Joy of Music School

Music Notes – Newsletter

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Tall Paul’s Big Night Benefits our School

Knoxville has a special place in singer-songwriter Tall Paul Bobal’s heart. A live recording he made here three decades ago, at a now-defunct bar called The Library, gave his career a huge lift. Widely copied on cassette tape, it was shared among music fans at the University of Tennessee and other colleges.

“After that, I could put myself anywhere on the East Coast and draw a good crowd for a show,” he recalls.

When Tall Paul recently decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that live show, there was no question it would be a big night. And to top it off, he generously donated the proceeds to the Joy of Music School!

The show was held in early October at Wild Wing Cafe in Farragut. It kicked off at 8 p.m. and didn’t wind down till 2:30 in the morning. The place was packed with adoring fans and fellow musicians. “Instead of playing the show all by myself, I invited all the musicians I’d played with over the years,” Tall Paul says. “I was so honored — I think there were 14 who made it, coming in from South Carolina, Florida, all over the place.”

Tall Paul says making the show a benefit for the Joy of Music School was a natural. He loved all the musical opportunities he got as a school kid growing up in Virginia — opportunities many kids lack today because of arts program budget cuts. “I mean, if you don’t get it at school, where are you going to get it?” he says.

Tall Paul was introduced to JoMS by his pal Andy Jeffers, a longtime supporter of the School. Andy runs a Knoxville-based TV production company called Sports & Entertainment Media, which shot video of Tall Paul’s 30th anniversary show.

Tall Paul isn’t exactly sure what will become of that video, but there’s a chance at least part of it will appear on his YouTube channel one of these days.

Thanks, Tall Paul, for making the Joy of Music School part of your big night!


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Farewell Cindi, Welcome Jack

Any jazz or pop musician will tell you that “changes” are chords that make up a song’s harmony and tonality. Well, there are some changes of the standard variety taking place at the Joy of Music School this January, but they’re still intended to keep the music flowing. We will bid a fond farewell to our board president Cindi Alpert as she rotates out of that position after two years.

Cindi, a jazz musician herself, and a radio station owner to boot, started supporting the School in 2012 with an event sponsorship. She then created a charitable promotional CD through her radio station, 106.1 The River, of local musicians playing holiday music. All of the proceeds supported JoMS. She went on to create our Swing for Joy charity golf tournament in 2016, which is thriving.

Cindi joined the board in 2014 and was elected president in 2018. “Cindi’s energy and overflowing charitable heart made this a better organization from the minute we connected with her,” says Executive Director Francis Graffeo. “We are all so grateful.”

Term limits dictate that she now step off of the board for at least a year, but she intends to continue her support. “I’m a lifelong musician and immediately connected with the mission of the School when I learned about their mission,” she says. “I will always be a supporter and collaborator.”

Cindi will be replaced in 2020 by President-Elect Jack Fellers, a retired professor from the University of Tennessee. Jack is already an enthusiastic board leader, having served on several committees, and is a volunteer piano teacher at the School. He has served on the board of directors of the UT School of Music as well. “I’m looking forward to directing my energies toward the continued success of the School and of the kids we teach,” he says.

These changes, like any good set of chords, make the best kind of harmony.

 


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Letter from the Executive Director

When Joy of Music School volunteer instructors are teaching, it could be said they’re giving our students something they already have in them. Talent is a gift that has to be coaxed out, by instructor and student.

Teaching gives kids access to their talent; it releases potential.
For many young people, finding those skills inside themselves is hard. It takes time, energy and self- motivation. And repetition. Those are the fundamental things we teach. Our instructors are not just saying, “Here’s how to play an instrument.” More than anything else, we’re giving students the tools to release their very own inner pianist, cellist, trumpeter, drummer, and singer.
When you think about it that way, you see that our teachers’ role is bigger and more complex than it might appear. They’re mentors in the truest sense of the word, guiding our students down the miraculous and often arduous path to self-discovery. What a wonderful gift to give another person! And lucky for us, it’s a gift that keeps on giving, as our students share their music with the world by performing and maybe becoming teachers themselves one day. Some of them have even come back here to teach! That surely ranks among the most satisfying outcomes of any mentorship. It’s also a measure of the School’s potential, and just like our students, we rely on the time, energy and self- motivation of everyone involved with the Joy of Music School to draw it out.
Thank you, volunteer teachers. Thank you, sponsors, donors, and board members. We couldn’t do it without you.
Francis Graffeo
Executive Director


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Now On the Tee: You!

Our third annual Swing for Joy golf tournament on October 14 is so close it’s practically a gimme.

So sign up now for a lovely day at the picturesque Gettysvue Polo, Golf & Country Club in Knoxville. It’s a 1 p.m. shotgun start featuring an 18-hole scramble preceded at 11:30 a.m. by a delicious Archers BBQ lunch, beer from Albright Grove Brewing Co., and more. Cart your way back into the clubhouse afterward for prizes and more fun.
Swing for Joy welcomes golfers of all skill levels, from beginning duffers to sand trap ninjas.
Swing for Joy has become a key fundraiser for the School from the day our Board President Cindi Alpert initiated it in 2017. Presenting sponsor for 2019 is Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. Other Francis Graffeo Executive Director generous sponsors supporting the event include Knoxville Pediatric Associates, TIS Insurance Services, Duncan Family Automotive, and more. Call 865-525-6806 or visit our website, joyofmusicschool.org, now to sign up!


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Change Is in the Air

It was a soggy summer in our building. We’re talking serious humidity. And that’s not good for musical instruments. Too much humidity and they lose their ringing quality. (Too little, conversely, and they may crack.)
We took our own steps to reduce the wetness. We ran dehumidifiers, changed the fan speed, left the AC on at night, turned it off at night, made it warmer, made it cooler, closed some doors, opened others. Nothing worked.
That is until our friends at Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling came to the rescue. After a call from Building Manager Ed Sublett, they diagnosed the problem (ironically, a new AC unit that was “too efficient”) and proposed a solution: an in-line dehumidifier. But it was going to cost $6,500!
Soon afterward, Pipe Wrench General Manager Whitney Mitchell toured JoMS at the invitation of Executive Director Frank Graffeo. He introduced her to staff , teachers, and students. He showed her the at-risk instruments as well.
Finally, Frank sat with her at the end of the tour and asked if her company would be willing to donate the solution to the moisture problem. Whitney’s reply? “I had my mind made up five minutes into the tour.”
The School now has a $6,500 in-line dehumidifier, and the air is Goldilocks all the way: Just right! The instruments are in the zone and sounding great. And, to top it off, Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling is presenting sponsor of our Swing for Joy benefit golf tournament (see page 3). To all that goodness we say to Whitney and Pipe Wrench, Cool


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At the Heart of the Matter

A little over a year ago, one of our students and her family got a terrible scare. Sydney, then 15, suffered a cardiac arrest at her high school and was rushed to the hospital. Sydney was diagnosed with a disease known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and immediately went on the waiting list for a heart transplant. She got a new heart in February2019.

She’s doing “very, very well,” says her mother, Xochil. “She has come a long way.”

One thing that has helped Sydney a lot on her journey to wellness: music. She had been taking guitar lessons from our volunteer teacher Zebadiah Evans starting in2017 and, around the time of her cardiac arrest, had begun learning the ukulele too. It turns out her cardiologist, Dr. Frank Fish, is also a ukulele enthusiast. He began bringing his bass uke to their appointments and they would play together. These music sessions made her much less anxious about visiting the doctor, her mom says.

Sydney practiced the ukulele at home a lot in those days. “It was her way of dealing with allthe stress this caused,” says her mom. “Things would have been very, very different without it. That’s really the joy of music, to me. And I don’t think the ukulele ever would havehappened without the Joy of Music School. I’m just so grateful.”

Her guitar teacher, Zebadiah, was touched by her story and wanted to do something to honor her courage. The result was a concert featuring his band, Omar the Rocker, and others — with all the proceeds goingto the Joy of Music School. We are grateful to Zeb for his thoughtful gesture and most grateful to know that our student Sydney is on the mend.


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An Opportunity Too Good to ‘Miss’

 A pair of our students got to perform at the area’s biggest indoor venue in June: The University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena. The students were Jacob and Autumn and the occasion was The Miss Tennessee ScholarshipCompetition on June 25. The main event that evening was a performance by the current Miss America, Nia Franklin of NorthCarolina, an opera singer. Jacob and Autumn were part of the opening festivities. The Joy of Music School Executive Director Frank Graffeo was there to introduce them and also to show a promotional video about the Joy of Music School on the arena’s giant screens. Jacob played “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd on guitar and Autumn performed “Gavotte No. 2” by David Popper on the cello, accompanied by her sister Kristin (a JoMS alumna) on the piano.“They did so well,” says Colene Trent, the Miss Tennessee board member who organized the event.“The kids were great, and their families who came with them were so kind. It was wonderful.”The feeling is mutual. We were very glad to get our message—and our students—in front of such an appreciative audience. Thanks to Colene and the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Competition for making it happen.


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A Rocking New Scholarship Program

The owner of Knoxville’s School of Rock, Greg Franklin, had a unique challenge and opportunity when he was approached by Jackie Woods, the mother of one of his employees. She wanted to honor the memory of her recently departed husband, Sean, by underwriting School of Rock tuition for kids who need it most. Greg was happy to oblige, but realized he might have a tricky time determining which families would be eligible for scholarships. He would need a fair, equitable system to meet families’ needs. That’scomplicated and expensive to pull off. In a moment of inspiration, Greg approached Joy of Music SchoolExecutive Director Frank Graffeo and explained the situation. He called the right place. Greg and Frank held meetings to sort out details according to Jackie’s wishes. Soon thereafter, Jackie generously set up the Sean Woods Memorial Scholarship with the Joy of Music School, which allowed four of our students—Nick, Sam, Auzlo, and Carpenter—to attend the School ofRock this summer. They had unforgettable experiences they would never have enjoyed without Jackie. We are happy to report that the scholarship will be in place for years to come. We look forward to more rocking and rolling thanks to Greg, the School of Rock, and our new friend Jackie.


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How You Can Help!

•Get your golfing friends signed up for Swing for Joy!
•Let us know if you’d like to serve on a committee like special events, finance, or PR/marketing. You don’t have to be a board member to serve.
•The School needs two window awnings and an exterior stair awning replaced. Can you help?
•We currently have an extra need for piano and violin teachers. Sign up to volunteer now!
•Know how to replace drop ceiling tile? We need four pieces replaced. All need custom cuts and/or holes. Help!

•Be like Judy Smith! Judy Smith is a volunteer who comes to the School regularly to help maintain our Star Prize system for the students. She helps organize bulky files, and gets our large mailings out the door efficiently. Thank you, Judy!

 


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Come Get Your Sparkle On

Just like roasting chestnuts and Jack Frost nipping at your nose, it wouldn’t be the holidays in Knoxville without Holiday Sparkles & Spirits. Our 13th annual fundraiser is all set for Tuesday night, Dec. 4, at the Cherokee Country Club. Start time is 6:30 p.m. The ticket price: $125 per person.

We promise it’ll be the jolliest Tuesday night you can imagine. There’ll be heartwarming musical performances by our students, wine and delicious appetizers, and sensational holiday shopping. You’ll be able to choose from a vast assortment of gift ideas, from jewelry and wine (the “sparkles and spirits” that gave this event its name) to travel and sports memorabilia and much more.

We’ll see you there!

Act Now! Please call or email the School today to reserve your place! Phone: 865-525-6806.

Email: info@joyofmusicschool.org Want more details? You should have received an invitation by mail, but if you can’t find it, visit our website and click on the banner.

Click Here To Read The Newsletter From The Top


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Recital News!

 

Our students are about to step up and dazzle a pair of Knoxville retirement communities, and you’re welcome to join in the excitement.

That’s right – it’s winter recital time! The first is 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Sherrill Hills (271 Moss Grove Boulevard). The second is 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Shannondale Retirement Center (801 Vanosdale Road).

These recitals usually last about an hour and feature 20 to 25 students performing on piano, violin, cello, woodwinds and more. We’d love to see you at either or both of these performances!

Click Here To Read The Newsletter From The Top


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Playing Young James Agee

In March we got an unexpected and unusual request from Swiss documentary filmmaker Richard Dindo. He needed a small boy to appear in a documentary about author and Knoxville native James Agee. While filming in Knoxville, Dindo wanted to shoot scenes depicting the young Agee in a piano lesson. Frank Graffeo agreed to meet the filmmaker to discuss his proposal.

After getting all the details, Frank asked Julie Carter, our director of music education, to identify a boy based on Dindo’s request. Valentyn, a young JoMS piano student of volunteer teacher Mary Beckley, fit the bill perfectly.

Fast forward to September: Dindo was back in Knoxville filming on location with costumes, makeup, lights, cameras and … action! Valentyn played, literally, his part and had a successful day of shooting, just like a Hollywood star. The production company compensated his family, and now we simply await the premiere. Stay tuned!

Click Here To Read The Newsletter From The Top


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A Letter From The Executive Director

Francis Graffeo

You might remember Highlights Magazine— monthly intellectual stimulation, fun, and guidance for kids. I especially remember the hand-drawn brothers facing a new moral or behavioral issue, each in his own way. Goofus and Gallant, back in the ’60s and ’70s—my Highlights prime—were by proxy helping parents with boys and our impulsive tendencies. There was no female counterpart. At the time, I assumed girls never needed it. I did. Not that I was a bad kid; I was a pretty good kid. But I thrived on the validation I got from knowing instantly that Goofus was getting it wrong, and that I was much more like Gallant—every time! Imagine that. Every time!

Looking back as an adult, a parent, and director of this youth-centered organization celebrating its 20th anniversary year, I realize the angle Highlights was taking. Despite the characters’ giveaway names, I nonetheless felt the embrace of self-approval as I chose the Gallant way, the right choice. These boys were modeling behavior.

Parents and school teachers know all about that. Our volunteers know it too. It’s not just modeling how to hold a violin bow, or breathing deeply before singing. It’s an adult giving his or her time to make the world better. It’s an adult mentoring a young person, and modeling excellent behavior, while also coaching young pianists, drummers and strummers. Teaching musical technique is one thing. It’s quite another to teach children something positive about themselves.

Francis Graffeo, Executive Director

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Hearing The Call

Tony Evans was at the School waiting for one of his daughters to finish her violin lesson when he heard a young boy playing a hymn on our lobby piano. Tony knew the hymn so he went over and sat down beside the boy, adding some chords on the lower end. They sounded good together! Turns out the boy, Josue, had been taking piano lessons at JoMS, but his teacher had recently quit. He was deeply upset about this.

Someone told Tony that Josue stood in our hallway and cried when he heard the news. “I just thought, ‘This is wrong for me not to teach him,’ Tony recalls. “He’s very good.” That was three years ago, and ever since, Josue and Tony have met Tuesday evenings for piano lessons. Tony describes their sessions as the highlight of his week. “I think I was directed to be there in the School that day,” he says. “I don’t think anything happens by accident.” He adds: “Josue has such a good attitude. And he’s got perfect pitch.”

Tony’s a Knoxville native and a longtime local musician. He played in a handful of garage bands in the 1970s and ‘80s, bashing away at the guitar with his long hair flowing behind him. These days Tony is a doctor of audiology and runs the AudioLife Hearing Center in Knoxville. His firm donated a set of high-end Unitron hearing aids to the silent auction at our Holiday Sparkles & Spirits fundraiser event (see page 1). What a great way to share the joy of music: helping someone hear it better.

Thanks Tony, for your generous donation and for your time with Josue!

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