February 2018
SOUNDTEACHING NEWSLETTER FOR LESSON TEACHERS @ MUSIC & ARTS
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The Importance of Finding Individual Connections
Lessons With Lane
In The Arts with Laura: First Impressions Matter
Keeping Students Excited
The Importance of Finding Individual Connections B Y K E L S E Y G E R TJ E , T R O M B O N E I N S T R U C T O R I N L A C E Y, W A
much better he sounded after our short
me to help her improve her abilities
break! He played in time, with very little
significantly. We spend a lot of time
hesitation, and his tone was better and
developing and reinforcing her senses
more consistent than I had ever heard it.
of time, pitch, and tone, as well as her ability to sight read. I’m certain that a
As I get to know my students, I find
more experienced euphonium teacher
that these are the moments that matter
could be even more beneficial to her; but
in lessons. The moments when I can
I have a lot to offer and grateful for the
make a connection with them as a
challenge.
person are often the moments in which the most noticeable progress is made.
When I was a student, it was my dream
One day, my trombone student and I
Of course, progress also happens slowly
to teach private lessons. I knew it was
were playing through London Bridge,
and gradually over time, but those
one of the best ways to connect with
a two-part piece, together. He’s in 5th
breakthrough moments are memorable
students in meaningful ways and help
Grade, so he’s currently learning to read
and motivational.
them become strong musicians.
had with him, he has made wonderful
Another student is a euphonium player,
In the short time that I have been
progress, and I’m very proud of him. He
which presents some unique challenges
teaching private lessons, I have truly
recently learned the new note G, which
for me, since I’m primarily a trombone
learned how important those individual
stretched both his range, and his reading
player. My practical experience with the
connections are, and how much they can
ability, so we alternated between playing
euphonium is somewhat limited. One
facilitate learning and music making.
and saying the notes while moving the
might think that the teacher should be
Knowing that I wouldn’t necessarily
slide.
an expert on an instrument in order to
have all of the answers as a teacher;
teach a student successfully, but I’ve
I’ve found it incredibly encouraging
I could tell both of our brains were
found that’s not necessarily true. Of
to realize that my strong foundational
getting a bit tired, so I stopped us for
course, having a basic understanding of
knowledge of music making is my most
a moment, and we chatted about what
how to play the instrument is important,
important tool.
we each did for the New Year. We had
but in my experience, a strong grasp on
a lovely time sharing for a minute or
musicianship is vital.
notes. In the half-dozen lessons I’ve
two, and then returned to the music at hand. He played Part B while I played
I find that thinking of my euphonium
Part A, and I was astounded by how
student as a musician first allows
K E L S E Y G E R TJ E completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at Central Washington University. She has been teaching trombone and euphonium lessons at Music & Arts since November 2017. She plays the trombone, and serves as a guest teacher in the North Thurston Public Schools. Kelsey strives to empower her students and make music meaningful and fulfilling for them.
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Introducing our Newest Section: Lessons With Lane B Y L A N E G R E G O R Y, M & A N AT I O N A L R E TA I L M A R K E T I N G M A N A G E R
an additional 1,000 by end of January!
How does this apply to you as a lesson
This event is a big part of why we just
instructor?
hit our all-time high of 34,606 students and further solidifying us as the Nation’s
Well while we work on the brand, The
Largest Lesson Provider.
Lesson Studio, you should double down to build your personal brand. All of our
In the Music & Arts Marketing
instructors are background checked,
department we take lead generation
educated in music AND currently
for this type of event very seriously. As
providing lessons at the Nation’s
The Lesson Studio has grown through
Largest Lesson provider. Those are 3
the years we’ve been able to refine our
fantastic selling points of why someone
Welcome to the first installment of
Marketing efforts to a few different
should choose to take lessons from
Lessons with Lane! Each month we will
channels & mediums that produce the
YOU. These are differentiators. The best
cover what the Music & Arts Marketing
greatest number of leads.
way to advertise your personal brand is to keep your instructor profile up to
team is doing to further grow The Lesson Studio as well as ways that
One of our more successful tactics is
date on our Stores 4 Stores pages. Here
you, the instructor, can capitalize on
event advertising through the CertifiKid
is a great example of a well-rounded
these marketing efforts and grow your
email blast. CertifiKid has a database of
profile from one of our instructors in
personal brand.
over 1 million users nationwide, most of
our Frederick location. https://stores.
whom are engaged moms looking for
musicarts.com/experts/kenneth-b-3
We are all still celebrating the success
family activities. A perfect match for
of our second National Open House
our Lesson Studio needs! For the 2018
A thorough online presence is important
weekend! A big thank you to our retail
January open house almost 1/3 of all
because it’s through a search function
store staff and lesson instructors for
of our leads were generated through a
that most parents or prospective
making this a wonderful experience
CertifiKid email blast. Advertising this
students will first engage with The
for our current lesson students and the
way allows us to track exactly where
Lesson Studio. Make sure that you stand
prospective students that came to check
the lead came from and just how many
out! We are always willing to help guide
us out that weekend.
people took action when they received
you through the process of getting this
the newsletter.
set up. Check in with the store manager
We managed to sign up over 528 NEW
or associates or feel free to email us at
lesson students that weekend alone, and
marketing@musicarts.com.
ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS: Have you recently moved? If you have, don’t forget to update your address by filling out a W9 form with your Store Manager. This will ensure that your tax documents go to the right place.
February 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 3
Studying Multiple Instruments Magnifies Music Learning B Y D R . C Y N T H I A M A H A N E Y, V I O L A & V O I C E I N S T R U C T O R I N W O R T H I N G T O N , O H
In my work over the years teaching
sight reading skills, a higher level of
of emotion, thought, or setting being
and working with students of all levels
musicality, and are able to gain greater
expressed. It is up to the instrumentalist
and ages, I have noticed that studying
insight. One student who studies violin
to decide what that element is, and to
more than one instrument contributes
and piano has been recognized as gifted
express it. As a singer, you often have
significantly to music learning. I began
in violin. She seeks out opportunities
more insight into what that might be,
with piano lessons with my mother at
to play the violin and sight-reads music
even when playing the violin. Helping
age five. Then I added violin lessons
with a friend, usually during recess time.
your student discover that is important.
at age nine, flute at school when I was
She has just been placed in an advanced
For a singing student, you need to help
ten, and voice lessons at age thirteen. I
orchestra. Another student who studies
point out what the meaning is behind
kept studying all throughout my time at
both piano and violin with me was
the words. The piano part often gives us
school, including high school. During
awarded first chair of the first violin
clues to what that is. If you do not play
my senior year I had five events in
section, as a freshman in High School.
the piano, it is much more difficult to
which I participated during the annual
discover this.
Solo & Ensemble, on three different
Many singers often have great difficulty
instruments. I performed a senior recital
singing music by sight, or even
Violin students can become much
on three instruments (voice, flute and
reading music at all. That difficulty is
more musical and expressive if they
violin).
completely eliminated if the singer
also sing. Singers can become amazing
also has studied another instrument,
technicians when also studying the
It was easy for me to decide to major
especially piano. It seems to me that
violin. For instance, when learning a
in music in college. Though a vocal
all students of music can benefit from
difficult melisma passage as a singer,
performance major, I also played violin
learning piano first. It leads more easily
I have employed a rhythm technique I
and viola in orchestras and string
to learning note reading, rhythms,
learned as a violinist. When singing a
quartets, eventually earning a Doctorate
and listening skills without the added
long passage of notes, if you add dotted
in Music Arts. During college I would
difficulty of how to hold the instrument
rhythms, you can learn the passage of
often sing my violin music and play
correctly, etc. Singers also must develop
notes much more quickly. Once you
my vocal music. I felt that learning the
“audiation�, hearing the music before
are comfortable singing the passage
music on many levels helped me to learn
you sing it. This skill is important to all
with the dotted rhythm (dotted eighth/
and gain new insight into the music
instrumentalists as well.
sixteenth) then you flip the rhythm
itself. As a result, I developed very fine
(sixteenth note/dotted eighth) and sing
sight-reading skills. After a performance,
It also benefits instrumental players to
the passage that way. Another technique
I was even told that I sang Mozart as a
study singing. With singing we learn
is to start at the end of the passage
violinist!
breath control, posture, and focus on
and sing the last four notes or so. Then
tone production. There is a myriad of
work your way back to the front of the
I have a few students who study more
ways to produce and express every note,
passage, adding only one or two notes
than one instrument, sometimes
given its position in the phrase, as well
at a time, until you have sung the entire
both with me, sometimes with other
as conveying a message with the words.
passage. By that point, you usually have
instructors. Those students more
Even though instrumental music does
already learned the entire passage!
often have advanced playing skills,
not have words, there is an element
Piano students can benefit from also
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singing when playing phrases. You
insight. In general, pianists and most
more than one instrument, encourage
shape the phrase in your mind, and
instrumentalists are hesitant to sing,
your students to study more than one
then play the phrase, picking up the
but I would really encourage them
with you. You can both learn and grow
crescendos and decrescendos with each
to do so. You can gain so much more
as musicians and teachers as a result.
note of the phrase, until it matches the
understanding of phrasing, expression,
The final result is a more in-depth and
shape of the phrase you’re “singing” in
and emotion.
satisfying presentation of the music.
your mind. This is especially true if it is a piano solo arrangement of an existing
In conclusion, if you teach only one
song. In fact, as pianists, you should
instrument, encourage your students,
often practice “singing” the melody as
to also study another instrument, or at
you are learning it to gain even more
least participate in a choir. If you teach
D R . C Y N T H I A M A H A N E Y has extensive performing and teaching experience. A graduate of Ohio State University (June 2006), Cynthia received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in vocal performance. While there, she was awarded the Margaret Speaks Award as the top female singer. After initially earning her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from Ohio University, Cynthia received her Master of Arts degree in Vocal Pedagogy from OSU. Dr. Mahaney spent time in Chicago where she sang in the Chicago Symphony Chorus under the late Margaret Hillis. Dr. Mahaney’s most recent operatic role was as the High Priestess in Opera Columbus’ production of Aϊda, which received a favorable review in Opera News magazine. She resides in the Clintonville area of Columbus, Ohio where she also maintains an active private studio of over 25 students.
Open House Weekend Recap Last month, Music & Arts hosted an Open House Weekend across the country. Thank you to the outstanding teachers that participated in making this event so successful. We had over 528 new students register for lessons over the course of the weekend! Did you participate or do you have suggestions for next year? Send your feedback to marketing@musicarts.com.
February 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 5
In The Arts with Laura: First Impressions Matter BY LAURA ZOLFO, M& A REGIONAL LESSON MANAGER
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As we continue to grow, year after year,
We will call students and teachers to
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Exchange contact information with
remind them about new students on
parents (phone and/or email) to
the schedule when the first lesson is
encourage communication about
approaching.
scheduling and progress in lessons.
Each new student and their parent
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Host a casual recital or other
will be given a Welcome Folder,
performance, and have new
and introduced to their teacher by a
students participate! Whether they
member of the sales team.
can play on their own or with you,
After the first month, we will email
a performance early in the learning
new lesson families to ask how
process gives them a goal right
their lessons are going. We want
from the start, and an opportunity
feedback!
to see the progress of their fellow
we’re cognizant of the fact that The
advancing students. It’s like a
Lesson Studio is the major player we are
And we know what goes on inside the
look into their future, and this is
because of the experience our students
studio is equally critical to setting up
extremely motivating!
have in our stores. We often hear that
each student for a successful lesson
students love lessons at M&A because
experience. As you welcome new
At the end of the day, music lessons are
of the relationship with their teacher and
students into your studio these coming
a service, and the quality of that service
the store team.
months, remember to consider these
determines how committed our students
tips:
are to us as a brand and a lesson
Over the years, we’ve learned that if a
Carefully select learning materials
provider. More importantly, we decide
student stays in lessons past 90 days,
that fit the individual students’
everyday what a student’s future with
they’re 50% more likely to stick with it
needs, and will help them get
music will look like by how we care for
for 12 months or more. We found that if
excited about coming to lessons
their learning. We know the ingredients
we create an impactful first impression
each week.
necessary to set each student up for
Invite parents to be involved in the
success.
for our students, we better guarantee
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a successful learning experience long
learning process by encouraging
term.
them to arrive timely and come
As the leader in private music lessons,
inside after the lesson. You’ll want
it’s our responsibility to demonstrate
So what do we do to get more students
to review progress and assignments
what it takes to have a great future in
over that first 90 day hurdle? Over the
for the coming weeks. Involve
music.
next few months, we’re refreshing the
parents in what good practice habits
First Lesson Experience:
look like. ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS:
The Teacher Best Practices Seminar is now available online! Use the following link to view the seminar: Teacher Best Practices Seminar 6 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | February 2018
Keeping Students Excited B Y A U S T I N B O L E N , S T R I N G S I N S T R U C T O R I N L A W R E N C E V I L L E & S N E L LV I L L E , G A
Get Involved
Many of us are an inspiration to
Get to know what school programs and
our students, so share your music
extracurricular activities your students
experience with them! If you play gigs,
are involved in. This is a great way to
invite their families to attend. This
show you’re invested in more than just
can plant the seed for something to
the lessons, you’re invested in them.
strive for. I have also invited students
Attending their school concerts, even if
to perform with my band at local
you can only make a brief appearance,
restaurants. We learn the songs ahead
will mean the world to them.
of time in the lesson studio, and put their skills to the test in front of paying
Lesson instructor Austin Bolen here
Supporting their fundraisers (especially
customers. This is a great way to keep
to share with you some tips and ideas
for the music program) is a three-fold
students on their toes, incorporating
I practice to sustain a long, healthy
win. You’re showing you care about
their lessons into live performances.
relationship with music lesson students
them, their other activities, and you’re
It was awesome to see Music & Arts
keeping them inspired and constantly
supporting a system that supports you.
feature my music video covering the
striving for improvement.
There are many ways to show you care,
Beatles “Elanor Rigby” as a segment on
and parents are appreciative of your
the promotional DVD’s that are played
dedication to their kids.
in the store. Students would see the
Make Attendance a Priority
video, and ask me to teach them the
Keep students inspired by minimizing credits and offering make up lessons.
Host Performances
Make yourself available, and keep up
I feel this is one of the most important
with your schedule. If someone gives
opportunities that a teacher can
By incorporating these tricks and tips
you advanced notice about an absence,
facilitate for their students. School
into my studio practices, I’ve had great
a makeup should be at least offered.
bands and orchestras do not simply
success keeping students interested and
Parents appreciate having an option,
give their students music to learn and
excited about their music experience.
and nobody wants to lose money, so be
practice. They train all year to perform
They grow as musicians and young
flexible!
music concerts. Why would a private
artists. For many students, it’s the
instructor not do the same thing?
difference between sticking with it,
same song.
and just becoming another failed
Teach What They’re Motivated to Play
extracurricular activity.
Teach students what they are excited
Most Music & Arts locations make
about learning. Whether it’s abstract
a recital simple for the instructor by
animé theme songs, Led Zeppelin,
reserving a venue where the students
Game of Thrones, or Stranger Things
can perform or hosting in store. You can
A U S T I N B O L E N is a Strings
soundtrack, work it into the curriculum.
also take initiative and make it happen
Afterwards, they need to “eat their
yourself! I use a church near the store,
vegetables” and learn their Beethoven
and reserve a time for my students to
and Mozart too. They’re all related. A
perform. Music & Arts understands
full balanced diet is required to make
the importance of performance, and is
up a wholesome, successful -and most
willing to support this when they can.
Teacher in the Lawrenceville and Snellville, GA stores. With 15 years of teaching experience, he enjoys transcribing popular songs to help his students connect with their learning. Austin also performs regularly in the Atlanta area both as a solo cellist and guitarist.
importantly– a happy player.
Share Your Music February 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 7
Inside the Lesson Studio with Hannah BY H A N N A H B E S T, M & A R E G I O N A L L E S S O N M A N A G E R
1. Add more structure to your
caring for a quality instrument. It’s
lessons. Find a method book
a positive thing to call out in the
in addition to the individual
lesson.”
curriculum you’re scoring in lessons and include this as part of your
Q “My store has been through three
lessons. Teach theory in addition
store managers in just under a year.
to tab and charts. Help the student
What’s going on?”
become well rounded and set more goals. Does the student just want
A “Thankfully, this is an unusual
to learn a couple of songs? Great!
occurrence. Do we change managers in
Even if you start out with tab, slowly
some locations more often than others?
Sound Teaching that Music & Arts has
incorporate theory so that the
Yes. However, it’s usually not as frequent
as many piano students as there are
student develops the skill to read
as three times a year.
guitar students. Is this because guitar
music (the way the student does
isn’t as popular or is it because you
in piano lessons) and the ability to
Why does this happen you ask? Well,
have more pianos in stores?”
sight read.
we’re a retail establishment. This type
Q “I noticed in the last issue of
A “I was somewhat surprised by
of job is demanding in a variety of ways 2. Include performances more often.
and not everyone is built to manage a
this information as well, but while I’ve
For more classical instruments,
retail store. We also promote from within
been visiting stores and looking at
we tend to foster the performance
and this can mean that your store sees
instrumentation by store, I realized this
behavior differently than we do for
more transition than most.
was a trend that we’ve been seeing for
guitar (and percussion). Ensure
a while. To fully answer your question,
that your students have a venue to
How can you overcome the challenges
I don’t think this is merely a trend or
perform their instrument and to
with a manager or general staffing
because we have more pianos in the
play more often. If you aren’t keen
change? Partner with your District
stores than guitar amplifiers.
on recitals, participate in Open Mic
Manager and be sure to meet the team
events that take place in store or
at your store, despite any changes that
encourage your own events.
you’re seeing. They are committed and
The reason I believe we have a higher
responsible for ensuring our customers
demand for piano is because piano has a different foundation for learning and
3. Check out the instrument. Unlike
know about the benefits of learning
more structure to the lesson. Students
other instruments (sometimes),
also retain in piano higher than they
students come in with “toy like”
do in guitar lessons. I’ve found over the
guitars and this isn’t going to get
Being a good partner with the team
years that there is more support, even
the job done. Don’t be afraid to
in your store, despite the changes, is
from a method book standpoint, for
say something to the student or
critical. Meet everyone, ask questions,
piano than there is for guitar lessons.
the parent about the importance
and communicate openly.”
of investing in a higher quality So, for the guitar teachers out there, what
instrument. If the family or student
can you do to hold down the popularity
is investing in private lessons, there
of your instrument?
is a commitment to having and
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through private lessons.