COVID-19 Update:

Dear Students & Parents:

At Mountain Valley Studios, our students are very important to us. This includes their health and safety.  I would like to take a moment to address how the threat of COVID-19 will be affecting operations at our studio.

**Updates/edits made on 03/19/2020 are in blue.
**Updates/edits made on 04/22/2020 are in red.

We have been watching this situation evolve very quickly.  We have decided that we need to take more drastic measures in order to further limit exposure to this virus.   Students will need as much “normal” in their lives as possible during the coming weeks, so we want to provide a safe way for them to continue their lessons during this time.    Please read the following paragraphs thoroughly, and be prepared to follow protocol.  Check back here frequently, as we will be watching the situation closely, and making updates as needed.


LESSONS
*Music Makers classes on Mondays are cancelled until further notice.
*ALL private lessons will be held through Skype through at least May 15th.  Skype can be used on a laptop, tablet or smart phone.  It is compatible with both Android and Apple devices.  All students need to go ahead and download this app now, and get your account set up.  Once you have done so, please send us your Skype contact info right away.  All piano and voice students should text their info to Rebecca Brown at 817-298-8510.  All guitar students should text theirs to John Jenkins.

Once you have your account set up, please make some test video calls to friends or family who use Skype.  Be sure to test the placement of your device while you are on the phone with them.  Your instructor is going to need to be able to see you AND your instrument.  

Your Skype lesson will be at your regular lesson time.  You will need to be set up and ready to begin at that time.  Do not call your instructor!  Your instructor will initiate the call when he/she is ready to begin your lesson.  (There may be a student immediately before you).  Go ahead and have any books and supplies you will need during your lesson set out.  This includes a metronome for piano students.  Be sure the room is quiet and free from distraction.  (Turn off the tv.)  And.....I must mention....make sure everyone who might possibly walk through the room is fully dressed.  :)

LESSON PAYMENTS
Piano & Voice Students -- As always, online payments are available through your monthly invoice. If you would prefer to pay with a check, please mail it to Mountain Valley Studios, PO Box 3024, Burleson, TX 76097-3024.  Do not try to hand deliver payments to the studio or to Rebecca Brown's house.  We will be unable to accept cash payments during this time. If you are mailing a payment, please make sure it is postmarked by the due date.  
Guitar & Ukulele Students -- John will make these arrangements with you.  

BOOKS
If piano students need new books, they will be mailed to you with no shipping charges.  The books will be billed to your account, as usual.

 
PIANO CONTEST
Several students are registered to participate in piano contest at Texas A&M Commerce on March 28th. There will be some updates on this page:   Please click here to read the latest update on that contest.
 
STUDIO RECITAL
Our studio recital has been postponed to May 31st.
 
Plan A:  We will hold a live recital, with an audience, at Alsbury Baptist Church on Sunday, May 31st at 2:00pm

Plan B:  If we are not allowed to have an audience by May 31st, we will do a "virtual recital" at Alsbury Baptist Church.  Students will be assigned a specific time to perform at the church, much like they do at piano contest.  Only one students and one parent will enter the auditorium at a time to perform their piece.  Our videographer will be working with us to broadcast this live on Facebook, as well as to create a video that you will be able to share.

Plan C:  If we are not even allowed to proceed with Plan B, we will do a virtual recital through Zoom.  There will be a few different "recital times" that students will choose from.  Students will login to the Zoom meeting at the beginning of their designated recital, and each will perform in turn from his/her home.  This format can also be broadcasted live to Facebook, so that your family and friends can tune in.  

RECITAL FEES:  Your recital fee was already paid with your tuition for April.  I understand that expenses are a concern for nearly every family right now.  Therefore, I am committed to keeping recital costs as low as possible this year.  You will be seeing adjustments on your upcoming invoices to reflect the following:

*For recital plan A & B-- I will not be printing a professional, glossy recital program this year.  I also will not prepare to have a cookie reception, or plan to have professional closeup photos taken during the performance.  By making these changes, I can reduce the recital fee to $25 per student.  (Please note that there will not be a reduction for additional students in the same family at this price.)  All accounts that were charged a recital fee last month will see a credit on their next invoice (the one due on April 26) to reflect this difference.

*Recital Plan C -- If we have to do a Zoom recital, recital fees will be reduced to just $5 per student, and accounts will be credited accordingly.  This small fee will cover the fees that Zoom will charge to allow for a longer "meeting time", as well as a little bit to cover the additional hours this will require of me for administration of this recital format.
 
NURSING HOME VISITS
We usually try to schedule a nursing home visit, or two, in the spring, as students have nice recital pieces prepared.  We will not attempt to do so this year.  I want to do my part to protect those sweet residents from any possible exposure. 
 
SUMMER PROGRAMS/MUSIC CAMP
We do continue with private lessons through the summer.  I will be posting information about our summer music camp and some other exciting things we will be doing this summer very soon.  At this point, I do not see any reason to change any of those plans.  I remain hopeful that all threat of the virus will be gone by then. Please watch the website, your email, and facebook for information about some special programs I will be offering to current piano students this summer.

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Quote To Remember:

Don't just practice until you get it right.

Practice until you never get it wrong.

Music Lessons:  Guide Your Child to Play a Musical Instrument (And Enjoy It!) by Stephanie Stein Crease

I highly recommend this book to any parent who either currently has a student in music lessons, or has any thought that their child might someday take music lessons.  Read it before your child is even born, if you can.  If not, read it as soon as possible.  It address encouraging awareness of music in toddlers and preschoolers, how to choose the right beginner instrument, how to deal with practice battles and "I want to quit!" proclamations, etc.  The Burleson Library has a copy. 

A great website to visit to learn about composers, etc. is www.classicsforkids.com

You can listen to recorded radio broadcasts about each composer by clicking "on the radio" in the menu bar, then click "past shows" in the drop-down menu.  There are usually four broadcasts for each composer/era.  Then, there is an activity sheet that goes with that composer.  If a student prints this activity sheet out and completes it, they will receive 2 music points.

 

Concerts/Piano Recitals in our area

Here are some upcoming concerts/piano recitals students might be interested in attending.  If you attend, bring a program to your next lesson to receive 2 music points.  Attending performances by advanced and/or professional pianists can be very inspiring/motivating to young students.  It also opens their mind to various different styles of music.


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Interesting links, websites, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC24Z2kshrU&feature=related  (Video of Emily Bear, an amazing 6-yr-old pianist)

www.musicmotion.com   (Website of music products, games, videos, books, etc.)