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Why Summer Is a Great Time to Start (or Stick With) Music Lessons

Why Summer Is a Great Time to Start (or Stick With) Music Lessons
by Jason Riley – Guitarist, Performer, Music Educator

As both a performing musician and a passionate educator, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful music can be in people’s lives—especially for kids. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: there’s no wrong time to start making music. But summer might just be the best time.

At the St. Joseph Arts Academy, where I teach and help guide students and families on their musical journey, we’re coming off an incredible spring. We’ve freshened up the building with new paint, cleared the clutter with a major clean-up, and held our first “St. Joseph Kids Make Music Day,” which was a joyful, music-filled open house where we welcomed new faces and celebrated our love of music with the community.

Now, as we head into summer, I want to encourage every student, family, and future musician out there to keep the momentum going.

Why Keep Up Music Lessons in the Summer?

Summer often gets a reputation for being “off time” from structured learning—but I believe it’s actually the perfect opportunity to grow musically.

Without the pressure of school, many students finally have the time and headspace to:

  • Explore a new instrument they’ve always been curious about

  • Dive into a new style of music

  • Practice more intentionally

  • Double up lessons or try something creative and outside the box

At the Academy, we don’t shut down for summer—we ramp up. We perform at local events like the Museum Art Fair and Hawkfest Jazz & Blues Festival, and we welcome new students looking for meaningful, enriching summer activities that aren’t just more screen time.

Flexibility for Busy Schedules

I get it—families travel, kids head to camp, and routines get unpredictable. That’s why we’ve built flexible options into our summer programs, including:

  • Virtual lessons if you’re out of town

  • Video lessons that students can replay anytime

  • 5th-week and alternate time makeups

  • Guest instructors and specialty clinics

  • The option to send a sibling or friend in your place

  • Or even donate your lesson time to a deserving student at the YWCA or Noyes Home

We’ll work with your schedule. Just let us know how we can help.

Prime Lesson Times Don’t Last Long

If your student has a favorite teacher or a prime after-school slot, like Monday at 4:00 PM, summer is the time to hang onto it. We don’t pause during the summer, and those lesson times stay in demand. Staying enrolled means no scramble in the fall to get back in.

Summer Music Lessons = Confidence, Growth, and Fun

One of my favorite things as a teacher is watching students come back to school in the fall with more confidence, sharper skills, and a deeper love for their instrument—all because they kept going during the summer.

So if you’re thinking about starting lessons, or wondering whether it’s worth continuing through the summer, my answer is: absolutely. Let’s keep the music going—and make it one of the best parts of your summer.

Reach out anytime. I’d love to help you or your child find the right path, the right teacher, and the right groove.

Keep playing,
Jason Riley
Guitarist • Performer • Music Educator
StJosephArtsAcademy.com