STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Marjorie G.

Congratulations to Jane Hudson, selected as June's teacher-of-the-month!

The following is a short interview we conducted with her:

VC: Where are you from?

 Jane: I am originally from Jasper, AL.

VC: What instrument(s) do you teach?

 Jane: I have been teaching piano for 52 years. My secondary area is Church music.

VC: What is your musical background? What did you study in school and what school did you go to?

 Jane: I lived in New York for 10 years and taught in the upper-East side of Manhattan. I went to Birmingham Southern for my Undergraduate degree, and New England Conservatory of Music (in Boston) for my Masters degree. I taught at Birmingham Southern for 8 years as an adjunct, and I also coached for the Musical Theatre department during my tenure there.

VC: What drew you to music? How did you know this is what you wanted to do with your life?

 Jane: When I was five years old, I knew I wanted to be a musician. My family and I were watching Lauren Hollander playing on television, and I knew then that I wanted to be a pianist. I started lessons, and have been playing ever since. Another influence was Amos Hudson; he taught music for the Mountainbrook school system, and was the Director of Music for Highlands Methodist in Birmingham – I owe a lot to him.

VC: Did you ever want to give up on music? If so, what advice would you give to a current student who is going through the same thing?

 Jane: I never wanted to give up on music. I believe that people get bored with hard work sometimes; I would tell them that you cannot get anywhere in life without working hard. Persevere, and you will achieve great things.

VC: What is your favorite type of music?  

 Jane: Classical; Bach and Chopin are my two favorite composers.

VC: What do you feel are the benefits of studying music?

 Jane: I think that children learn how to better concentrate and/or keep their focus on a project, which translates to school work. Regarding piano, there is a mathematical relationship that translates well to life and math in school. For example, I have had students who have improved their studies outside of music due in part to their learning of music because of the dedication to the music; that dedication carries over.

 VC: What are things you like most about teaching? What do you like the most about teaching at VC?

 Jane: The relationships with students, and seeing them progress as the weeks go by are the things I like most about teaching. I believe that teaching students will allow knowledge to be passed down, which is important to the growth of society.

I have 41 students, and they are of all shapes, sizes, and varieties of advancement; they treat me wonderfully – moreso than any other place that I’ve been. They treat me like gold, and I enjoy every minute of it. It makes working with them an absolute joy, and I enjoy seeing their progress.

VC: How do you inspire students to practice more?

 Jane: In addition to giving out rewards, I demonstrate to try and make a passage beautiful; I want my students to feel inspired so they want to achieve that beauty, or something as close to it as they can get. Teaching them artistry and how that makes a piece more “their own,” in addition to the technique and notes/rhythm. I want them to be as prepared for events and/or recitals as they can be, and hold them to a particular standard.

Pet of the Month

Let me introduce you to Annie, our Pet of the Month! Annie is a 12-year-old Goldendoodle, and she is under the great care of one of our Team Members, Will!

She is always very happy - unless someone steals her spot on the couch! (She really likes that spot, okay?)

Annie is active despite being a cancer survivor; she loves going on walks, playing fetch, and chasing squirrels in the backyard. Her favorite snacks are carrots and cheese!

Happenings at the VC!

New Staff Member: Sonya+ Williams

Introducing Sonya Williams, the new Assistant Director of Valley Conservatory! Sonya Williams is a dedicated professional with a warm and inviting demeanor. Hailing from Charlotte, NC, she is happily married to Darius and is a proud mother of three beautiful boys. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Johnson C. Smith University, Sonya brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Sonya has a passion for traveling and enjoys hosting her own online podcast. Her experience includes being a Business Coach & Consultant, helping 6 & 7-figure entrepreneurs scale sustainable monthly revenue through leveraged sales and organic marketing strategies. She specializes in digital product launches, subscription models, hybrid programs, and passive income.

Having held leadership positions such as Chief Visionary Officer at Savvy Real Estate Services, LLC, Chief Executive Officer at Savvy Virtual Solutions, LLC, and E-business Manager at Wilkinson and Associates Real Estate, Sonya has honed her skills in analyzing markets, identifying investment opportunities, and providing advice. She also excels in virtual business management services, social media marketing, email marketing, and more.

With her care, expertise, and extensive background, Sonya is well-equipped to provide an expert level of support at Valley Conservatory. Her professionalism and warm demeanor make her an excellent fit for fostering a nurturing environment in a music school. Welcome, Sonya, to the Valley Conservatory team! 

Tying the Knot!

Congratulations to DeAndre King on his recent marriage! DeAndre teaches violin, viola, and piano at our Huntsville studio. We are very excited for him and wish him all the best! 

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about

jazz, improvisation and playing with a live band in a family-friendly environment.

One of the goals of the VC Jam Session is to give our students the experience of working with professional musicians in a noncompetitive environment where they can follow our motto of “Come to Learn, Come to Play."  The jam sessions are also open to the public to come see and hear great music!

Jam sessions are held the last Sunday of every month; July's session will be Sunday the 30th!

VC Performed at Make Music Day!

VC teachers and students had a wonderful time performing at the Huntsville Hospital on Make Music Day sponsored by Huntsville Hospital and the City of Huntsville Music Office. 

The purpose of the event was to promote awareness of music therapy program at the hospital.   

VC Students Performed with Madison City Community Orchestra

Congratulations are in order to Julie Anderson, viola student of Dr. Collins, for a job well done on her performance with the Madison City Community Orchestra (MCCO) this past Sunday, June 25 where she performed the Bohemian Rhapsody for Solo Viola and Orchestra. She did a fabulous job, and we are very proud of her.

Congratulations are also in order for Justin Kelley and the other VC students and teachers for their performance in the orchestra. Justin is the concert master of MCCO and is a violin student of DeAndre King. Kudos to all who performed for a job well done!