Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 11, 2018

12/11/2018

Music Authority Family Newsletter - December 11, 2018

Welcome to the new Music Authority Family newsletter! Less information, cleaner layout, the news you need!

Being Present

A few weeks before our Fall Show, we had a situation threaten to sideline one of our bands. Two of the members were forced to drop out of the band (through no fault of their own) less than a month before the concert. Since a band is a team, and each member is dependent on other members to succeed, the whole band was in danger of not being able to play.

Instead, two senior musicians stepped up to fill the spots. The resulting band was a hit of the show, performing a difficult song beautifully. This success isn't a single minded praise on the students who stepped in. It's a compliment to all the students.

As students move out of the beginning phases of performance (when the focus is not being afraid, remembering their music, and just figuring out what to do on stage), we hold them to a higher standard. We want to see them come out of their box - stage presence and movement become a bigger focus. Are you smiling on stage? Did you stand in one spot the whole time? Were you aware your guitar's volume was turned down? Are you listening to the whole band?

After these skills begin to improve, we focus on the most important (and most difficult) part of their skills. Are you being present? Are you aware another band is struggling? Are you willing to give up some time to help? Can you help the beginner in your group feel more comfortable? Did you notice your singer is afraid to move? Can you walk up to her and smile during your song, help her to find that ever-important stage presence?

Being present is about Situational Awareness. Is the musician aware of his space on stage and in the rehearsal room? Are they respectful of each other and willing to speak up in a respectful manner when something is wrong? Or are they going to simply blame the rest of the band for a problem and walk away? Is the musician ready and willing to help others?

These are tools that go beyond the music we hope we are imparting on your child. Sometimes the lessons are hard. Sometimes we have to let students make a mistake to learn. It's hard on us. We want them all to succeed all the time. But Being Present isn't learned by being right all the time.

My birthday is December 4. One year, I had a dress rehearsal on that day. The rehearsal didn't go well and at the end of the rehearsal I said some pretty harsh things and then told the (all adult) cast to "just go home." No one moved. They all looked very uncomfortable, eyes of the floor, dancing from foot to foot. A dear friend of mine was in the show. She walked up and whispered to me, "We have a cake and presents for you."

Talk about humility.

But I learned a lesson. I wasn't present in the moment that day. I didn't remember that (A) dress rehearsal is always terrible, and (B) what I took as talking through rehearsal was the cast trying to pass around a birthday card for everyone to sign. Had I been present, I might not have stuck my foot in my mouth.

Thank you for being part of our Music Authority Family. We hope your students are growing and learning tools to carry them through life. We hope the lessons we teach go beyond the music.

- Melissa A. Loggins, Owner
#MusicAuthorityFamily

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Camp Registration Open

Register today for Summer Camp! We offer four camps each year: Rock Camp (2 sessions), Rock Camp, Jr., and Broadway Camp. Register by December 31, 2018 for an early registration discount.

Music Authority Welcomes Pearl

Music Authority is happy to welcome Pearl drums to the Music Authority Family. These drums make the perfect Christmas present - and set up is included! (It takes us about 60 minutes to set up and tune a drum set, something we do every day.)

Don't Be Past Due!

Payments are due on your last lesson of the month for the next month in advance. If you're leaving town for the holidays, don't forget to pay before you leave.

As a special perk, anyone who is paid in full at the end of their last lesson of December will be entered in a drawing for a free month of lessons in February. See the front desk for details.

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