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Newsletter
Music is Science.
It is exact, specific; and it demands exact acoustics. A conductor's full score is a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody and harmony all at once and with the most exact control of time. It embodies many levels of physics from acoustics to architecture.
Music is Mathematical.
It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper, in a highly specific form with regard to exact placement and symmetry.
Music is a World Language.
Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French; and the notation is certainly not English. It is a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.
Music is History.
Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, taking on the emotion of a nation, region or a people. It is the only Art form we can hear as people hundreds of years ago had. Unlike paint, whose image is always there once created, Music is perpetually "repainted" each time it is performed. The feelings and thoughts of countless generations are forever cast in Sound.
Music is Physical Education.
It requires fantastic coordination of the fingers, hands, arms, lips and facial muscles, and control of diaphragmatic, back, stomach and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets. There are as many calories burned by a symphony trumpet player in one performance as there are by a quarterback in a professional football game.
Music is Art.
It allows a human being to take technical and sometimes difficult areas of learning and translate them into human emotion. It helps every person to recognize and understand beauty, and to understand love, compassion and how to live more fully within this world.
This is Why We Study Music.
Not because we expect you to major in music. Not because we expect people to play music all their lives. Not so you can relax. Not so you can have fun. BUT: So you will be human, so you will recognize beauty, so you will be more sensitive, especially to all the thoughts and feelings put into sound throughout the ages, so you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world, so you will have something to cling to, so you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good - in short, more life! Of what value will it be to make a prosperous living unless you know how to live?
Your Role in Music Lessons
Your kids have a once-a-week lesson. They come home with songs to practice. Sometimes they are brand new songs, sometimes they are songs to review from the previous week. So what on earth is the teacher doing anyway? What are we looking for after a week with these songs?
When we assign your child a song to practice, we are looking for a few important things to happen:
Concepts Mastered. Each week, students are introduced to new terms or concepts. The assigned songs help reinforce and teach these concepts during the week, and then the next lesson will build upon what has been learned.
Attaining Confidence. It takes a lot of confidence to play in front of your teacher and not be so nervous that it affects how you perform. We are teaching our students to relax and do the best that they can. Because learning music is about sharing the gift of music. . .and you can’t do that if you never perform.
Reach High. We place a high standard on our students. Our philosophy is that even if they don’t reach that mark, they’ve still come further than if we would have settled for less. However, perfection is not our ultimate goal. Is the music beautiful? Filled with emotion? Up to tempo? Expressing what the composer intended?
Gaining Discipline. We think that practicing regularly is the only way to truly progress in the music world. . .and to slowly learn how to be a responsible, disciplined adult someday.
As the parent, you may be wondering about your role as a parent in this whole piano lessons thing. How much do you get involved? When do you back off? Here are a few suggestions from a veteran teacher and mother of three piano students:
Frazzled parents, don’t worry! The answer to “how involved should I get in my child’s practice?” is “not very much.” But, there are a few simple things you can do to make sure that your child is getting the most from his or her practice time.
Encourage your child to work on all the components of their piece, especially their tempo and dynamics. It’s not okay just to get the notes right. Their music should be expressive. Each piece has a marking such as “lively,” “with zip,” or “peacefully.” Your child should try to create a feeling using these markings, as well as the title of the piece, as their guide. Ask them how they want you to feel when you hear their piece.
Dynamics! Each piece is filled with them, and a child should be practicing their dynamics all week long. It’s easy for a teacher to tell when a child tries to “add them in” on lesson day. . .it doesn’t work. If every piece sounds like it’s being played at the same volume, then your child probably isn’t practicing their dynamics.
Most of these suggestions do not require much time on your part. It can be as simple as listening from another room and calling out a comment or question every so often. Most importantly, your child needs to know that you care and that you support them.
From http://www.pthsd.k12.nj.us/sch/phs/band/Why.htm
Did you have fun in the snow? We were super excited to have a snow day. Here are a few pictures of Leila's snow day! Look at the cute doggie snowman!
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Jeffery E.
Olivia M.
Wilson L.
Jake B.
Tracey C.
Avery M.
Riley M.
Fletcher D.
Silas D.
Alayna W.
Hadley G.
Kaden W.
Elle R.
Tim C.
Valkyra S.
Olivia M.
Lylah B.
Jackson C.
Colette W.
Chaslyn L.
Ava L.
Meredith H.
Rue L.
Rae L.
Isai G.
Tykera C.
Trent K.
Riley W.
Emily G.
Zane A.
Katy G.
Rudy C.
Myrian Z.
Blessing A.
J.C. C.
Renee B.
Maverick W.
Cooper E.
Joe F.
Evelyn F.
Congratulations to all our students, here are a few!
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Now is the time to sign up!
Spots available for all instruments at both locations.
903-617-6623
Guitars Etc. 604 S. Palestine Athens, TX 75751
903-292-1733
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