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An October Reflection from Executive Director Hermeline Lens
As we move further into the school year and welcome the changing season of fall, I am reminded of how quickly life can change.
Schedules become fuller. Responsibilities shift. New opportunities appear, while unexpected challenges often find their way into our lives. As parents, students, educators, and community members, we spend much of the year learning how to adapt while continuing to move forward.
This year, one word has become especially meaningful at Jay’s Music Academy:
Persistence.
If you’ve visited our academy, you’ve probably noticed the large Persistence sign displayed in our lobby. While it serves as a daily reminder for our students, it has also become a powerful reminder for all of us.
As our team reflected on the year so far, we realized that each of us could identify a single word that captured our teaching journey. Some chose words like Persistence, Growth, Patience, Joy, or Adaptability. While our words may differ, each one tells a story about lessons learned, challenges overcome, and the impact music education continues to have on our lives.
It inspired us to wonder:
What word has defined your family’s year?
Every day, we witness persistence in action.
We see it when a young student works through a challenging piece one measure at a time. We see it when a student makes a mistake, takes a deep breath, and tries again. We see it when families continue investing in their children’s growth despite busy schedules and the many demands of everyday life.
And perhaps most importantly, we see it when parents model perseverance for their children through their own actions and example.
At its heart, music education is about much more than learning notes, rhythms, or preparing for a recital. Through music, students develop patience, focus, discipline, confidence, and resilience. They learn that meaningful growth rarely happens overnight and that progress is often found in the simple act of showing up again and again.
These lessons extend far beyond the music education experience.
As we enter the fall season and begin looking ahead to the holidays, we recognize that every family’s journey is unique. Some families are settling into new routines. Some are celebrating milestones. Others may be navigating challenges they never anticipated at the start of the year.
Wherever this season finds you, we hope music continues to bring moments of connection, discovery, joy, and growth.
Most importantly, we hope it reminds us to keep moving forward.
Because our children are always watching. Through our example, they learn how to respond to challenges, embrace growth, and continue striving toward their goals even when the path is not always easy.
Music teaches persistence, but it is often our families who model it first.
As our team reflected on the year so far, we each identified a word that captured our journey. Now we’d love to hear from you.
If you could choose one word to describe your family’s year so far, what would it be?
Every word tells a story.
Every story reflects a journey.
We invite you to share your word and help us build our JMA Wall of Inspiration, celebrating the experiences, values, and lessons that connect our community.
Our word is Persistence. What’s yours?
Scroll down to submit your word and view the growing JMA Wall of Inspiration.
Warmly,
Hermeline Lens
Jay’s Music Academy
JMA Wall of Inspiration
Every word tells a story. Click on a word below to discover the story behind it.