I don’t think I need to say just how much excitement was in the air this past week for all of my students. I remember getting so excited for the last days of school before summer break. My teachers were more laid back, there was always an end of the year field trip, party and movie watching on the final day, and cleaning out your desk and bringing home all your art work from the year to show your family. Then two months of no homework, no tests, and no teachers! When I entered college, and then university, the end of the school year was always towards the end of April, so it meant additional time off for the summer, but the trade off was summer employment to save for the next year of studies. I’m still teaching through the summer months since it is my job, but for me it’s still nice because some students will move lesson times to earlier in the day for the summer months, make up lessons for student vacations are easier to schedule since kids are home during the day, and, well, it’s just summer! Hot weather, longer days, and lots of BBQ’s!!
Here’s what we have for the newsletter this month:
- Alex on Vacation
- Student Life – Talent Show
- Student of The Month
Alex On Vacation
I’m taking a vacation!! LOL. This past year has been very exciting for me with relaunching the school in the Niagara Region. I really couldn’t have asked for better students and a better starting year. It’s been a lot of work getting to where we are currently, with lots more ahead, and I haven’t taken a vacation in roughly 5 years…lol. I’ve already started giving parents and students a heads up regarding my vacation, so here are all the details regarding that, including how billing will be handled:
- Vacation Dates: August 14-September 4
- Last Day of Lessons before my vacation: Monday, August 12
- Lessons Resume: Sunday, September 8
- How Will Billing Work?: With the number of students we now currently have, it’s impossible to make up that many lessons for the dates I will be away, so I’m not billing for those. The August invoices will only include lessons for August 1 to August 12. In other words, everyone will only have 2 lessons with me for August. As stated above, lessons will resume on September 8 and the September invoices will be sent out on September 5 or 6 after I return home. There will be a short turn around for when September invoices are sent out and when payments are due, only because of when I return from my trip, which is another reason why I’m giving lots of notice ahead of time.
On a personal note (no pun intended, I swear!)…….When I relaunched last year in the Niagara Region, I was very nervous. After prior success in South Simcoe, I wasn’t sure if moving my business here was going to work and how feasible it would be. It’s exceeded my expectations. Being able to take vacation for myself is because of the support that the parents and students have given this past year. I really can’t thank you enough. I was initially scared to take time off, typical business owner worries, but as everyone has been telling me, having time off is important and I deserve it. I love my job, love the relationships I’ve created with the students and the relationships I’ve created with the parents. Thank you again.
Student Life – Talent Show
On June 24th, one of our piano students, Noah, had the chance to perform at his school’s Talent Show! Noah chose to play ‘The Juggler’ from his lesson book and was also able to play on the school’s piano!! Performing can be a nervous experience for anyone, especially in front of your friends and peers at school, but Noah did awesome!!! Big thanks to Noah’s Mom, Lisa, for sending over the picture and also a video so I was able to see the performance!!
Student Of The Month
Our Student of The Month for June, 2024 is, Jude!!
Jude, and his brother Luke, have been studying piano with me and Jude is currently working through the Faber & Faber Piano Adventures Primer lesson book and is close to moving into the Level 1 book. Jude has been very eager to continue learning and reviewing his lines and spaces on the music staff and has done a fantastic job applying it to the piano!! Jude’s choice of stickers for song completions were Batman stickers at the beginning, but his sticker choice has now moved to the Minecraft stickers and he makes sure to tell me about each character from the video game! (I really need to start playing Minecraft)
Jude received his framed Student Of The Month certificate, and is featured in the month’s newsletter as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and on the school website when the newsletter is posted there.
Congrats, Jude!!
Coda
That’s another wrap for the monthly newsletter. Don’t forget to mark my vacation dates on your calendar (pretty sure I’ll be reminding everyone..lol) and with this being a holiday weekend, please have a very safe and enjoyble holiday weekend. Happy Canada Day!!!!!
Socials & Where To Find Us!
- Web: https://www.doansom.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADOANSOM
- Twitter (now ‘X’): https://twitter.com/alexander_doan
- Google Reviews if you would like to leave a review: https://g.page/r/CbNrxK_Veae6EB0/review
Alexander Doan School of Music 