Mozart’s most beloved opera will be performed in a semi-staged concert version with solo vocalists and chorus.

For more information, check out our Events page.

Howard County Public Schools are closing early today due to the coming snow. As per our standard inclement weather policy, all lessons from 3pm on are cancelled. Director’s office and school store are also closed, and walk-in hours are cancelled. Lesson times are usually available for making up for lost lessons. Please coordinate with the director and/or your instructor.

Now that we have had our first taste of snow, I wanted to review our Inclement Weather policy.

Our basic policy is to match up with Howard County Public Schools:

Cancellations that fall under this policy are not billed, and lessons should be rescheduled if possible. Any exceptions to this policy need to be clarified. If the teacher is present and ready to teach and a student is unable to attend, then the standard policy will be to bill the lesson and, when possible, provide a make-up.

Appropriate messages and alerts should be posted on the school web page for any day with questionable weather.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I look forward to a safe and productive Winter lesson session!

Howard County Public Schools opened 2 hours late today. Therefore, we are stating that liberal leave is in effect for all lessons scheduled prior to 2pm. Students and teachers should coordinate directly to clarify the status of lessons. Lessons after 2pm are scheduled as usual.

1:37pm – Howard County Public Schools just announced that all after school and evening activities are cancelled. Therefore, The Maryland Academy of Music is closed and all lessons are cancelled.

As of 1:00pm, Howard County Public Schools are open as usual. Teachers and students are advised to contact each other directly to make a decision about lessons and to reschedule as needed. Should Howard County Public Schools choose to close early, then we will be closed and all evening lessons are cancelled.

As some of you have probably already seen, the parking lot around our building is being re-surfaced. They have been blocking off sections of the parking lot at various times, which limits spaces available and access via car to our entrance area.

It should still be possible to get to the school’s entrance on foot.

Please exercise caution while on foot in the parking lot as there is fresh tar and asphalt in areas and with a project this size, it may not be clearly marked depending on which way you are coming from and where you are walking.

It is possible to get to the school through the Maryland Piano showroom at the front of the building. You can enter the showroom, go through the glass doors at the back of the showroom into the service hallway, and then through the glass doors into the school store and recital hall area. You may also enter the service hall through the large bay doors on the side alcove of our building next to the Industrial Deli.

Hopefully this project will be wrapped up shortly. Until then, you may wish to allow an extra 10 minutes to travel in for lessons for unusual parking or extra walking.

So far, the school’s new look is shaping up nicely and we hope everyone is as excited as we are to see how things will look when the last little patch of paint finishes drying.

Stacy and Cree have been doing some AMAZING work choosing colors and taking care of all the painting. If you like what you see, feel free to introduce yourself and give them some feedback!

Mrs. Balzer will be providing lessons for woodwinds, including Clarinet, Flute, Sax, and Recorder. She is also available for beginning piano and guitar students.

Be sure to visit our Private Lessons page for information on music lessons with Celia Balzer, or to register online.

Jackson Rowles

Our Student of the Month for June of 2010 is Jackson Rowles. Jackson has been studying piano with Tina Smith since November of 2008, and particularly enjoys having the opportunity to play duets during his lessons.

Jackson’s favorite composer is Mozart, and like Mozart he has also been composing music. Some of his masterpieces include Breakfast and A Night in the City. One of his favorite keys to work in is E Major.

Jackson’s goals are to continue studying and get better both at playing and composing. Showing a sensitivity and wisdom above and beyond his years, Jackson says, “You play with your heart, and your heart plays you.”

We look forward to seeing exciting things from Jackson in the years to come!

Sierra Adams on Guitar

Sierra is a fantastically consistent student, and shows perfectly how persistent efforts produce steady progress and results. This is a wonderful long-term approach to music study that helps one develop into a great musician and lifelong music lover.

Sierra particularly likes playing the classical style of guitar, including the Aaron Shearer preludes. She enjoys working with Said because of his sense of humor, and he shows her new techniques which allow her to play easier.

One of the things she is definitely going to get with her $20 Gift Certificate is a new supply of guitar picks, as she always seems to be losing them. And that, as much as anything, is the sign of a true guitarist!!

Congratulations, Sierra!!