Summer Jam Updates
August 1st Update
There are still a few spots left in our Master Class!
The class is open to advanced and intermediate level players of any instrument. It will be held at the Northern Illinois University Recital Hall on Saturday, August 5th at 10:00am. Click here to learn about our hosts Linc Smelser and Ann Montzka-Smelser!
Participants will play a solo piece and receive feedback from these two professional musicians. It’s a great opportunity and wonderful experience for any musician who is considering auditioning or pursuing music in their future.
Sign up today! You can fill out your entry form here.
Thank you to our Master Class partner organizations!
Don’t forget to finish your BINGO cards! They are due August 5th. Make sure to send in your pictures and videos of you completing your squares. Check out some of the awesome submissions we have gotten so far:
We hope you enjoy your Glasser Colored Bows as much as we enjoyed your video!
Thank you to everyone who submitted a video we loved watching them all!
Our Master Class is just around the corner!
We are thrilled to offer this year’s Master Class with Linc Smelser and Ann Montzka-Smelser (click here for full Biographies)! The class will be held at the Northern Illinois University Recital Hall at 10:00am on Saturday, August 5th. It is open to advanced and intermediate level players of any instrument, but space is limited so sign up today!
Participants will play a solo piece and receive feedback from these two professional musicians. It is a great opportunity and wonderful experience for any musician who is considering auditioning or pursuing music in their future.
You can fill out your entry here.
Thank you to our Master Class partner organizations!
Standard Bingo rules apply, complete five squares in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Turn in your card and pictures/videos of your squares by July 31st to our Shop or on the Submit page to be entered to win! You will earn 1 entry for your first bingo, but you can earn additional entries for submitting a picture or video of ANY square, even if it’s not in your bingo! Three winners will be selected and can win:
A Clarity Colored Rosin, Classical Composer Playing Cards or a Large Chocolate Violin.
This challenge will continue through July 31st .
Make sure you follow us on Social Media so you can see what other participants are up to! 
June practice rewards are going in the mail at the end of the day today. Make sure you respond to your email to let us know which sticker you would like to receive, otherwise we choose for you!
Time to start your next practice log!
June practice logs were due on the 5th so make sure to Submit yours if you haven’t already!
The next “month” runs from July 6th to August 5th , click to download your new practice log if you haven’t already!
There is still time to complete the July 4th Group Challenge! Submit a video of you and at least one other person playing a patriotic song by July 10th for your chance to win a Glasser Colored Bow OR Manhasset Colored Music Stand!
Congratulations to the Winners of our Scavenger Hunt Challenge! Isaac J., Liam D., and Dean M.!
If you have a vacation coming up, don’t forget to take Flat Austin with you on your Adventures! Earn a free day of practice minutes for each picture you submit while you are away.
Don’t forget to follow us on social media to see what other participants are up to!
Next up is the July 4th Group Challenge!
Starting now through July 10th submit a video of you playing your favorite PATRIOTIC song with at least one other person. That doesn’t mean you have to play with another participant, it can be anyone; your best buddy from Orchestra, maybe grandpa plays the guitar of mom plays the piano, get creative!
One video will be selected as the winner to receive a Glasser Colored Bow OR Manhasset Colored Music Stand!
This premium Fiberglas bow is comfortable in the hand and plays with outstanding responsiveness. It offers the same weight and feel as a student model Brazil wood bow yet will not warp or break at the tip. It is available in a variety of colors!
Stick Colors: Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, Red, White and Silver
Hair Colors: Blue Green, Pink, Purple, Red, White and Black
Check out this awesome video from last year’s winner!
This Challenge will continue through July 10th.
Need music? Hurry and buy your patriotic music TODAY; the Shop will be closed July 1st – 7th. Check out the patriotic section of our online music store here.
Where’s Flat Austin?
Flat Austin has been to so many interesting places so far this summer, like Grandpa’s 90th Birthday Party in North Carolina!
Don’t forget to bring him with you on your adventures and Submit your photos to receive 1 day of free practice minutes per adventure!
Follow us on social media so you can see all the places Flat Austin has been!
June 22nd Update
Only a couple of weeks left until practice logs are due July 5th – make sure you record those minutes!
There’s only 5 DAYS LEFT to submit for photos and videos for the SCAVENGER HUNT, like this one from Dean M. who got to check “live music performance” off his list.
Remember to submit your card, pictures, and videos by June 26th! Three winners with the most points will be selected
Don’t forget to check your email for your book discount codes! 30% off one book per month and 10% off any additional books, fun music always makes practicing more exciting, we have lots of options!
It’s time for the first challenge! This year we are starting with the Scavenger Hunt!
Music is all around us and sometimes we don’t even notice! Take a picture or video as you complete these tasks and spot these items out in the world, Submit them to our site and earn points! Three winners with the most points will be chosen to win one of these great prizes!
An Everest Colored Shoulder Rest or Slipstop Colored Endpin Holder, Essential Dictionary of Music and a Large Chocolate Violin.
This challenge will continue through June 26th.
Welcome to 
and thank you for signing up!
With the end of Summer and start to the school year being so busy, we have decided to shorten the Summer Music Jam. This year the first “month” will run from June 5th to July 5th and the second from July 6th to August 5th. To earn their reward each month, your student must complete the average number of practice minutes per day required by their level. So, don’t worry about missing days because of vacation, you can practice a little extra the other days!
There is a regular practice log and a color-in calendar version for our youngest participants. Please initial to verify that the practice has been completed.
Turn in your form by uploading a picture of your completed log on the Submit page or in person at our Shop by the 5th.
Any participant who meets their practice goal will be entered to win one of three GRAND PRIZES: a $100.00, $75.00, or $50.00 Austin’s gift certificate that can be used toward merchandise, luthier services or even monthly rental fees! In addition, our 1st Prize Winner will receive 2 tickets to the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and our 2nd & 3rd Prize winners will receive 2 tickets to the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Tickets have generously been donated by Linc Smelser and Ann Montzka-Smelser. A huge thank you to Linc and Ann as well as the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra for donating such amazing Prizes!
With all this practicing, your musician may need some new material! Receive 30% off one music book each month and 10% off additional books. Discounts available in-store or online, keep an eye on your email for the book discount coupon codes!
Bonus challenges will be announced throughout the Summer Music Jam. Information will be emailed to those who have signed up or you can check right here on the Updates Page! The first one will start on June 5th!
Flat Austin
Going on vacation and worried you won’t be able to participate in Austin’s Summer Music Jam? Good news, we’ve got you covered! Print and decorate Flat Austin and take him with you on your summer-time adventures, go to the Submit page to upload a photo and tell us where he went to earn one free day’s worth of practice minutes (15, 30, or 45 depending on your level) per adventure. We can’t wait to see all the places he will go!
The Flat Austin challenge will continue the length of ASMJ through August 5th.
ANNOUNCING A MASTER CLASS WITH LINC SMELSER AND ANN MONTZKA-SMELSER
This year’s master class will be available to all advanced and intermediate level players: violinists, violists, cellists and bassists will all be eligible. This is an amazing opportunity to receive feedback and learn from two acclaimed professionals in a small group setting! Click here to read the full biographies of Link Smelser and Ann Montzka-Smelser! A huge thank you to our partner organizations, the Northern Illinois University Community School of the Arts and the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra for making this possible!
Musicians will prepare a solo piece or etude to perform and receive feedback. Choose a solo repertoire which BEST represents your playing ability. Please consult your private teacher for guidance and help in preparation. Solos do not need to be memorized. Space is limited so sign up today!
The Master Class will be held Saturday, August 5th. Time and location to be announced. Family, private teachers and any Summer Music Jam participants are encouraged to attend and observe.
2022 UPDATES
And now for our Grand Prizes…
3rd Prize
$50.00 Austin’s Gift Certificate
2 Tickets to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra
2 Tickets to the Paramount Theater
Rachel R.!
2nd Prize
$75.00 Austin’s Gift Certificate
2 Tickets to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra
2 Tickets to the Paramount Theater
Ashrith V.!
Grand Prize
$100.00 Austin’s Gift Certificate
2 Tickets to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra
2 Tickets to the Paramount Theater
Lilly D.!!!
Let’s not forget our Teacher Division either, if you have Mr. Griffith, make sure you give him a big high-five! He won an Austin’s Gift Card for his participation! Let’s hope he gets some cool stuff with it!
Chocolate violins will be sent out to everyone who completed their August practice log. If you were not contacted for your milk or dark chocolate preference, we did not receive your logs, please reach out!
We cannot thank everyone who participated in enough! We hope we helped keep you motivated to jam all summer long. Another big thank you to our Sponsors for donating this year’s awesome prizes!
We know they are looking forward to seeing our winners at a performance this season!
See you next Summer!
August 30th Update
Don’t Forget
The Summer Music Jam is almost over! Don’t forget to submit your videos for the Group Challenge!
Someone is going to win a Manhasset Colored Music Stand!!!
August practice logs are due as well. Make sure to submit yours before it’s too late! For all of our participants who persevered through the bust start of the school year to complete their practice goal, we are sending a Small Chocolate Violin! Available in Milk or Dark chocolate.
We will announce our Group Challenge and our Grand Prize Winners next week on August 7th!
August 17th Update
Time for the final Challenge
The school year is getting underway, but we still have one challenge to go for Austin’s Summer Music Jam!
This month is our Group Challenge!
Get your duet, trio or quartet together and submit a video for your chance to win a Manhasset Colored MusicStand!!!
That doesn’t mean you have to play with another participant, it can be anyone; your best buddy from Orchestra, maybe grandpa plays the guitar of mom plays the piano, get creative!
This Challenge will continue through August 31st.
Need some music? Check your email for August Book discount codes and check out our Ensemble pieces.
Congratulations to the winners of our Scavenger Hunt: Isaac J., Noah J., and Anna J.!
They were able to get the family sweep thanks to dad’s birthday and some great volunteer work! We hope you enjoy your Clarity Colored Rosin and Classical Composer Playing Cards!
Don’t forget to check your mail for your July practice rewards. Send us pictures when you decide where to stick them!
July 28th Update
Don’t forget!
Submit our July practice logs so you can select one of these awesome stickers! Just don’t stick it your instrument please 😊!
Scavenger Hunt Photos and Videos are due August 1st. Complete/Find as many items as you can to win, will anyone get all 210 points? You could win a Clarity Colored Rosin, Large Chocolate Violin, or Classical Composer Playing Cards:
If you haven’t already, make sure to download August Practice logs. They are due by September 1st.
The start of school can be busy, but your practice time at strings camp or even your in-school lessons can count toward your monthly goal!
Remember, our three grand prize winners will receive an Austin’s Gift Certificate, tickets to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, AND tickets to see ‘School of Rock’ at the Paramount Theater in Aurora!
July 20th Update
Master Class Success!
A big thank you to everyone who participated in our Master Class and came to observe. Eleanor gave our students an invaluable experience. Her musicianship and warmth were a gift for all in attendance! More photos coming to our social media soon!
Reminders:
Are you keeping up with your daily practice goal? Keep filling out your July logs, due August 1st to earn the next reward!
Time is running out on the Scavenger Hunt! What have you found so far? Make sure you are turning in your photos and videos on the Submit page no later than August 1st!
Check out our July 4th Challenge Winner, Rachel R., practicing with the pink-colored bow she won! What color would you have chosen???
We love seeing our happy musicians with their prizes and rewards, submit your photos and you might see your smiling face on our next update!
Follow us to see more submissions!
July 13th Update
Come check out our Master Class
This coming Saturday is Austin’s Summer Music Jam Master Class. Five of our advanced-level violin players have been selected to participate. They will get to work in a small group with Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Associate Concert Master, Eleanor Bartsch (see her bio here).
We welcome you to stop by and observe! It is a great opportunity for anyone who is serious about music to learn from an acclaimed musician and see what a master class is all about; maybe you will have the chance to participate in one in the future!
We hope to see you there!
When: 3:00-4:00pm Saturday, July 16th, 2022
Where: St. Charles Public Library – Carnegie Community Room
1 South 6th Avenue St. Charles, IL 60174
Congratulations to our July 4th Flash Challenge winner: Rachel R.
Thank you for your awesome submission!
Follow us to see more submissions!
July 6th Update
Great Job to everyone who completed their June Practice Log!!! If you did not receive your reward in-shop, it has been mailed out today!
Today your LAST CHANCE to Submit your video for the July 4th Flash Challenge! Make sure you upload yours for your chance to win a Glasser Colored Bow! What color combo will you choose?
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Bingo Challenge! Congratulations to our 3 lucky winners:
Makayla C. – Everest colored shoulder rest
Lilly D. – Chocolate Violin
Isaac J. – Essential Music Dictionary
Who’s ready for another bonus challenge? The next challenge is a Scavenger Hunt!
Music is all around us and sometimes we don’t even notice! Take a picture or video as you complete these tasks and spot these items out in the world, submit them to our site and earn points! Three winners with the most points will be chosen to win one of these great prizes!
A Clarity Colored Rosin (goes great with a colored bow, in case you were to win one of those from the 4th of July challenge), a Large Chocolate Violin, and Classical Composer Playing Cards!
This Challenge will continue through August 1st.
June 27th Update
Time is running out to submit your Bingo entries and June Practice Logs either in-shop or on the Submit page. Which button will you choose as your June practice reward?
If you haven’t already printed out your July practice logs, click below to download them now. They are due by the 1st of the following month!
Ready for our next bonus challenge? The July 4th Flash Challenge starts now!
This one is short and quick! Starting now through July 6th submit a video of you playing your favorite PATRIOTIC song. One video will be selected as the winner to receive a Glasser Colored Bow!
This premium Fiberglas bow is comfortable in the hand and plays with outstanding responsiveness. It offers the same weight and feel as a student model Brazil wood bow, yet will not warp or break at the tip. It is available in a variety of colors!
Stick Colors: Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, Red, White and Silver
Hair Colors: Blue Green, Pink, Purple, Red, White and Black
Check out this awesome video from last year’s winners!
Don’t miss out on a chance to win this great prize!
This Challenge will continue through July 6th.
Need music? Hurry and buy your patriotic music TODAY; the shop will be closed July 1st – 8th. Check out the patriotic section of our online music store here.
Where’s Flat Austin?
Flat Austin has been to so many interesting places so far this summer, like Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho with Makayla C.!
Don’t forget to bring him with you on your adventures and Submit your photos to receive 1 day of free practice minutes per adventure!
Follow us on social media so you can see all the places Flat Austin has been!
June 16th Update
The end of the month is getting closer, have you finished BINGO? Check out these awesome submissions of practicing outside and in a fort:
Remember to submit your card, pictures, and videos by June 30th! You can earn additional entries by submitting pictures and videos of ANY squares, so you have more chances to win.
Use bingo to help with your practice time for the day so you can earn your June reward! Need some help with the “Learn a song from your favorite movie” Bingo Square? Don’t forget to use your book discounts, we have lots of options!
June 6th Update
Calling all advanced level violinists and violists:
Austin’s Violin Shop, in partnership with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, is pleased to present a Master Class with ESO Associate Concertmaster Eleanor Bartsch! Check out the May 31st update below for more information and to submit your entry form!
It’s time to start the first challenge, BINGO!
Standard Bingo rules apply, complete five squares in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Turn in your card and pictures/videos of your squares by June 30th to our Shop or on the Submit page to be entered to win! There is 1 bingo entry per participant (with proof), but you can earn additional entries for submitting a picture or video of ANY square, even if it’s not in your bingo!
Three winners will be selected and can win:
An Everest Colored Shoulder Rest or Slipstop Colored Endpin Holder, Essential Dictionary of Music and a Large Chocolate Violin.
May 31st Update
Announcing a Master Class with Eleanor Bartsch, Associate Concertmaster for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
All advanced level violin and viola players will be eligible to participate in a Master Class with ESO Associate Concertmaster Eleanor Bartsch (see her full biography here). This is an amazing opportunity to receive feedback and learn from an acclaimed professional in a small group setting!
Musicians will prepare a solo piece to perform and receive feedback. If they would like, they can also prepare an orchestral excerpt to perform if time allows. Choose a solo repertoire which BEST represents your playing ability. Please consult your private teacher for guidance and help in preparation. Solos do not need to be memorized. We have six chairs available.
The Master Class will be held Saturday, July 16th at 3:00pm in the Carnegie Community Room of the St. Charles Public Library. Family and private teachers are encouraged to attend and observe.
This challenge will continue through June 30th.
Make sure you follow us on Social Media so you can see what other participants are up to!
Please download and submit this form if you wish to participate.
The deadline to enter is June 15th.th.
Please download and submit this form if you wish to participate.
The deadline to enter is June 15th.th.
There is a regular practice log and a color-in calendar version for our youngest participants. Please initial to verify that the practice has been completed.
Turn in your form by uploading a picture of your completed log on the Submit page or in person at our Shop no later than the 1st of the following month.
Any participant who meets their practice goal will be entered to win one of three GRAND PRIZES: a $100.00, $75.00, or $50.00 Austin’s gift certificate that can be used toward merchandise, luthier services or even monthly rental fees! All three grand prize winners will receive 2 tickets to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra AND 2 tickets to “School of Rock” at Aurora’s Paramount Theater. A huge thank you to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Paramount Theater and Paramount School of the Arts for donating such amazing Prizes!
With all this practicing, your musician may need some new material! Receive 30% off one music book each month and 10% off additional books. Discounts available in-store or online, keep an eye on your email for the book discount coupon codes!
Bonus challenges will be announced throughout the Summer Music Jam. Information will be emailed to those who have signed up or you can check right here on the Updates Page! The first one will start in early June!
Flat Austin
Going on vacation and worried you won’t be able to participate in Austin’s Summer Music Jam? Good news, we’ve got you covered! Print and decorate Flat Austin and take him with you on your summer-time adventures, go to the Submit page to upload a photo and tell us where he went to earn one free day’s worth of practice minutes (15, 30, or 45 depending on your level) per adventure. We can’t wait to see all the places he will go!
This challenge will continue through August 31st.
2023 UPDATES