Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Exciting News! We are Planning Our Come Back!

Dear Students and Parents:  

I really miss seeing you in-person and hearing your beautiful music fill my studio classroom. In the meantime, I have been busy making plans for the time when we can all come together in-person again. While I don’t know exactly when that time will come, 
I anxiously anticipate that it will be sometime in early to mid-May. When that day does come, I will be ready for you and I am so excited to see you! 

Online lessons have been great and will still remain an option even when I am able to return to my studio. I understand from your survey responses that many of you will want a combination of some online and some in-studio lessons even after the doors re-open. Some of you will decide to continue with your online lessons and may wait until a later date to return to the studio. And like me, many of you can’t wait to get back to the studio. There are options available and I want to work with you to find the best option in our current circumstances. I am here for you! And I thank you for staying with me during these uncertain times.

The health and safety of all my students, families, and others working out of the studio facility is my biggest concern. That is why I will patiently wait for the day when I know it will be safe to re-unite and will be taking all the necessary precautions when that time arrives. Things will be a little different when we do come back to the studio. Some of the things you can expect are physical distancing, facial coverings, hand washing, and guidelines regarding instrument preparation and lesson supplies. Coming back together in a healthy and safe manner will be a collaborative effort on all our parts. We are all in this together!

Below are guidelines to keep everyone safe. Please carefully read all the guidelines. We all need to continue to do our part so that students, teachers, staff and our community are protected.

  1. Studio Cleaning and Available Areas
    1. The studio will be sanitized daily and throughout the day.
    2. Lobby areas will be closed until further notice. Please keep reading for guidelines regarding lesson arrival and pick-up.
    3. Water dispensers will be disconnected and unavailable. Please bring your own water bottle if you need to drink water during your lesson. And please remember to take your water bottle and other items home with you. Any items left behind will be discarded.
  2. Clean Hands
    1. I will maintain clean hands and use hand sanitizer before and after lessons.
    2. Students and parents, please wash hands before entering the studio and use hand sanitizer before and after your lesson.
  3. Illness Policy
    1. If you or your child are feeling ill or showing any signs of fever, achiness, sneezing, coughing or a runny nose do not come to the studio. Instead I ask that you take the option of an online lesson. Just email or text me ahead of time so that I am prepared to meet with you online.
    2. Same rule applies for me. If I am sick or showing any signs of fever, achiness, sneezing, coughing or a runny nose, I will contact you and request an online lesson or make-up lesson.
  4. Physical Distancing
    1. Physical distancing of at least 6-feet will be followed in all areas of the studio at all times.
    2. One parent or guardian will be allowed in the classroom with their child during the lesson while still following the physical distancing guidelines.
  5. Arrival and Pick-up
    1. Please wait to enter the studio at the time of your lesson and walk directly to my classroom. If there is another lesson in session in the classroom when you arrive kindly step back at a safe distance and wait until you are instructed to enter. Do not arrive early as the lobby area will be closed and all are expected to maintain appropriate physical distancing.
    2. Please walk your child into the studio and escort them to my classroom. If you will not be staying in the classroom with your child, please wait in your car or parking lot at a safe distance from others. If you need to leave the general area during your child’s lesson time make sure you return at least 10-minutes before their lesson is over so that you are present when their lesson time ends. When lessons conclude, children will be instructed to go directly to their parents and will not be allowed to wait in the classroom or the lobby. 
  6. Facial Coverings
    1. Facial coverings must be worn by myself, students, and anyone else entering the studio. 
  7. Lesson / Instrument Preparedness
    1. Students should arrive to the classroom with their violin and bow removed from the case and any required accessories and music in-hand. Also, please rosin bows before coming into the classroom. I recommend unpacking instruments in your vehicle before walking in the studio. Students also need to bring their own pencils to class so that they can take notes and mark their music. 
  8. Make-Up Lesson Policies
    1. Due to physical distancing requirements, in-studio group make-up lessons continue to be suspended until further notice. Online group make-up classes are available on Mondays at 4:30 pm with prior sign-up.
  9. In-Home Lessons
    1. In-home lessons will be suspended until further notice. This is for the health and safety of our families and myself. For those that have requested in-home lessons, on-line lessons will continue, or you also have the option of in-studio lessons.

Thank you for joining me in doing our part in keeping each other safe and healthy. These policies and guidelines are put in place so that we are able to come together and still stay safe and healthy during these uncertain times. I will make adjustments and lift restrictions as appropriate when the time comes. If you are not able to adhere to these guidelines I ask that you continue with your online lessons until I am able to loosen some of these guidelines.

Ms. Jill