Community Notes Archives • Page 6 of 7 • Headwaters Music and Arts

Posted on June 4, 2020 by Headwaters Music and Arts

COVID-19 Response Update

These past several weeks, we have responded to the pandemic by suspending group activities, moving to virtual lessons, and performing administrative tasks from our homes. We thank you for sticking with us as we figure out how to fulfill our mission in previously unimagined ways.

On May 14, Gov. Tim Walz announced the plan to reopen non-essential businesses as early as May 18 as long as they follow health and safety guidelines. At Headwaters Music & Arts, we plan to have limited building hours starting June 1, typically 11 to 5 Monday through Thursday. Please call ahead to ensure someone is on hand to help you out. If you would like to purchase Schmitt music, accessories or instruments or perhaps sign up for lessons or for summer or fall programs, we look forward to seeing you!

What’s changed - It’s terribly important that we have steps in place that keep our staff, students and volunteers safe. We want to do things right. Our preparedness plan follows CDC and MDH guidelines, including having everyone who enters the building complete a health screening process, additional hand sanitizer stations, and several plexiglass barriers, face shields, gloves, and masks in place for lessons and classes. We will revise and update our procedures as needed.

What’s happening this summer - Along with reopening the building, we will hold a very limited number of in person music lessons in large performance spaces, and work on our plan for the fall. We have some great summer camp sessions starting in July. Fingers crossed that we will be able to hold them! Our Bemidji Sings! Vocal competition will still take place, but with a virtual August 6 final show. Details are on our website and on Facebook.

Then what? More change. We realize that we need to figure out new ways to provide opportunities for creativity through instruction and inspire the community through music and the arts, especially our group activities such as youth and adult pottery, art clubs, and community events. Please check back here to see the latest updates. What hasn’t changed? Our commitment to our community. Our determination to be there for you.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you for being here for us.

Tricia Andrews, executive director
Headwaters Music & Arts Board of Directors

Posted on January 13, 2020January 13, 2020 by Headwaters Music and Arts

Collaborating for Success

We have began work on our annual publication, Collaborating for Success. This 20-24 page full color directory of seasonal activities informs community members and visitors to our area about upcoming 2020 summer events. Half or full page ads are available for local businesses and organizations that host summer events which often includes camps, private instruction schools, or organizations with specific summer programming. Local businesses without summer events are also invited to purchase a half page or sponsorship ad to list hours of business or offer a coupon to recipients of the publication. Sponsorship ads are business card size ads (3.5″ x 2″) and are for those who do not have events but want their name associated with Collaborating for Success.

Collaborating for Success has a broad audience. Local families look forward to receiving Collaborating for Success as they plan their summer activities, and it is also a resource for visitors to the community. Over 4,000 copies are sent out to area students in Mid March – early April, to the Bemidji, Cass Lake, Red Lake, Walker and Park Rapids school districts as well as area charter and private schools. Additional copies are delivered to area visitor centers and other public entities.

We are so proud to offer this colorful, high quality publication to the community as well as to allocate profits from the publication towards improving our art space to include a storage area, shelving, LED lighting, and a wheelchair accessible entrance (a goal that is very close to my heart).

The fee for Collaborating for Success ads include layout and editing assistance and publication delivery to school districts and other centers and hotels. There is limited space and contributors are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Those who are interested in purchasing space in the publication will need to confirm their commitment by January 20^th. The publication will be completed by March 15^th.

Info and registration can be found here. Look at the 2019 publication here. Thank you for your interest!

Diamond Knispel, Marketing & Arts Program Coordinator

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Headwaters Music and Arts

End of Year Review

As the year draws to a close, we are grateful for the encouragement and support we receive from our community. Thank you for being a part of things here at Headwaters Music & Arts. Your involvement, your support and your commitment means will we continue to thrive and grow.

It has been a good year here at Headwaters Music & Arts.

Along with our community events and performances, amazing things happen in our building each week. Youth as well as adults come through our lobby for music lessons, pottery class, or art club. As I work on this letter, I hear the First City Singers work through a new song down in the performance hall – a Monday highlight for me. From community events to one-on-one relationships, each activity helps us bring our mission to life as we provide opportunities for creativity through instruction and inspire the community through music and the arts.

I have probably said way too often that I have the best job in Bemidji. I am not an artist or a musician, but I get to be part of this small but vibrant music and arts organization, knowing that we make an impact. What we do matters.

My dreams for my granddaughter are what we here at Headwaters Music & Arts envision for all of our music and art students. May they learn patience, confidence, and commitment. May they experience music and art literacy and proficiency (with the additional benefits of improved ability to focus, more hand-eye coordination and better test taking and multi-tasking!). May they build positive relationships in a safe and caring atmosphere. And may that spark of creativity sustain them - and fulfill them - throughout their lives.
Our goal is to raise $7,000 before December 31. Your contribution will help us with day-to-day operations, down to heat, sidewalk salt, and light bulbs for piano lamps in the studios. Beyond simply keeping our doors open, our 2020 goals include a furnace for our visual art and pottery studio, additional lighting in our performance hall, additional summer camps, and a native bird and bee-friendly landscaping project. Every dollar makes a big difference.

I invite you to be a part of things here at Headwaters Music & Arts. In fact, please attend our annual meeting 5:30 pm on Monday, December 9. And our Northwoods Winter Concert and Silent Auction is coming up 4-6 pm Sunday, December 8, with performances by our 2018 CD contributors, hors d’oeuvers, desserts and Brigids Pub cash bar. This mandolin, reimagined by artist Sarah Peterson, is one of the silent auction items. Lovely, yes? Tickets are $10. As a contributing member, we cordially invite you to attend as our guest.