We received new communications this afternoon from the Mairie de Paris and have again been in contact with the Santé Publique. The Mairie has now instructed Associations in Paris to temporarily suspend all extrascholastic activities and all non-essential group activities beginning on Monday 16 March, even those involving very small groups. Rock U. will remain open on Saturday 14 March for bands and private lessons. We will then temporarily suspend all of our kids and teen bands, adult bands, and private lessons until further notice, starting on Monday 16 March.
We will remain in consultation with public health and municipal authorities during this period of closure. If it’s at all possible, we hope to reopen in time to begin our Spring Session on schedule on Friday 27 March. We will update you as soon as any new information is available.
La Boule Noire, our wonderful concert venue, has also temporarily closed, and our Winter Concert for kids and teen bands on Sunday 22 March will be cancelled. It really saddens us to deliver this news, as we can’t remember a Rock U. session when so many bands were absolutely crushing it in the studio. We’re so sorry that they won’t have the opportunity to play onstage on 22 March and show the world what they can do. We will consider every possible way to give these amazing kids another chance to perform when circumstances once again allow.
Clearly these events may necessitate other changes to our calendar for the academic year. It is our goal to do whatever we can to minimize the disruption these events are causing to your musical life as we consider all the options, and we welcome both your input and your patience as we figure this out together.
If you take private lessons at Rock U., you may able to continue these lessons remotely via Skype or Zoom. Please contact your lesson teacher directly to discuss whether this could work for you.
For the third time in 24 hours, we have the opportunity to tell you how much we appreciate your patience and understanding. Many of you have expressed to us how much it means to be a part of this musical community, and it means very much to us that you’re part of it, too. We also want to say how sorry we are that we’re not able to stay open during a time when good fellowship and musical inspiration are sure to be things we’ll all need more of in our daily lives. We eagerly look forward to resuming this as soon as possible. And while you’re stuck at home, pick up an instrument… and play some music!
