As we enter the final month of the year, all of us at the St. Joseph Arts Academy want to wish you a joyful, peaceful, and music-filled holiday season. December is always such a special time in our studios—full of favorite holiday songs and celebrations of everything our students have achieved this year. We’re closing out a strong 2025, and we are incredibly grateful to each of you for being part of our Academy family.
One of the best parts of the season is hearing the halls filled with holiday music. Our annual “Mall-a-Thon” Holiday Music Recital is coming up on Saturday, December 13, at East Hills Mall. This community tradition is a festive way for our students to share their music and spread some holiday cheer. I always try to learn at least one new Christmas tune myself each year—there’s just something magical about adding a fresh piece to your repertoire during the holidays!
As we move through December, please make sure to check in with your teacher or our office regarding holiday lesson schedules. Many teachers continue teaching on their regular days, and the SJAA does not follow the public or private school winter break calendars. We work hard to keep the momentum going through the end of the year, but we will be officially closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Of course, this is also the time of year for giving—and we truly believe that music is the greatest gift you can give. To make it easy, we’ve prepared a number of great holiday options for loved ones looking to encourage or share the joy of music:
Stuff the Stocking – Our signature $99 holiday promotion includes one month of lessons, a free lesson book, a customized practice notebook, candy, and instrument-specific goodies, all tucked inside a real stocking. Perfect for new students or for adding another musician to the family.
SJAA Holiday Gift Guide – Find practical, meaningful, teacher-approved gift ideas at stjosephartsacademy.com/gift-guide. Books, accessories, music tools, and more—things students actually need.
Retail Gift Certificates – Great for books, accessories, strings, reeds, tuners, and more.
“Guitar Mania” Gift Certificates – A fun six-week intro guitar course starting in January, an exciting experience for teens and adults alike.
Early Childhood Music Gift Certificates – Give the youngest learners (infants–age 5) the gift of musical exploration through Baby Bebop, Tune Tykes, and Melody Makers.
As we wrap up 2025, I want to recognize and celebrate the commitment our students and families show all year long. You have truly given your loved ones the gift of music, week after week, lesson after lesson—and that consistency is what transforms beginners into confident, joyful musicians.
We are here for anything you need as we close out the year and look ahead to new adventures in 2026.
Thank you for making the St. Joseph Arts Academy such a special place to learn, grow, and share music. We are grateful for each one of you, and we wish your family a safe, warm, and very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
We are so lucky to have her and her family with us at the SJAA.
Eva enjoys playing the violin and piano, participating in theater, and spending time with her friends. She loves her dog, Ruby, and is a big fan of sushi. Her faith is important to her, and she loves God.
We’ll celebrate Eva with a gift card for her!
Thank you, Eva 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 November Pets of the Month goes to
Brüster!
Thank you to the Isaac 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!
STUFF THE STOCKING WITH MUSIC LESSONS!
Give the gift of music this holiday season!
$99 Music Lesson Stocking Includes:
1 Month of Lessons ($116 value)
FREE Registration ($35 value)
Lesson Book
Candy, holiday treats & SJAA swag
Instrument-specific surprises!
Total Value: $187 — Yours for just $99!
Only 10 stockings available — limited instruments!
Our 30 Day November Practice Challenge Winner is… Ben S.!!!
With 5,000 minutes of practicing, Ben has worked so hard in the month of November! We are so proud of his dedication and time he put into playing guitar. Practicing a little every day is an important part of growing on your musical journey!
We’ll celebrate Ben with a gift card for him!
Thank you, Ben for working so hard.
Congratulations!!!
Director, Jason Riley and the St. Joseph Arts Academy were featured in an article by VoyageKC last month! Truly, a little positive press never hurts.
T. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Robidoux Row is a historic apartment building built by St. Joseph’s founder, Joseph Robidoux. The building contains many historical St. Joseph artifacts, including the newly restored violin that was owned by Robidoux roughly 150 years ago.
Found by Megan Wyeth in the apartment, the artifact was restored in Kansas City so it could be played with once again.
“I would say it’s one of the most historic pieces that we would have in Saint Joseph,” said Wyeth.
Jack Wing, a Missouri Western student earning his Bachelor of Musical Arts degree, was the first person since Robidoux himself to play this St. Joseph artifact.
The event was in for a surprise performance from Wing and the director of the Saint Joseph Arts Academy, Jason Riley.
“This is of historical importance for us all. Joseph Robidoux, you know we wouldn’t be right here without him,” said Riley.
The duo would play three songs for the event and would finish the night with a classic that originated from St. Joseph Native Katherine Kennicott Davis, known as “The Little Drummer Boy”.
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.
“This world can be harsh, it brings me so much joy to watch him be mentored & taught by one of the kindest humans & best guitarist around! He definitely came out of the lesson with such a joyful uplifted spirit & it’s no doubt that your presence brought him that. So many thank yous to you!”
-Kara
Monthly tuition for private lessons (30 minute weekly sessions) is $116.
12/13 – InspireU – SJAA Second Saturdays Music Makers, 1-4pm
12/13 – SJAMTA “Mall-a-Thon”, 11-3pm, East Hills Mall,
12/13 – Miss Addy’s Holiday Recital, 2:30pm, SJAA recital room
12/24 – Merry Christmas – SJAA is Closed
2026
1/1 – Happy New Year! – SJAA is Closed
1/30 – SJAMTA “Monster Concert” rehearsal TBA
2/6 – SJAMTA “Monster Concert” rehearsal TBA
2/7 – SJAMTA “Monster Concert”, 3pm, 1st Presbyterian Church
3/21 – Spring “Photo Day @ SJAA!” Sign-up Now!
3/22 – SJAMTA Recital 2pm, Wyatt Park Christian Church
4/15 Baltezor Scholarship
4/19 – SJAMTA Recital 2pm, 1st Presbyterian Church
4/19 – SJAMTA “Honors Recital”, 3pm 1st Presbyterian Church
6/6 – SJAMTA Scholarship
Is your Teacher Sold Out?
Addy Gabriel – Monday 6:30pm
Alex Rowen – Monday 6:30-7pm
Andrew Holmes – Tuesday 5:30pm
Anthony Glise – Sold Out
Brett Wootton – Waiting List
Brent Isom – 5pm Thursday
Claire Gerhardt – Sold Out
Garrett Branson – 3pm Thursday
Jack Wing – 5pm Wednesday
Jason Riley – Sold Out
Jolie Riley – Sold Out
Darren Verbick – Thursday 4pm
David Parker – Virtual Only
Marina Gurnovich – Sold Out
Olivia Guardado – Waiting List
Tarquin Kellough – 11:30-1pm Saturday
Terry Brock – Sold Out
SJAA 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.
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.
STUFF THE STOCKING WITH MUSIC LESSONS! 
1 Month of Lessons ($116 value)
Total Value: $187 — Yours for just $99!
Only 10 stockings available — limited instruments!
Free pickup or shipping starting early December
Order by Dec. 15 to guarantee Christmas delivery
816-974-7656 | Text 816-623-2002
Ben S.!!!
