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Check it out!  We had our FIRST composition class and had such a great time! You can see a video here: http://drive.google.com/file/d/14o9rMNxW6MibC79x9Jevn-G5q1MRwWhw/view?usp=drivesdk

You might have noticed that the kiddos in these pictures are pretty young.  Typically composition is something we think only advanced musicians can do. But when we set up the right learning environment, and approach music like it is a language, kids have the tools to do it right away!  

Maybe you are wondering why you would WANT your young music student to participate in a composition class…?  Well, the best reason is because they LOVE to do it! Nothing builds confidence like creating something beautiful, especially when you didn’t think you could!  But another very important reason is because when music students compose, they learn to take OWNERSHIP of music, recognizing common musical patterns and putting them in new contexts, adding their own creative ideas, and generating new content.  This highly creative and intuitive process is possible at such a young age because we approach music as a language. We come to understand it’s familiar patterns and workings, which gives us a place to build from. It is through this process of improvisation and composition that a music student can develop TRUE MUSIC LITERACY – being able to hear what is written, and write what is heard.  It is a magnificent process to be a part of!

In our Composition Workshop, we started with some basics, and then each student worked at an individual piano to try out what we discussed.  Miss Nan gave feedback and everyone brainstormed ways to change things up, like using a different octave, adding an introduction, changing the tempo, etc. It was SO GREAT to be in a setting where we could test out ideas, receive feedback and instruction, and then test out ideas again, over and over!  One of the best parts was hearing Miss Nan improvise on a simple melody! 

Music composition is at the core of why we love music!  Music is fun, especially when you have the tools to create your own content! Have you tried the Composition Workshop yet? Now’s the perfect time!

Tara Stander teaches piano, flute, and voice, and is also our Administrative Assistant here at Harmony Arts and Music Academy! Tara is a fine teacher with a very solid educational background and many years teaching experience. My earliest memory of Tara is sitting in my son’s band concert in intermediate school. I was blown away at the level that those 1st year students were playing at and how prepared they were for their performance! I had never before heard beginning band students play with that kind of precision. I was immediately impressed with her teaching ability and so grateful that my son had her for a teacher.

Years later the opportunity came to hire Tara as a staff member. I of course jumped at the opportunity knowing at that point what an amazing talent she is. Gratefully she accepted and we have loved having her a part of the studio for several years now. Tara is incredibly musically talented. She can create things musically with the least amount of effort. On the other hand, she has an incredible work ethic and knows how to polish and perfect, and teach students to do the same. Her students are always well prepared for recitals and play with confidence. I appreciate the care that she takes in her teaching. She has a personality that makes students feel comfortable and capable. I’m grateful she teaches piano, flute, and voice, and is our Administrative Assistant, but I will be forever grateful that we are blessed by her talents in many areas in the studio.  -Nan Croney

Tara is a Utah State University graduate.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with an Emphasis in Band and an Elementary Music Endorsement.  She has taught band, choir and elementary music in Box Elder School District and at Promontory School. Tara has taught private flute, piano and voice lessons beginning in 2002.

Tara enjoys teaching private voice, flute, and piano lessons here at Harmony Arts Academy/CMG.  She also has experience teaching Preschool, Years 1 & 2 in the Musikgarten Keyboard Program, as well as directing and accompanying our Children’s Choir  She is currently working on developing a wind program, starting with early flutes, for Harmony Arts Academy/CMG. Tara loves being part of the “a-hah” moments that students experience and loves brainstorming about how to make those happen!  

You can usually find her cooking, eating, reading, keeping her husband company on the farm, playing with her furry friends and laughing with her two sons and daughter.    

Our students love Tara’s spontaneous sense of humor and have benefited greatly from her outstanding musicianship and creativity.

Tara is qualified to teach all levels, beginning through early advanced, in voice, piano, and flute.

Messages from our parents and students of Tara: Things we love about Miss Tara

“Tara is patient, kind, encouraging and always finds the best in my kids. She makes them laugh and they feel like she is their best friend as well as teacher.”

“My kids have not grown up hearing singing or piano in our house (except for the songs on country radio) so, her patience with my kids is amazing!!!! If they don’t answer her questions right away she will give them time to think, then help them if they need it. They love how she makes it fun for them, sometimes changing up the words to things that interest them. We enjoy Tara and all of Harmony Art’s staff.”

We all want to provide the best gifts for our kids – gifts that they love, but also gifts that will impact them for good.  This is why there is such a trend now to provide experiences rather than toys for Christmas. We now find many parents and grandparents Giving the Gift of Music to their children and grandchildren in lieu of Christmas presents — and not only the child, but the whole family is benefiting!  

It is a known fact that music students love their lessons!  They may not always love to practice, but nowadays, having so many proven techniques and resources at their fingertips, teachers who love music and love kids can provide a very positive weekly experience for students which they love. This goes a long way in helping them stay in their music lessons. But how does music compare to other activities long-term?  Lots of activities are fun, but do they have lifelong results?

In a study by the University of Vermont College of Medicine, brain scans of 232 children ages 6 to 8 were analyzed, looking for relationships between cortical thickness and musical training (references below). Why was this correlation important?  Because previous studies the same team had performed revealed that anxiety, depression, attention problems and aggression correspond with decreased cortical thickness. Hudziak and his team sought to discover whether a “positive activity” like musical training could affect the opposite changes in young minds.

What we found was the more a child trained on an instrument,” Hudziak told the Washington Post, “it accelerated cortical organization in attention skill, anxiety management and emotional control.”

The study found increased thickness in the parts of the brain responsible for executive functioning, which includes working memory, attentional control and organizational skills. They believe that musical training could serve as a powerful treatment of cognitive disorders like ADHD, amongst others.

Taking music lessons from an early age has been connected to improved math and reading skills; increased fine motor skills, impulse and ADHD control; emotional and behavioral maturation; and even being able to hear speech during their elderly years (references below).

Children who receive musical training in school tend to be more civically engaged and maintain higher grade-point averages than children who don’t. Since many students don’t receive quality music education at school, giving the gift of music lessons to our children can lead to more self-controlled, resilient, intelligent adults. 

But it’s not just enduring many interminable years of lessons that creates these good results. It’s active enjoyment, creating and really living the music on a day-to-day basis that has these effects. And that’s what Harmony Arts and Music Academy is all about! We have lessons available for babies on up through adults.

Babies and toddlers start to play peekaboo with scarves, pretend to walk through the green grass, jump up and down, and before they know it they are singing and chanting common musical patterns, and playing the glockenspiel! We intentionally create a fun environment where the kids enjoy learning so much, it is more like playing. And that is what creates those benefits! 

Although tickets to plays and sporting events can make for great presents, the opportunity to actively make music is a gift that truly lasts a lifetime. All ages benefit from music, so as you are making your Christmas List, think about not only your children, but your spouse, parents and friends!  Who do you know who has always wanted to learn an instrument but has never given it a try?

Better than a toy, even better than a single experience, music lessons will enrich their entire lives! For more information, please call 435-452-2697 or click www.harmonyarts.net.

References:

Barnes, T. (2015, Jan 8). Science Just Discovered Something Amazing About What Childhood Piano Lessons Did to You. Retrieved from http://www.mic.com/articles/108022/science-just-discovered-something-amazing-about-what-childhood-piano-lessons-did-to-you

Jones, J. (2015, Sept 4). New Research Shows How Music Lessons During Childhood Benefit the Brain for a Lifetime. Retrieved from http://www.openculture.com/2015/09/new-research-shows-how-music-lessons-during-childhood-benefits-the-brain-for-a-lifetime.html

Meet our fantastic private piano teacher, Lindsey Richards! Lindsey has studied piano since she was seven years old. She loves to play the piano, take pictures and spend time with her family.

Lindsey teaches Private Piano Lessons here at Harmony Arts Academy/CMG. Students love her cheerful nature, positive attitude and patient manner. Lindsey has a strong Classical background and experience playing a wide range of repertoire. She enjoys getting to know her students and passing on her love for music. Her experience also includes assisting in Keyboard Classes, Lab Assisting, and assisting our Preschool of the Arts.

Lindsey currently has a couple of openings, but they wont be there long! To register for private piano with Lindsey, please visit our website at http://www.harmonyarts.net.

We had a great family drum night with our local charter school, Athenian eAcademy-Tremonton!  Adults, teens, kids, and even toddlers came to try out our authentic Djembe drums. Our amazing drum teacher, Jacob Kropf, and Nan Croney showed everyone the basics of drumming. To see a video clip from the drum night, click here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/bZ5gPnWgLGgc9Qed7

At first, some people (mostly adults) didn’t want to try it — but once they did, everyone enjoyed it. All ages worked together, helped each other and enjoyed the music! It was a challenge, but it was fun and rewarding! The overall volume–the loud sound of the drums–might seem like it would be difficult to handle. But actually, participating in drumming spends out that excess energy and leaves a person feeling renewed. Drumming brings generations together — and communities together as we work as one on a common goal! 

We learned to “pull” the sound from the drum by relaxing our hands, and tried using food words like “I really like pie” and “Razzleberry Cherry” to help us stay together. We tried some cheery beats and played along to some Zootopia and Moana for even more fun. 

What a positive, encouraging experience! Group drumming is perfect for family parties, schools, churches– all groups can benefit! Call 435-452-2697 to ask Nan about setting up group drumming for your event. Thank you Jacob and Athenian eAcademy-Tremonton for a terrific drum night!

Check out this fun new motivational tool from one of our music families!

This hardworking student likes 3 Musketeers bars! So she made a deal with her mom to earn a 3 Musketeers for practicing 3 songs, 3 times each! What a great idea! We love our creative music families. Click the link below to watch the video.

http://photos.app.goo.gl/DFpprwxhtmqC8PP37

It is completely normal, and even expected, that kids will act out at times, but especially when something is new.  This is why we often seen behavior issues during the first few months of a new class. This can be discouraging and even overwhelming for a parent.  Some of my favorite moments in class are when moms reach out to one another in love and support when this happens, because if we’re honest, we’ve ALL been there!

When we as adults stay calm and relaxed during these moments, and make an effort to not worry too much, we facilitate faster improvement in our children’s behavior.   Most things take time with kids, and sometimes kids can really dig their heels in, especially if the feel any pressure from us in the moment. Keeping a few things in mind can be helpful:

1-When it is something you really DON’T want to give your child a choice on, try saying “it’s time for _______” rather than “do you want to do ______”.  Smile and let the child know what is going to happen, and then proceed with the activity no matter how s/he acts, even if you have to do it without them. They will see that you are going on and pause to watch you.  Be sure your child sees you enjoying yourself in that moment.

2-Many kids struggle with some separation anxiety at first. This can manifest as them not wanting you to leave, being clingy, or just acting out in general.  It might be helpful to come in for a few minutes to soften this transition, but tell your child you will come in for a bit, but that you WILL leave and you also WILL come back.  Then DO NOT sneak out. This is very distressing to the child when they realize you are gone. Best to help get them interested and happy, and then try something like, “I see you are having so much fun!  I’ll be back in a while.” Saying good-bye helps the child know you meant what you said, and builds trust.  When you return time and again, s/he will learn to trust you and trust the routine.

3-Digging their heels in is what 2-3 year olds do best, and they know the distress this can cause you!  That distress can give them a sense of control which often perpetuates the behavior.  Your child’s behavior doesn’t have to affect your mood. It can be difficult and takes time and practice but you can get to a place where you can feel calm even when your child isn’t calm. Choosing a neutral response that is not a reaction to their behavior can help you maintain a calm feeling. 

Giving young children lots of opportunities to make choices (always between things YOU are OK with) can give them a HEALTHY sense of control and empowerment, which they DO need for their own growth and confidence. Boundaries also help children feel secure, so when it’s something you need to hold your ground on, be confident in those loving boundaries, knowing you are indeed looking out for what is best for your child.  However, if the child becomes violent or disrespectful to you, you have a right to take them out to a time out on the stairs, “if you do this again you will have to sit in a time out”. It is a challenge to discipline in public but some boundaries should not be crossed.  

Reach out to the teacher so that you are on the same page in terms of who will deal with issues.  Sometimes the teacher holds back when the parent is present, because they are choosing to respect your right to deal with it.  Our teachers also understand, however, that children will often respond better to correction by the teacher. This is not a negative reflection at all on your parenting!  Almost all children would rather be told to do or not to do something (or be invited) by the teacher over the parent, when there are others around. So let the teacher help out!  They are happy to do so!

4-If you want your child to enjoy class, then enjoy it yourself.  Going ALL-IN yourself makes this possible. Just dive in and participate, and don’t overthink it.  🙂 Soon your child will join in, but don’t be surprised if s/he decides to test you first.  Just keep on smiling and inviting, and be OK with lack of participation if that is your child’s response at first.  It WILL come if you hang in there and DON’T GIVE UP! Eventually, they will want to join in, and won’t be able to help themselves!  

Knowing as a parent where encouragement turns into pushing is also important. Encouraging with gentle touches or comments is good and helpful, but in the end they find success when they feel like it is their idea and not yours.

5-It is important for a child to know their voice is heard and respected. They gain confidence when they are able to use their voice. However, it is also important to learn how to use it respectfully and respect the voice of others as well. I have found when I listen to them in a respectful way, they listen to me in a respectful way.6-Step back and look at things from a different perspective.  Take time to watch your child play, looking at their play from their eyes. What are they doing? What are they choosing?  Why did they do it that way? When you watch them play and study their choices you learn a little more about their thoughts, personality, and how their brain is working. You can then assist them in learning in a better light and perspective.

6-Step back and look at things from a different perspective.  Take time to watch your child play, looking at their play from their eyes. What are they doing? What are they choosing?  Why did they do it that way? When you watch them play and study their choices you learn a little more about their thoughts, personality, and how their brain is working. You can then assist them in learning in a better light and perspective. 

7-Be patient with YOURSELF, and realize you need time to grow and learn, too.  Someone shared this with me once and I have found it helpful when I’m up against a problem I feel overpowered by …

I think this applies to parenting more than anything!  No job is harder, and none of us really know how to do it right, at least not all the time.  Remember, you ARE doing a great job. You ARE a good parent. You ARE made up of the exact qualities your child needs in a parent. You are the perfect parent that your child needs and your child is the perfect child to teach you what you need to learn. It is a win-win! 

Anything worthwhile takes time and effort, and sometimes it feels like things are not getting better.  Kids help us learn patience, and part of that is learning to be patient and wait for the outcome we want.  Behavior can be trained, but it takes time and consistency to do so.  Avoiding a situation only prolongs the problem, but sometimes hitting it head on doesn’t work either.  Often a wiser approach works best. Step back, take a breath, and try again.  And remember, it will all work out. 😉

Practice is Key

Practice is essential to the development of any skill–and music is no exception! Sadly, most music students don’t enjoy practicing, which in turn makes playing less fun than it could be. On the bright side, it is up to you whether or not practicing is enjoyable. If you want playing to be fun, practice!

You may be wondering, “How can I make practice fun?” Here is a tip used in the Musikgarten program that increases the benefits of practice, not just the fun of it! Every Musikgarten class contains four elements that you can add to your practice time at home. We use the acronym “SLIM” to help us remember. They are:

• S – singing
• L – listening
• I – instruments
• M – movement

SINGING and VOCALIZATION 

Singing develops a relationship with specific songs. It develops your ear to hear changes in pitch, which is part of becoming musically literate. Singing your songs can increase your excitement of learning them, especially songs you already like. You can make practice more fun by singing before and during your time at the keyboard.

Here’s where counting aloud comes in. The act of vocalization (such as counting aloud) unlocks a greater capacity of the ear to be able to control physical movement in the body. When you count aloud, the sound is not only in your mind, it travels through the air and into your ear, and your body feels the vibrations! All these things while physically playing allow you to internalize the rhythm in such a way that deepens your learning and your understanding. Almost all students dislike counting out loud at first, but it will be more engaging and make practice more rewarding once you have learned through your own experience that counting aloud is a faster pathway to learning the music before you.

LISTENING

Like singing, listening develops the ear. When learning a new language, listening provides a path to understanding the meanings of different words, tones, and expressions. Listening to music will help you  learn to understand melody, harmony, rhythm and expression, and other key elements that give music a voice. Music is a language and becomes learnable like one when the ear is engaged! You can add fun to your practice by listening to different instruments, genres, and periods of music. Feel free to draw a picture, drum along, or dance to express what the music says to you. At the very least, listen to what is coming out of your instrument and learn to adjust. This type of highly focused listening that motivates your own action is one of the deepest rewards that come from performing music.

Playing INSTRUMENT(s) 

If you are a music student, there is likely an instrument you are trying to learn. This is obviously an important part of your practice, then, right? Build a relationship with your instrument so it becomes your friend. Practice becomes more like a play date with your instrument when you’re excited to learn and improve. You can name your instrument, tell it your dreams and fears, and express yourself by playing how you feel. Though it is important to practice your assigned tasks, it is totally appropriate to take a short break to make up your own piece. Keeping this balance as you practice your instrument can help you have the patience to work on songs that require your best effort.

MOVEMENT

You don’t have to sit at the keyboard for hours at a time to have a quality practice. In fact, the quality will improve if you add some movement! Dance, drum, or play a game to the song you are preparing to practice. This not only builds a relationship with the song like singing does, it also helps your mind focus so you can play even better than if you went straight to the piano. Movement also helps with long-term memory. If you’re struggling to remember a scale or the notes to a song, add movements that will help you remember! Movement is also a great way to renew your attention and determination. The simple act of standing and stretching, breathing deeply, or walking around for a minute can be tremendously balancing during a practice session, especially when practice feels frustrating or difficult.

Become a Champion Practicer!

There are countless things you can do to make practice fun. The only limit is your own imagination. I promise that as you practice with the attitude of a champion, you will become a “champion practicer”–and champion practicing makes playing fun!

What ideas do you have that can make practice fun? We would love to hear your comments!

By Kylee Hale

At the birth of her third son, Sharlene Habermeyer learned that a traumatic labor would leave her little boy with prefrontal cortex damage. Sharlene and her family heard every excuse in the book of why her son wouldn’t graduate high school and why college would be completely out of the question.

“Children do not come in tidy packages—they come with spontaneity, energy, and delicious individuality,” Sharlene shared. “Some have learning challenges that affect them physically, cognitively, emotionally, and/or behaviorally. The good news is that music can help with most of them.”

While raising a child with seemingly unbreakable physical or mental barriers can often be overwhelming, Sharlene pushed through to help her son graduate into a grown man with a successful family and career—and so can you.

Think outside the excuses

It’s easy to let the physical and mental barriers of a child become overwhelming, but don’t let the barriers stop you from trying to help your child. Doing research on your child’s physical or mental condition can be an eye opening experience, and it can help you and your child think outside the box of ways to overcome those “unbreakable walls.”

Perhaps your son or daughter is fascinated with structures built of Legos or Play-Doh. Or they could be partial to coloring an imaginative landscape. Finding what your child does concentrate on can help you narrow down the options that could help him/her learn other essential lessons and skills.

Take the time to test these skills out with your child(ren). Introduce new activities and learning methods and let them show you what they understand. The summer is a great time to test out creative activities and Pinterest can be a great resource!

Music is often the answer

As many of you may know, music is a crucial part of life for people of all ages and mental capacities. Whether you’re 18-months or 92-years-old, music can open your mind to higher levels of thinking, activate creativity, and build self-esteem.

Sharlene’s research led her to understand the musical benefits music can have on the “auditory, visual/spatial, and motor cortices of the brain.” This affects speech, language, reading comprehension, problem solving, centrating, and more.

“Studies indicate that when children with ADHD or learning disabilities learn a musical instrument, attention, concentration, impulse control, social functioning, self-esteem, self-expression, motivation, and memory improve.”

Tap into a natural rhythm

Everyone has a natural sense of rhythm and I personally believe that is why everyone can connect so closely with a myriad of tunes on the radio. This is due to the fact that we are all biologically working on a similar rhythm—our heartbeat.

Sometimes, especially when we deal with mental disabilities, our brains and heartbeats don’t quite connect. Therefore, our biological rhythms are thrown off and everything around us seems to interrupt the rhythm we are trying to set.

Finding your child’s niche will help them to coordinate their biological rhythms. Ultimately, helping them concentrate on the cognitive skills that can often look overwhelming to an already chaotic mind.

Put the rhythm in your hands

Sharlene shared some of the creative activities she introduced to her son that provided him with the necessary skills to improve.

• Enroll in private or group music lessons
  • Music lessons are such a great way to help your child learn cognitive skills and build self-confidence. For younger children (ages 18-months to four-years-old) a weekly group music class can help them feel prepared for private lessons. Children ages five and up are often ready to learn on their own and it’s the prime time to help them develop such musical skills.
• Recognize their heartbeat
  • Listening to music with a strong bass beat and pointing it out to your child can help them find a grounding and focus. Help them recognize their heartbeat and how it changes based on the beat of the song.
• Move with the music
  • Dancing is a great way for young children to hear and feel music and coordinate it in their minds with actions. Building these skills on top of a beat, can often help the child “multitask” their homework or classes in the future.
• Draw to the music
  • Sharlene created a great activity with her son where she asked him to draw what he heard. This activity enforces creativity and again, builds multiple senses on top of a steady beat.
• Incorporate music in their learning
  • Listening to calm instrumental music is a fundamental practice for helping your child finish their homework—especially in their more difficult subjects. Classical music opens the mind and clears a path for the child to think about the subject at hand.

Remember, every child is different, and some adaptations may be necessary for your child to tap into his/her internal rhythm.

Learn more about Sharelene and her personal journey.

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In all our efforts to become musically literate, it is important to maintain an element of FUN. Without it, we lose the enjoyment, devotion, and passion that make the practice pay off and turn out our best results. To keep the excitement of music alive, here are ways music students can tap into the fun!

Mood Improvement.

Many people are aware of the effect music has on their mood. Athletes use it to prepare for games, academic students listen while they study, mothers sing their young ones to sleep, families jam out in the car together to keep the peace on long drives… There are many ways music, if chosen well, can improve moods!

To promote music for emotional maintenance, try putting together a few short lists for different occasions. You can listen to, dance to, or sing your chosen songs to help address your emotions and improve your mood. This connection with music not only builds a relationship with it, it makes music fun!

 Expression.

Music is not only meant to help us shape our day by shaping our moods. It is open to shaping from us. Part of the fun in music is taking a song and making it personal. It can feel monotonous to play mechanically, with stress on accuracy and perfection.

Rather than focusing on playing a song perfectly, try putting yourself into the song. Try different tempos and dynamics, starting with the ones provided by the composer. When playing for self-expression, YOU get to determine the interpretation of the piece! The opportunities this provides to choose what sounds good to you, adds an element of fun to repetition!

Experiment.

Alongside expression is the opportunity to experiment. Again, variance in tempo, dynamic, octave, rhythm, and touch, open the door to countless options! It is often in experimenting that a personal connection with music is made and a new level of self-expression becomes possible. Additionally, when music is practiced with this kind of excitement, it often leads to self-discovery.

What are you waiting for? Give it a try! Make a game out of it by making one to three categories of options to experiment with. Draw from each pile and apply the suggestions to a song you are learning. (One idea at a time is appropriate for beginners.) Categories might include:

• Dynamics (pp, p, mp, mf, f, and ff)
• Tempo (largo, adagio, andante, allegro, vivace, etc.)
• Touch (long staccato, short staccato, legato, tenuto)
• Rhythmic variations (long-short, short-long, long-short-short, etc.)
• Other (octave, pedal, tone, etc.)

At the end of the day, we tend to get the most out of learning when we make it fun. Music is no exception. We encourage you to connect with music and tap into the fun by using it to improve your mood, express yourself, and experiment!

What do YOU do to make practice fun?