wncmusicacademy

Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, the Music Academy of WNC will move ALL private lesson students to an online lesson format during the Coronavirus outbreak.  The Music Academy will support faculty and students on three different applications:  Google Hangouts/Meet; Google Duo for Android devices; and FaceTime for IPhone devices.  Below are student connection procedures for each application.  Please contact your instructor or the Music Academy Director with any technical or connectivity questions.

Google Hangouts/Meet

1. Make sure your computer and/or Internet device has a built-in camera and microphone.
2. Please use the Google Chrome browser on your PC or MAC computer for maximum compatibility.  Mobile device users will need to download the Google Hangouts application for their device.
3. Instructors will email students a meeting invitation several minutes prior to their lesson.  Please check your email inbox, as well as your spam box, for this invitation.
4. Open the email with the online invitation.
5. Click on the “Join Meeting” button within the email.  If your instructor only sends you a meeting link then click on the meeting link within the email.
6. “Allow” Google Hangouts/Meet to access your camera and microphone.  Older Internet browsers without the Google Camera Plugin may also be instructed to download and install this plugin prior to their first lesson beginning.  Both of these steps in #6 will only need to be completed during the first lesson connection.  Future lessons will be allowed to skip this step after this initial setup.  Please use Google Chrome as your Internet browser for maximum compatibility.
7. Click the “Join Now” button.
8. You will now be connected to begin your lesson.

Google Duo for Android Devices

1. Open the Google Duo application on your Android device prior to your first lesson and grant Google Duo access to your camera and microphone.  Agree to any terms of service and conditions if this is the first time accessing Google Duo.
2. Your instructor will video call your cellphone number with the Google Duo application to start your lesson.
3. Answer the Google Duo video call to begin your lesson.

Facetime for Apple IPhone Devices

1. Open the Facetime application on your IPhone device prior to your first lesson and grant FaceTime access to your camera and microphone. Agree to any terms of service and conditions if this is the first time accessing FaceTime.
2. Your instructor will video call your cellphone number with the FaceTime application to start your lesson.
3. Answer the FaceTime video call to begin your lesson.

The Music Academy of WNC takes the health, safety, and well-being of our faculty, staff, students, and their family members very seriously.  We are implementing some protective safeguards in response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) as it spreads across our country.  For constant updates on the Coronavirus in Henderson County, please click HERE to be redirected to the Henderson County Department of Health’s COVID-19 Public Health Advisory page.  The North Carolina COVID-19 Response page is HERE.  And the Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 page is HERE.  Current North Carolina cases with map can be found HERE.

Current Status – UPDATED Tuesday, March 17, 2020

1. Private Lessons:  All private lessons will be moved to an online lesson format beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.  Music Academy faculty will primarily use Google Hangouts, Google Duo, or FaceTime for these online lessons.  Please consult directly with your teacher to determine which format works best for you, how online lessons will be initiated and conducted, and any necessary procedures that will allow for a seamless transition.  The Music Academy will be open for in-person lessons the week of March 16, 2020 but will offer an online lesson option during this transitional week if the student desires. Please consult immediately with your teacher if you wish to begin online lessons the week of March 16, 2020.  We will conduct online lessons one week at a time, reevaluate extending them for the upcoming week, and notify all students of available lesson options prior to the start of the upcoming week.  The Music Academy of WNC will maintain current studio policies during this transitional week and the weeks online lessons are conducted for all students.  Please contact the Music Academy Director HERE or call 828-693-3726 with any questions.
2. Ensembles and Music Classes:  All Spring semester ensembles and music classes have been postponed until further notice effective Monday, March 16, 2020. These ensembles and music classes include the Brio, Sonata, and Cadenza orchestras, the Serenata Chorale, the two string quartets, and all Beginning Strings classes.  We will reevaluate after two weeks to determine if these ensembles and classes will continue until the end of the semester, be postponed for additional weeks, or canceled for the remainder of the semester.
3. We are constantly disinfecting surfaces, furniture, door handles, keyboards, music stands, and common touch points within the building.
4. We ask our faculty, staff, students, and their family members to wash their hands with soap and water as well as use hand sanitizer prior to all in-person lessons, music classes, and ensembles held at the Music Academy.  Our restrooms are located in the back hallway.
5. We ask our students and their family members to refrain from attending in-person lessons, music classes, or ensembles if they are sick or showing any symptoms that are linked to the COVID-19 virus.  Family members of students are encouraged to remain in their vehicles instead of waiting for students in our lobby or other parts of the building during their Music Academy visit.
6. We encourage our faculty, staff, students, and their family members to use simple, everyday actions that protect us all from respiratory viruses, including frequent hand-washing and properly covering every cough or sneeze.
7. On Saturday, March 14, 2020, Gov. Roy Cooper, by Executive Order, closed the North Carolina Public School system (Grades K-12) for the next two weeks, beginning March 16th, due to Coronavirus concerns.  All North Carolina restaurants are now closed for dine-in customers by Executive Order as of March 17, 2020.  Henderson County has also declared a State of Emergency. New guidelines announced by our President on March 16, 2020 recommends all gatherings of 10 or more people be avoided.
8. We are monitoring the situation daily and will continue to take the recommended steps as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and our local governmental health agencies and providers. Be assured that we will reach out to our faculty, staff, students, and their family members immediately if the status of our operation changes.
9. This page is constantly updated with the latest information on our operational status and procedures at the Music Academy of WNC.  Please bookmark it so it can be frequently accessed.

Click HERE to check out our February 2020 newsletter.

Click HERE to check out our January 2020 newsletter.