Holiday Sparkles and Spirits – December 3

Announcing the 4th annual Holiday Sparkles & Spirits! – a wine and jewelry auction to benefit The Joy of Music School. On Thursday, December 3rd, supporters of the School will gather for a unique holiday event.

This year’s event is shaping up to be better than ever. A fabulous selection of wines will be accompanied by an eclectic assortment of jewelry by artisans from across the country.

The evening is highlighted by a one-of-a-kind performance from students of the School. Holiday songs will be played by talented students participating in the program, and carols will be sung by members of the Youth Choir. What better way to witness the results of The Joy of Music School’s efforts than to see a live student performance!

A silent auction will be held throughout the night and a live auction will be the main event for the evening. Spectacular wine and jewelry items will be sold to the highest bidder.

Tickets are $75 per person. Admission includes exquisite heavy hors d ‘oeuvres, wine and cocktails.

Purchase your tickets today!
Contact the Joy of Music School at 865.525.6806

 ABOUT THE JOY OF MUSIC SCHOOL

At the Joy of Music School, weekly lessons and instruments are provided to disadvantaged and at-risk kids at no charge. The Joy of Music School is a facility where kids, regardless of financial status, come to learn and play music in a caring, nurturing environment. The School was founded in 1998 in Knoxville, Tennessee, upon the belief that all young people should have the opportunity to experience and create music regardless of income.

 SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES for Holiday Sparkles and Spirits

This event needs your help to make it a success. Not only is this a great opportunity to help a worthy charity, it’s a great way to promote your business to others in the philanthropic community. You can support this event in these ways:

$5,000 Title Sponsor (1 available)

. Your company name/logo will be featured in all press, publication materials, website, signage, related event materials.
. Your name/company will be listed in the invitation and program.
. You will receive (4) four complimentary tickets to attend the event.
. You will be the guest of honor, featured during our announcements to the attendees.
. You/your company will receive a featured article in a 2010 Joy of Music School newsletter.

 $2,500 Presenting Sponsor (2 available) (1 SOLD)

. Your company name/logo will be featured in all press, publication materials, website, signage, related event materials.
. Your name/company will be listed in the invitation and program.
. You will receive (2) two complimentary tickets to attend the event.
. You will be mentioned during our announcements.

$1,500 Music / Parking Sponsor (SOLD)

. Your company name/logo will appear on signage around the night’s musical performance.
. You will receive (2) two complimentary tickets to attend the event.
. You will be mentioned during our announcements.

 $1,000 Catering Sponsor (2 available) (1 SOLD)

. Your company name/logo will appear on signage throughout catering tables and server trays.
. You will receive (2) two complimentary tickets to attend the event.
. You will be mentioned during our announcements.

 $1,000 Bar Sponsor (2 available) (1 SOLD)

.Your company name/logo will appear on signage at the bar areas.
.You will receive (2) two complimentary tickets to attend the event.
.You will be mentioned during our announcements.

 $750 Children’s Choir Sponsor (1 available)

.Your company name/logo will appear on signage during the children’s choir musical performance.
.You will receive (2) two complimentary tickets to attend the event.
.You will be mentioned during our announcements.

 $500 Silent Auction Sponsor (1 available)

. Your company name/logo will appear on signage throughout the silent auction tables.
. You will be mentioned during our announcements.

 $500 Live Auction Sponsor (1 available) (SOLD)

.Your company name/logo will appear on signage throughout the live auction tables.
.You will be mentioned during our announcements.

 AUCTION ITEM DONATIONS

Can you donate items to be included in the silent or live auctions? If you’re a wine collector, a restaurateur, jewelry designer or just love gems and jewelry, you can donate items to The Joy of Music School that will help raise much needed funds to help support programs.

Jewelry: Single items or paired sets are welcome. The more fabulous, the more popular!
Wine: Single bottles, sets, verticals and cases are always a plus for the auction. Themes are a big hit!
Sorry, no gift certificates. All auction items must be accompanied by a donation form.
We will use this information to value the item(s), categorize it for the auction, and process your donation for the IRS.
All donations are tax-deductible gifts to The Joy of Music School, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Notes From the Road – Our Outreach Teacher Reports

Will Carter, our Outreach Teacher, reports from his travels to area organizations that host kids who cannot make it to the Joy of Music School building for lessons:

The outreach program has been extremely busy in 2009. I am teaching weekly, year-round, at the following Boys and Girls Clubs: Halls/Powell, Christenberry, Vestal, Laura Cansler, and Caswell. Also, this year I completed  a summer program at Fulton High School for the great kids of the Emerald Youth Foundation (EYF).  This program  was a successful collaboration between the Joy of Music School and EYF’s Mt. Zion site.

The environments at the Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC) and the EYF are very different. At the Boys and Girls Club, there is no “final class” of the year; the program is continuous, grouping me with many of the same kids each week throughout the school year and summer.  As a result, our work at the Boys and Girls Club can be as detailed as the children’s interest allows.  We have the freedom to spend a couple of classes on the same subject without having to worry about the urgency of finishing within a set number of classes.  On the other hand, the Emerald Youth Foundation tends to run its programs in blocks, such as its 4-week summer program or its six-week school-year program.  Although this keeps things varied and interesting for the kids, it does provide some teaching challenges, among them is trying to condense a lot of music education into a few weeks of classes. There is so much I want to teach and, by comparison, so little time. But, the EYF kids and I get the job done, and we have a great time doing it.

The summer program at the Emerald Youth Foundation lasted only four weeks this year, during which time each group of children attended two of my 30-minute music classes per week. Consequently, we had to pull together a crash course of sorts to make the best use of our time together.  This curriculum covered everything from basic music appreciation and style distinction to sight-reading rhythms and learning to read notes on the staff.  The children ranged in age from 5 to 10 years of age, which in turn provided yet more teaching challenges; not only did the children have varying levels of maturity, but they also had different levels of reading ability and comprehension.  Simple tasks such as writing examples on the chalkboard became less simple. I took extra care to make sure everything was verbalized several times, so the little ones would stay engaged and didn’t have to wrestle with chalk. Plus, I always asked for questions on each subject to check their curiosity and interest levels. I gave a short, multiple choice quiz on the last day of class, and, as you might guess with that wide age range, the test results varied greatly from child to child.  But the overall mission was accomplished. The kids knew a whole lot more about music than they did on day one of our summer musical adventure.

Despite my short time at the Emerald Youth Foundation, I know the program was effective and educational for the students (as well as for me).  If I could do it again knowing what I know now, I believe there are things I would alter slightly.  But one thing for sure I know I learned: Now, I have a realistic grasp of how much music teaching you can actually squeeze into eight classes if you really try!

Volunteer Opportunities – Musical – And Not So Musical

What makes the Joy of Music School unique? Volunteers. Other organizations utilize volunteers, some to a high degree. But this School literally runs on volunteers. But not all volunteers here are musicians.

Teachers

It’s no secret that all of the private music lessons the School provides, over 100 each week, are taught by volunteer teachers. Some volunteers are professional music teachers and performing musicians; some are students at the University of Tennessee. Most, though, are everyday people who have a background in musical training and a passion for music, plus a desire to share those with others. If you have musical training, fundamental knowledge of music theory, understand how your voice or instrument works, and a strong desire to pass this knowledge along to the next generation, you have the basic components of a volunteer teacher. Toss in a little love for working with kids, and you’re well on the right path. All we ask is a half an hour a week.

Strong, Caring Hands

Not everyone has a talent for music or the knack for working with kids. But they might still have the desire to help in some way. For example, the School recently received a much needed facelift, made possible by some very gracious and generous donors. Before the painting could begin, though, furniture, cabinets, libraries, file drawers, pictures, chairs, computers, tables and a host of other items had to be removed from the rooms. This included two rooms packed to the brim with musical instruments. These items required strong yet caring hands to go from one room to another without damage. It was volunteers (most them non-musicians) who provided all the strength, skill and grace needed to successfully move literally tons of items between rooms during the three-phase renovation process. If not for the volunteers, the School’s meager staff of two full-time and three part-time employees simply would not have been able to do all the required work. There are plenty of opportunites like this throughout the year. Let us know if you’d like to help.

I’ll Fold, You Stamp

When the School sends out fundraising letters and other literature to keep the community informed of our presence, progress and needs, a “Mailing Party” is organized. The thousands of pages that need to be printed, collated, folded, stuffed, labeled, stamped and sorted requires sharp minds and tough fingertips, but does not require any musical training. For folks who enjoy working closely with others and immediate gratification, volunteering to help with a Mailing Party can be a perfect fit!

Dirty Work

We are a School with property to care for. The parking lot and landscaped grounds require TLC just like our students. Volunteers are again an invaluable resource when it comes to helping with lawn care and grounds maintenance. There’s no audition, and if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, you might still be able to carry a bucket. That’s where you can fit in! The School is responsible for approximately 500 feet of fence line and 400 feet of grass-lined sidewalk, also known as the “parkway.” While the beautiful landscaping–rosebushes, laurels, trees and groundcover– intensify the beauty of the School, this is East Tennessee, and weeds are very happy here. It takes a few groundskeeping parties per year to sweep the parking lot, weed the beds, remove deadwood, trim bushes, keep the vines in check, and various other tasks, to keep the School looking beautiful and inviting for its students, the community it serves … and, of course, all of our wonderful volunteers.

Summer Reminiscence of a Joyful Year

Joy of Music School Administrator, Barbara Coates, put her thoughts down in an essay early this summer. Here’s what was on her mind:

When I joined the team at the Joy of Music School, I was enthusiastically drawn to the School’s mission of providing music to financially disadvantaged children. But, as is usually the case in a not-for-profit organization, the mission statement is not always able to elucidate a complete snapshot of the student’s experience (or their family’s) with an organization. At the School, music is the beginning, but it is also the vehicle to so much more.

After the beginning of the school year in August, I quickly learned that the ½-hour music lesson provided to each student is only one portion of what each family receives from its involvement with the School. After a few weeks getting to know the families, it became apparent that each ½-hour time slot became more than a lesson; it was a window into a visit. Through the course of the school year, I experienced parents visiting with other parents, children making friends with other children, and my developing respect for and friendship with the families. This natural by-product of their time spent the School is truly a hidden and endearing aspect of the School’s program. These families, many of whom have been attending the Joy of Music School for years, create a social structure in our lobby. They get comfortable with their lesson time, on their day of the week and with their acquaintances who quickly become friends. Each week sees some of them eager to catch up with their friends and visit with the School’s staff. What joy!

In some instances, the lobby atmosphere has enabled some relationships to further develop outside of the school setting into deepening friendships. It has also fostered an atmosphere of families not only helping one another, but also helping me and the staff. There are families with language barriers who have become friends and are helping each other learn a new language. There are mothers who have specific challenges and needs who are looking to other families for advice and mentoring. There are older children who are guiding and helping the younger children. There is any amount of hands willing to help me when I ask for assistance. The School has borne witness to impromptu crochet classes, homework helping, envelope stuffing and serious competitions of UNO card games. Families are also occasionally presented with opportunities to attend other cultural events in the area. Tickets to concerts, plays and musical performances, which have been generously donated, have enhanced the lives of the School’s students and their families.

With so much goodwill, it is no wonder at the success of the Joy of Music School. The culmination of the past academic year might generally be considered to have been the recital at the Bijou Theatre. But for me, an equally important milestone was the baking of birthday cupcakes by one mother for another mother and the ensuing celebratory singing, sharing and general festive feeling. They were sad that their year and their weekly time together were coming to an end but happy for the friendship they had made. What a snapshot into the JOY of the School’s program. JOY in the provided musical opportunity, of course, but more JOY than can be detailed in an essay, a mission statement, a grant reporting, or a statistical documentation of our measure of success! Just JOY!

Jammin’ for Joy Nets Fun and Funds

The soulful blues and jazz of Slow Blind Hill, the pop/R&B stylings of the Atomic Horns and the 1960s mop-top sound of the Invaders were among the highlights of an unforgettable Jammin’ for Joy August 2 at Concord Marina’s Lakeside Tavern.

The event, one of the Joy of Music School’s most important fundraisers, was a smash hit. Under sunny skies, more than 120 friends of the School ate, drank, socialized and danced the hours away. The event raised over $4,000 that will go toward providing instruments and music lessons for kids who couldn’t otherwise afford them. Among the attendees were Mrs. Marilyn Dick, and Maggie Erickson.

The high point of this annual event is an exciting battle of the bands. This year the celebrity judges were Allison Kropff, anchor and reporter at WVLT-TV, Dr. Harold Black, U.T.’s Smith Professor of Finance, and Larsen Jay, president of DoubleJay Creative and president of the Joy of Music School board. Gary Loe, TV personality and voice of the Knoxville Ice Bears, served as the event’s emcee.

Once judges posted their scores, audience members were allowed to boost their favorite band’s point total by “bribing” the judges, with the money going to the School. In an intense, back-and-forth competition that raged for nearly an hour after the bands had stopped playing, the Invaders –first-time competitors–emerged as Jammin’ for Joy’s 2009 champions.

The Joy of Music would like to extend a special “thank you!” to PixelRange, which donated lighting for the event, to staging donor, TERI Productions, and to all our generous sponsors: The Trust Co., Comcast, Broadway Sound, Denneny ENT Consultants and finally C. Vaughn Leslie and Boys’ Night Out, who concluded the evening with a spirited set of R&B and Carolina beach tunes that truly left the audience wrapped in the joy of music.

 

Here’s a link to coverage in the Knoxville News-Sentinel: http://btop.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/09/jammin-for-joy-brings-out-the-bands/

School Year Opens in Renovated Joy of Music School

In the spring of 2009, a plan was formed to renovate the Joy of Music School, with the overall goal to give the School a “facelift” to benefit the students, staff and volunteers who visit the building every day. View the video showing “during and after” shots:

Funds were raised from four very generous private donors totaling $49,000. The work was completed in late August. The list of items completed in the renovation is impressive:
- Removed old wallpaper (4,836 sq ft)
- Removed existing base moldings (1,680 lf)
- Removed existing trim (5,100 lf)
- Removed old carpet (4,992 sq ft)
- Re-plastered walls (4,836 sq ft)
- Scraped, taped, & spackled walls (9,792 sq ft)
- Applied primer/sealer on walls (14,628 sq ft)
- Painted 2 coats of paint on walls (14,628 sq ft)
- Installed new flat trim (610 lf)
- Repaired, caulked, & puttied original 6” base (410 lf)
- Caulked all original door frames (30)
- Applied 2 coats of paint on all trim, door frames & wood base
- Installed new Sound Advice carpet tile (4,992 sq ft)
- Installed new vinyl cove base (1,680 lf)
- Turn old storage area into second musical instrument room
Due to intensive cost controls, in-kind donations from vendors, and proactive management of expenses, we are happy to report that these renovations came in under budget, allowing for the completion of these additional items:
- Primed & painted all shelves in supply room & closets
- Replaced damaged acoustical ceiling tiles (41)
- Built troughs to conceal exposed wires
- Built & painted new shelves for instruments in new expanded instrument rooms
- Installed thresholds on mechanical room & main room exit doors
- Re-hung all posters / pictures
- Installed used door on existing frame in mechanical room
- Installed in-ceiling sound proofing material in selected studios
- Installed weather stripping on doors of selected sound proofed studios
- Installed door guards in restrooms (4)
- Installed hand disinfectant dispenser at main entrance
- Installed new sump pump on exterior of rear wall to control flooding problems. That project installation included removing 12” x 14” of concrete, setting base, running power from main panel, running 100’ of 1” drain pipe, cutting black top & burying drain pipe in walkway, resetting blacktop, and installing metal screen box around sump pump for security.

In addition to the work completed by the contractors, these items were accomplished by the JoMS staff, further improving the environment and ability to service the students:
- Reorganized the placement of staff and teaching areas to maximize student learning
- Reorganized and inventoried the instruments in the newly expanded the instrument rooms (in progress)
- Reorganized and relocated the music library, giving better access to students / teachers (in progress)
- Reorganized and relocated the staff offices for more streamlined and effective management
- Purged many old items that needed disposal, clearing more area for teaching areas and new organized space.

The Joy of Music School staff was impressed, prompting one to comment, “I think the remodel is a breath of fresh air in the school. It will create a strong subliminal environmental “boost” for our students and it has already created a very prominent and beneficial improvement, both aesthetically and functionally, for the staff and volunteer teachers. As adult participants in the school, it is extremely encouraging to see the gracious support that is seen through this project.”
BUILDING – NEXT STEPS
This renovation is a dramatic improvement for the Joy of Music School. However, as owners of the building, there are several additional items that still need to be addressed to reduce maintenance time and expense, and insure the future value of the building.
- Roof repair / replacement

o Major patch/fix problem areas = est. $7,400
o Total roof replacement = est. $41,000

Mike Rayburn Benefit Concert A Smash Hit

“The World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso,” Mike Rayburn, internationally acclaimed guitarist/comedian, performed to a cheering crowd on May 17 to benefit The Joy of Music School. www.mikerayburn.com.

Mr. Rayburn has performed eight times at Carnegie Hall, is Billboard Magazine’s Solo Artist of the Year and was named Campus Entertainer of the Year for four years running. His Knoxville appearance was presented by the Knoxville Breakfast Rotary Club.

“I’m pleased to help the Joy of Music School and what they do to bring music into children’s lives,” Rayburn stated. Greg Maciolek, concert organizer stated, “we feel that bringing Mike to Knoxville was a great opportunity to help the Joy of Music School while providing a great evening’s entertainment.” “He lived up to his reputation as the guitar world’s answer to Victor Borge,” said Francis Graffeo, the Joy of Music School’s Executive Director.

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Knoxville Breakfast Rotary Club is a member of Rotary International, the world’s largest service club. Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations. www.knoxvillebreakfastrotary.org

 

The Joy of Music School was founded in 1998 in Knoxville, Tennessee upon the belief that all young people should have the opportunity to experience and create music regardless of income. Our mission is to provide quality music education programs for financially disadvantaged youth. www.joyofmusicschool.org

Spring Recitals At the Bijou Theatre: A First

Ta daaaaa!!!!! For the first time in JoMS history. Our great kids performed a recital in a real theatre on a real stage–Knoxville’s Bijou Theatre, downtown! The event took place on May 17 and the results were outstanding! Yes, everyone was nervous, but that was to be expected. All of the practicing and rehearsing in preparation for the big event paid off in grand style as the kids performed beautifully in a beautiful theatre!

Congratulations one and all!!!

Comcast Cable Running Joy of Music School Promos

Hi all,

 

Comcast is running 30-second general PSA spots for the School on all 45+ Comcast stations, including all digital, analog and HD channels, ongoing, year-round!

 

This comes at no cost to to the Joy of Music School via the generosity of Comcast Cable.  Also, Comcast will run a longer spot (which we have, thanks to Tom Backus of Jupiter Entertainment) for Video-on-Demand customers who can click to learn more about the School.

 

This is a generic spot and can run for the whole year. Every month Comcast builds a new schedule, and our spots will be built into that.

 

Every month Comcast will produce a report for us. Russell said it could be that in a given month we would get 1,000 spots, then the next month 500 or perhaps another month 2,000 spots, depending on other nonprofits’ events and the like. They might reduce our generic run periodically to make room for time-sensitive events for other nonprofits they are promoting.

 

Russell says Comcast has run almost $2.8 million worth of PSA’s for local nonprofits.

 

Thank you to Kristi Reynolds, who initially spoke with Russell about this! You rule, Kristi!!

 

A very big thank you to Tom Backus and Jupiter Entertainment.  Tom’s been down here shooting at the School, and back at his office editing and perfecting video, stills, music and voiceovers for us. Wow. That’s a guy who believes in the power of music!

 

And a very big THANK YOU, to Russell Byrd and COMCAST!!!!!

 

Frank Graffeo

Executive Director

 

P.S. if you want to see the 30-second spot, Tom Backus has posted it on YouTube: