Why a studio? And how are we getting there?

As I’ve navigated my way through my career, I’ve gotten a lot of questions and commentary from colleagues and other people who usually mean well.  “Anna, when are you going to open your own studio?” “Wow, you sure do a lot of driving!” “Wow, your schedule is packed!” “What’s up with the ducks anyway?”

I’ve been teaching private lessons for over a decade, and have been teaching what has now become the Miss Anna’s Music School kids for 7 years.  That’s seven years of driving, schedule inflexibility, relying on whatever kind of keyboard or piano is in the student’s home, working most nights until 9 or even 10 pm, and oh man, did I mention the driving?  I thought I would outline the myriad of reasons why a studio will be beneficial not just to myself and the Millenium Sapphire (yes, that’s my car’s name), but more importantly, to all of you as well.

Yes, driving is a big factor.

I log roughly 150 miles a week traveling to students.  Combine that with my personal driving, and I am filling up my gas tank every 5 – 6 days.  I’m also spending roughly 7 hours in my car a week commuting between houses.  That’s a lot of podcast listening!  It is my hope that I can open up a studio that is in Woodbridge, Fords or Perth Amboy, since that is where I (and many of you) already live.

Inflexibility

I am actually a pretty go-with-the-flow kind of person… when I can be.  But when my schedule is dependent on being at different locations around the area at specific times, it is sometimes just not possible to move a lesson due to a scheduling conflict or illness.  By opening a studio, I will be able to have a little bit more flexibility in my schedule.  I will have more times available for lessons so you will have a better chance of finding that perfect time slot – one which can progress through the school year, unaffected by holidays, sports, other extracurricular activities, doctors appointments and other things that come up from time to time.  If a student receives steady, regular instruction, with no interruptions for a baseball game or after-school activity, they will stay focused with practicing, make better progress and actually enjoy playing their instrument.  And isn’t that the whole point?

Instruments

Buying a piano is either an expensive investment in a skill that your child will cherish and carry with them for the rest of their lives, or it is an expensive investment in a large piece of furniture that is going to start collecting dust in six months.  It’s hard to tell how long a student is going to stay with piano lessons so you are hesitant about shelling out all that money.  Or you can’t find a good cheap one on Craigslist.  Or maybe you simply can’t have one in your home due to noise or space constraints.

I get it.

But that doesn’t mean that your little piano player can’t have the experience of playing on a fine acoustic piano once a week at their lesson.  One of the first items on my list is a baby grand piano for our new studio. It’s something I’ve personally always wanted and something that every student should have the chance to play on. Baby grand pianos, even used, can cost a minimum of $5,000 to $10,000 but if you were to hear one, you’d know it is worth every last penny.  Having lessons on an acoustic piano is not a substitute for having one at home, but if a piano at home is impossible at the moment, being able to take lessons on one is the next best thing.

Set and Setting

Kids know that when they go to school it’s time to learn.  When you go to the park it’s time to play.  When you go to the studio, it’s time for your lesson.  But what about when the teacher comes to your living room?  The mindset of the student and the setting they are learning in is often times just as important (if not moreso) than what the student is trying to learn.  I can’t wait to create a space that is encouraging for all my creative, budding musicians, without the intrusions and distractions of their home lives.  I understand that for many of you, it is infinitely more convenient for me to come to you than for you to come to me.  However, I think the benefit of travelling to my magical, musical studio (ok, it’s probably not actually going to be magical) will be not just fun, but might help students who have focus issues whether they are internal (active brain) or external (yappy poodle) (yes, I can admit it, my own dog is a distraction half the time).

Duets and Ensemble Playing

One of the most fun things about music is the chance to get together with a whole bunch of musicians and rock out! Music can be just as social an activity as any other after school activity.  It’s something I didn’t really get to enjoy until much later on in my musical studies, and it’s something I hope to be able to share with my students.  Playing duets between students (as opposed to students being accompanied by their teacher) is a fun and important part of music lessons that teaches not just musical skills like active listening and understanding harmony, but can also teach skills that spill over into every day life – taking turns, delegating, listening to others, trusting others, communicating clearly.  Not to mention, being able to create music with another person is just a downright fun and rewarding experience.

At the studio, I hope to continue the group guitar classes that I have been offering for two years now, but I also hope to start a guitar ensemble, open to students of both classes and one-on-one lessons.  If space permits, I would like to start a children’s choir at the studio (if I’m shooting for the stars here I would love to actually produce musicals with a middle school aged group).  Maybe even a rock band or two.  Workshops for budding singer/songwriter types with actual successful local singer/songwriter types.  Masterclasses with other professional musicians and teachers.  Finally, having a neutral space to work with piano and guitar students on duets will be much easier to coordinate instead of trying to figure out when we can all get together at so-and-so’s house this week and at the other student’s house the following week and is everyone available at the right time and does this student’s mom feel comfortable having a bunch of people in her house on a random Tuesday afternoon.  It feels like a lot which is why I haven’t done much of it yet.  But I really, really, really want to be able to do this!  Group events are something that I’ve been incredibly eager to add to my list of services.

Having a Home Base

Can I tell you a secret?  I legitimately daydream about how I would decorate the walls of this studio.  There would be obligatory studio announcements, of course.  But also pictures from past recitals and events.  A map of the world to see where all the different composers lived. Space to post about student accomplishments, musical or otherwise.  Of course, lots and lots of rubber ducks.  One of the things I look forward to most is having a place for the music we create to have a home where we, the students, and the music are all celebrated.  Because, like, isn’t that the point?

This is all going to be a bit costly…

I’ve been working on spreadsheets (if you told High School Me I’d spend my spare time playing in Excel instead of The Sims I’d have laughed in your face) and the cost of all of this is not really a lot as far as business start-ups go, but they are costs nonetheless, and the money has to come from somewhere.  It is my hope that I can launch a successful Indiegogo crowdsourcing campaign to raise some of the funds, and then apply for a business loan to cover the rest.

So this is where you come in.

Over summer 2017 I will be launching a fundraiser to cover my start-up costs.  There are basic costs like a security deposit on the lease, the baby grand, furniture and a computer, and then there are stretch costs like music games, handheld percussion toys, even the gear for a composing/recording station – a computer and keyboard, plus iPads and other tech accessories.  (Oh, and don’t forget the rubber ducks.)  There will be perks ranging from MAMS swag – bracelets, tshirts, backpacks, temporary tattoos – to live musical performances and prepaying the year’s tuition at a discount.  Every little bit (and big bit) will help.  Even if I don’t reach my fundraising goal by my deadline, Indiegogo still funds me, meaning that even if all I can do is raise the funds to cover the rent for a few months, that combined with a small business loan will give me the boost I need to make this dream of mine a reality.

So…

I hope you’re ready to join me in this dream.  This is truly going to be a great adventure and I hope we’ll be able to embark on it together.

Important Information for Current MAMS Families

Parents,

First, I cannot thank you enough for your continued support through the years, and your belief in music education for your children.  It is because of you that I am at where I am today, and why I am ready to bring our music school to the next step of our journey.  It is because of my commitment to you that I will continue to teach your children whether I travel to your home or you decide to join me in the studio, whenever we find a suitable location and open.

As we grow, there are a few administrative changes that you need to be made aware of as we transition to a school that features both in-home and studio lessons.

There will be a change in tuition for the 2017-2018 school year.  It actually will not even affect some students.

All students will be at a flat rate of $25 per lesson.  For traveling lessons, there will no longer be any kind of discount given for siblings/multiple lessons/friends and family.  Once the studio opens, there will be a discount for multiple lessons per family.  In the 2018-2019 school year, there will be a small increase in tuition for studio lessons and a slightly larger increase for traveling lessons.  I’ve never increased prices and have also never charged a distance fee, which is common practice for every studio and teacher I’ve ever spoken with (they’re often shocked to hear that I haven’t done these things).  But as the studio grows and changes the services we offer, changing the pricing schedule is something that comes along with the territory.

There will also be a change in how I take payment.  For the fall and onward, I will be able to take payment through My Music Staff online.  You will be able to pay as you go or set up an automatic payment.  I encourage you, my current families, to try out online payment, as I think this will be an easier system for all (the system is not yet in place for the last few weeks of this school year).  Cash payments are still accepted and many of you like to pay at each lesson, which is fine.  Beginning in January of 2017, however, I would like to move everyone to a once a month schedule.  Payment for each month will be due the third week of the month.  If payment is not made by the 1st day of the following month, there will be a $10 late fee assessed. If you switch to an automatic payment, you will never be late!

Tuition for group classes will be $25 per student as well, also due by the 3rd week of the month.  It is also my hope that, in a larger space, I will be able to run ensembles open to all students – a guitar ensemble and a choir.  Included in the price of all classes and ensembles will be the price of any supplies needed except for a choir folder (those can be $20 to $30 a piece and will be an additional cost for choir members.  Don’t worry – if treated well a choir folder can last years).

For scheduling – in a few weeks I will have a form available for you to fill out, either in person with me during your lesson or on our website.  Ideally, there will be no change to the schedule as it stands right now, so if your current time works, you can keep it in the upcoming school year.  When the studio opens, I will start scheduling lessons on days that I do not normally teach a lot of my MAMS students – either Tuesday or Thursday, and the schedule will be open to anyone who wants to switch.  I will also be hopefully switching guitar classes to one of these weeknights as well (guitar class parents – I will confer with you all on the scheduling to ensure that you can keep coming!).  As the holes start popping up in the rest of my schedule, I will take it from there – shifting around students who can move, or possibly opening more times up at the studio.

For new students – I know that many of you refer me to your friends – which I absolutely love and am thankful for.  I currently have a waiting list of students who would like to start in the fall, and I will be working through that list on a first come, first serve basis after I confirm all of your lesson and class times.  I will only be booking referrals first, so if a parent fills out the online New Student Form it is important that they put down your name in the “How did you hear about us?” box.  Otherwise, their name will stay at the bottom of the list.

All of these changes can be found in my Studio Policies page, so please head there to see the full rundown of the rules and policies I abide by.

I thank you for your continued support, and look forward to embarking on this new step of the journey with you all.

Changes are Coming!

Changes are coming to Miss Anna’s Music Studio and it’s definitely an exciting time to be a part of our growing family!

For over 10 years Miss Anna Lawrence has been a music teacher both in the school system and as a private instrument instructor.  For the last 7 years, she has traveled house to house teaching music and, quite frankly, the drive is starting to take its toll (we’re surprised it took 7 whole years!).  While teaching in-home lessons certainly has its conveniences, there are drawbacks as well.  Sometimes the setting is not truly conducive to learning.  Sometimes we are limited to the kind of keyboard that will fit into whatever space a family can make for it.  For the most part, the instruction is limited to a solitary pursuit.

At a studio, however, we can create an environment that is 100% encouraging and protective of the pursuit of learning.  Students can spend time playing on a beautiful acoustic piano or professional electronic piano.  Students can participate in group music making, through group lessons, classes, ensembles, and duets.  The possibilities are (almost) endless.

So I’m happy to announce that Miss Anna’s Music School will be looking to move into a permanent location of our own in Woodbridge or Perth Amboy sometime during the 2017-2018 school year!  We are really excited to embark on this new journey and hope that many of you will come along with us for the ride (don’t worry, we will continue to provide in-home lessons to all our current students if that is what they choose).  In the meantime, be on the lookout for an exciting fundraising campaign throughout the summer as we raise the capital to bring you a studio that will elevate our music experience to new heights!

Recital Wrap Up

It’s the day after the recital!  After you are done celebrating your fathers for Fathers Day, please take a few moments to fill out this form.  Your feedback is important to us so that we may continue to produce quality recitals for you, your families and your students.

Because we ended up getting a lot of spam entries last year, this form will only be available on the website until the end of June, so please fill this out sooner rather than later.

Recital Wrap Up

Welcome to MAMS

Welcome to Miss Anna’s Music School!

If you are the family of a current student, click on “Current Students” at the top of the page for the latest Music School news and the My Music Staff login.

If you are a prospective student, please click on “Prospective Students” to learn a little more about our studio and then fill out the New Student Signup Form!