Coronavirus Updates
October 9, 2020
Online lesson update and a Halloween Spooktacular!
As we are now more than seven months into our transition to virtual lessons, I am writing to provide an update on how things are going and to share my thoughts on returning to in-person lessons.
Thank You
Let me begin by thanking you again for your unwavering support and flexibility during this unprecedented time. Our students, families, staff, and teachers have shown tremendous patience, understanding, and positivity.
Our Unique Situation
While we very much want to resume in-person lessons, we are simply not comfortable doing so just yet. Our small, soundproof rooms, typically ideal for music lessons, make social distancing and increased ventilation difficult. Shared instruments, singing, and brass and woodwind instruments that require mask removal to play create additional complications. Finally, many of our teachers, students, and parents have expressed they are not comfortable with in-person lessons at this time.
Virtual Lessons Continue
After careful consideration of all of these factors and hours of brainstorming potential creative solutions, it is with a focus on the safety of the SSM community and appreciation for the consistency our online lessons provide students and teachers that we have decided to continue virtual lessons for the time being. We will also continue to answer questions over the phone, provide curbside service for instrument purchases and rentals, and monitor the situation closely to prepare for a safe reopening.
Thank you again for your support. We will continue to do all we can to make your virtual music learning experience effective, positive, dependable, and fun!
Stay safe,
David
Kick off Halloween weekend with in-costume performances from some of our most talented young students.
7:00-8:00 PM
SSM on Facebook
Students, please let your teacher know if you would like to participate.
Parents and friends, mark your calendar to show support for these talented, hardworking, budding musicians.
The show is sure to be a treat – not a trick!
July 31, 2020
Online lessons continue in August and beyond
Invite your friends and family to show support for these talented, hardworking budding musicians. The show is sure to put a smile on your face.
July 7, 2020
Join us for an Evening of Music!
Invite your friends and family to show support for these talented, hardworking budding musicians. The show is sure to put a smile on your face.
Mark your calendar and kick off the weekend with Sandy Springs Music.
See you Friday!
David
June 19, 2020
Online Lessons Continue Through July
While we look forward to welcoming you back to Sandy Springs Music in person, we will continue online lessons through the month of July. We will also continue to answer questions over the phone, provide curbside service for instrument purchases and rentals, and monitor the situation closely to prepare for a safe reopening. We will update you in mid-July about our plan for August.
SSM closed July 3-5
Sandy Springs Music will be closed Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5 in observance of the July 4 holiday. Because tuition is based on an average of four lessons per month, as with all holiday closings, we will not provide make-ups for lessons scheduled on these days. We will resume store hours and online lessons Monday, July 6.
Thank you!
I’m so grateful for your flexibility, patience, support, and positivity during this unprecedented time.
Wishing you a safe and enjoyable weekend,
David
May 5, 2020
Show Us How You Practice Challenge
Around this time of year, we’re usually getting ready for our big recital. Unfortunately, we won’t get to see you or your child perform in person this month, but we still want to see and hear you play so…
It’s time for the Show Us How You Practice Challenge!
Post a video to Facebook or Instagram showing us how you practice at home! Tag SandySpringsMusicATL on Facebook or sandyspringsmusic_atlanta on Instagram and add the hashtag #showushowyoupractice. Then challenge a friend or two to keep it going!
Watch the video below to hear the piano skills I’ve been working on over the past few weeks.
I’m continuing to think of you all each day and can’t wait to see and hear you perform.
David
April 22, 2020
Online Lessons Continue
As you may know, Governor Kemp recently announced that certain businesses could reopen beginning this Friday, April 24. While we look forward to welcoming you back to Sandy Springs Music in person soon, we will continue online lessons for the time being. We will also continue to answer questions over the phone, provide curbside service for instrument purchases and rentals, and monitor the situation closely to prepare for a safe reopening.
I’m so proud of and grateful for the SSM community – especially during this unprecedented time. Our students, families, staff, and teachers have shown tremendous flexibility, patience, and positivity. Thank you!
Welcome, new students!
Looking for a way to lift your spirits or engage your kids? Sign up for a 30-minute trial online lesson with one of our talented teachers. Instruments are available for curbside rental or purchase. Give us a call if you want to learn more. 404-250-0406.
Please continue to stay safe and healthy. See you online!
David
Thank You and 5 Online Lesson Tips
We are so grateful for the way you have welcomed us into your homes and embraced our transition to online music lessons.
We also appreciate your patience and flexibility as we adjust to this new way of teaching. We are guiding our teachers and purchasing equipment to make your experience positive, fun, and effective. You can expect online lesson quality to improve each and every day.
As we work with our teachers to optimize lesson delivery, we want to share a few tips students can follow to improve the online lesson experience on your end.
- Log on to your lesson from a quiet space with minimal distractions.
- Make sure to have your books, instrument, and electronic device in your quiet space and ready to go.
- Laptops provide the most ideal way to connect on Zoom followed by tablets and then phones.
- High-quality webcams and external microphones can make a big difference in the quality of your online learning experience (with Sandy Springs Music and school). If you wish to purchase equipment, we recommend the Snowball USB Microphone and Logitech webcams. Please note these purchases are not at all necessary for your music lessons.
- Don’t forget to practice between lessons!
Thanks again for all of your support. It’s times like this that music and personal connection (even though the computer) go a long way toward lifting our spirits.
See you online!
David
PS: Send us your online lesson photos!
Online Lessons Begin Monday, March 16
Beginning tomorrow, Monday, March 16th, our teachers will provide online music lessons via Zoom video conferencing. We will not offer any in-person lessons Monday, March 16 through Saturday, March 21. Our store and recording studio will remain closed during this time as well. We will send an update next week regarding future plans.
Prepare for Your Zoom Lesson
Please download the Zoom app as appropriate for the device you will use for your lesson. Zoom works on phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. An hour prior to your lesson time (or sooner), your teacher will email you a link to connect. Just click the link at your scheduled time and your lesson will begin! This is new territory for all of us so we ask for your patience as we navigate this first week of online lessons.
Schedule Changes
Your online class will take place on the same day and time as your usual class. Please contact us if you need to reschedule. Cancellations beginning Monday, March 16 will follow our standard policy.
Rock Band Showcase
We have cancelled our March 22 event at Venkman’s.
Thank you and see you online!
David
COVID-19 and Sandy Springs Music
As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, we want to let you know the steps we are taking at Sandy Springs Music. Your health and well-being are our number one priority. With that in mind, we have decided to cancel all music lessons Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. During this time, the store and recording studio will be closed as well while our building is cleaned and we prepare our teachers to deliver lessons online.
Beginning Monday, March 16, our plan is to offer in-person AND online lessons via Zoom video conferencing. We will send a follow-up email outlining details. Teachers will be on-site and online – ready to teach in the way you are most comfortable. We will also reopen the store and recording studio Monday. Should this plan change, we will send a follow-up email Monday morning. Please refrain from coming to Sandy Springs Music if you or someone in your home is not feeling well.
Cleaning Protocol
Sandy Springs Music will conduct a disinfectant cleaning of our property over the March 14-15 weekend. We will also use disinfectant cleaners to wipe down surfaces before and after each lesson.
Make-up Lessons and Credits
Students who have lessons scheduled today (Friday, March 13) or tomorrow (Saturday, March 14) will have the option to make up the lesson at a later date or receive a credit for the lesson. Cancellations beginning Monday, March 16, will follow our standard policy.
March 22 Rock Band Showcase
Please look out for an update next week regarding the plan for our March 22 event at Venkman’s.
We appreciate your patience as we navigate this rapidly developing situation.
David Szikman, Owner