As I sit here pondering how to begin this months newsletter, I’m finding that I am doing a lot of reflecting on this past year. At this time last year, I was heavily into preparing to relaunch the school here in Niagara. I was putting final touches on the advertising material and getting ready to order them, I had met with Sign Link in St. Catharines regarding the artwork for my car, I was planning my advertising strategy, and writing code everyday to finish the website and get us ranked on Google. I was also thinking that I was crazy for doing this after having some significant time away from teaching. And one year later, here we are. Most would reflect on the personal growth of their business, and that’s understandable, and yes, to a certain degree I have as well, but I’m actually focusing more on the growth of my students and the changes I’ve seen in each of them this past year. Each of the students began with little to no knowledge of music or how to play an instrument, and now all of them have learned how to read music with some already moving on to their second lesson book. I have students that were nervous about learning how to read music and now they can do it with such ease. Some of the students have also performed publicly in front of their peers at school or for friends and family at a wedding, or have taken an interest in other music activities outside of their weekly lessons. The list goes on and on. Everyone learns at their own pace, and some progress faster than others, but each of them have progressed in so many ways. It makes choosing a Student of The Month difficult for me each month because everyone progresses in some way. I’m greeted at the door with hugs, smiles, excitement to tell me about something that happened the past week or what was served for Pizza Day lunch, and of course lets not forget about the family pets. Oreo always makes a point of sniffing my work bag to see if I brought another treat for him, and Clark is usually waiting for me on the front porch when I pull up. The arts in general, at times, have had some difficulties finding a place in a region that thrives on tourism. In some degree it does exist here, even if it’s not as prevalent as other cities and regions, and at this time one year ago, I still wasn’t sure it was going to work here for me. Boy, was I wrong. I also need to acknowlege the support from my family and friends. After moving back to the region after almost 25 years, I was trying to find my place here career wise. In another case of ‘Mother knows best’, my Mom had initially suggested that I relaunch here, which I dismissed at first for fear of it not working as well as it did in South Simcoe when I lived there. I’m glad I listened. September will mark the start of the second year and one year ago, I never thought I would be saying that.
Here’s what we have for the newsletter this month:
- August Newsletter and Student of The Month
- Vacation Dates and Billing Reminder
- D.J. Whiff in Toronto
- Student Of The Month
August Newsletter and SOTM
Due to my vacation schedule, there will be no August Newsletter (I know, you will miss it dearly….right?) or a Student of The Month chosen. Both will resume in September.
Vacation Dates and Reminders
- 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, because of when I return from my trip.
D.J. WHIFF in Toronto
Earlier this month, one of our students, Bence, attended the ‘Toronto DJ Academy’ Children’s DJ Camp! The camp program taught the basics of being a DJ including how to use the equipment, matching beats and how to select the songs to use. The program concluded with a final performance by each of the students and pictured above is Bence, I mean, ‘DJ Whiff’ (still waiting on the story behind his stage name) spinning his tunes for his final performance!
Student Of The Month
Our Student of The Month for July, 2024 is, Bence!!
Bence, and his 3 siblings, has been learning piano with me and has been working out of the Faber & Faber Piano Adventures Primer lesson book. He’s also been working on a beginner version of one of his favourite songs, ‘Dance Monkey’ and lately, his choice of stickers to use when completing songs from his lesson book, have been the Minecraft stickers. Recently, Bence also attended the Toronto DJ Academy Children’s DJ Camp, learning the basics of how to be a DJ, the equipment to use and how to mix songs together! Bence’s stage name when he is spinning tunes on the dance floor is ‘DJ Whiff’. (Does he play the Macarena?…asking for a friend)
Bence received his framed Student Of The Month certificate, and is featured in the July newsletter as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and on the school website when the newsletter is posted there.
Congrats, Bence!!
Coda
And that’s a rap (See what I did there, DJ Whiff?) for our last newsletter until September. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and in spirit of DJ Whiff making his Canadian debut, I wrote this in hopes of being his ‘side man’ one day…..(clears throat, taps mic)
“My name is Alex and I’m here to say,
Don’t forget in August I’m on vacay…
In a plane high above the clouds,
I return in September to my students proud….
Word, Peace Out!!”
(insert some terrible form of beat boxing that sounds more like I’m choking on a bone….let’s never speak of this again.)
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 