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Orpheus Blog

April 2021 Students of the Month!

4/2/2021

 

​Avaneesh R. 

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​Music is a very versatile thing, as there are so many things you can do with it. I love music for this reason. This versatility gives me so much potential to learn in both the electric and classical guitar fields. In other words, there are so many different "genres" of music in the genres of electric and classical music. In electric, there are many, many bands, and certain bands have certain playing styles which can be hard to master. In classical, factors like time period, nationality of the composer, and the composer themself all play an immense role in the resulting piece. This versatility also makes it fun. Every new song will be different, and it is much more fun to learn different material. If you learn one song over and over again, it will get boring, but if you learn new material, it will always be really fun.
When I came to Orpheus over a year ago, I disliked classical music. I found it boring and way too hard to master the fingering. I like the fact that I was pushed to go out of my comfort zone and learn classical guitar. Learning classical guitar also helped me refine finger technique on electric guitar, as well.
My teacher, Mr. Wyatt has played such a huge role in helping me learn new songs and refine my technique. He is an awesome teacher who can really encourage as well as make lessons really fun. Thank you. 
-Avaneesh


Avaneesh has been a constant hard working student since he started taking lessons here about a year and a half ago. Over this time, he has developed fingerstyle skills that he never had while also furthering his electric guitar picking techniques to new heights. Any lesson with Avaneesh is exciting due to how much material he comes prepared with between the 2 main genres that we cover. I am also extremely proud of how he has handled his approach to playing and lessons during the pandemic by seeing the idea of being home more as an opportunity to practice and listen to music even more than he did while things were normal. As he hits the ground running with high school in the Fall, I am very excited to see how the guitar will continue to be such a defining and ever improving part of his life. -Mr. Wyatt

Ayaan G.

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I like playing on the piano so that I can learn new songs. -Ayaan

Ayaan has made so much progress with me and has only been taking lessons for one month! I'm so proud of how hard he has been working and love his curiosity and excitement for music! -
Mr. Mike

Jena C. ​

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I love music and singing because it relaxes me. Music makes me feel free, calm, and happy. Since I was a baby, I loved to sing! Also, music has become a very important part of my life. Best of all was joining Orpheus Academy of music and having the best singing teachers in the world! ( Ms. Chelsea and Ms. Jessica)! Thank you Orpheus Academy for helping me to achieve my goals! -Jena

I chose Jena for Student of the Month because of her infectiously positive attitude and eagerness to learn and make music.  She brings so much energy and enthusiasm to all her lessons and performances! Jena is incredibly open to feedback, always excited to try new challenges, and never shies away from putting in hard work!  It is such a delight to work with Jena - thank you for sharing your voice! -Ms. Chelsea
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Krishna V.

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I love music—it makes me happy and I enjoy stretching my voice and learning new songs! -Krishna

I am thrilled to nominate Krishna for Student of the Month! Krishna comes to every lesson very well prepared and eager to jump right in. She brings a tremendous amount of energy and focus, and she takes great initiative in spotting areas where she'd like to make improvements and practices those areas thoughtfully. As a result, she has already grown so much in our short time together! You should be very proud of the work you are doing, Krishna! Thank you for sharing your voice with the Orpheus community. 
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-Ms. Chelsea
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Music Theory In Action: How Composing Motivates Learning

3/29/2021

 
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At some point, we’ve all had the experience of learning something new and wondering, “When am I ever going to use this?” Students can struggle with learning math for instance, because it isn’t always clear how those math concepts relate to their daily lives. The solution isn’t just more word problems, it’s using motivating, real-world projects to keep students engaged in a learning process that matters to them. When a student needs to use algebra to build a birdhouse for their mom, or convert measurements for a cookie recipe for their friend, they become more motivated to learn, and they're more likely to retain that knowledge and have a deeper understanding of the material.

​Perhaps it’s no surprise that this same idea applies to learning music theory. Pieter, an Orpheus guitar student, has developed his understanding of music in large part by writing and experimenting with his own compositions. These original pieces give him the chance to put theories like melody, harmonization, and instrumentation into practice, and apply them to something he really cares about. Pieter’s teacher, Jesse, spoke with Pieter and his dad, David, about Pieter’s compositions and the role they have played in his musical education.
Jesse: Pieter, how long have you been playing the guitar?

Pieter: At least three years. 


Jesse: What’s your favorite part of playing music?

Pieter: I suppose it’s performing.

​Jesse: Does it make you feel a certain way, or do you like preparing for a big special event?

Pieter: I suppose I like showing off.

Jesse: Fair enough. You acquire a skill, you want people to see you show that skill off, so I understand that completely.


Jesse: What is your favorite kind of music to play?

Pieter: Music that I’ve played over and over and over again. Because it’s really easy for me to play.

Jesse: Yeah! Well so that means just about any style of music is fun for you to play once you feel comfortable, confident playing it?

Pieter: Yeah.


Jesse: What first made you interested in composing music?

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Pieter: I suppose it was just… I was shown it one time and I wanted to try it. I was shown a tool to make music and I suppose I just liked it.


Jesse: ​Is there a particular style of music or instrumentation or instrument you like composing for?

Pieter: Well, I generally compose pieces that have multiple different instruments in them actually.

Jesse: Yeah, what is it you like about that?

Pieter: Seeing how they might fit together, I suppose.


​"I was shown a tool to make music and I suppose I just liked it.
​

Jesse: Why do you like composing your own original music?

Pieter: I suppose it’s art!


​
Jesse:
How do you come up with your new ideas for composition? Or maybe to phrase it in the way you just stated, how do you come up with the ideas for your art?

Pieter: I just throw stuff together!

Jesse: Can you think of any other artists in any idiom, like painting, visual, that do the same thing?

Pieter: Yeah! Just, the flicking of a brush onto a canvas. Or maybe just a jumble of ideas like… just cutting up pictures, like a collage.

Jesse: So how do you discern, like what is worth keeping when you have this idea of just like flicking or just putting notes down? What makes that process advance to the next level? How do you then from that moment go, “Oh I like that flick of notes!” Like what differentiates from one flick to another flick in your mind?

Pieter: I suppose it’s just personal preference of the notes.


Jesse: And then more specifically, what kind of software do you use? What’s the platform that you use?

Pieter: Noteflight. 

Jesse: What’s the most difficult part of working with the software?

Pieter: I suppose the fact that the notes aren’t completely accurate to what they would actually sound like.

Jesse: So like the instrument playback?

Pieter: Uh-huh.

Jesse: Yeah I agree, that’s so frustrating when you have this idea in your head of what it’s going to sound like, and then you press play and all of the sudden it’s like, “Ew. No, that’s not at all what the guitar sounds like.” So yeah, that is a pretty difficult part of the software usage.


Jesse: What is the most difficult part of composing for you?

Pieter: Honestly? Naming.

Jesse: Naming? Ah, interesting. I suppose that makes sense because your whole approach first is just to kind of experiment, and then after–

​Pieter: Yeah, my whole approach is: make the music! Um… Huh. Now what do I name it? What does it sound like?​


Jesse: ​Does composing help you learn or think about music in different ways?

Pieter: Well, yes!

Jesse: Well certainly I imagine, coming from your three years of guitar playing experience, you have been told what to play and you experience what to play through listening and through movement and through watching notes and pictures. Now you actually get to create that sound just by writing it down first. So you’re kind of experiencing music completely backwards from how you were taught it.

Pieter: Like everyone who has composed can think about music differently. You have to think about it differently from playing and composing.


"Everyone who has composed can think about music differently. You have to think about it differently from playing and composing."
​

Jesse: David, have you noticed a change in Pieter’s approach to music since he started creating his own original compositions?

David: Yes, in that he has spent some extra time thinking about his compositions versus just playing songs that he’s learning along the way. I think he’s also been willing to dig in and try to learn some new things in playing his compositions. Whereas before I think–  particularly given just a kind of a challenging song that he might not be able to get through, and to try to do it sight-reading… You know, he would have just, “No.”

And I think that he can play it on the composing software, then he’s willing to kind of just dive in and see, “I wonder what we can do on the guitar.”

Jesse: That is a pretty cool element of it, and I do see in his development, that when he begins to see music he can also have an inner ear and an inner idea of what that music sounds like. And that will certainly help in the future when he’s exposed to new, more challenging music. Although the fingers might not be able to do it, the eyes and the inner ear can understand pretty much what it’s going to sound like. I have noticed the same thing and it’s been pretty exciting. I have thought that was a new motivating factor, he can create the sound but then he can instantly get feedback with what it actually sounds like.


​
Jesse: Does Pieter share his compositions with you?

David: He has. Not all of them, but yeah. And we have a weekly Zoom call with my family and we’ve been able to share the screen and play his compositions for them. And he’s much faster to do that than he has been to be willing to get on camera and play his guitar for us, although he’ll still do that every now and again too, but he was really keen to share his compositions.


​Jesse: Pieter, can you tell us about some of your compositions? Is there one that you’re particularly proud of?

Pieter: “The Streaking Fish.”


Jesse: ​David, are there any in particular that you enjoy or that he enjoys playing for you?

David: Yeah, we’ve been mostly thinking about “The Streaking Fish.” It’s been interesting to hear him try to play different pieces of it, because again, it’s very different than when the whole thing is kind of put together. It is very reminiscent– you know one of the things that Pieter really likes, as a lot kids do, he likes video games. But one thing he likes as well, is he really likes a lot of the little soundtracks. He, before, was always playing little loops and little pieces that were background music from some particular game. I am reminded of that with some of his compositions.

Jesse: Now that you say that, I do get a sense of like, Zelda. You know listening to it, it does sound like playing The Legend of Zelda when you hear it. 

David: Yeah. And I’ve been more interested to listen to his composition, than to listen to lots of video game snippets too, so [laughs].

Jesse: Maybe he’s training you to enjoy that.

David: Mm-hmm [laughs].
Jesse: David, what have you learned about Pieter through his compositions?

David: I’ve been surprised at his ability to just put things together and tweak it and have it– I mean, he’s very quick to make interesting sounds and rhythms, you know. And I think again, it’s some of it, the ability to just use the editor to do things quickly.

Generally with any of his compositions I’ve been like, “Where did you– Did you start with something that you then edited to then get to this? Or did you just…?” He was like, “No, I just threw it together. I just put things together and moved them around until I liked how they sounded.” 

And you know, I had assumed at first that he’d taken some particular something and then, you know, just added a tweak here or there in some way, shape, or form.

I guess what will be fun is seeing a progression from putting things down and adjusting them to get it how you want, to being able to think about what you’d like and kind of start there.


​Jesse: I like the idea of him taking an idea, which is like a lump of clay, and then forming it. It’s an interesting insight into the way his mind works and the direction he’s going. I think one of the cool things you get to experience right now is him starting with just this collection of sounds, and then see how it’s forming and as he’s listening more and more, what his ear and what his mind is shaping that into. I think that gives pretty deep insight into his personality and just musical intuition.

David: His music theory is, I’d say stronger than his guitar playing. He gets the idea about what it means to move things to different keys and so on. He may not know the ins and outs perfectly, but he sort of gets the idea. And the same is true about rhythm, and so that’s been fun.

When his sister was home in the spring, then his guitar playing was getting a lot better because he got to practice with her a lot. But she would comment on how  she’d played guitar for four, five, six years and had never learned some of the sort of theory pieces that Pieter knew about, you know, how to find different notes on the guitar that were the same or how to move things around. And I think some of that’s playing out in the composition as well.


"And it’s like, "Oh yeah, you are just learning music, and guitar happens to come along as something that you’re going to learn how to play.”"
​

Jesse: Are there any specific struggles or challenges Pieter has faced in his Musical Journey? And how do you help Pieter through those?

David: I think the biggest is just kind of diving into practice. And, you know, he loves to be able to execute songs well. And he’s frustrated if he can’t. And he hasn’t quite made the connection that it’s the practice that actually gets him over the barrier, then it’s easy and just flows and goes. But again, I don’t know that that’s different than a lot of folks starting out. And I think Pieter’s really at a place where he’ll start to be able to play his own music and either his own music or music of his own choosing in some way, and then I just think that’s a real tipping point to where you want to hear how it sounds or you want to play something familiar to you. And then you’re willing to dive in and see if you can really get it to go. The other thing I’ve wondered too is whether he might want to explore playing keyboard or piano or something. I think his interest in music– he has a stronger interest in music than say in guitar, which I had not anticipated when he started learning guitar that actually what he would do is learn music.

Jesse: Hmm. That’s so funny that you say that.

David: I think it’s from my own experience... I mean I learned some music playing– I’m a poor piano player and I’m a really terrible saxophone player. And I learned a little bit of music when I learned piano. But it was always very technical and it was always about actually making the instrument do something, versus really learning a lot about the ideas behind music, and you know, I noticed that right when Pieter started. I had asked Pieter what he’d had to do at his lesson and he said, “Well we sang a song.” And I’m like, ”You were singing? Like this is a guitar lesson man.” And he was like, “No, that’s how I’m learning.” And it’s like, “Oh yeah, you are just learning music, and guitar happens to come along as something that you’re going to learn how to play.”


But you know what I wonder now is, especially with the composition pieces, would he enjoy learning to play piano or keyboard, where he could start to do other things.

Jesse: Well I’m sorry about your other music education as a child. Sorry we weren’t there [laughs].

David: [laughs] Yeah!

Jesse: I had the same experience as you, I’m like, “Well why wasn’t I taught music this way?” I would be more confident in singing in front of people, for one thing. But, you know, that is our job. When we discover a better way to do something, we share that with our kids, our next generation, and they learn to do it even better than us hopefully.

David: Yeah.

Jesse: As long as that’s what we’re seeing through the experience of our children, then I think we’re doing it right.

David: Absolutely, we really like it and you know, Pieter– obviously it’s been a great part of all that he’s doing now. And I think it’s something that he enjoys and ironically of course the composition piece is a good mix of music and still getting to mess around on the computer, so there’s a little extra bonus there in terms of motivation. But actually I thought he might be more interested in the just kind of playing around on the computer aspect, but when he’s doing his work kind of composing it’s not to sneak time on the computer or something like that, he really wants to.

Jesse: Oh yeah, he’s very serious. I’ve noticed that too. I can’t even really make a recommendation without him testing it and then simply saying, “No, that doesn’t work.” [laughs]​


Jesse: ​Pieter, what would your advice be for others interested in composing music?

Pieter: I suppose just try different things.

Crafting Our Values

3/10/2021

 

By Dr. Klondike Steadman

About a year ago, I realized the importance of creating a set of values that expresses what Orpheus Academy stands for. At first, my intention was to simply create these values to guide new teachers through their mentorship and training. Since the Orpheus approach to teaching is unique, I wanted to give new teachers strong guideposts that they could apply from their first day forward. The more I thought about it, however, the more I realized that these values could be beneficial for every member of our community, not just our teachers.

A set of defined values would help our students understand how to engage with their education with increasing independence, it would help our administrative staff deliver value to families with more meaning, and it would help parents understand our thought process and how to assist their children’s experience in positive ways. 

As usual when I get excited about a project, I didn’t realize just how difficult this was going to be. The task of accurately representing all of our students, teachers, families, and staff, and what they each consider to be our community's collective purpose, ended up being complex.

To help guide this process I did some research, and pulled a lot from the book Traction by the entrepreneur Gino Wickman. For me, the most important takeaway from this was that creating a set of values should be collaborative, and that the values should describe who we are at the current moment as well as who we want to become. 

I then set up a values committee to periodically meet and discuss our shared and unique experiences, including working with students, learning music ourselves, being parents, collaborating with each other as teachers, our approaches to developing curriculum and lesson plans, the latest research on practice and childhood development, and much, much, more! At the core of each of these discussions were two questions: Why were each of these experiences important? And how did they create an impact?

About halfway through this process, we went into lockdown and had to transition to teaching completely online. Our values discussions had to take a back seat for the time being, as we adapted our systems and helped our students transition smoothly to online learning. But eventually we knew it was time to return to the difficult and important work of discovering our values. After all, a unified vision for our community is more important now than ever.

Once we started boiling our ideas down to their key elements, we spent months synthesizing, discussing, going back to the drawing board, synthesizing again, and finally writing (and re-writing), with many feedback sessions in between. The whole process took much longer than expected, but the experience helped us understand ourselves, our students, and our community better than ever. In the end it was worth the extra time thinking, discussing, and collaborating with members of our community to ensure their thoughts and ideas were heard and incorporated. 

So (drumroll please), I hope the following values truly embody what we are all striving to achieve here together:

Collaborate
We collaborate with diverse perspectives to build a joyful learning community, seek solutions, and inspire each other through play.

Play
We play to discover our own unique processes of learning. Whether playing with ideas, games, or instruments, we engage without the fear of judgment.

Engage
We engage in every aspect of making and sharing music to become better musicians, teachers, and community members. As we commit to pursuing excellence we move forward with creativity.

Create
We create motivating, transformative, and powerful experiences to uncover the deeper meaning in all that we do, which allows us to encourage each other’s growth through collaboration.

In a way, creating these values was a demonstration of them at work. We collaborated to incorporate all of our ideas, we played to test the accuracy and emotion of different word choices, we engaged deeply in listening to feedback, and, in the end, we created something we couldn’t be more proud to share. I look forward to applying these values in guiding the future of Orpheus. I hope you’ll join me.
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March 2021 Students of the Month!

3/1/2021

 

Ayame C.

Why I love Music
(Short fun poem) 

Music is water

Roars and sings
Through guitar strings
While piano keys ring

Music has connection
Illuminating reflections
Creating projections
Of beautiful collections

Music is sound
Never to be drowned
As if it were a wound
It will always be found

I am very honored to be chosen as Student of the Month. Music has helped me grow into the person I am today with the many awesome concerts, lessons, relationships, and musical connections. It has brought me so much joy and appreciation for those who supported me along this journey. Thank you so much for eleven years of great musical experiences! 
-Ayame C.

I am so impressed by how Ayame is able to do great quality practice despite a busy schedule. She is a state champ swimmer and honors student at school, and still manages to get better at guitar every week. She is part of a prestigious youth ensemble, the ACG Youth Orchestra, which recently went on tour in San Francisco. Bravo Ayame!
-Mr. Stephen

Anya G.

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I'd like to give a big shout out to Ms. Beth because she encourages me to work hard, practice and helps me find challenging songs. I wouldn't have learned to play the piano without her. I love playing the piano and once I get better I want to learn other instruments. 
-Anya

Throughout the pandemic, Anya remained dedicated to piano lessons whether she was at her grandmother’s house, or out of state! When we began making plans for the Valentine’s Recital, Anya asked if she could learn “All You Need is Love”.  Once she mastered that piece, she inquired about another song about friendship, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”.  She practiced diligently to play and sing both songs.  I was impressed with how motivated she was, and also that she wanted to play two special songs that celebrate love and friendship.  Anya is preparing for her Musical Journey test in May.  She is a wonderful student with a happy outlook...and most of all, loves music!
-Ms. Beth


Amelia R.

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​“Amelia found music classes during a world wide pandemic and instantly became a fan. She thinks that the sound of  guitar and songs can make people feel happy and peaceful and she’s all for it. She also thinks playing guitar is just the coolest thing ever. She can’t wait for her classes with Mr. Wyatt and Ms. Jessica because she can learn more cool stuff, for an example she didn’t even know that people can actually read music! Being able to play guitar also makes Amelia feel very confident. She believes that everyone should learn how to play guitar.” -Amelia

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"Amelia comes to class ready to make and share music every week.  She has a smile ready for everyone in class. If one of her fellow classmates is struggling with a concept, she is their best cheerleader.  Amelia works hard on the concepts and the songs we are playing in class.  She is always ready to take the lead and play whatever song we’re working on.  Her enthusiasm at each activity radiates even through Zoom.  She is a delight to work with each week." -Ms. Jessica
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Ethan Z. 

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“I feel happy when I play piano!” 
-
Ethan

"Ethan is a joy to have in class! I perceive that he is an attentive listener and an avid learner. He often volunteers to perform excerpts of our ensemble songs, and I can hear improvement and musicality from week to week. He contributes to class activities with respect and accuracy that show me that he is learning and thriving. I look forward to seeing him grow as a musician!" 
-Ms. Megan

Student Stories: How to Support Your Child's Music Education (Even If You Aren't Musically Educated)

2/3/2021

 
Kathy and Steve have been part of our community for over 17 years, with all seven of their children having taken lessons at Orpheus Academy!

While Kathy and Steve aren’t musicians themselves, they've been able to encourage their children’s musical development and provide unique forms of motivation. We spoke with Kathy and her youngest son, Nicholas, about how their family supports one another.
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"Musical knowledge is something that a person will enjoy their entire life no matter the age. A good foundation that I can provide them now, although it involves a lot of challenge and effort on my part, is a gift that I can give my children that will last them a lifetime and give them much joy and happiness."

Musical Motivation

Kathy, considering you don’t play music yourself, what originally motivated you to get your children involved in learning music?

​I always wanted to learn to play music but never had the opportunity while growing up. I don’t even know how to read music.

​Many years ago, my sister-in-law suggested that it would be good for my son, who was five at the time, to take piano lessons. I jumped on the suggestion for several reasons. One being that my son enjoyed playing on our small keyboard and seemed to have an ear for music. Also, I wanted all my children to have the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument and read music since I never had the chance.


​
Nicholas, what motivated you to start learning and playing music? Were you inspired by your siblings?

I was motivated to start learning and playing music because all my older siblings before me played music and it seemed really fun. I also listened to music a lot.
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Family Support

Kathy, how many kids do you have and how old are they? Do they all still play music? Which instruments do they play?
​

I have seven children—ages 28, 25, 24, 22, 19, 16 and 12. They all took lessons from Wendy or another teacher at Orpheus Academy. In fact, my oldest children started with Wendy several years before she and Klondike started Orpheus Academy of Music. My kids really liked her (as well as my husband and me) so we decided to continue with her as their teacher and just make the drive to Far West Blvd when Orpheus Academy of Music opened.

My oldest children took piano lessons but when it came time for my now 22 year old son to take lessons, Wendy asked him if he wanted to try another instrument. He was super excited about the idea and chose to take classical guitar lessons. My 19 year old daughter chose to take violin lessons and the youngest two wanted to learn to play the piano.

​All of my children started lessons at either age 4 or 5 (most at 5) and all continued until the end of their freshman, sophomore or during their junior year of high school. Several of my kids still like to play. My oldest child still plays a lot and every time he comes over to our house, he’ll play a number of songs. Some of my other children play occasionally. My 19 year old daughter plays the violin at church with a college group and occasionally just for fun. She was able to apply her musical knowledge to the ukulele and easily learned how to play it. My 16 year old daughter plays the piano a lot and joined her high school symphony ensemble. The youngest is still taking piano lessons at Orpheus.



​Nicholas, how have your siblings supported you in your musical journey?
​

My siblings have supported me in my musical journey by providing me an example in which I should strive to reach.


Kathy, how do you support each of your kids’ individual musical journeys? Do they require different approaches?

​I try to support my kids’ musical journeys by encouraging them, actively listening to their practice and praising their efforts and improvements. I had to support my children sometimes in different ways and with varied approaches. They all, at times, didn’t want to practice or felt like giving up 'cause it was too hard or that they were tired of it. That’s when I realized that I needed to be more attentive and involved with their practice, especially in their younger years.

​With some of them, I asked them to show me how to play a piece or to teach me notes. 
When a child realizes they’re smarter in some areas than their mom, a sense of pride seems to take over and he/she wants to learn more. Actively watching and praising their progress is a huge motivator.
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"When a child realizes they’re smarter in some areas than their mom, a sense of pride seems to take over and he/she wants to learn more. Actively watching and praising their progress is a huge motivator."
There were times some of my kids gave me a greater challenge in getting them to practice. With them, I had to establish more of a structured schedule of practice time. With some of the others, I just had to remind them at some time of the day to do their practice. Just as each child is different, they all required different approaches to encouraging them on their musical journeys.

​I also have to sometimes juggle other extra-curricular activities that my kids want to be involved in with piano lessons. It can be challenging especially with sports but we have always made it work. Musical knowledge is something that a person will enjoy their entire life no matter the age. A good foundation that I can provide them now, although it involves a lot of challenge and effort on my part, is a gift that I can give my children that will last them a lifetime and give them much joy and happiness.
​

Life Lessons

Nicholas, do you apply what you learn in music lessons to other parts of your life?

My lessons translate to my life by teaching me to have a routine and stick to it.

​
Kathy, what have you learned through the process of helping your children learn music?
​

I have learned through the process of helping my children learn music that I must be patient with them. Like all of us, we have good days and bad, days when we’re lazy and days when we’re fired up to learn. Music lessons have taught me to be more patient, more encouraging and also how to direct and motivate my children in music lessons as well as life.

​I truly enjoy hearing the music my kids play and I let them know that. It really is a big motivator and gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.
​

Advice for Other Parents

Kathy, do you have any advice for other parents in supporting their children’s music education?
​

My advice to parents in supporting your kids in music education is that patience and encouragement go a long way. There will be many days when your child wants to quit or do something else. I think it’s good to try other things too but don’t give up on the music lessons. Keep encouraging them and ride out the bad days because in the end, your child will thank you (mine did).

​It’s so wonderful to hear my children perform. On the rare occasions that my kids try to perform together, we have so much fun and our house is filled with laughter and lots of music!

February 2021 Students of the Month

2/2/2021

 

Lyla O.

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I really love my musicianship class - every time the class ends, I realize how much fun I had. I love the games we play and how you learn music with them. Ms Ruth always gives us second chances on our homework and teaches us again if we don’t understand.
-Lyla

Lyla is always attentive, well-behaved and well-prepared for class.  She participates in class activities with enthusiasm and musical skill. Also, Lyla always goes the extra mile for video recording projects, with great attention to detail. Lyla is a pleasure to have in class!
-
Ms. Ruth

January 2021 Students of the Month!

1/1/2021

 

Aylin T.

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Using music to redeem a social condition and leave the world a bit better is profoundly meaningful to me. I especially love composing music and expressing my heart’s feelings to bring social connections to my audience. Giving classical guitar concerts for nursing homes, I saw how music boosted the moods of elders by linking our souls and communicating profound feelings we couldn’t verbalize. I am very thankful to be part of the Orpheus community to do social good through music. My teacher, Dr. Klondike Steadman, has been particularly influential on my growth not only as a musician but also as a human being, as he has emphasized many times that “music is a form of social bonding, a gift we give not only ourselves, but also the world.” Over the past 12 years, he has inspired me to develop as a complete guitarist—excelling in technique, music theory, composition, heartfelt expression—and to share music with global communities. I will remain forever grateful to him and the Orpheus community for enabling me to experience life more deeply and spreading the gift of music to society.
-Aylin

Aylin has been a guitar student at Orpheus for twelve years, and during that time she has participated in private lessons, group musicianship, honors guitar quartet and trio, guitar ensemble, dozens of summer camps and so much more.  
But it was the arrival of our greatest challenge as a music school this past March that brought out the best in Aylin. Completely on her own, she came up with several powerful ideas that have become central to our mission at Orpheus during this pandemic. Aylin wrote to me and said, “I know that Orpheus values giving the gift of music to the community. Especially during this stressful time, I think retirement homes, for example, might need us most." And, since my entire staff was consumed with moving nearly 700 students from in-person to online instruction, Aylin took the lead in crafting what was to eventually become the Musical Postcards for Seniors initiative. This program has motivated our students to invest themselves deeply in practicing music because they know that they can submit a video that will make a difference in the lives of residents of over 750 retirement homes across the US, Canada and Australia. 
In addition to starting and running the Postcards program, Aylin also started our "Practice Buddies" system -- all this while applying to college (she already has early acceptance to the UT Neuroscience Department!), keeping straight A's, and helping out with the Orpheus Guitar Ensemble. Aylin truly exemplifies what it means to be a member of this community through her own learning and service to others!
-
​Mr. Klondike

Fall 2020 Friendship Concerts

12/8/2020

 
The Friendship Concert is a collaborative event where Orpheus friends and families team up to present ensemble performances! This year, we had to get creative to keep the tradition alive while remaining virtual. With a little patience, and a lot of hard work, our students were able to create special performances they can enjoy for years to come.
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One for the Record Books

It was our biggest Friendship Concert ever, ​and we're pleased to say it was a resounding success! Of course this was only made possible by our amazing community, and with more than 75 groups and 100 individuals performing, the huge level of participation embodies the collaborative ideals that Orpheus Academy was founded on over 17 years ago.

Another reason this particular concert is unique
 is that we have more family performances than ever before! Family music making has always been an important aspect of the Friendship Concert, but with families spending more time together, many seized the opportunity to bond through making music. It really is wonderful to see the joy of the brothers, sisters, moms, dads, and cousins who were able to connect and create with each other.
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​The Power of Collaboration

Working and learning together are vital life skills, and huge components in playing music. That's why we emphasize group learning and music making in every part of our curriculum, including group Musicianship classes and events just like this. In fact, cooperatively making music is an incredibly joyful experiences for any musician, which is why students look forward to the Friendship Concert every year. 

As students couldn't gather in-person to rehearse and perform, we relied on 
our wonderful teachers and staff to create a space for students to collaborate and perform together virtually. Consequently, some performances are separate recordings that were edited together. In these, one student would record their performance part and send it to their partner, who then listened and played their own part along with it. Our amazing editors then edited the separate videos together to create one, final performance.
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Life Lessons

Through this process of recording separate videos, the students practiced important musicianship skills like keeping a steady beat, listening to each other, and understanding harmonies. Perhaps more importantly though, they practiced life skills like communication and problem-solving as they worked together to figure out performance details, practice their separate parts, and give each other encouragement and feedback along the way.

​Many students made multiple attempts and recordings before getting their performances just right, and they practiced for weeks before even getting to that step. 
So as we enjoy the music and celebrate the performers, know that every performance encapsulates weeks and months of hard work, trying, failing, and trying again. This is the process of learning, and the result is something truly special. Performers will remember not only their final performance, but the challenges they overcame to get there, and the togetherness and community that they shared to support them along the way.
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Thank You!

We want to thank all of the students, teachers, editors, and parents who made this event possible! Something like this can only be pulled off with the help of an amazing community like you. Thank you and enjoy!

Student of the Month: December 2020

12/1/2020

 

Kaleb R.

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I really enjoy learning music at Orpheus. For me, learning music is like learning a special language. As part of my lessons with Mr. Jeremy and Advanced Musicianship with Ms. Skye, I really have enjoyed learning how to compose my own songs. With help from Mr. Jeremy one of my songs “Night and Day” won second place recognition in the Doss Reflections competition this year. Thank you to Mr. Jeremy for being such a great teacher!
-Kaleb

Kaleb has been preparing diligently for the Musical Journey and the various musical projects we have been working on. He is always very prepared for our lessons and demonstrates clear signs of progress each week. Alongside Kaleb’s hard work with the guitar and his understanding of musical concepts, his personality and attitude are at the highest level. Kaleb is very eager to be the best he can be and I believe these traits will carry him far in anything that he attempts. He is a joy to have in my studio and a remarkable member of the Orpheus community!
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​Jeremy

Alex G.

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I love music because it fills my heart with joy. I also really enjoy listening to good tunes. Ms. Ruth is a great teacher, and I like working with her!
-Alex

Alex is an extremely hard-working, dedicated student who has made great progress during the time we have worked together. I am so proud of his advances in both piano and composition!  He is always well-prepared for his lessons and is always an enthusiastic participant in performance opportunities! Recently, Alex completed Musical Journey Level 2 with a beautiful CD project. Alex is a pleasure to teach and I look forward to our continued work together!
-
Ruth

Paul Sirbu

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"I want to thank Mr. Benjamin for nominating me for Orpheus Academy's student of the month. I like Mr. Benjamin because he is always encouraging me. My favorite part of the piano lesson is practicing rhythms. My goal is to be able to play any song that I like. "
-
Paul

"He started learning piano this year and he has demonstrated incredible discipline and curiosity towards music. He always comes prepared and sometimes even does the extra things I did not ask him to do. He is attentive and very observant in the lesson, it is always a joy to work with him."
-Mr. Benjamin


Students of the Month - November 2020

11/3/2020

 

Tal B.

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I love to play guitar because it is an activity that I strive to get better at and is very calming. I like the multitudes of ways you can play, and how every piece is a different challenge to play and perfect. I also really appreciate that Mr. Turner has taken on the challenge of teaching me fingerstyle, which is a very difficult style to teach correctly. It makes the lessons so much more enjoyable because he really knows what I want to achieve and learn.
-Tal

Tal came to me already a competent player, and I could very quickly see how I could help him become an even better all around musician. He is one of my hardest working students and I can really tell how much work he puts into practicing every single week. One of the great things about teaching Tal is that he has always had a vision of where he wants to be musically, but that does not get in the way of being open to anything I'd like for him to try to get him to where he wants to be and beyond. I look forward to every lesson with Tal not only because he comes so prepared and motivated, but also because his lessons truly challenge me to come extra prepared as both a teacher and performer to best aid him in attaining his goals.
-Mr. Wyatt


Ron Yaakovi

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"I love listening to music because it energizes me. When I listen to good singers I think to myself what did it take for them to get where they are now.
I love my piano and voice lessons, they are fun and sometimes challenging. I feel proud of myself when I master a piece."
-Ron

"He is very talented boy. 
He complete his Musical Journey Test Level 3 without mistake. 
Ron is taking piano and voice class as well."
​-Ms. Anastasiia

Abby Grage

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"I love music my entire life and my teacher Mrs. Mackenzie is a great teacher to me. I started violin two months ago. I love to dance and sing but most of all I love to play violin."
-Abby

“I am excited to nominate Abby as student of the month. Abby has only been taking lessons with me since August, but has made incredible improvements in her playing. When we first began, Abby struggled to use her bow effectively. Now, she is playing beautiful Detaché and Martelé strokes with ease and is on her way to becoming a true master of her bow! I always look forward to Abby’s tenacious attitude and inquisitive spirit in lessons. Thank you Abby for allowing me to guide you in your Musical Journey, and thank you to Mom, Lisa, for playing a pivotal role in Abby’s achievements as well.”
-Ms. Mackenzie


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