We're on Our Way!

Classes have started and I have some awesome students this year!  Do you know why I love teaching music? It's because of the children.  It's because of the joy I see in their faces and the light that appears in their eyes when they understand a difficult concept or master a troublesome skill.  These Let's Play Music students gain confidence as they work hard to succeed. Progress like this is so rewarding!

Parents - check out some of the links under "Fun for Students" where you can find more ways to let your child practice their skills!

Fall Parent Meeting - Mark Your Calendars!!

Hey you awesome Let's Play Music parents!  It's that time of year again when classes start and we have our annual parent meeting!  Remember - the parent meeting is essential to help your children truly succeed and get the most out of this awesome program.  Please clear your calendars and plan to attend.  Here are the parent meeting times:

Tuesday, August 12th:

1st Year - Red Balloons/Blue Bugs - 6:00 p.m.
2nd Year - Green Turtles/Yellow Arrows - 7:00 p.m.
3rd Year - Purple Magic/Orange Roots - 8:00 p.m.

I'm excited to see you all there!  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

- Miss Alissa

Create a Practice Plan!

The Corporate LPM blog posted some great ideas to create practice plans for the new year!  If you haven't already been checking their blog, please do so!  They have great insight and information on all different topics! Simpy click on the link on the right and it will take you there!

Letter from the Creator of Let's Play Music

The creator of Let's Play Music, Shelle Soelberg, sent out a letter to all the teachers that I want to share.  It gives great insight into the purpose of Let's Play Music and why so many men and women find such fulfillment in teaching this program.  I received her permission to share the letter on my blog!  Read on to understand why I LOVE teaching LPM so much!

Here we are..... It's that time of year.  Every year, I would finish my first day of classes, sigh with deep satisfaction, and remember why I do what I do.  The delight in the children's eyes, the amazement on the mothers' faces, the laughing, the sweating, the singing, the playing, the teaching.  It's SO fun! 

It's fun to play and interact with young minds and energetic bodies!  It's fun to share with them the music we love so much!  It's fun to watch them discover and understand!

But it's even more fun, even deeply fulfilling, when we know and understand our purpose.

Sometimes, it's apparent.  When we see the outward change in a child's self-esteem - we know our purpose.  When we see mothers and children with arms wrapped around one another or eyes locked on each other - we know our purpose.  When a student runs in and exclaims, "I can play chords with any song I know!  Listen!" - we know our purpose. 

Sometimes it's not as easy to see, and we have to remember that much of what we are doing is happening invisibly.  I mentioned the Chinese Bamboo tree at Symposium because it helps us to remember our purpose even when we can't see it.  (Go google it!  You'll find lots of stories, videos and pictures!) This tree is planted from a seed then watered and nourished day after day, month after month with absolutely no visible results.  For four years nothing at all happens!!  Then, suddenly, in the fifth year, the tree shoots out of the ground and grows a miraculous 80 feet in about five weeks!  Why?  You probably know.  During that four year period, roots are growing deep and strong.  Those roots, nourished in diligence, patience and faith, finally produce the desired result. 

When teaching some children feels like watering a Bamboo tree, just imagine those invisible roots.  They are growing, connecting and strengthening.  And they aren't just musical roots, either.  There are social strengths you're giving them, intellectual capacity, emotional maturity, and priceless confidence. 

You are making a great contribution in your teaching.  And we feel that same sense of contribution when we work hard to support you in your purpose.  Our company 'makes sense'.  We contribute to something larger than ourselves and it is all grounded in our deepest values: children, relationships, excellence, education, joy, creation, beauty, achievement, and enjoyment.

I found a great quote a few days ago that inspired me to write this Big Picture.  It's by Woodrow Wilson, president during WWI, and he said, "You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand." 

Let's not forget our errand, our vision, our purpose.  You, me, our staff.  We are all here to enrich the world.  Whether it's hard to see, or easy to see, it's always the same purpose.  And it makes life so much more rewarding when we remember our purpose.

If you haven't already memorized our vision statement, or you've gotten a little rusty, this might be a great time to do it!

The Let's Play Music Vision:

To enrich lives, increase confidence, develop talent, enhance intelligence, and bond parent to child, by providing an outstanding music educational experience for children, using premium materials and lessons, taught by superbly trained teachers.

So thrilled to be joined with you in purpose,

Shelle

Let's Play Music Facebook Contest

Want to win a free month of tuition?  Check out corporate Let's Play Music's facebook page and see how!

https://www.facebook.com/Lets.Play.Music.Classes

We're Establishing Roots! Awesome Article from the NY Times!

Musical training in the childhood years REALLY establishes great roots for your child's future!  I love how this article reveals that it's more than just listening to music that helps the child, but when a child is actively engaged, participating and has disciplined practice, that's when the improvement really shows.  That's exactly how children learn - by being engaged and active just like we are in every Let's Play Music and Sound Beginnings class! Read more about it in this awesome article:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/early-music-lessons-have-longtime-benefits/

Congratulations Rosie!

I can't tell you how excited I get when my student's hard work is recognized nationally! Congratulations Rosie for winning Best Melody!!! You can watch her perform her composition in the May 14th, 2012 post.