T H E
Vol. 1 Issue 7 | A PUBLICATION OF THE YOUNG MUSICIAN'S UNIVERSITY
YMU
COLLECTIVE
KASEY LLOYD
KITWAN MCCOY YMU INSTRUCTOR ALUM SPOTLIGHT
MAKE MUSIC USING ABLETON LIVE
S E P T E M B E R
2 0 2 1
YMU
GMG Academy of the Arts is now
The Young Musician's University Music Education Reimagined
2
IN THIS
ISSUE
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
We are so happy to be celebrating our 18th year of "Giving the Gift of Music!" Thank you for reading our sixth issue of The YMU Collective as we transition away from an email newsletter format into a digital magazine format! This publication highlights YMU Students, Staff, and other subjects of interest with contributions from our staff as well as YMU student writers.
5 Kasey Lloyd YMU Student Spotlight
8 Kitwan McCoy YMU Instructor Alum Spotlight
If you are a YMU student interested in contributing and being a part of the YMU Collective Team, please send me a message through the YMU Portal. I would love to speak with you and get your insight. Please know that you do not have to be a local student to participate, we will have virtual connect meetings to discuss upcoming events and content.
11 Make Music Using
I hope that you enjoy this publication of the YMU Collective!
12 Here we Grow Again!
Ableton Live
Confessions of a Music Mom Mrs. Gray Director, The Young Musician's University
3
LITTLE music
Essentials
In-Person Piano Class with an Award-Winning Curriculum designed for ages 4-6 Imaginative Live Instruction Custom Interactive Games
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THE YOUNG MUSICIAN'S UNIVERSITY
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Kasey Lloyd CONGRATS!! Our student spotlights recognize students who are exceptionally demonstrating growth and musically excelling. We are so grateful to be associated with these fantastic students and their supportive parents! Again Congratulations Kasey! Keep up the great work!
ABOUT KASEY Katherine "Kasey" Lloyd is 5 years old and was born in Okinawa, Japan. Since she was a baby she has always enjoyed playing in the sand and water at the beach. Her other interests include reading books, arts and crafts, anything with barbie and spider-man, and playing with her big sister Gabby and dog Rocky. Kasey began having an interest in the piano while watching her sister Gabby play. She enjoys playing piano, and she especially gets excited during her lessons with her teacher Ms. Kierra. Her experience at YMU has been a welcomed challenge, and her parents Gentry and Karla Lloyd continue to enjoy watching her progress.
This month, I nominate Kasey Lloyd for the Student Spotlight! Kasey comes to every class excited and ready to learn. She’s very energetic and extremely smart. One thing that I really admire about her though, is that she’s always wiling to try her best. Learning an instrument at such a young age can easily get frustrating, but if Kasey believes that she has tried her best, then she’s content. To have learned that so young is remarkable. Kasey also turned 5 recently, so please join me in wishing her a Happy Birthday! Kierra Gray, YMU Instructor
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LEVELED UP Congratulations! The following YMU Students passed their End of Course Assessment and Leveled Up to their next course!
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Azaria Jenkins - YMU Vocal Essentials 1B Bella Wall - Little Music Essentials 1B Kayleigh Clark - Little Music Essentials 1B
Happy Birthday Kasey Lloyd- September 16th *IF YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY IS NOT LISTED, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN ADD THEIR DOB TO THEIR PROFILE.
7
Kitwan McCoy
8
WHAT HAS MR. MCCOY BEEN UP TO? Mr. McCoy began working at GMG (Now YMU) as a summer intern. While interning, he demonstrated the ability to teach students coupled with his passion for music. He was a great fit and was eventually hired as a part of the staff. Mr. McCoy was a positive mentor to his students and taught guitar, bass guitar, and piano. Since leaving YMU to pursue music he has worked live shows with artists such as Yolanda Adams, India Arie, Robin Thicke, Rueben Studdard, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Toni Tony Tone, and LeAnn Rimes. He was also a part of productions for ELHAE & Masego, Yung Baby Tate, Akeem Ali, PMJ. Mr. McCoy has always been a passionate musician and as he continues to pursue music we know that he will continue to accomplish his goals. Mr. McCoy also works on the instructional and engineer team at Audiostate55, an organization working to provide young people with the tools to pursue college and careers in the recording and entertainment industries. He also said that he's excited because he has more stuff on the way! 9
In-Person or Online Instruction
ENROLL IN OUR DRUM PROGRAM NOW AND RECEIVE A COMPLEMENTARY DRUM PAD STARTER KIT FOR STUDENTS AGES 7-18!
1-844-YMU-NOW-1 803-728-3399 www.ymunow.com
Learn to
Make Music WITH ABLETON LIVE
Have you ever wantd to make your own music and/or beats using your computer? Ableton Live has an online course for students like you! This course will walk you through the basics of making music and you'll do everything right through your browser! This is a great opportunity for you to explore your creativity and apply what you've learned here at YMU. If you decide to take this course, be sure to let your YMU Instructor know!
CLICK TO BEGIN THE COURSE!
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Confessions of a Music Mom Here We Grow Again! By: Mrs. Gray
Hello,
My
name
is
Mrs.
Gray,
and
this
is
my
"Confession of a Music Mom." My past articles have been a reflection of our experience with our oldest daughter's musical journey. Kierra's journey full
of
began twists
at and
encouragement, work,
she
4-years-old
has
turns.
and
has
However,
perseverance,
continued
this
been
through
and
hard
journey.
We
have learned so many lessons along the way and
have
seen
firsthand
the
fruits
of
her
labor.
Kylie in her Little Music Essentials Piano Class
What you may not know is that we have a 4year-old boy
daughter
does
she
named
love
Kylie
music!
She
Grace, loves
and it
so
much that we decided to begin her musical journey at the age of 3. We were amazed at how
well
she
took
to
the
piano,
along
with
her natural desire to sing. Now, at the tender age of 4, she will soon be advancing to level 2 of
our
curriculum.
12
Little
Music
Essentials
Piano
Having a young adult child and a toddler is a huge
Principle 2
gap and a beautiful surprise for our family. We've learned some amazing principles from our oldest
The second one is
daughter's
establishing a routine
greater ahead
musical
insight of
her.
into So
journey the
far,
that
journey
we've
will
us
Kylie
has
practice schedule and
applying
two
she works well with a
that
been
give
essential principles that have significantly helped
routine. Establishing
jumpstart Kylie's music journey.
this at such a young age will be very beneficial as she continues to grow both musically and academically. She's now gotten to the point where she asks to practice. I know that this may flucuate as she gets older, but we are laying a great foundation. I encourage any parent to introduce music to their child at a young age, however in doing so understand
Principal 1
that it is a journey filled The first principle is surrounding her with the joys of music
through
family
events,
entertainment,
and
exploration. Kylie has a play piano, a small guitar, and other
instruments
that
allow
her
to
explore
on
her
with moments of success and challenges, so don't give up!
own and with others. This exploration has grown into her writing music using pictures where she will sit at her piano and create songs using both melodies and lyrics.
She
songwriter
understands and
also
that
makes
her up
older songs,
sister so
is
she
a is
simply mimicking what she is exposed to.
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Annual YMU Christmas Recital
SAVE THE DATE December 11, 2021 at 2pm
AN IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL RECITAL! We will see you there!
MUSIC IS LIFE. THAT'S WHY OUR HEARTS HAVE BEATS. Cecily Morgan
YMU
The Young Musician's University
2003
2021
