Buy a Guitar, Change the World

12/30/2018

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 18, 2018

It's the adventures of Sparkles and helping you race to the finish of the holiday season this week in the Music Authority Family Newsletter.

Buy a Guitar, Change the World (Locally)

News that Parson's is closing, after over 140 years in business, hit me pretty hard last week. It was a reminder that being a local business is difficult. From credit card processing fees (imagine what Music Authority could do with an extra $2,000 per month) to insurance (you don't even want to know that number) to Snow Days (the average snow day costs the store almost $2,000 in lost lessons alone).

For those of us who struggle through the hard times to enjoy the good, it's about passion. We love what we do. We never go to work.

Why should you buy locally when it's easier to stop by that big box store that stocks guitars at Christmas? Or even better, pull up Amazon and order online!

A local business is local. Music Authority has a staff of over 30 people. We're all local, spending money locally, paying taxes locally, and supporting local charity. When you support one local business, you're actually spreading your dollars through your own community. I buy groceries at the Cumming Harvest Farmers Market (supporting local growers). I shop at the Collection (providing jobs and supporting local artisans). I pay taxes in Forsyth County. I am not a CEO in another state.

A thriving sales floor is necessary to the music school. Sales support the store in a way that allows us to keep our lessons prices as low as possible. If we stop sales, either lessons prices must go up or the lessons programs will close.

Music Authority provides jobs to the community (over 30 of them) and hires from our own customer and student base when possible. We also support local charity, both publicly and privately. A portion of every dollar you spend at Music Authority goes back into the community through charities like CASA of Forsyth County, Music4CHIEF, The Forsyth County Humane Society, and more.

And then there's service. If you have a problem with anything you purchase from us, you have the opportunity to come in and talk to the owner of the store. We'll always do our best to make it right. We've replaced guitars, cables, fixed amps, and gone to the manufacturer to fight on behalf of our customer. Need a repair to your Taylor Guitar? No problem. We're a Silver Certified Taylor Repair Shop.

I know it's easy to sit at your kitchen table, sipping coffee, still in your slippers and pjs. Amazon comes up on your phone, a few taps of your fingers, and boom! That guitar is on it's way to your house.

It takes time to get dressed (honestly, come on down in your PJ's. We won't mind.). It takes effort to get in your car and drive down. But once you get here. we'll work with you to figure out what is the right purchase for you. (Not try to sell you the guitar our vendor is pushing us to sell.) We'll listen to your needs, your budget, why the color red is important, and Andrew will even make you a cup of coffee if you like.

Local businesses are important to the life of a community. We're proud to be part of Forsyth County. We're proud to be part of the community of Music Authority Family. And we hope, with your help, we will be here for years to come.

- Melissa A. Loggins, Owner
#MusicAuthorityFamily

Click Here to Log In to Your Lessons Account

The Adventures of Sparkles

Have you noticed our elf, Sparkles, this year? She's been all about gratitude this year - leaving thank you gift for teachers and staff (and for the staff's pets), showing up at concerts (sometimes on stage), and helping with decorations. Look for her the next time you're at Music Authority!

Pedals - The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Whether you have a beginning guitarist or bassist, or a professional in your house, pedals are always a welcome addition to any guitar or bass rig. Students should all start with a pedal tuner. Not the most fun of pedals, it IS the most important pedal on the pedal board. Stop by today and we'll talk to you about your pedal options!

Free Lessons Giveaway
Pay your statement in full on time, be entered to win a month of free lessons in February.

Rules:
1.        Your statement must be paid in full by the end of the last lesson your student attends in December.  (You must have a balance of $0.)
2.        Your student must have actively attended lessons in December.
3.       Free month of lessons is good for February only, for one student on one instrument.  Missed lessons must e made up, no credits will be issued for free lessons.
4.       The value of the free lessons prize is $105.00.
5.       Drawing will take place in January.  Winner will be notified before February payments are due.

Not in Lessons at Music Authority? Sign Up Here!

Merry Christmas from Music Authority's Eclipse!

1 Comment

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 11, 2018

12/11/2018

0 Comments

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 11, 2018

Welcome to the new Music Authority Family newsletter! Less information, cleaner layout, the news you need!

Being Present

A few weeks before our Fall Show, we had a situation threaten to sideline one of our bands. Two of the members were forced to drop out of the band (through no fault of their own) less than a month before the concert. Since a band is a team, and each member is dependent on other members to succeed, the whole band was in danger of not being able to play.

Instead, two senior musicians stepped up to fill the spots. The resulting band was a hit of the show, performing a difficult song beautifully. This success isn't a single minded praise on the students who stepped in. It's a compliment to all the students.

As students move out of the beginning phases of performance (when the focus is not being afraid, remembering their music, and just figuring out what to do on stage), we hold them to a higher standard. We want to see them come out of their box - stage presence and movement become a bigger focus. Are you smiling on stage? Did you stand in one spot the whole time? Were you aware your guitar's volume was turned down? Are you listening to the whole band?

After these skills begin to improve, we focus on the most important (and most difficult) part of their skills. Are you being present? Are you aware another band is struggling? Are you willing to give up some time to help? Can you help the beginner in your group feel more comfortable? Did you notice your singer is afraid to move? Can you walk up to her and smile during your song, help her to find that ever-important stage presence?

Being present is about Situational Awareness. Is the musician aware of his space on stage and in the rehearsal room? Are they respectful of each other and willing to speak up in a respectful manner when something is wrong? Or are they going to simply blame the rest of the band for a problem and walk away? Is the musician ready and willing to help others?

These are tools that go beyond the music we hope we are imparting on your child. Sometimes the lessons are hard. Sometimes we have to let students make a mistake to learn. It's hard on us. We want them all to succeed all the time. But Being Present isn't learned by being right all the time.

My birthday is December 4. One year, I had a dress rehearsal on that day. The rehearsal didn't go well and at the end of the rehearsal I said some pretty harsh things and then told the (all adult) cast to "just go home." No one moved. They all looked very uncomfortable, eyes of the floor, dancing from foot to foot. A dear friend of mine was in the show. She walked up and whispered to me, "We have a cake and presents for you."

Talk about humility.

But I learned a lesson. I wasn't present in the moment that day. I didn't remember that (A) dress rehearsal is always terrible, and (B) what I took as talking through rehearsal was the cast trying to pass around a birthday card for everyone to sign. Had I been present, I might not have stuck my foot in my mouth.

Thank you for being part of our Music Authority Family. We hope your students are growing and learning tools to carry them through life. We hope the lessons we teach go beyond the music.

- Melissa A. Loggins, Owner
#MusicAuthorityFamily

Click Here to Log In to Your Lessons Account

Camp Registration Open

Register today for Summer Camp! We offer four camps each year: Rock Camp (2 sessions), Rock Camp, Jr., and Broadway Camp. Register by December 31, 2018 for an early registration discount.

Music Authority Welcomes Pearl

Music Authority is happy to welcome Pearl drums to the Music Authority Family. These drums make the perfect Christmas present - and set up is included! (It takes us about 60 minutes to set up and tune a drum set, something we do every day.)

Don't Be Past Due!

Payments are due on your last lesson of the month for the next month in advance. If you're leaving town for the holidays, don't forget to pay before you leave.

As a special perk, anyone who is paid in full at the end of their last lesson of December will be entered in a drawing for a free month of lessons in February. See the front desk for details.

Not in Lessons at Music Authority? Sign Up Here!

Happy Holidays from the cast of Rented Christmas

0 Comments

Buy a Guitar, Change the World

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 18, 2018

The Adventures of Sparkles

Pedals - The Perfect Stocking Stuffer

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 11, 2018

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 11, 2018

Camp Registration Open

Music Authority Welcomes Pearl

Don't Be Past Due!

Music Authority

Archives

Categories

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!

Location

Hours

Telephone