage homes is extensive, and their professionalism and craftsmanship exceeded our expectations.
We are so excited for you to see the finished product this summer! When the Smith House Restoration Project is finished, the Smith House should be standing for another century.
Wahoo! Happy Wednesday! Just a reminder that registration is OPEN for students wanting to take private music lessons this Fall! If you are already a student at the Music School, make sure you connect with your teacher to let him/her know you’ll be back for one on one lessons in September. Then click on our link for the registration form www.vernoncommunitymusicschool.com/registration/ and fill it out for the 2020/2021 school year.
Once filled in, you can either scan it and send it back to the office, mail it in to 1705 32nd Ave, Vernon BC, V1T 2J3, or drop it in our mailbox out front of the school if you are going for a drive.
We are looking forward to the new school year, and will let you know when the school is allowed to reopen, and what that will look like. Stay up to date on here for all the latest information!
All packed up and ready to go! It seems like now is a really great time to show someone else how much you care about them. What’s a better way than sending them our @vernoncommunitymusicschool Kindness Cards! Each package contains 5 cards with envelopes for $10, and you’ll be helping support the Music School during COVID-19 at the same time! It’s a win-win situation 😊 Call the office to make arrangements to pick yours up before they’re gone! #vernonbc #kindnessmatters #showsomelove
Spring is one of our favourite seasons at the Music School! A big thank you to Gordon who lovingly takes care of all our flowerbeds. He does such a great job, and always makes sure we look our very best!
