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

Summer Music and So Much More!

Hey SJAA Family,

There’s just so much going on here lately — it’s an exciting time to be part of the Academy!

We’ve had a great start to summer with happy, smiling students filling the building, our new Early Childhood Music Classes kicking off, a super fun St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day (thanks to everyone who came out!), and a beautiful performance over at AKMA. We’ve got even more coming up, including SJAA at Hawkfest Blues and Jazz Festival on June 14, our monthly 2nd Saturdays at InspireU, and our 2025 Graduates getting recognized. We’re even booking the event space for birthday and grad parties, so let us know if you need a spot! Big thanks to everyone who helped out with our new SJAA commercial too — it looks amazing, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

In the middle of all this excitement, we know summer can get busy and routines can shift — but we also know how powerful just a little regular practice can be. Even short daily sessions add up fast and help students keep their momentum going strong.

Parents, your encouragement matters more than you know. Just a gentle reminder, a quiet space to practice, or asking to hear a new song makes a big impact. And right now is a perfect time to join the fun by hopping into our SJAA June 30-Day Practice Challenge — track those minutes, build the habit, and maybe even win some prizes!

Thanks again for being part of the magic here at SJAA. We’re grateful for all you do, and we’re proud of our students for keeping the music going — all year long.

See you soon,
Jason & SJAA
Director, St. Joseph Arts Academy

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 June “Student of the Month” is…

Breanna Z.!

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

In Breanna’s free time, she loves to read, play the violin, do crafts, and watch her favorite shows!

We’ll celebrate Breanna with an Amazon gift card for her!

Thank you, Breanna 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 June Pet of the Month goes to

Walter!

Thank you to the Card 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!

Congrats to Miss Christina, Grand Prize Winner in our SJAA April 30 day practice challenge with way over 30 hours of practice. She works so hard for us in voice and piano with Mrs. Marina and Mr. V. Way to go, Christina!!

SJAA @ AKMA

We had a great time with Ethan, Hudson, Faith, Kaitlyn and families at the
Arts Fair!

We’ve had a great start to our summer sessions!!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has

come out!

Register for Fall now!

Host Your Next Event in Style!

Looking for the perfect space for your next birthday, graduation or family celebration? Come check out our recital 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.

SJAA Partners with InspireU for “Second Saturdays” Music Experience!

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between the St. Joseph Arts Academy and InspireU, St. Joseph’s brand-new children’s discovery center! As part of this exciting collaboration, SJAA students and faculty will become MusicMakers during SJAA Second Saturdays from 1:00–4:00 PM at InspireU.

This unique, interactive experience will allow our musicians to rehearse, workshop, and demonstrate the creative process of making music in a fun and informal way. While InspireU patrons (ages infant to 10 years) roam, play, and explore, they’ll have the chance to observe music in action—seeing firsthand how musicians practice, prepare, and bring songs to life.

Research shows that young people who witness art and music being created are more likely to be inspired to try it themselves. Through this partnership, SJAA is furthering its mission to ignite a love for music in the next generation. We believe this is an incredible opportunity for everyone involved, and we can’t wait to share the joy of music with the InspireU community!

Lucy H.

Alex P.

Georgia R.

Ben D.

Canaan B.

Nic Z.

Daira C.

Owen C.

Avery M.

Thanks to our SJAA faculty, students and friends at Eagle Radio for helping us put together this great spot about the academy! Keep an eye out for us. Big THANK YOU to all who share the SJAA as valued members, team and with your families and friends!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3YfC_M5_Rk

Congrats Molly!!

Your VOTE made all the difference!

A huge congratulations to Molly on WINNING the LIFE 88.5 contest to open for Christian artists Caleb & John & Colton Dixon!!!

We are so proud of your accomplishment, Molly!!

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!

June Retail Special of the Month

Black SJAA Crest T-Shirts.

$15!

Limited sizes.

My daughter has gone since it opened and amazing place to learn music. She looks forward to each lesson and performance that they have. Everyone we have recommended loves it too. No better place to go. Highly recommend!!!! Deanna R

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

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

OTHER NOTES

Upcoming Events

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

6/15 – Happy Father’s Day!!

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

7/4 – “Happy 4th of July!” SJAA is closed.

7/12 – InspireU – SJAA Second Saturdays Music Makers, 1-4pm

8/9 – InspireU – SJAA Second Saturdays Music Makers, 1-4pm

Is your Teacher Sold Out?

Addy Gabriel – Friday 430

Alex Rowen – Saturday 1130

Andrew Holmes – Tuesday 11

Anthony Glise – Monday 630

Brett Wootton – Sold Out

Brent Isom – Wednesday 5

Claire Gerhardt – Sold Out

Garrett Branson – Thursday 730

Jack Wing – Wednesday 430

Jason Riley – Sold Out

Jolie Riley – Sold Out

Darren Verbick – Tuesday 430

David Jarman – Sold Out

David Parker – Virtual Only

Marina Gurnovich – Friday 7

Olivia Guardado – Tuesday 2

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.

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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