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The New School For Music Study 4543 Rt. 27
609-921-2900
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News08/27/2018: Test Announcement test 10/04/2014: The Importance of Attending Live Music Recitals British composer, Malcolm Arnold, once said, "Music is the social act of communication among people, a gesture of friendship, the strongest there is." Singer-songwriter, Billy Joel, writes, "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." Everyone agrees that music has a special power that connects us all, transcending words. Two years ago, our students wrote about what music means to them. We received powerful accounts of the calming effect of music on students when they are stressed, feel alone, or just need to be comforted. Never is this effect more evident than in the experience of live music. Music must be shared with others; it connects a community. In our modern age, we sometimes lose sight of the importance of live music concerts. For our young children, attending live music concerts is so very important.
Live music touches the soul Many children today do not have many opportunities to experience a live music concert. We have so much access to very good music digitally that we often neglect the importance of hearing music live. Live music can touch the soul in a way that recorded music simply cannot. It connects the performer to the audience in a deep and powerful way.
Live music is motivating Attending live music recitals is INSPIRING. It makes us WANT to go home and practice. We want the same experience for our young students. We want them to leaving a concert feeling that what they want most to do is practice their instrument, and that if they continue to practice, they might be able to play just like the performers they have seen and heard.
Hearing a teacher perform creates a stronger bond between teacher and student Students can support their teachers by attending a live recital. It is important for students to hear their teachers play. They know that the teacher "practices what they preach."
Understanding fine music and diverse performances Through recital attendance, students are exposed to a diverse body of music that they might not normally hear. The world of classical music is huge-there is more repertoire than most of us will ever play in a lifetime. But, if we want for our children to know and understand good music, we must expose them to live concerts from an early age. In addition, many performers play with many different interpretations of the same piece of music. Students can gain much from hearing several different interpretations of the same piece.
Community Finally, live music instills a sense of community in students. These gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to meet others in the community and experience culture at a local level. When an audience experiences a compelling performance, they are forever linked to one another by that time and place.
Opportunities to hear live music The communit is invited to the NSMS 2014-2015 recital series. This series is presented in partnership with Nassau Presbyterian Church. The four recitals will be held on Sundays October 19, December 7, February 15, and April 19 at 2:30 p.m., all at Nassau Presbyterian Church. For more information, visit http://www.nsmspiano.org/nsms-faculty-recital-series-begins/.
These days, everyone is busy. It requires planning and sacrifice to attend recitals. However, we must understand that recitals are so important to our children's future. If we want to develop musicians that love and support the arts for life, they need to experience live music in concert.
Rebecca Mergen Pennington has been on the faculty of The New School for Music Study since 2007, and currently serves as the Administrative Director. Dr. Pennington holds a doctorate from the University of Kansas, where she studied with Jack Winerock. Dr. Pennington performs as a solo and collaborative artist and enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels.
09/02/2014: Music and the Whole Child Most children engage in some athletic activity, ranging a wide gamut from playground games to highly organized sports teams. We applaud the social development that results from playing together, sharing, and working towards a common goal. However, at the forefront of athletic activity is physical development. Most of us are far removed from the farm life where entire families work together, and physical exercise becomes a way of life. We seek an alternative, and we turn to sports for physical development. That is an important part of growing up.
Everyone attends school for the purpose of education and intellectual development. We pursue that to ever-higher levels, and some students pursue their education and attain masters and doctorate degrees. Intellectual development is a natural part of the human condition, and we strive to be life-long learners.
Physical development and intellectual growth: both very important aspects of growth and maturity.
So where do piano lessons fit into this scenario? Certainly piano lessons involve the physical and the intellectual. To play the piano well, one must have extremely highly developed physical skills. All of those five-finger patterns, scale studies, and broken chord drills are aimed at developing the physical skills necessary to play the piano well. And there is so much to learn about the construction of music, all the way from the relationship of tones (intervals) to the various ways in which composers organize the material. We can see readily that piano lessons combine the elements of physical and intellectual development.
But we humans are not just physical and intellectual beings. We have feelings and emotions. Psychologists tell us that the expression of emotions is a key ingredient to a healthy existence. Warped and challenged people are often those who have not learned how to express their feelings in a positive manner.
The unique thing about music lessons is the way in music study integrates the three areas which make us complete, healthy persons: the physical, the intellectual, and the emotional. The goal of a musical performance is to share feelings with the listener. To do that the performer must identify with the emotion of the piece and express it freely and convincingly. The goal of piano study is to bring the student to an understanding of the feelings expressed in each composition, to identify with that, and to share that with others.
Why piano lessons? To make each student a more complete, happy, and healthy young person by integrating the physical, the intellectual, and the emotional. When we weld together the three sides of that triangle through music study, we are forming the foundation for a wholesome, balanced person.
Marvin Blickenstaff has directed the Program for Excellence in Piano Study (PEPS) at the New School since 1999. Blickenstaff holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Indiana University where he received both academic and performance honors. He is well-known across the country and in Canada for his frequent presentations at state and national conferences. The Marvin Blickenstaff Endowment Fund was established in his honor by the Music Teachers National Association Foundation. In 2007 the on-line journal Piano Pedagogy Forum published tributes to Blickenstaff, honoring his contribution to piano teaching in America. Also in 2007 he was named Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He was honored in 2009 with MTNA’s highest honor, the MTNA Achievement Award. Blickenstaff has served as chair of the piano departments at the University of North Carolina/ Chapel Hill and Goshen College (IN) and from 2000-2013 he was President of the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy.
08/13/2014: How Do We Know if Children Are Ready to Begin Music Lessons These days, there is much pressure for parents to begin their children in activities from an early age. We know that children tend to pick up new skills easily and we want for them to have an opportunity to become experts at these new skills. We also see curiosity, desire and eagerness to learn in our children and want to capitalize on that. Music lessons are no exception. We often get calls asking the question, “When is the best time to enroll my child in piano lessons?” The answer to that is a tricky one, and varies for each child. The right age for one may not be the right age for another. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you are considering enrolling your child in music lessons: 1. Does my child have an attention span to sit still for chunks of time and listen to instruction? Many teachers today are very creative in using off-bench activities during lessons and have a plethora of activities to make lessons fun and engaging. However, the fact remains that your child will need to sit at the piano for some periods of time during the lesson. It is important that your child have the attention span to do this. 2. Can my child see patterns and recognize up and down? Part of the early learning at the piano involves recognizing groups of two and three black keys and patterns within these groups, as well as up and down on the piano, and later on the music staff. If recognizing patterns is problematic for your child, it may be better to wait a year or two before beginning piano lessons. 3. Can my child read and write? I do not believe that reading and writing is necessary for piano lessons. I have had many non-reading students begin lessons successfully. However, I do think that if your child can identify some letters and write a few letters, it makes piano study much easier. We use the first seven letters of the alphabet as our “musical alphabet.” It is helpful if children recognize these letters. Also, I believe the control and dexterity required to hold a pencil help children with the fine motor skills needed at the piano. 4. Can my child respond positively to criticism? We piano teachers are a lovely, caring, encouraging group. However, some of our job involves correcting and teaching new things. If your child is resistant to criticism or resists learning new things, it may be better to wait to begin lessons. 5. Are my child’s fingers physically developed enough to operate the mechanics of the instrument? Years ago, I interviewed a very small child who had very small fingers. She was not able to make a sound on the piano because her fingers just weren’t strong enough to push the keys down. There is a physical aspect of playing the piano that needs to be developed. This usually happens between ages 5-8. 6. Will my child be agreeable to completing daily practice? In this modern era, there are very few activities that require children to work hard daily to make progress. We all are very used to instant gratification. To succeed in piano study, your child will need to spend some time each day at the piano. Before starting lessons, you should assess whether your child will be agreeable to this. 7. Am I ready to give some assistance to the piano practice? We at NSMS like for students to have the tools they need to practice independently. But, the fact remains that things are just easier when the parents are somewhat involved, even if it is just making sure the practice is completed. With very small children, parents will need to be even more involved and sit with the child to complete the practice. In that way, it is important for the parent to be committed to the lessons as well. You may notice that the one thing I haven’t mentioned is whether your child seems to have a natural talent or affinity for music. At The New School for Music Study, we believe that every child can learn to play and enjoy music. Music is for everyone! The ideal time to begin lessons is around ages 5-8. Each child may experience a different point of readiness, but by age 8, most children are ready to begin. Children who start at these ages often move more quickly, easily, and independently than children who start at ages 2-4. If your child is still under age five and you would like a musical experience for them, you might consider a general music class, such as Music Together, Musikgarten, or Kindermusik. Also, don’t underestimate the power and importance of early musical experiences in the home. Singing, dancing, listening to music, and experiencing music through play are very important early experiences for all children. We have some excellent classes for beginners at The New School for Music Study. For more information, please call 609-921-2900x106 or email admissions@nsmspiano.org 08/13/2014: How Do We Know if Children Are Ready to Begin Music Lessons These days, there is much pressure for parents to begin their children in activities from an early age. We know that children tend to pick up new skills easily and we want for them to have an opportunity to become experts at these new skills. We also see curiosity, desire and eagerness to learn in our children and want to capitalize on that.
Music lessons are no exception. We often get calls asking the question, “When is the best time to enroll my child in piano lessons?” The answer to that is a tricky one, and varies for each child. The right age for one may not be the right age for another. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you are considering enrolling your child in music lessons:
1. Does my child have an attention span to sit still for chunks of time and listen to instruction?
Many teachers today are very creative in using off-bench activities during lessons and have a plethora of activities to make lessons fun and engaging. However, the fact remains that your child will need to sit at the piano for some periods of time during the lesson. It is important that your child have the attention span to do this.
2. Can my child see patterns and recognize up and down?
Part of the early learning at the piano involves recognizing groups of two and three black keys and patterns within these groups, as well as up and down on the piano, and later on the music staff. If recognizing patterns is problematic for your child, it may be better to wait a year or two before beginning piano lessons.
3. Can my child read and write?
I do not believe that reading and writing is necessary for piano lessons. I have had many non-reading students begin lessons successfully. However, I do think that if your child can identify some letters and write a few letters, it makes piano study much easier. We use the first seven letters of the alphabet as our “musical alphabet.” It is helpful if children recognize these letters. Also, I believe the control and dexterity required to hold a pencil help children with the fine motor skills needed at the piano.
4. Can my child respond positively to criticism?
We piano teachers are a lovely, caring, encouraging group. However, some of our job involves correcting and teaching new things. If your child is resistant to criticism or resists learning new things, it may be better to wait to begin lessons.
5. Are my child’s fingers physically developed enough to operate the mechanics of the instrument?
Years ago, I interviewed a very small child who had very small fingers. She was not able to make a sound on the piano because her fingers just weren’t strong enough to push the keys down. There is a physical aspect of playing the piano that needs to be developed. This usually happens between ages 5-8.
6. Will my child be agreeable to completing daily practice?
In this modern era, there are very few activities that require children to work hard daily to make progress. We all are very used to instant gratification. To succeed in piano study, your child will need to spend some time each day at the piano. Before starting lessons, you should assess whether your child will be agreeable to this.
7. Am I ready to give some assistance to the piano practice?
We at NSMS like for students to have the tools they need to practice independently. But, the fact remains that things are just easier when the parents are somewhat involved, even if it is just making sure the practice is completed. With very small children, parents will need to be even more involved and sit with the child to complete the practice. In that way, it is important for the parent to be committed to the lessons as well.
You may notice that the one thing I haven’t mentioned is whether your child seems to have a natural talent or affinity for music. At The New School for Music Study, we believe that every child can learn to play and enjoy music. Music is for everyone!
The ideal time to begin lessons is around ages 5-8. Each child may experience a different point of readiness, but by age 8, most children are ready to begin. Children who start at these ages often move more quickly, easily, and independently than children who start at ages 2-4. If your child is still under age five and you would like a musical experience for them, you might consider a general music class, such as Music Together, Musikgarten, or Kindermusik. Also, don’t underestimate the power and importance of early musical experiences in the home. Singing, dancing, listening to music, and experiencing music through play are very important early experiences for all children.
We have some excellent classes for beginners at The New School for Music Study. For more information, please call 609-921-2900x106 or email admissions@nsmspiano.org. |