CORNERSTONE MUSIC CAFE AND KLM MUSIC JOIN FORCES

Cornerstone Music Cafe and KLM Music are pleased to announce that we are joining forces to expand our learning community. This is an exciting time for both employees and our clients! Our greatest asset has always been the people that make up our community. By joining forces we increase the depth as well as the quality of that asset. Both Cornerstone and KLM strive to create positive inclusive environments for students of all ages whether in studio, in-home, individually or in groups.

KLM and Cornerstone believe that performance is a key part of musical education. Taking you from ‘Student/Studio to Stage’ is our goal. Our unique space that is both an intimate venue as well as music school allows us to create these opportunities. We know that community is key to the creative, fun experiences that mold well-rounded students. We look forward to working closely with our team of teachers, students, guardians and parents to ensure this transition is a positive value-added experience. Enhancing our collaborative ability to provide the highest standard of musical instruction while satisfying the needs of our valued clients is our goal. We are excited to embark on this new partnership adventure! We hope you will be as proud as we are to be founding a one of a kind culture in taking this step together. Inquire now or learn more about Cornerstone Music Cafe. Fun Fact: Between both companies, we have 48 years of combined music instruction experience! KLM Started in 1997. Cornerstone Music started in 1989.

MORE ABOUT THIS BIG NEWS!

We are excited to announce as of January 1, 2020, KLM Music will be merging with Cornerstone Music Café! Cornerstone has a long history of serving the community with music education, community events, live music, and the added bonus of delicious food and beverages! We are looking forward to joining forces to create a positive, inclusive environment for students of all ages in our valued music community.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

You should not expect any changes to your music lesson experience. Your teacher is still your music mentor, and you’ll have the same support from us in the office. Our offices are merging, so please read on for our new contact info! We are looking forward to joining forces with a company that values music and community as much as we do!

WE’RE MOVING IN TOGETHER!

Performance is a key part of music education, and we’re thrilled about our new home at Cornerstone Music Café, which is an intimate live music venue as well as a music school. KLM Music and Cornerstone will take our students from the Studio to the Stage, building community, creating unique opportunities, and offering fun experiences that mold well-rounded students. Cornerstone Music Café (our new home) is located in the SE community of Deer Ridge, just a hop skip and jump from our current location. We encourage you to check it out! >> https://www.cornerstonemusic.ca/

HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US?

As of Monday, December 9, we will share a phone number with Cornerstone Music. Please reach us at 403-278-3070. In the New Year, we’ll be at the new physical address: 14919 Deer Ridge Drive SE #139 Calgary, AB T2J 7C4. We look forward to even smoother planning and communication as we adopt more efficient scheduling tools. Starting in January, your fees will appear under the name “Cornerstone Music Café”. We care deeply about each student and are grateful that you’ve let us partner with you on your musical journey. We’re looking forward to this growth and meeting of the musical minds! Happy Holidays! Sylvia Johnston (Owner/Operator) Natalie Inga Gauthier (Office Manager)

GROUP UKULELE LESSONS AND INSTRUMENTS

Have you ever wanted to learn to play the ukulele? Dreading the freezing cold outside here in Calgary? Imagine yourself strumming along on a Hawaiian beach with the sounds of the waves crashing into shore… You may not be able to make it to Hawaii anytime soon but you can still learn to play the wonderful sounds of the ukulele. Who knows maybe you will make it to Hawaii one day and be able to play your ukulele on the beach! We do offer group ukulele lessons, so read on to learn more.

GROUP UKULELE LESSONS

Here at Cornerstone Music Cafe, we offer group lessons where people of all ages can learn to play the ukulele. It takes some work but is a relatively easy instrument to learn. Fewer strings than a guitar and obviously a lot smaller! And affordable too! A lot of our students really enjoy the group aspect of our ukulele lessons, you will get to meet others who want to learn and maybe you will even find a partner to jam with. Nothing better than bonding over music! We offer 8 week programs to teach you all the basics you need. After going through our ukulele course, you will be able to play several songs, be familiar with different strumming patterns, and know enough chords to learn many, many more or your favourite tunes! Imagine singing and strumming with your new friends, we promise it will make you smile. The ukulele is a great instrument choice for everyone from children to seniors. It is accessible and affordable, and sure to be fun! Take lessons privately or in a group setting – strum along in a class with our light-hearted and easy going instructors. You’ll be ready to jam wherever you go! Learn to play ukulele in our Calgary studios in our NW or SE locations. We offer expert ukulele lessons for beginners or those looking to refine their ukulele skills. The best way to learn ukulele is to start group classes with Cornerstone Music Cafe!

WE ALSO SELL UKULELES

Set on playing the ukulele already? We also sell the instruments! We have a wide selection of ukuleles. Not sure what to buy? Talk to one of our team members and let us guide you through the process of getting the right instrument in a colour you will love. Ukulele’s start from about fifty dollars, and expect to pay about $65.00 for a reasonable quality instrument like this:

SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR JANUARY

We will offer you a 20% discount on the purchase of a ukulele when you sign up for an 8-week course. Thanks for reading our post about group ukulele lessons and instruments! If you want to try out any of our instruments, feel free to stop by anytime or call us.

THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING UP YOUR MUSIC LESSONS

Something worth doing is never easy. Those are strong words, and they are true when it comes to learning to play a musical instrument. The importance of keeping up your music lessons cannot be overstated. It takes patience, hard work, dedication, and the ability to work through the rough patches that you will come across, and I promise you that it won’t always be easy. But should you see it through to the other side, the rewards will more than make it worth your while. Through my years of performance, I have long ago lost track of how many people told me they wish they would have kept going with their music lessons when they were younger, that one of their biggest regret is quitting, or that they wish their parents would have forced them to continue. It is a common story that I encounter all the time.

GET TO THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE

When students, especially children, express frustration with music, it doesn’t necessarily mean they hate it. More often than not, it means that they do not know what to do or where to start, or that they are facing a challenge, perhaps for the first time in their life, and are not equipped to overcome it. As educators and parents, it is important to get to the root of the issue. What is causing the student to be frustrated is more important than the fact that the student is frustrated. The reality is that many students will quit music at a very young age. But it is important to be clear and determine if a student is just going through a rough patch or if music is really not for them. Do they have the correct instrument? Is practicing a part of their regular routine, and are they practicing correctly? Do they have the right teacher? Are they playing music that interests them, and is it at an appropriate level of difficulty? The answer to these questions will help you determine if keeping up your music lessons is the right decision for you. There is not a single musician in the world who has not struggled at some point, or questioned their abilities or commitment to their craft. It is perfectly normal and there is only one way to get better: Don’t quit.

LEARNING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WILL HELP YOU

Learning a musical instrument will help you. It will teach you discipline, perseverance, work ethic, how to overcome challenges, how to organize your time. You will learn to believe in yourself, your abilities, develop your self-confidence, have the satisfaction of accomplishing something, and ultimately the pleasure of playing a musical instrument. The thing about practicing regularly is that you will get better. As you get better, you will have more fun playing. When you have fun, you will play more. As you play more, you will improve your skills and develop your repertoire. It is really that simple. And along the way, you will need the wisdom to understand that sometimes you won’t be as productive, and the patience to work through those phases.

KEEPING UP WITH MUSIC LESSONS WILL GET YOU HERE

CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SUCCESS

Students must be set up to succeed, and there are many factors that contribute to their success or failure. Parent and teacher support, along with proper practicing habits will go a long way to help create an environment for success.

IF IT WAS EASY, EVERYONE COULD DO IT

Watching a great performance is exhilarating. Playing a musical instrument is a special skill and doing it at a high level is a privilege reserved only for those who persevere. Remember that if it was easy, everyone could do it. For more information about our music lessons, please contact us, email us, or visit our website.