Bham Music Lives On As Keyboard Kids Closes
by Theresa Carpine9/4/2008 10:36:27 AM
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Near the intersection of West Illinois Street and Sunset Drive, there’s little question as to what services Keyboard Kids, with a piano keyboard painted along the roof, provides. But as owner JoAnn Armstrong closes the music teaching studio, who knows what’s next for this place where over a thousand children from age 18 months to 12 years received group piano lessons from “Miss JoAnn” during the past twenty years.
Miss JoAnn and students at the final Keyboard Kids concert.
Photo courtesy JoAnn ArmstrongLike many of her students, JoAnn started her musical career while in grade school, playing the piano and the flute. “When I was in college and majoring in music, I discovered that I didn’t have the drive to be a professional performer. But I also discovered that I loved kids and I loved to teach,” she explained.
She had been giving lessons at a music store in Seattle when she came to visit a friend in Bellingham. “I was attracted to the slower pace of life here. And I did a little research and discovered that no one was offering group music lessons for young children,” JoAnn said. She began to plan and save before making a move to Bellingham to open her store. “I decided to try it for three years to see if I had the potential to support myself and the business.” Suddenly, twenty years had gone by. “I thought to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m still doing this,’” she said.
While JoAnn won’t be teaching any longer, she’s eager to begin work as an accompanist for several organizations, like the Nancy Whyte School of Ballet and Bellingham Community Chorus, and hopes to play with other groups in the future.
JoAnn at the 2007 Ski to Sea Junior Parade.
Photo courtesy JoAnn ArmstrongStaying connected to the musical community in Bellingham will also help JoAnn stay in touch with many of her students and their families. “Parents were very involved in my classes and I hope to keep in touch with them and the kids,” she said, explaining that those relationships are what she’ll miss the most.
While it remains to be seen if anyone will take the reins to provide group piano lessons for Bellingham children, JoAnn knows that there are lots of other resources for parents who want to get kids involved with music in our area.
“Jen Mallett uses music, dance and sign language in her classes at Music Together by the Bay,” she said, and she also mentioned that Beth Beyers teaches classes using a Kindermusik curriculum at her studio called Little Minstrels. Kids can also get involved in choirs with Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth, as well piano, voice and guitar lessons.
While Miss JoAnn won’t be teaching classes any more, she’s renting her studio space to other music teachers in the mean time. If you or someone you know is interested in renting studio space, you can reach JoAnn at (360) 595-2213.
“My favorite thing about teaching music to children is helping to keep that spark for the love of music alive,” JoAnn said. She advises parents who want to encourage their kids’ musical abilities to listen to their children, and to be positive and supportive. “If your child wants to move from piano to another instrument, listen to what they’re asking. I taught kids who wanted to switch to another instrument, and because their parents listened to them and continued to support them, they’re still playing those instruments today.”