St. Joseph Arts Academy
The Write Notes – July 2017
Newsletter from the SJAA
Welcome to the “Write Notes”, the monthly newsletter from the St. Joseph Arts Academy!
Family, Friends & MUSIC – One of the great joys of my life is playing music. I consider it a great blessing in the ways that I am allowed to make fun music with fun people. My fellow musicians and band mates are seldom just co-workers. These folks are my friends. We have played 100’s (in some cases 1000’s) of shows together all over the country. We travel, share meals, share laughs and memories AND we share music together.
This month, I’ve been so lucky to play with so many of these great friends and wonderful musicians.
Earlier this month, I was even reunited for a couple of nights of music making with my very best friends from my earliest days of playing. Eddie, Chris, Mike and I had a band before we even had instruments! We learned and practiced together from the very beginning. We grew together, encouraged and befuddled one another. We made memories playing music (lots of it bad but we had to start from the beginning).
I like to joke that we used to get kicked out of rehearsal spaces A LOT. We were noisy, loud, brash, messy and sometimes, ornery. Our families kicked us out and accepted us back. Several places invited us in and then moved us along. I’m so grateful to all the people who gave us space (for a little or a long while) to get this music thing together and work it out.
To meet these guys years later and still be able to play music together is what it is all about. Some of us became professional musicians, some write songs, some just play for fun. These days, we all have families and do all kinds of work. We are cops, preachers, teachers, care-takers, gardeners AND players.
In our lives, music has truly been the tie that binds. No matter how long we are apart or whatever might happen, we always pick up where we left off. Great friends who can pick up there instruments and make more music together.
Back to School Music Lesson! – It’s that time again? Really? Already? Yes! We are getting our “Back to School” schedule all lined up! Lessons are first come, first serve. It’s never to early to sign up. Our lessons are month to month and year round
-High Quality, FUN & Personalized Lessons
-Master Guitar Teacher – Jason Riley
-Month to Month Lessons
-Conveniently Located
-Beginners to Advanced, Open to all Ages
-Free, All-Inclusive Recitals
-Widest Range of Lesson Times
-Classical/Blues/Jazz/Rock/Country/Pop
-Awards to Celebrate Achievement
It’s Easy to Take the Next Step…
Jason@StJosephArtsAcademy.Com
SIGN UP NOW!
News –
New Teachers – The SJAA is expanding and our student growth this summer has been one for the record books. We are currently interviewing new teachers for several instruments and will have more slots available for learning. If you know a GREAT PERSON who is also a wonderful musician willing to share their craft, we’d love to talk to them about teaching for us!
Buffalo County Fair – What do Elvis, Toby Keith and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias have in common? Soca Jukebox! We will all be performing this week at the Buffalo County Fair in Kearney, NE.
Reelin’ in the Years – Another note on the power of dedication, enthusiasm, patience and loyalty… we are celebrating multiple long-term musical relationships in 2017. (It hurts a little to say it but) This month I’ve been lucky enough to share the stage with these amazing acts…
Maria the Mexican – 5 years
Soca Jukebox – 15 years
Under the Influence – 25 years
My High-School buddies – 30 YEARS
We’ve also been busy with lots of other friends and musicians, performing, booking AND teaching with them.
Upcoming recitals – The summer concert and festival season is upon us with your instructors doing a lot of family-friendly performances around the area. So watch for those and make plans to get out and hear some music this summer.
The SJAA is very excited about the invitation to present our students at two our regions largest and most popular summer festivals.
Aug. 19 – Trails West, Civic Center Park in St. Joseph, 10:15AM
Sept. 9 – Coleman Hawkins Blues Festival, Coleman Hawkins Park, 2pm
Regular monthly recitals resume in the fall with holiday performances at the mall and the monster concert early next year. Dates are below!
Trails West is the 3rd weekend in August annually in the civic center park behind city hall and features national and regional musical acts on 3 stages as well as many fine artists and craftsmen. It’s St. Joseph largest and longest running arts and music festival. August 19, 10:15AM.
The Coleman Hawkins Blues Festival is the sister festival of the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival. Jazz in June and Blues in September all at Coleman Hawkins Park (and gazebo) in downtown St. Joseph. We’ll be performing for the very first time as the “St. Joseph ‘Blues’ Academy Saturday, September 9 at 2pm. It will be a great day for family, friends and fun music in honor of one of St. Joseph’s most famous, musical native son.
Center for Entrepreneurship –
We’ve been invited to present our business to the local small business network in St. Joseph. “Cup of Joe” is a weekly meeting of the best entrepreneurial minds in our community. There are two presenter every week that discuss their businesses and follow up with a Q&A session to the benefit of the entire group. SJAA will present our business in the fall!
New Music –
Along with Shawn Minter’s Debut Solo Album “Life Again” (available on iTunes or CD’s at the studio), we are working on two more album projects for release in 2017. Soca Jukebox will release their second live album later this summer entitled “This is Soca Jukebox”. I’ll also be releasing my 5th solo album project later this year!
Upcoming dates
7/7 – Sounds of Summer w/Soca Jukebox, Coleman Hawkins Park, 630pm
7/14 – Sounds of Summer w/Under the Influence, Coleman Hawkins Park, 630pm
7/15 – Amelia Earhart Festival w/Under the Influence, Atchison KS, 7pm
7/16 – Imagine Eleven w/Maria the Mexican, Coleman Hawkins Park, 6pm
7/31-8/2 – Summer Break, No Lessons or Classes.
8/5 – “Jeep n’ Jammin’ 4 Brett” w/Soca Jukebox, Coleman Hawkins Park, TBA
8/13 – Imagine Eleven w/Soca Jukebox & Shawn Minter, Coleman Hawkins Park, 6pm
8/19 – Trails West w/St. Joseph Arts Academy, 10:15am
8/19 – Centerline Volleyball w/Soca Jukebox, Blue Springs MO, 7pm
8/20 – Solo @ Jowler Creek Winery, Platte City MO, 1pm
8/20 – Trails West w/Under the Influence, 630pm
8/21 – Great American Eclipse, 1pm
9/2 – Wathena Fall Festival w/Under the Influence, Wathena KS, 8pm
9/9 – C. Hawkins Blues Fest w/St. Joseph Arts Academy, Coleman Hawkins Park, 2pm
9/16 – State Theater w/Soca Jukebox, Mound City MO, 7pm
9/17 – Student recital, MWSU, 2pm
9/30 – Street Dance w/Under The Influence, Savannah MO, 8pm
10/7 – Hands-On St. Joe, Downtown, 10:30-noon, 1-2:30
10/19-22, 2017 – FARM 2017 Conference in Iowa City, Iowa
10/29 – Halloween themed student recital, MWSU, 2pm
11/12 – Student Recital, MWSU, 2pm
12-2 – Mall-a-thon, East Hills Mall, TBA
2018
1/20 – Monster Concert (Rehearsals Jan. 12th and the 19th)
2/11 – Student Recital, MWSU, 2pm – Guitar Clinic, 3pm
3/3 – Pre-Contest Clinic
3/11 – Student Recital, MWSU, 2pm
3/19 – Due date for evaluatives
4/14 – Evaluatives
4/15 – Student Recital, MWSU, 2pm/3:30 Honors Recital at First Presbyterian
Welcome Our New Students
Josephine B.
Nicolas D.
Bill B.
Hank J.
Is your Teacher Sold Out?
Guitar Openings – Jason R.
Monday – 3pm & 630
Tuesday – SOLD OUT
Wednesday SOLD OUT
Thursday – 3pm & 7pm
Friday – SOLD OUT
Brent I.
New Teacher Openings on Tuesdays!
Tuesdays OPEN 3-8pm
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Refer us to your family, friends and company.
One of the ways that this Academy is able to grow is by enrolling great students JUST LIKE YOU! Please consider referring your friends or family members to the studio.
We greatly appreciate your referral.
Student of the Month –
Jack H. – We want to congratulate Jack on his recent High School Graduation. As a guitar student with our studio, Jack has participated in recital besides directing and performing with his high school pep band. Besides being a fine musician, he’s also a record breaking athlete, excellent scholar and most importantly, a wonderful person.
We want to wish Jack the very best in his next chapter as a student of engineering at the University of Missouri, Rolla.
As “Student of the Month”, Jack will receive an iTunes gift card from the SJAA!
Congratulations on all your hard work, Jack. We are super proud to have you as a guitar student at SJAA.
Big thanks to Jack and her family for recommending their friends to the St. Joseph Arts Academy.
Daytime Lessons Available –
Having trouble finding time for music lessons in the evening. We have lots of busy professionals, retirees and home school students who prefer to take lessons during the regular business day. “Lunch Hour” lesson times are available with openings almost everyday between 11am and 2pm.
Hour Lessons –
Many of our busy, adult professionals and most dedicated younger students opt for a one hour session. More time and one-on-one coaching with your teacher is a wonderful opportunity to help you reach your musical goals more quickly. If you have the time or interest in an hour session, talk to your teacher and we will work with you to help you get it scheduled.
Guitar in your Home! –
We’ve recently started our “in-home” music program for guitar. Many people prefer or need to take a lesson in their homes due to child care, business or even health restraints. We are here to serve the entire community of music learners. If you are interested in or need music lessons in your own home, drop us note. We’ll make arrangements to come to you!
http://www.jasonriley.com
https://stjosephartsacademy.com
http://www.socajukebox.com