May 29th, 2019

5/29/2019

Music Authority Family Newsletter - April 9, 2019

No Fear

No Fear

This week, I want to talk about fear and respect in music lessons. While talking to a teacher recently, that teacher mentioned they wanted all of their students to have a healthy dose of fear of them.

While that conversation was still fresh in my mind, a student from another music school came into Music Authority with his grandparents to look at a new guitar. He struck up a conversation with Jackson about his upcoming summer Rock Camp. He'd already been given the songs and had started working on them (much like our spring show).

Jackson explained we don't give out songs until the first day of camp because by pushing students to learn over a shorter time, it makes them better musicians. The student told Jackson that was really impressive, but his teacher doesn't think he's good enough yet to do something like that, but maybe one day.

That student was in high school and had been in lessons for over two years.

Music Authority has had successful students in their Rock Camps with as little as six months experience on their instrument. How are they successful? They have teachers and camp counselors who believe in them and find a way to help them be successful.

Fear does not equal respect. When a student respects a teacher, they want to do well. Students who fear teachers are afraid to do badly. This often results in anxiety, stage fright, and an inability to trust.

Many times, teachers who use fear in their studios will convince students that no other teacher is as good as them; that other teachers won't care about the student as much as them; that other teachers don't have the connections to make the student's dreams come true. These teachers build a dependence in the student that can ultimately hinder their growth as a musician and create long term confidence, self-esteem, and trust issues. (This creates codependency, not a healthy student/teacher relationship.)

A good teacher will encourage students to stretch their limits with support and encouragement; smiles and praise. I'm not suggesting teachers should tell students that a performance was amazing when it wasn't. But I am suggesting that every performance (even a bad one) has good points to be praised - not losing your cool, staying on beat, keeping yourself together when the guitar player plays the whole song in the wrong key.

Another example of a good teacher is this: a teacher isn't afraid for students to take lessons from others. I don't know everything. I can't solve every vocal or performance problem. I don't have connections everywhere. Sometimes, it's in the best interest of my student to take a few lessons from someone else.

A great example is my student Lindsay. She's heading off to study Musical Theater this fall. I'm one of her teachers, and have been teaching her voice for almost ten years. But I'm only ONE of her voice teachers. She has a team of teachers helping her to reach her goal. She has TWO voice teachers on that team. We each teach different things. We respect each other and work together. He's better in technique. I'm better at performance. Together, we made Lindsay into an award winning student. (She won at Access Broadway last year.)

Christian Strandquist, MA grad and current student at Belmonte, is another great example. Christian had six instructors over his years at Music Authority, not including his camp instructors. Each of us taught him different skills. I was one of those teachers. I'm not a drum teacher, but I taught him about professionalism, business, and to show up on time to a gig.

Music Authority has a variety of teachers, all with different skills and experience. None of us know it all, but together we know a lot. Take the voice department - Bree spent 12 years on a cruise ship, performing professionally. Tina spent 10 years on the road fronting a rock band. My skills lie in producing great team players and performers. Kylie, starting next week, brings to us a background in classical and she isn't too shabby at pop, either! (Find her on Instagram to see what I mean.)

I hope all of you have teachers who encourage students. I hope none of your students are fearful at Music Authority. If they are, please call me so we can talk.

And yes, I believe every one of the parents reading this have students who can learn a song or three in a week at camp, because ultimately it is my job as an instructor to give your child a successful experience. Your students are talented, smart, engaged, and have the skills they need to be successful!

#MusicAuthorityFamily
#beyondthemusic

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Taylor GS Mini-e LTD

This beautiful guitar is the Taylor GS Mini-e LTD. Solid Spruce top, Ovangkol back and sides, Taylor electronics. This is a limited edition guitar, and it won't last long!

Try this one today at Music Authority!

Teacher Spotlight: Daniel Glozier

Daniel, performing here with the "I'm Yours" band at the Spring Show, has been part of the Music Authority Family for a long time. He taught early in his career here before going on the road for a number of years. He returned to teaching this fall.

Daniel brings to his students years of practical knowledge of living on the road and playing for a living, a positive and supportive attitude, and a calming atmosphere in his studio.

Rock Camp - 5 Vocal Spots Left

Vocal spots for summer Rock Camp are almost gone! Give your vocalist the opportunity of a lifetime this summer: sign them up for Rock Camp. This is a step toward fronting a Rock Ensemble that you don't want to miss!

June 10-14 - 2 spots left
July 8-12 - 3 spots left

See the front desk and sign up today!

Not in Lessons at Music Authority? Sign Up Here!

Remembering Rise - in October 2016, Music Authority's Rise and Eclipse played a cold, windy gig outside at The Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville. Savannah Hughes (now of Eclipse) is on guitar. Apparently no one told Brayden it was cold outside.