Sparrow Academy of Performing Arts

SAPA End of Term 3 Update

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 by Hannah Snelling | Uncategorized

Back in Business! Returning to Reduced Hours After Maternity Leave

Kia ora Parents and Students,

I hope this message finds you all well and enjoying the lovely Spring weather. It has been a joyful year for me as we welcomed our beautiful second born daughter, Alice, 6 months ago. I am grateful for this precious time and for the support and understanding from all of you during my maternity leave. Baby A is such a delight and she's already showing a love of music and dance, taking after Mama.

As I transition back into teaching, I am working reduced hours to balance my time between our music school and prioritzing my children while they are little. For those of you whom I am or will be seeing for private lessons in my home studio, I so appreciate your patience and flexibility while navigating the juggle of teaching around my girls.

I am looking forward to reconnecting with those of you who wish to do so. Please send me an email or text, I'm excited to hear about your progress, and perhaps continue our musical journey together. Your dedication to learning and love for music are truly inspiring, and I am thrilled to be back doing what I love!

Preschool music and movement classes are my priority at the moment, as that is the season of life I am in with my children. If you know someone who might be interested, my current classes run on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during the school term. I am looking at starting an afternoon class, on either a Wednesday or Friday.

Additionally, I do have limited capacity for after-school and possibly Saturday lessons. I am opening up just five private lesson slots for Term 4 and two of them are already taken, so if you're keen, get in quick.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions regarding schedules or lessons.

Thank you for being a wonderful part of our music school community.

I wish you all the best in your musical journey or whatever passion you are persuing in this season.

Nga mihi nui,

Hannah Snelling

SAPA End-of-Year 2023 Update and Seasons Greetings

Sunday, December 3, 2023 by Hannah Snelling | Uncategorized

Kia ora SAPA whānau,

As we approach the festive season and the close of another wonderful year at Sparrow Academy of Performing Arts (SAPA), I want to extend my warmest Christmas and New Year wishes to each and every one of you. May this holiday season be filled with joy, music, and precious moments with your loved ones.

I have some important updates to share as we bid farewell to 2023. Firstly, a reminder that I will be on maternity leave from the end of Term 3. Consequently, there will be no lessons in Term 1. Private home studio lessons will resume in Term 2, and toddler group lessons are expected to recommence in Term 3, if not before. For Ao Tawhiti students, lessons will resume in Term 3. I will send an update at the end of Term 1 with more information on my return to work.

Please note that there will be an adjustment in prices when lessons resume. These changes are necessary to support the growth of SAPA and ensure continued quality in musical education. Any remaining credit on your account will carry over into the new year and be reflected on your first invoice of 2024.

As we reflect on the past term and year, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each student and parent for being an integral part of the SAPA community. Your dedication to music, growth, and learning has made this year exceptionally special. It's truly heartening to witness the progress, passion, and joy that music brings to each of you.

Wishing you a harmonious holiday season and a New Year filled with new melodies, achievements, and cherished moments. I look forward to making beautiful music together in the coming year.

Warmest regards,

Hannah Snelling (a.k.a Ms. Sparrow) Sparrow Academy of Performing Arts 0221713732

SAPA Update End of Term 3 2022

Saturday, October 1, 2022 by Hannah Snelling | Uncategorized

Kia ora Students and Parents,

School holidays are off to a chilly start! I have just spent the day face painting with Crowntastic Events at Arion Farm Park. There was an excellent turn-out, despite the cold wind. I hope you all have some fun planned for the next two weeks.

I would like to take a moment to thank you for being part of Sparrow Academy of Performing Arts. I couldn't make a living doing what I love without each one of you. I am so grateful that you have chosen me and Sparrow Academy to be part of your musical journey! What keeps me going is seeing the enjoyment of music or performance and the confidence to play or sing grow in my students.

SAPA has grown so much this year with the addition of Ao Tawhiti students. I hope to grow it even more in Term 4 with the addition of a choir group and musical theatre workshops.

Ao Tawhiti lesson fees increasing

I have loved being able to provide affordable lessons at Ao Tawhiti and very much want to continue to do so. It has been a learning experience for me, as I navigate the busyness of the school environment and allow enough time between lessons to find the next student or adjust timings due to an absence or event. As much as wish I could keep things simple, with living costs still rising, I do have to put my prices up a bit in term 4. Fees will be increasing from $17 per 20-minute lesson to $18.30 (an increase of 8%). This increase will help me to fund more time behind-the-scenes to develop resources and programs and to save for new instruments. Thank you for your understanding and your commitment to your child's musical journey.

Make-up lesson slots will continue to be available over the Friday lunch break. I am now offering video lessons for students who are unable to attend a make-up slot and in the event of a non-teaching day (such as for public holidays and IEM's). As always, any credits unused in one term will roll over to the next term.

I am also keen to add another day for lessons, but am still pinning down whether that will be a Monday or Thursday morning. When I have further time slots confirmed I will send another email. In the meantime, you can confirm the same slot or