Music Lessons & Dance Classes in New Orleans, Metairie, Mandeville, & Covington, LA - Laapa

Covington	Mandeville	River Ridge
*(985) 590-4545*	*(985) 674-2992*	*(504) 738-3050*
1111 Village Walk Rd	105 Campbell Ave #3	2020 Dickory Ave #200
Covington, LA	Mandeville, LA	Harahan, LA

Recital Season is Here - Are You Ready!?

Dear Students and Parents,

Recital season is here! We officially kicked things off Sunday, May 17 when 5 of our seniors performed in the 2015 Senior Recital at the LAAPA Performance Hall to a most enthusiastic audience.

Featured performers were (pictured left to right) Kasey Lange (with Instructor, Carolyn Russell), Kate Gauthreaux (with Instructor, Rebecca Posey), Taylor Sims (with Instructor, Kathleen Anderson), Amber Monlezun (with Instructor, Meredtih Sharpe), and Victoria Manguno (with Instructor, Jennifer White).

Recital times for the Northshore, June 13 recitals have now been finalized and letters were issued during the May 30 rehearsals. If you have not yet received your assigned recital time, please check with your Instructor or just give the office a call. Recital time assignments will be issued for the River Ridge June 20 recital by June 5 (or sooner). All assigned recital times will additionally be posted on our website at http://www.laapa.com/current-students.

What Should I Expect at the Spring Recitals?

- Our programs begin on time Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your assigned recital time.
- When you arrive, you’ll stop at the front table to get your tickets (student performers do not need a ticket).
- Students should check in with a staff member at the front left corner of the stage.
- Romaguera Photography will be taking professional quality photos at the front center stage. Just walk up to them, and they will be happy to take care of you (no reservations needed). You may additionally elect to order the recital DVD and group photo when speaking with them.

- We had so much fun with our $100 giveaway last Spring that we’ll be doing it again! Enter for a chance to win $100 by telling us about your experience at the Academy on camera!
- We will be holding a record number of Spring Recitals this year with 5 recitals Saturday June 13 and 4 recitals on Saturday June 20. On Saturday June 13, our buffer times (times between recitals) are tighter than usual so please keep this in mind when planning to arrive. Arriving 15-20 minutes before your recital time is plenty!
- Each recital is scheduled to last approximately 2 hours and students, parents, and guests are asked to remain in the auditorium for the full duration of the program.
- As we are recording all of our programs, we do ask parents/guests to keep small children in the audience quiet - please do feel free to take them outside for a break should they need it!

How are the Awards Earned/Determined?

Each year, our Instructors are asked to nominate their students for a variety of awards based on the amount of progress and time spent in practice at home they feel students have achieved.

Every student will receive an award and should be proud of his/her individual achievements. We realize that every student is different in terms of the place for music and dance in their lives. Whether it is a big part (allowing them more time to practice and excel) or a small part (allowing them time for many different activities), they are developing the skills, love and appreciation for the performing arts which will positively translate into many areas of their future. We are proud of all of our students for their success!

See you at the recitals!

Ryan Cullen, Academy Director

Summer Music & Dance Camps are Coming!

Our Summer Music Camps and Summer Dance Camps provide all campers (ages 5-16, beginning, intermediate, and advanced) with the opportunity to have fun exploring up to five of our instrumental, vocal, and performing arts programs. Campers (even those with little or no music or performing arts background) are able to take a hands on approach and see what programs and instruments interest them!

Perhaps your child has shown an interest in music, dance, piano, singing, guitar, violin, drums (just to name a few!)? Wherever his/her interest lies, we are happy to provide a formal introduction to the programs of your choice in a structured and fun environment!

Very Limited Space - only 25 campers enrolled each week.

Sign-Up Online Today!

Will You & a Friend Win $600?

We are so extremely grateful to you our students and parents who continue to refer us to your friends, colleagues, and associates day after day, month after month, etc. Your referrals are the highest compliment we can receive here at LAAPA, and we wanted to do something extraordinary for our current and former students who continue to refer the Academy to new students.

Now through July 31, 2015 if you refer a friend or colleague to the Academy and they enroll, you AND your friend/colleague will be automatically entered in our $600 Sweetwater Gift Certificate Giveaway! Please make sure that your friend mentions your FULL NAME
at the time of enrollment.

The more friends you refer that enroll - the more chances you have to win!

Sound too good to be true?- Stay tuned for a video from Academy Director, Ryan Cullen for more information! Winners will be announced on Monday, August 3 ONLY via our Facebook page at facebook.com/laapaface, so be sure to like us!

Student News

Mandeville School of Music voice lessons student, Lily Foster, is playing Duffy in the Mandeville Middle School production of Annie Jr. She studies with Ms. Rebecca.

Sophia Cornibe was accepted to NOCCA for piano. Sophia takes piano lessons with Ms. Katarina at the River Ridge School of Music & Dance.

River Ridge School of Music & Dance student, Emma Fagin, was accepted to NOCCA for Musical Theatre. Emma takes voice lessons at LAAPA with Ms. Katarina.

Third grader, Spencer Lanosga, participated in the 2015 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, IA. He earned Gold representing Team Louisiana in Intermediate 120+, becoming a 2x National Champion. His win capped off an amazing season, where Spencer wrestled up an age bracket and placed third at all 5 Louisiana tournaments and 1 Georgia tournament. He is ranked on the USAW Future Olympians and is also a member of the Kids National Team for the second consecutive year. Spencer is 9 and is an honor roll student at St. Matthew the Apostle School and wrestles out of Champion Wrestling Club in River Ridge. Spencer takes piano lessons at the River Ridge School of Music & Dance with Mr. Russell.

We love getting your news, success stories and comments. If you'd like to share your news with us, please e-mail studentnews@laapa.com. Please note that we are now publishing our newsletters monthly, and if you don't see your submission in this edition, it will be published as soon as space is available! Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/laapaface, youtube.com/laapatube, and now on Twitter at @laapatweets.

Happy June Birthdays!

We'd like to wish the following Students, Faculty, and Staff a very Happy Birthday this Month!

(Students) Abby P. (10), Akshita S. (8), Alaina G. (7), Alex M. (15), Alexander F. (12), Alicia M. (13), Alyson V. (17), Amber W. (13), Ana Maria M. (13), Andrew T. (6), Ariel H. (10), Ata-Han E. (10), Berlinda G. (10), Blair F. (12), Brady L. (10), Brandon G. (13), Brittany E. (12), Brookelyn D. (12), Carrie S. (9), Cecilia F. (15), Charlie H. (12), Chase K. (5), Chloe C. (12), Chris M., Christian S. (8), Christian B. (15), Corteiona W., Dane D. (8), Davis C. (9), Delaney B. (14), Delaney G. (8), Dominic G. (8), Elizabeth D., Emily J. (10), Erica B. (16), Hailey C. (6), Haley M. (8), Heather T. (16), Heidi L., Isaack G. (9), Isabella B. (10), Joel R. (12), John B., John D. (12), Joshua P. (10), Kamiya C. (7), Kennon R. (7), Laci V. (11), Ladadriel E., Lauren C. (9), Lauryn R. (10), Lila C., Luke B. (10), Luke T. (11), Maddox Jacob T. (10), Madison L. (13), Mae K. (4), Margaux K. (7), Maria N. (11), Matthew K. (8), Michael Austin V. (15), Mischa B. (8), Myles T. (6), Neveenh V. (3), Noah M. (11), Noah L. (7), Olivia G. (14), Payton B. (16), Rishab P. (8), Samantha J. (9), Sarah S. (6), Sarah A. (9), Sarah S. (6), Seth S. (11), Spencer F. (6), Starr M. (16), Tamar H. (17), Tate P. (6), Trey C. (15), Victoria M., Wesley H. (15), William H. (5), Zachary M. (11).

(Faculty) Maggie Probst, Wanda Cullen, Jennifer White, Denise Bonis, Daniel Campbell, Diana Trimble

Important Dates:

June 13 - Spring Recital (Covington & Mandeville Schools of Music)

Times: 8:15 AM, 11:00 AM, 2 PM, 5 PM, 7:45 PM

June 20 - Spring Recitals (River Ridge School of Music & Dance)

Times: 10 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, 7 PM

Student of the Month - Amanda Gordon

Covington School of Music student, Amanda Gordon, has taken violin, voice, and flute lessons with LAAPA. We recently had a chance to speak with her and learn a little more about her lessons and interests!

Tell us about yourself and how long you’ve been taking classes at LAAPA.

I started music lessons with LAAPA in 2011 and have taken violin lessons, voice lessons, and now I’m currently taking flute lessons with Ms. Layla Sutton.

Why did you get started in Music Lessons?

Music is my primary focus, and I really want to continually improve my music skills.

What do you enjoy most about coming to lessons each week?

The teachers here are really great! Ms. Layla is very funny.

Of all the music programs that you have studied, what has been your favorite?

I’ve learned a great deal from and enjoyed all of the programs equally.

How would you describe your overall experience at LAAPA?

Awesome!

Is Your Teacher Completely Booked? Teachers with Waiting Lists.

With over 1,100 students enrolled at LAAPA, our openings remain very limited, but there are still lesson spots available for Summer, so just give us a call to check. If you need a schedule change or would like to be added to a waiting list for a particular teacher, day, or time, please contact any of our office staff team and they can add you to the waiting list.

Here’s just a partial list of who’s currently full at all campuses:

GUITAR

Curtis MON,WED,TH-1 spot! FRI-BOOKED!
Chris MON,TU-2 spots! NEW TEACHER!
Bill MON-2 spots! WED-1 spot! TH,FRI,SAT-BOOKED!

GUITAR/DRUM

Josh TU,WED,TH,SAT-BOOKED!
Ben SAT-2 spots! MON-1 spot! TU,WED,TH,FRI-BOOKED!
Kirk MON & TU-1 spot!
Aaron TU & WED -2 spots! TH-1 spot!
Bill MON 2 spots-1 spot! TH, FRI,SAT-BOOKED!

WIND/BRASS/GUITAR

Danielle TU-1 spot!
Reid MON-2 spots! WED,TH-BOOKED!
David FRI-BOOKED!
Layla TU,FRI-1 spot! SAT- NEW SCHEDULE!
Kaleb MON-BOOKED!

PIANO

Russell MON,TU-2 spots! WED,TH-BOOKED!
Mirka TU-2 spots!
Daniel FRI-1 spot! WED, TH-BOOKED!

PIANO/VOICE

Bonnie SAT-1 spot! MON,WED,TH-BOOKED!
Rebecca TU-1 spot! MON,WED,TH,FRI-BOOKED!
Meredith MON,TU-BOOKED!
Jennifer MON-1 spot!
Kathleen TU,WED-BOOKED!
Meghan WED,TH,FRI,SAT-BOOKED!
Katarina TU,WED,TH,SAT-BOOKED!
Carolyn MON,TU,WED,FRI,SAT-BOOKED!
Autumn TU,TH,SAT-BOOKED!
Joy MON,WED-1 spot!
Yulene SAT-2 spots!
Amy MON,TU,TH,FRI-BOOKED!
Jessica TU,WED-BOOKED!
Bethany TU,WED,TH,FRI,SAT-BOOKED!
Jacob SAT-2 spots!
Maggie FRI-BOOKED!
Katherine TH-BOOKED! SAT-2 spots!

VIOLIN/VIOLA/CELLO

Denise MON,TU,WED,TH,FRI-BOOKED!
Vanya MON,FRI,SAT-1 spot! WED-BOOKED!
Gabriel MON-1 spot!
Kate MON-1 spot!
Simona MON,WED,TH-2 spots! SAT-1 spot!
Lee FRI 2 spots! TH-2 spots!
Danielle TU-BOOKED!

A HUGE welcome to our new students who began lessons or added programs in May!

We are so happy that you’ve chosen to study at LAAPA.
We know you will do great things this year!

Aaron C.
(thanks to Adam C.)
Abigail W.
Adalyn B.
Akira G.
Alyssa W.
Amelia K.
Anna Kate B.
Ashlyn W.
Avery B.
(thanks to David C.)
Ayse B.
Bill N.
Callie D.
Carmen V.
Charlie V.
Christian M.
Christy H.
Connor F.
Courtney G.
Darrell B.
Elijah D.
Elizabeth F.
Ella U.
Emily B.
Gabriel B.
Garrett P.
Grace M.
Isabella E.
Jackson N.
Jaivik B.
Jennifer Z.
Journee J.
Julia A.
(thanks to Abbey A.)
Kaitlyn G.
Katelyn D.
Kennon R.
Kim K.
Laken W.
Liliana G.
(thanks to Olivia A.)
Luke J.
Matthias J.
Max A.
Meghan T.
Michael M.
Nathaniel N.
Neveenh V.
Nicholas S.
Nolan F.
Quentin D.
(thanks to Brandon L.)
Ryan W.
(thanks to Carolyn R.)
Rylie L.
Rylie W.
Sarah D.
Seth M.
Sincere S.
Theo B.
Tony V.
Trey K.
Wyatt T.

Student “Shout-Outs!”

"Kirk’s teaching style. I also like the classroom style setting and enjoy seeing all the students coming and going from their lessons. I feel I have learned a lot and appreciate that Kirk takes the time to make sure I understand the lessons before moving on. When I am doing well, I appreciate Kirk letting me know. I like that I don’t feel 'looked down upon' for not having the knowledge already (as I felt at the last place where I took lessons). Thanks again for checking in with me. Have a great day.”

~ Andrea Boyd