July 15, 2020

Dear Joyful Noise Music Studio Families, 

I am writing to provide you with the most information I can at this time about plans for teaching and learning in the coming fall term. 

The world faces many uncertainties at this time, and yet music has the power to be an uplifting force, a calming refuge and a wholistic activity that gives a sense of normalcy. I have been working hard to provide my students with continued options and opportunities for learning, and am dedicated to supporting their continued education in every way I can. 

There are many unknowns about the public health conditions and directives that will apply in August and beyond. This letter proposes a flexible plan that will take into consideration the many variables and options ahead. 

Since the beginning of this pandemic, my primary concern has been the health and wellbeing of my students and studio families. Within this context, I am also motivated to ensure that learning can continue. 

Should health conditions and official directives allow schools to be open in August, piano lessons will resume in person. The following precautionary steps will be taken:

• Only 1 student at a time will be allowed inside the music studio (Mrs. Valerie’s house) 
• Students will wait in their car or on the front porch at the start of each lesson until Mrs. Valerie texts that it’s ok to come in or opens the front door and welcomes you in. In order to minimize contact, please DO NOT ring the doorbell or open the front door. Remember that I have a RING doorbell so I can see if you are waiting ��
• Students and Mrs. Valerie will sanitize their hands either with hand sanitizer or soap and water at the start of each lesson.
• The piano as well as any high-touch areas will be sanitized between each student.
• Students are asked to wear a mask while in lessons
• Mrs. Valerie will wear a mask while in lessons
• Social distancing of 6ft. will be kept if any party chooses to not wear a mask. 
• In order to limit contact, student assignment sheets will be emailed to parents each week (rather than Mrs. Valerie printing it and putting it in the assignment folder). You may also choose to have your student write down their own assignments in a notebook during their lesson time.
• Students will need to bring all of their music books each week as well as  their own pencil (no borrowing Mrs. Valerie’s)
• If a parent chooses to sit in on a lesson, they must wear a mask. No siblings will be allowed to sit in lessons or wait inside the studio.

Should we begin in person lessons and then receive an official directive that changes the social distancing requirements, we will reassess and make adjustments to in-person procedures or continue lessons online.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Dry Cough
• Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

In order to maintain the safety and well being of myself and all my students, I will ask that if the student or any member of the student’s household is experiencing or has experienced any of the above symptoms within 14 days of their lesson date, the student will not attend an in-person lesson and would opt to have online lessons until the symptoms have passed. I reserve the right to send a student home if they show up to an in-person lesson with any of the above symptoms. If a student or any member of their household is diagnosed with COVID-19 I would ask that the student stay home in quarantine and continue lessons online until the 14 day quarantine period is over and/or you receive a negative test result. PLEASE act responsibly and with concern for your fellow musicians when you attend lessons.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Musically Yours, 

Mrs. Valerie

Valerie Wilkerson

(210) 859-6702

JoyfulNoiseMusicOS@gmail.com