Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Hello SOUNDS Academy Family!

I hope that you all are doing well and staying safe at this time. I hope that you all are adjusting well and being resilient while smiling. We are adapting our systems in order to bring music education resources to you all in an efficient manner.

Thank You for Helping Us

I would like to thank all of those that are helping us fundraise through our March Madness: 10-20-30 Campaign, Donating your monthly lesson costs, Facebook Birthdays, and other avenues. It is truly appreciated.

Resource Webpage for All Programs

We are currently posting music education content for your children. We have videos, games, and lessons that can be learned from a computer, tablet, or cell phone. This page will be periodically updated as we find more resources to share with you. You can find our page by clicking HERE.

Closures

SOUNDS Academy will be teaching through virtual platforms until further notice.

1-on-1 Lessons 

Although we can not meet face to face and we are shut down, we are hosting online lessons at this time. We have over 75 students taking advantage of this resource, participating in classes during their regularly scheduled times. If you are not set up for lessons at this time and would like to be, please send an email to mat@soundsacademy.org to make a request.

For organizational and liability reasons, we are standardizing our platform to use Skype for our online lessons. We found this to be the best way to keep families and teachers virtually safe while continuing lessons. I have attached an addendum to the Handbook that covers the online lessons policy.

Click HERE to learn more about Online Lessons.

Thank You

As we are all rapidly learning about this global pandemic, I would like to thank you all for being flexible and patient.  to our teachers for being willing to try online lessons and navigating the learning curb.  to our parents for sending suggestions, comments, and concerns and continuing to work with us during this difficult time. to our students for showing perseverance and leadership as they continue to practice on their own.  to our Board of Directors for the Emergency Meetings and the suggestions and resources as things shift every few hours. Last but not least,  to Mat and Dominic for the constant research and pivoting as we try to figure this out. I see the sacrifices that all of you are making and I appreciate it.

The future continues to be uncertain in regard to when we will reach the apex and see a decline in cases. However, know that we are here for you. Please let me know if you need assistance or additional resources as we navigate through this.

Thanks,

Kirk Johnson

• Students, patrons, volunteers, staff, and instructors who are ill or experiencing acute respiratory illness symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath need to stay home, and should not return to lessons or classes until they are symptom-free, without medication, for at least 72 hours.
• We are asking that you notify the Director of SOUNDS Academy if you become a person under investigation. (Please click here for details about evaluating and reporting persons under investigation for COVID-19.)

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash or sanitize your hands. If no tissue is available, use elbows to cover coughs and sneezes (do not use hands).
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask
• Wash your hands often and vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash hands often with soap and water.
• If you travel often, CDC has specific guidance for travelers here.
• It is currently flu season, so get your flu vaccine if you haven’t already.

Artist Relief Project
•    Any artist in any discipline who has been impacted by COVID19-related cancellations and closures may apply for assistance.

Artist Relief Tree
•    Anyone who is an artist (of any kind) can request funds. Requests are fulfilled with a flat US$250 on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Arizona Commission on the Arts
•    Relief Funds Around
•    Short Term Jobs
•    Long Term Solutions
•    Governmental Resources

Arizona Commision on the Arts
•    Open to individual residents of Arizona who are 18 years of age or older whose primary source of income is related to artistic production, teaching artist residencies, arts and cultural events, or contract work with nonprofit arts organizations. Provides grants of $500-$1,500.

Billboard
•    A State-by-State Resource Guide for Music Professionals Who Need Help During Coronavirus Crisis

COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
•    Virtual Events and Seminars

COVID-19 Emergency Funding and Artist Resources
•    List of emergency funding resources

Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund
•    For musicians who have lost income due to a cancelled gig as a result of the Coronavirus / Covid-19 outbreak.

National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM)
•    Small Business Relief Resource
•    Paid Family and Medical Leave
•    Unemployment Assistance
•    Policy Updates

Rauschenberg Emergency Grants
•    The fund provides one-time cash grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses caused by one-time, unexpected medical emergencies.

Small Business Grants Program
•   Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to small businesses to help during this challenging time.

Sweet Relief
•    Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. Sweet Relief offers many services and resources in addition to financial assistance.

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
•    Online grant workshops designed to illuminate the various grant programs housed at the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo as well as funding opportunities through the State of Michigan.