[Edit 5/18/2020: since the middle of March we’ve been operating as an online-only music studio. Over the summer we’ll be making the transition back to a combination of in-person and online lessons based on the requirements of local health authorities.]

This morning I sent out the following email to parents and students in our Oakville studio. For all of us in the music teaching profession, you absolutely must become familiar with best practices regarding studio hygiene and online teaching in order that we can survive and move forward as a profession.

If you have any questions regarding best practices or how to successfully make the transition to going online as a teacher, feel free to contact me.

Hello parents and students,

Thank you to everyone who has come for lessons in the last few days and complied with our new policies regarding hand washing! To confirm, here are the latest revisions of our studio policies regarding safe hygiene:

1. We now require all students and parents in our Oakville studio to wash their hands in the main floor bathroom before coming into the studio for lessons.
2. We are regularly using alcohol-based wipes on the piano keyboards in order to maintain a fully sanitary environment.
3. If you are sick, do not attend your lesson. If you’re not feeling well, you can either try an online lesson or make up the lesson later.
4. If you arrive for your lesson and are not feeling well, we may ask that you leave immediately.

For Chris Foley’s and Natasha Fransblow’s studios, if you would at any time prefer to move to online lessons for the foreseeable future, we would be glad to oblige. We are experienced in online teaching and able to use a variety of video software such as WeChat, FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Hangouts.

We understand that with the extended March break, you might be on the lookout for safe activities for your children. If that is the case, feel free to contact my teaching assistant Allison Vest. Allison on staff at Brigham Young University in Rexburg, Idaho, and is available to give extra online piano lessons in the coming weeks in order to keep your kids busy in addition to their regular lessons. Allison’s email is avtheaccompanist [at] gmail dot com.

We will be monitoring the situation daily and will update you as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and please stay healthy!

Regards,

Chris Foley
Foley Music and Arts