The Joy of Music School provides free lessons, instruments, music and materials to hundreds of Knoxville-area children who otherwise would do without. For more on the Joy of Music School, including how to volunteer, please visit www.joyofmusicschool.org
It seemed after-school music education at North Knoxville’s Norwood Elementary School was dead, at least for the time being. We can’t hold on-site general music classes, because of the coronavirus, and when we prepared an online version this fall, almost no kids signed up. (Zoom burnout is real!)But luckily, there is a Centro Hispano site near Norwood , and extra-luckily, site coordinator Luci Diego is committed to music education. When she heard about the dropped music class at Norwood, she got approval to offer an after-school Joy of Music School program at Centro Hispano. The class is run by Kiran Seth, who has taught the JoMS outreach class at Norwood for several years. She leads the class remotely, with the help of a Spanish interpreter. The students — all from Norwood — participate at Centro Hispano after school. Right now there are eight kids ages 6 to 9. Kiran is happy with the program so far. She got the little ones singing Happy Birthday in English and Spanish in their first class. “Our Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in Spanish was somewhat successful,” she says with a laugh. We look forward to growing our affiliation with Centro Hispano. Meanwhile, Norwood is trying to restore Kirin’s virtual classes for their on-site kids starting in January. So in the best possible outcome, we’ll have after-school outreach programs at both!
The Joy of Music School provides free lessons, instruments, music and materials to hundreds of Knoxville-area children who otherwise would do without. For more on the Joy of Music School, including how to volunteer, please visit www.joyofmusicschool.org
The Joy of Music School provides free lessons, instruments, music and materials to hundreds of Knoxville-area children who otherwise would do without. For more on the Joy of Music School, including how to volunteer, please visit www.joyofmusicschool.org
The Joy of Music School provides free lessons, instruments, music and materials to hundreds of Knoxville-area children who otherwise would do without. For more on the Joy of Music School, including how to volunteer, please visit www.joyofmusicschool.org
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.
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!
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!
The Joy of Music School provides free lessons, instruments, music and materials to hundreds of Knoxville-area children who otherwise would do without. For more on the Joy of Music School, including how to volunteer, please visit www.joyofmusicschool.org
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
Hey parents of JoMS students! Just like you, we believe your children deserve the very best opportunities in music education. The staff here feeds on your kids’ enthusiasm and works hard to find ways to help them improve. A lot of times you’ll find us steering them toward auditions for orchestras, choirs, bands, camps, and even colleges.
We know it can be overwhelming and sometimes a bit scary for parents, siblings and other family members. But we have a message for you: We are with you all the way! We love finding people, foundations and companies that make it possible for your kids to attend camps and orchestras—absolutely free of charge, including travel.
We can help turn a mundane summer into an experience of a lifetime for your musical kids. And we regularly help kids and families through the rocky process of college applications. We love doing it—and we love the results! So, when opportunity knocks, feel that beat and go with it. You won’t regret it!
“On the road again,” sings Willie Nelson, “I just can’t wait to get on the road again!” No matter how captivating the traveling life may be, every road warrior eventually needs fuel, sustenance, and rest. Nobody meets those needs better than one of the Joy of Music School’s most faithful sustainers, Pilot Flying J. Pilot Flying J is partnering with the Haslam Family Foundation as Presenting Sponsors of our Holiday Sparkles & Spirits fundraiser again this year (see page 1).
Founder Jim Haslam’s company and his family’s foundation annually pair up to make sure our event is a success, but more important, they help assure our volunteers can solidly carry out our mission. The Foundation and corporate support are proof to us that Mr. Haslam’s vision is matched only by his generosity. Pilot Flying J stores (more than 750, serving 1.6 million daily guests) line the highways of the continent. So, next time you’re on the road again and you spot a Pilot Flying J, pump the brakes. Stop in for fuel, rest, and goodness. Reflect on how those good folks support the art and discipline of music for deserving kids here in East Tennessee. Then, hop back in your car, turn up the music, and ease on down the road.
• Students we’ve taught: 2,617
• Volunteer teachers: 551
• All-time board members: 239
• All-time donors: 3,922
• New donors who saw us on “Secret Millionaire”: 308
• Miles from Knoxville for our most far-flung donation: 4,256 (Oslo, Norway)
• Students who’ve majored in music at college: 5
• Students who’ve come back to teach at JoMS: 4
• Most years as a volunteer teacher: 16 (Anthony Hussey)
• Groups we’ve applied to for grant funding: 150
• Groups that’ve said yes: 140
• Number of grants: 931
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Jessie Anne Compton
Jessie Anne with Tellico kids
Our fast-expanding outreach program reached a new stage this summer. Actually, it reached a few new stages.
Outreach teacher Jessie Compton directed productions of Disney: The Movies, the Music at Lenoir City Boys & Girls Club, Loudon Elementary School and here at the Joy of Music School.
She had kids singing, dancing and playing instruments in “The Mickey Mouse March,” “You Can Fly” (from Peter Pan), “The Bear Necessities” (from Jungle Book) and many more. For the big finale: “Circle of Life” from The Lion King.
The shows were a blast, and not just for the kids. The Loudon Elementary show had around 200 attendees, including an enthusiastic bunch from the Tellico Village Baptist Church, who had been volunteering in rehearsals.
Jessie first came to the School while an undergrad at UT. She got her Master’s in music education last December. This fall, she began a new job as music teacher at Knox County’s Northshore Elementary. She’ll also continue to help with our outreach programs.
Bravo, Jessie! You’re … “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”!
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Joy of Music School 