Hello Music Parents!
What a crazy time we’re living through right now! I’d just like to touch base about music related things and let you know how I plan to move forward with music education while we are all trying to stay safe, sane, and healthy in our homes. MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES My main goal is to provide musical opportunities rather than musical obligations. Over the next couple of weeks, I will re-vamp the Music @ Monterey website (https://musicatmonterey.weebly.com/) so that it has various practice resources for students on the different instruments, as well as voice for the choir singers. 10 to 15 minutes of practice a day (for those who are able to) can keep musical skills up, especially for those who are just beginning their instrument. In addition to practicing, I will provide alternate musical instruction and information that will be accessible to those who can’t practice for a variety of reasons. INSTRUMENTS Students were instructed to bring their instruments home for Spring Break, but I know there are quite a few remaining in the music room. On Thursday and Friday of this week, I will (with clean, thoroughly washed and sanitized hands) place instruments from the shelves onto the floors by instrument type. They will then sit there ‘in quarantine’ over the weekend and will be available for pick-up the week of April 6-9. Instructions on when your child’s pick-up time will be will come via e-mail from Monterey Admin, Ken Andrews, in the next few days. I will be in my office for the pick-up times to supervise but will be maintaining distance as per the health ministry’s guidelines. INSTRUMENT RENTALS If you are renting an instrument, I do encourage students to keep playing and keep developing their musical skills if it is possible to keep practicing. I understand families may be experiencing some significant financial hardships and employment instability with the current situation and that some rentals will need to go back. If you need to return your instrument, please contact your rental company ahead of time. They are accepting scheduled instrument returns only, not drop-ins. Long & McQuade: (250) 384-3622 https://www.long-mcquade.com/ Tapestry Music: (250) 590-0752 https://www.tapestrymusic.com/ GRADE 7/8 MUSIC TOUR I have already begun the process of cancelling the music tour with Ellison Tours, our travel company. We are currently awaiting an official district letter mandating that no field trips will occur in the month of May. Once Ellison receives this letter, they can process our refund. My priority is to refund families as soon as that refund is processed. I am not able to process any refunds before Ellison officially refunds the Music Parents Association. GOALS MOVING FORWARD My goal in all this is to continue to provide musical opportunities for the students. This is not just practicing and playing, but also musical appreciation and keeping students excited and interested in music in all its many forms. I will continue to update you as this evolves (it is uncharted territory for me as my musical classes have always been participatory and experiential). I am greatly missing our classes, with all their energy, enthusiasm, and wit, as well as the community we’ve created. I’m greatly looking forward to the day that we can all meet up and MAKE SOME NOISE! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or even just musical inspirations and ideas you’d like me to share. Please take care, do what you can to maintain your health and your mental well-being, and I wish you all the best. Sincerely, Michelle Dyler Music Director Monterey Middle School
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AuthorMs Dyler is the music director at Monterey Middle School Archives
September 2022
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