Pick-Up Notes
The Newsletter from the St. Joseph Arts Academy

Dear SJAA Families,

We have so much to celebrate this month at the Academy!

Thanks to your support, our Spring Clean-Up and Parking Lot Sale was a huge success. The Academy is looking fresh with new paint inside and out, and it’s never looked better! We’re proud to provide a clean, welcoming space for our students, families, and faculty—your support truly helps us keep our creative home in top shape.

Another big milestone this month was the very first “St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day!” It was a fantastic event full of fun, friends, music, and community spirit. Families toured the Academy, met our awesome staff, and even joined in some music-making of their own. A big thank you to everyone who came out to share the SJAA with a friend or just to BE A FRIEND!

As we head into the summer months, we want to remind you that the SJAA is a year-round school. While vacations and summer fun are important, we also know this can be a perfect season for students to make real progress on their musical journey. Many students have more time to practice, try a new instrument, explore new styles, or dive deeper into their current studies. Summer can be a time of incredible growth—and we’re here to help make that happen.

We don’t slow down in the summer—in fact, we grow! Our students are preparing to perform at amazing community events like the Museum Art Fair and Hawkfest, and there’s even more music-making happening every week.

Plus, we know schedules can get hectic in the summer. That’s why we offer flexible options to help your family stay on track:
5th week bonus lessons
Alternate scheduling
Virtual lessons when you travel
Popular video lessons for busy weeks
Group make-ups, guest instructors & specialty clinics

Can’t make it one week? You can even send a friend or family member in your place—or donate your lesson time to a student in need through our partnerships with the YWCA and Noyes Home.

If your student loves their teacher or has a prime lesson time (like 4pm on Monday), it’s especially important to keep that spot. Lesson times are in high demand, and we want to make sure your child continues with the teacher and schedule that works best for them.

We’re here to work with you, to accommodate your plans, and to add value to your musical experience all year long. Summer is no reason to hit pause—it’s a time to thrive.

Let’s make it a summer of music, growth, and fun!

jason and SJAA

Jason Riley – Director

jason@jasonriley.com
(816) 294-4856 cell
St. Joseph Arts Academy
www.stjosephartsacademy.com
(816) 974-SOLO (7656)
jason@stjosephartsacademy

Join or Share us on Facebook/Instagram

#MusicAccomplished

Our May “Student of the Month” is…

John C.!

We are so lucky to have John and his family with us at the SJAA.

John loves hanging out with his grandkids, picking up the guitar to play along when the family sings, getting creative with woodworking, writing, singing, and just soaking up the good life.

We’ll celebrate John with an Amazon gift card for him!

Thank you, John 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 May Pet of the Month goes to

Buttercup!

Thank you to the Wiedmaier 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!

Our very own Terry Brock has been awarded the Great Griffin Award!! We are so proud to call him part of our team!!

Our very own Anthony Glise was celebrated at Belmont University in Nashville!

SJAA was awarded at International Music Academy Conference in Nashville last month! SJAA director, Jason Riley, students and faculty were recognized among top music schools in the US and Canada for highest enrollment, online reputation, overall excellence and as one of the largest private music schools in the midwest region!

St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to our ST. Joseph Kids Make Muci day!! We were so happy to meet so many new families!!

Thank you to those who came out to our Mother’s Day Craft event!!

Mrs. Olivia’s Spring Studio Recital

Miss Addy’s Spring Studio Recital

Host Your Next Event in Style!

Looking for the perfect space for your next celebration, or pop-up? Come check out our party room. With customizable layouts, top-notch amenities, and a dedicated team to support you, your event is in great hands.
✨ Book now — dates are filling fast!

📞 Contact us today to schedule a tour or reserve your date.

This week, we’re celebrating the heart and soul of our academy, our incredible music teachers!

From first notes to final performances, our instructors inspire, challenge, and support every student’s journey. Their passion for music and dedication to teaching make dreams possible and melodies unforgettable.

Google Review

Private 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/review

Referral Contest!
Share this referral as a GIFT FROM YOU and they’ll get FREE registration ($35.00) and their Fourth Lesson FREE ($29.00) when they register for lessons. ($64.00 Value!)

AND… you’ll both be registered for the quarterly referral contest for a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or a Private Party for 15 friends!

They WIN, you WIN and the SJAA WINS another great student JUST LIKE YOU!

Thank you for sharing the SJAA with your friends and family!

“Battle of the Books!”

30% OFF In-Stock Music Books in May!

Level Up this Month, We’ll celebrate you with a Book Completion Certificate & You Get 30% Off your next book level.

I absolutely adore going to the St. Joseph Arts Academy. I take lessons with Brent Isom, who, in my opinion, couldn’t be better at helping me learn the guitar. While I have my own limitations, Brent’s enthusiastic approach to teaching has deepened both my love for music and my abilities. Honestly, every lesson brightens my week. If you’re thinking about trying music lessons, do yourself a favor and go for it—you won’t regret it. Cheers! – Elsa W.

Monthly tuition for private lessons (30 minute weekly sessions) is $116.

Review Our Lesson Policy
https://stjosephartsacademy.com/lesson-policy/

OTHER NOTES

Upcoming Events

5/2-3 – State Music Contests

5/3 – “Mystery Floral Mother’s Day Craft Event!” SJAA Recital Room, 10-1130am

5/4 – SJAA “St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day!” 1-3pm SJAA TBA

5/10 – InspireU – SJAA Second Saturdays Music Makers, 1-4pm

5/10 – Olivia’s Spring Studio Recitals, SJAA Recital Room, 2pm & 3pm

5/17 – Case Graduation, PRIVATE SJAA Recital Room, TBA

5/24 – Holly L’s BDay Party PRIVATE 2 – 5

6/1 – June “30 Day Practice Challenge” Begins!

6/2 – Early Childhood Music Classes Begin!

“Music & Me” (Infants 12-23 months) 10am or 4pm

“Music Play” (Toddlers ages 2 and 3) 11am or 5pm

“Super Music” (Pre-K ages 4 and 5) 12pm or 6pm

6/7 – AKMA Art Fair, Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art, 11am

6/10 – SJAMTA Board meeting, SJAA 10am

6/12 – “Artist in Schools” w/Director, Jason Riley, Coleman Elementary 12pm

6/14 – “Hawkfest” Jazz & Blues Festival, Coleman Hawkins Park, 130pm

6/14 – InspireU – SJAA Second Saturdays Music Makers, 1-4pm

6/22 – Connell Graduation Party PRIVATE, 1-5pm

Is your Teacher Sold Out?

Addy Gabriel – 430 Monday

Alex Rowen – 530 Thursday

Andrew Holmes – 1230 Tuesday

Anthony Glise – 2 Monday

Brett Wootton – 6 Friday

Brent Isom – 330 Thursday

Chris Bates – 530 Thursday

Claire Gerhardt – 530 Monday

Jack Wing – 4 Wednesday

Jason Riley – Waiting List

Jolie Riley – Waiting List

Darren Verbick – 530 Tuesday

David Jarman – 530 Monday

David Parker – Virtual

Marina Gurnovich – 630 Tuesday

Olivia Guardado – Waiting List

Terry Brock – Waiting List

SJAA Classes/Courses – Private music lessons in Guitar, Piano, Violin, Cello, Voice, Ukulele, Drums, Mandolin, Banjo, Electric Bass, Trumpet, Strings, Early Childhood Classes, Group Guitar, Group Ukulele. Art Classes, Online Music Lessons & Adult Art Classes.

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.com

UNITED FIBER has come to the SJAA!
Free Wi-Fi – SJAA password “MusicAccomplished”

Academy Mission

Our 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.

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