Joy of Music School

Music Notes – Newsletter

Category Archives: Volunteers

Without volunteer music teachers, there would be no Joy of Music School. They are the heart and soul of the organization!


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Our Sparkly Marketing

Meaghan Roland of Pilot Flying J

Meaghan Roland of Pilot Flying J

You can’t pull off an event like our annual Holiday Sparkles & Spirits without a lot of help from a lot of people. Some contributions are obvious, others less so.

One of those highly valuable (and not so readily apparent) helpers is Meaghan Roland, the lead graphic designer in the marketing department of Knoxville-based Pilot Flying J.

For the past couple of years, Meaghan has created the marketing material for our big fundraiser. These include the eye-catching save-the-date postcard, the beautiful poster pictured here, an RSVP card and an invitation.

“I was trying to show the festive nature of the event,” Meaghan says, explaining her design approach for this year’s material. “You want to strike a balance between fun and informative.”

Meaghan was introduced to the School by Tim Purcell, Pilot Flying J’s director of enterprise development and Joy of Music School board member. It was a quick and happy fit. “I grew up playing music, so I know it can grow an individual mentally and can create lasting relationships,” Meaghan says. “It’s been great to become acquainted with a few individuals at the Joy of Music School. Working with them has definitely been a humbling experience, hearing and reading about the good they do in East Tennessee.”

Thanks Meaghan! We hope to see you Dec. 6 at the Cherokee Country Club for the 2016 Holiday Sparkles & Spirits.

hss-invite

 

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Breyon is Back

Breyon Ewing and his student, Michael

Breyon Ewing and his student, Michael

Breyon Ewing’s achievements as a Joy of Music School student were extraordinary by any measure. Starting out as a “lovable, scrawny teen with oodles of potential” (in Executive Director Frank Graffeo’s words), he grew to become an accomplished singer with a robust tenor voice. As a senior in high school, Breyon earned the Grace Moore Memorial Scholarship—a merit-based full ride to the University of Tennessee.

Now, four years later, he’s adding to his JoMS legacy by returning to the School as a teacher.

This fall, Breyon began teaching piano and voice lessons to 15-year-old Michael and piano lessons to Michael’s brother David, 8. “Being back really feels nice,” Breyon says. “It’s cool.”

It was only natural to return to the School, where as a youngster he was taught by volunteer instructor Andrew Skoog, a celebrated tenor and UT associate professor of voice. “It changed my life—it really did,” Breyon says of the School. “Being in that program convinced me that I could get into music as a career.”

“I’m really proud of him,” says Frank. “He knows what it’s like to take an opportunity and make the most of it – and that’s going to mean a lot to his students.”

Breyon expects to wrap up his UT undergraduate degree next year and then will likely pursue a master’s in music pedagogy. This would make him a certified instructor, with a goal of setting up his own studio for teaching and performing.

We’re confident Breyon can achieve whatever he wants. In the meantime, we’re glad to have him back among our dedicated team of volunteer instructors.

 

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Have Gavel, Will Travel

Bear Stephenson

Bear Stephenson

Bear Stephenson is an extraordinary auctioneer. He’s been donating his time to our annual Holiday Sparkles & Spirits for years, and we are so grateful. His high-energy style never fails to electrify our live auction, not only entertaining our guests but encouraging them to donate generously. Come see what we mean on Dec. 6 at the Cherokee Country Club.

 

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Rockin’ for the School

Jonathan Bailey and Aaron Cate, creators of the Barn Series

Jonathan Bailey and Aaron Cate, creators of the Barn Series

The Barn Series” is an all-ages monthly concert program created by Christian Academy of Knoxville seniors Jonathan Bailey and Aaron Cate—and benefiting the Joy of Music School.

Featuring indie rock, folk and more, the alcohol-free shows take place at the Graceland Barn and Dancehall in West Knoxville.

Jonathan and Aaron kicked off the series in August with performances by a few Knoxville bands, drawing more than 100 attendees. As the program matures, the student entrepreneurs expect to bring in musicians from Chattanooga, Nashville and beyond.

Jonathan and Aaron are selling sponsorships to help cover the expense of the bands, and they plan to donate their gate proceeds to the Joy of Music School. That was an easy decision, Jonathan says. “It’s awesome the way the School helps kids who don’t have the means to pay for lessons, so it seemed like a really cool thing to give the money to them.”

Thanks, guys! We’ll post details about their upcoming Barn Series shows on our website, http://www.joyofmusicschool.org.

 

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A Memorable Melody

Melody Martin

Melody Martin

If you’re a lucky summer intern, you hit the big three on your internship checklist: 1. It’s near home. 2. It pays. 3. It’s in your field of study. This summer the Joy of Music School enjoyed the services of a hard-working, bright intern who, frankly, struck out on all three.

Melody Martin, a student from distant Ohio State University at Mansfield, found us via an internet search. She offered her services as an intern for free. And she’s a business major, not a music major.

So how did it work out? Executive Director Francis Graffeo says she hit a home run: “Melody moved herself to Knoxville never having set foot here before. She set up her own apartment, showed up to work on time every day, did great work, and made our summer a lot better than it would have been without her.”

Melody says she was seeking an internship at an organization that serves disadvantaged kids with a focus on music. When she found our website she contacted us right away. We are happy she found us. Thank you, Melody! Your strikeout was a grand slam for the school!

 

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How You Can Help

  • Like, friend, upvote, click, and comment on our social media posts. (That stuff multiplies like crazy.)
  • Underwrite tickets for JoMS kids to attend the Ethan Bortnick concert on October 27 (see our website).
  • Volunteer to teach violin. We REALLY need violin teachers this year!
  • Harpsichord expert? Please give ours some love. It needs strings, adjustment, maintenance.
  • Gather your shears and a few friends to trim our laurel bushes. They are overgrown!

 

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It’s Recital Time in Tennessee!

JoMs_recital_kids

The Joy of Music School’s Spring Recital has a new home. This year, all the fun and excitement take place at the Scottish Rite Temple, right across from the University of Tennessee campus at 612 16th Street.

Save the date: Saturday, May 7, from 2- 4 p.m.  The Scottish Rite Temple is “a great venue,” says Julie Carter, the Joy of Music School’s Director of Music Education. “There’s a really big auditorium with plenty of seating for the audience, and there is lots of space on the floor and the stage for performances.”

Our annual recital is a truly special event. Roughly 65 of our students will climb up on that stage to show their families and friends what they’ve accomplished—musically and personally—this year. There will be singers, pianists, guitarists, drummers, and all manner of brass and string performances. There will be jangly nerves — and great big smiles of satisfaction and pride.

The event is free of charge for all. Be sure to stick around afterward for a warm and celebratory reception in the temple’s fellowship hall.

We are most grateful to the Scottish Rite Temple for letting us use their beautiful performance space, and to Knoxville’s HomeTrust Bank for sponsoring this important and fun event!


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Letter from the Executive Director

Francis Graffeo

Francis Graffeo

Our volunteer teachers do the bulk of the weekly work here. Our staff also works hard, making sure everything is in place for the teachers and students. But there is another group of workers who don’t always get the spotlight—our board members. They do amazing and sometimes unexpected things to keep this organization operating at its best and growing for the future. A few examples: Professional writer and editor Pete Finch has been the anonymous editor of this newsletter for many years. Cindi Alpert donates air time and production work at her radio station. Susan Brackney gives hundreds of hours a year to our holiday fundraiser event. Many members are, or have been, volunteer teachers. We get legal advice from attorney Rick Carl. Mike Combs, founding board president, is a master organizer and motivator, giving countless hours to many initiatives. Tim Purcell connects us to the corporate world, and tackles problems with his ingenuity and hard work. Treasurer Lisa Price Scott, CPA, oversees our financial work. Bank president Trey Coleman helps with strategy and financial decision-making. These wonderful people, and many more unmentioned here, bind the School to the community. They strengthen existing bonds and reach out to form new ones. They conduct meetings, set policies, oversee, plan, protect, and care for the Joy of Music School. They attend recitals and applaud our kids like they would their own. They write checks. They find donated goods and services. They set an example and ask nothing in return. For all of that, they have our gratitude!

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Francis Graffeo

Executive Director


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‘Broadcasting Live from … the Bank Lobby?’

Frank at the bank

Knoxville’s HomeTrust Bank recently turned 90 and celebrated with a bustling party in its normally quiet, professional lobby. Joy of Music School Executive Director Frank Graffeo attended — and got to join a live WNML Sports Radio broadcast from the bank. Frank talked about his love of the Dallas Cowboys, and about the School, of course. The party also featured cornhole, drawings, prizes, pizza, cake, refreshments, and other things you might never expect in a bank lobby. HomeTrust Bank is the sponsor of the Joy of Music School Spring Recital (see article on page 1). Many thanks to JoMS board member and former volunteer guitar teacher Trey Coleman, president of the bank!

 

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Our Friend Emily Spreads the Joy

Emily

Fifth grader Emily Ford is a little kid with a big heart. As she was getting ready for her 10th birthday in November, she decided to do something different from the usual celebration. “I thought, ‘I don’t really need any more presents,’ ” Emily says. She encouraged her friends to make donations to the Joy of Music School rather than bring gifts to her party.

This wasn’t the first time Emily has been helpful to the School. She pitched in at our last two spring cleaning days along with her mother, Rachel Ford, Executive Director of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and JoMS board member. Emily, who plays the piano and violin, liked what she saw that day. “I thought it was cool that the School had free lessons for kids that might not have the opportunity,” she says.

Well, we think it’s extra cool that she would introduce her friends and their families to our School—and encourage them to donate. Thanks Emily!


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The Art of Giving

Painting

Elizabeth and Cindi Alpert

Fancy yourself an expert painter? Well, good, because neither do we! But that isn’t stopping us from getting super excited about the upcoming Painting for Joy event.

This extremely fun evening, a fundraiser for the Joy of Music School, takes place May 5, from 6 – 8 p.m.

The venue is Painting with a Twist’s new location in Farragut: 11000 Kingston Pike, Suite 3, right behind Pittsburgh Paints.

The event is a guided painting class combined with delicious food and wine, wonderful music and a spirited, supportive crowd. Even if you don’t know the first thing about painting, on this evening you will create a masterpiece that you will be proud to take home. Honestly!

Seats costs $35 per person, $25 of which goes to the Joy of Music School.

The evening is the brainchild of Cindi Alpert, JoMS board member and owner of radio station 106.1 FM The River. She suggests you reserve your tickets soon because seats are selling fast! Go to http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/knoxville and click on “view full calendar.” Scroll down to May 5 and you’ll find a link that will take you to a reservation form.


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How You Can Help

  • Ask your musician friends if they’d like to volunteer as a music mentor.
  • Donate a DSLR camera and/ or Final Cut Pro editing suite to our Music Production and Engineering for Teens class. They’re ready to shoot and edit music videos!
  • Sponsor or host a house party to benefit the School.
  • Come to our spring recital May 7. The kids need applause.
  • Volunteer to help serve food at the post-recital meal.
  • Check out our list of sponsors and thank them for their support.


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Be Like Ross!

Ross Dempster

Ross Dempster

The owner of Dempster Poured Foundations, Ross Dempster, heard our building needed a major foundation repair. Without hesitation he offered to fix the problem, which included digging a 100-foot trench along the building, waterproofing, installing a French drain and backfilling with gravel. It was a big project donated by a generous individual!

 

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