Newsletter

Sound House News, July 2026

WELCOME

Please take a moment to read this month’s Sound House Newsletter. I send these emails to make sure that we’re on the same page and that you never miss out on fun (often free) extracurricular opportunities. 

For your reference, the most recent newsletter is always available at SoundHouseVA.com/Newsletter.

SCHEDULING REQUESTS

I’ve been experiencing a significant uptick in rescheduling requests. Occasional rescheduling is expected and totally normal. I’m doing my best to stay flexible so that all thirty-four of my students are getting the consistent guidance and feedback they need to develop musical skills. However, for the studio to effectively function, I ask that rescheduling stays an occasional request instead of becoming a regular ask. When I enroll students, it’s for a specific day and time of the week within my existing teaching schedule. 

If needed, please review the “Missed Lessons and Rescheduling” portion of our studio policies: “Sound House does not charge for lessons missed due to illness or emergency, but does prefer to reschedule when possible. To reschedule, students may email Maddi@SoundHouseVA.com with their availability. If the student cannot reschedule, Sound House will apply payment for the missed lesson to the following month’s total. Sound House does charge for lessons missed due to reasons other than illness or emergency. This includes absences for other commitments, personal days, and vacations. With enough advanced notice, Sound House will often be able to offer alternate availability for students who must miss a scheduled lesson for reasons other than illness or emergency, but rescheduling will be limited to the teacher’s availability.”

For your reference, the full studio calendar is always available at SoundHouseVA.com/Calendar. On mobile, click the top right corner of the calendar to select the “Schedule” or “Week” views; the default “month” view is impossible to read on a phone. 

BOOKKEEPING

Attendance: Our goal this year is to achieve a 94% attendance rate. Rates so far this year: January = 93.46%, February = 92.50%, March = 93.28%, April = 95.65%, and May = 96.19%. In June, we achieved an attendance rate of 92.79% or 103 lessons attended out of 111 scheduled (or rescheduled). 

Payment reminder: Please pay for all scheduled lessons at the beginning of the month. In July, there are four Mondays and Tuesdays, five Wednesdays and Thursdays, and two Fridays. If you think that you may have a payment carrying over from a previous month, please check your Studio Notes document or send me an email requesting clarification.

Payment policy information is always available at SoundHouseVA.com/Policies and all payment methods are available at SoundHouseVA.com/Pay. 

MELODY LARUE RELEASES EP

Sound House student and song-maker Melody Larue (formerly of The Sunstones), has released a five-song EP called if i’m being honest. Here’s what she has to say about it: “if i’m being honest is an accumulation of thoughts I’ve never really known how to say out loud. This EP explores feelings I typically keep hidden: the need for control alongside the desire for chaos, inexplicable anguish, resentment toward friends, spiraling thoughts, and other parts of myself that are difficult to admit. Each song sounds a little different, ranging from electropop to indie/alternative pop, but they are all connected by the idea of revealing uncomfortable feelings. These songs are a glimpse into the side of me that most people don’t usually get to see, but also a reminder that sometimes the feelings we hide are the ones we have in common.” 

I’m really proud of the work that Melody put into this project, and I hope you’ll check it out. It’s available on all streaming platforms. Follow this link to access if i’m being honest on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, or bandcamp. 

if i’m being honest EP cover design by Melody Larue

IDEAS FOR IMPROVING PRACTICE HABITS

Stanford behavior scientist BJ Fogg has a recipe for successfully developing new behaviors like music practice: B = MAP or Behavior = Motivation, Ability, Prompt. Below, I’m sharing some ideas for improving your practice behaviors by increasing your motivation, ability, and prompts. 

Parents of young music students, as you adapt some of these ideas for your kids, expect them to require your guidance. Children do require a lot of support with practice. The benefits of early music education are worth the effort for those committed to the journey. Music lessons positively impact brain health and function, physical coordination, emotional processing and expression, development of identity and confidence, social opportunities, cross-curricular study, and more.  

Ideas for practice motivation:  

  • Watch live performances of favorite vocalists, musicians, and songwriters on YouTube. Write about your observations or discuss with a friend.
  • Plan a time – weekly or monthly – to perform for friends or family members. This could be a five-minute concert via video chat, a ten-minute living-room demonstration of scales and reading exercises, or a fifteen-minute post-dinner concert of new original material.
  • Seek out and then commit to performance opportunities like karaoke, open mics, talent shows, recitals, or even performing “The Star Spangled Banner” at local events.
  • Choose simple recording technology (a cassette tape recorder, an old phone, a field recorder). Record yourself practicing, listen/watch back, and give yourself notes. 
  • Parents who are trying to motivate a child to practice, try learning a song yourself. Monkey see, monkey do. You’re an influential role model, and leading by example goes a long way. (My parents were not musicians, but even just watching them sing and dance around the house made me want to make music.)

Ideas for making it easier to practice, increasing ability: 

  • Keep all practice materials in a visible and easy-to-access spot. Keep your instrument on a stand instead of hiding it away in a case. Open up your method book or sheet music and place it on a music stand next to your instrument. If you need an amp to play, have it plugged in and ready to go; just turn the power off between practice sessions. 
  • Place a mechanical egg timer with your other practice materials. Physically measuring the time that you’re devoting to your craft can help with focus. Plus, the little “ding!” at the end of your session may start to feel like a delicious little dose of dopamine. 
  • Vocalists can practice warmups and workouts in the car. Queue up an album and follow along as you ride. Singing drivers, only attempt this if you’re experienced and skilled behind the wheel and driving on low-risk roads.

Ideas for practice prompts: 

  • Wear a music-themed ring, bracelet, or necklace that will remind you to practice whenever you see it. A necklace that holds a guitar pick is a functional option.
  • Set up a practice log and plan to give yourself a small reward each time you complete a certain number of practice goals. Examples of goals and rewards:
    • One week of daily practice earns me a special dessert on Sunday. 
    • Twenty hours of practice earns me attendance at one local show. 
    • One month of consistent practice earns me a vinyl record of my new favorite album.
  • Piggyback practicing onto another existing habit. If you read before bed, try practicing and then reading before bed. If you have a cup of coffee in the morning, try practicing while you sip your morning coffee.