Meet Our Teachers

When my children were young, I knew that music lessons would be as important as feeding and clothing them. I just didn’t know it would cost more!  (More on that later!) My eldest daughter started piano lessons in 1996, and over the next 20 years I sat through 2000 hours of music lessons seeing the magic it worked in my four children.  They grew in character, poise, and appreciation for music, the love of beauty and beyond. They became disciplined and highly skilled in their instruments - piano, violin, harp, and cello.  Because we traveled out of town for many of these lessons, we spent countless hours together in the car, talking and building relationships with each other.  

 

   I had seen the benefit in my children, but not in my pocketbook! Although we had financial help from grandparents, scholarships, and a community of support, my children wouldn’t have the education and skill they have today without the generosity of teachers who gave us lessons at no extra charge. The kids cleaned houses, made CDs, and mowed lawns to help purchase their instruments, which they appreciated even more.  

 

     Fast forward to today. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that my adult children and I would start a music school together.  But God had this dream for us, and it is such a privilege to see this come true in Quincy.  Javaux Music School is now 13 years old with a new chapter of becoming a Not-for-Profit organization just this last year.  

 

   Our story of hard work and financial sacrifice for the love and study of music drives us to want to offer that to our own students and others in our community.  Our family relied on the generosity of our community, and our school would not exist today without their support. As a non-profit, JMS aims to provide summer scholarships, financial assistance for lessons, and performance opportunities. You may have seen our students performing at local events or concerts. For the first time last year, our advanced violin group, River Strings, was honored to perform alongside the Quincy Symphony as well as the Southeast Iowa Symphony. 

 

     Our next concert is in partnership with the Sunday Music Series. The concert will be held at First Union Congregational Church on Sunday, November 23, 4:00 p.m. The performance will feature many of our violin students to the youngest players to our more advanced students, including JMS alumni. We are excited to share our story with you, and to continue to serve Quincy as a non-profit. Raising children is so much more than feeding and clothing them. Music has fed our souls.