Meet Courageous, the “grand” pet of Barb Carlson, a violin student at Harris. who no longer has pets of her own. Barb says he is not courageous at all—just spoiled.
Do you have a furry friend? Now accepting submissions for the
January Pet of the Month! Send your entries to: info@harrisacademyofthearts.com
If you have any goldfish crackers, share some with Avery Smith– it’s her favorite food. This bright and bubbly 13 year old takes piano lessons and flute lessons at Harris. Her flute instructor, Sherri Brouillette, says, “Avery is very fun to work with and I really enjoy having her in lessons. She has a great sense of humor and is extremely smart with many musical interests, including music history, ukulele, and flute.”
Avery is learning an important lesson all musicians learn at some point – it’s okay to make mistakes! Avery’s piano instructor, Vicki Harris, says she and Avery share some similar qualities. “We want to always put our best forward…making mistakes doesn’t always fare so well internally.”
“Avery has come a thousand miles over the last two years,” Vicki continues, “in simply relaxing, enjoying the music and ‘going with the flow.’ As a result, she has grown so much in her playing. The confidence she has developed has made her become such a stronger player. I am really proud of her and the progress she’s made!”
When she’s not learning life lessons at Harris, Avery makes breakfast for her family every weekend morning (hey, we’ll hire her!). She also enjoys playing volleyball, traveling, shopping, reading, and skiing. Help us congratulate Avery on being named our December Student of the Month!
More about Avery:
What other instruments do you play?
Ukulele and singing
How long have you taken lessons?
Piano for 5 years and flute for 2 years
What are your favorite songs?
“Fools Gold” by Fitz and the Tantrums
“Paper Doll” by John Mayer
What is something new and exciting you have learned in lessons lately?
That people are more accepting of you when you make mistakes
What are your goals with music lessons?
To be okay with making mistakes
What is one of your favorite recital or performance memories?
I sang and played guitar to the song “Mean” by Taylor Swift
What is your favorite quote?
“It’s not the mountains we conquer but ourselves.”
What do you think is the best movie of all time?
Napoleon Dynamite
What is a book everyone should read?
“Every Day” by David Levithan
Avery sharing her love of music with her dog, Jagger.
Garrett Hope teaches guitar, string bass, composition, and theory at Harris. Born into a family that valued and practiced music daily, he studied piano, clarinet, guitar, and bass as he was growing up. Though he tinkered with sequencing and song writing, it wasn’t until he began studying composition at university that he found his musical passions – composition and teaching.
Garrett has graduate degrees the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Garrett has taught composition, music theory, music technology, and ear training as adjunct faculty at several institutions, but after completing his DMA, Garrett taught as a Visiting Assistant Professor in Pennsylvania.
Returning to Lincoln after teaching in Pennsylvania has allowed Garrett to focus on composing new music, and also to teach at Harris Academy of the Arts. When it comes to teaching, Garrett offers a wide repertoire variety – including rock, pop, alternative, blues, jazz, religious, and much more.
Lee Heerspink
Lee Heerspink teaches guitar and string bass at Harris. He is a rare multi-talented musician and educator. He earned his music education degree from Hope College in Holland, MI. Jazz became such a passion that Lee continued his education at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. After completing his master’s degree, he spent time teaching and performing in West Michigan.
In 2010, Lee auditioned and accepted a position playing guitar in the US Air Force Heartland of America Band in Omaha, NE. For 4 years he served as musical director for multiple Air Force rock and top 40 bands providing high-energy, morale-boosting concerts to troops both stateside and overseas.
After being honorably discharged in the fall of 2014, Lee and his wife Bethany moved to Lincoln, NE, where they now reside. When not teaching or playing music, Lee and Bethany enjoy cooking, watching Detroit Tigers baseball, and hanging out with their English bulldog Edward.
At Harris Academy of the Arts, we know that music is something that lasts for life. And we’re proud to be the musical home of numerous adult students, all of varying levels and playing various instruments, who embody that fact. We’re thrilled to count Doug Atkin as one of them.
Doug is a civil engineer by trade, an outdoor enthusiast, an amateur beer brewer, and a piano student at Harris Academy of the Arts. He has studied piano with Heera Jang for three years, but he has been playing a total of 40 years, taking lessons off and on. “Doug is a very nice pianist with fine technique and good musicianship,” shares Heera. “I have been amazed at how well he practices his pieces (very advanced ones!) in the midst of his busy life as a successful engineer.”
Doug’s goal with music is simple: to become a better pianist. We have had the privilege of hearing his success in reaching that goal during every student recital since his time at Harris. Congratulations, Doug, on being our November Student of the Month!
More about Doug:
What other instruments do you play?
During High School, I played clarinet, saxophone and French horn. I’ve only kept up on the piano.
What are your favorite pieces to play?
I like to play mostly classical pieces. These have included various pieces by Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Chopin, Shubert and others.
What is your occupation? Tell us a little bit about what you do.
I am a civil engineer by training. I started my career with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) designing bridges. I spent 12 years with UDOT doing a variety of highway engineering related jobs. I worked as a consultant engineer for 10 years and then joined the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2007. I have been the Assistant Division Administrator for the FHWA Nebraska Division since March of 2010. The FHWA oversees the Federal funding that goes to the States for Highways. In my job, I work closely with the Nebraska Department of Roads on Nebraska Highways.
What other hobbies do you have besides music?
I enjoy woodworking. I recently built a cedar strip canoe with my daughter Hannah. I enjoy outdoor activities, hiking, hunting and fishing, although that has slowed down some since moving away from Utah. I also like to brew (and drink) my own beer and cook outdoors.
Originally from the small town of Utica, NE, Katie Morris grew up in a musical home. Her mother played piano and encouraged singing around the house, and even influenced Katie’s decision to play the flute. (She wanted to play the French horn instead!) From a young age, Katie has come to value music education for its ability to teach the importance of hard work and other life skills. “To help students realize what they can accomplish in music and life is what makes teaching worth it,” she says.
Before the move to Lincoln and coming to Harris Academy of the Arts, Katie completed a degree in music education from Doane College in Crete, NE and then taught K-12 vocal music for Plainview Public Schools. Now, she has a long line of teaching duties at Harris: voice, flute, piano, Kindermusik, Treble Maker Show Choir, and Children’s Music Academy.
When she isn’t teaching, Katie loves to spend as much time as she can with her husband and family. Her love and ability for cultivating relationships flows into the lesson room where she strives to build close connections with her students. Seeing her students accomplish their goals in lessons is one of the best parts of her job. “It makes my heart happy to see all my students succeed.”
How long have you played your instrument?
I have played piano and sang since I can remember. I began playing flute in 5th grade so 12 years?
How did you get started playing your instrument?
My mom is a piano player and was always making me sing around the house and for home videos.
She played the flute also and encouraged me to play it even though I had already planned on playing the French horn! She played flute songs all over the house and eventually I gave in. I am very glad.
What is a little known fact about you?
I had braces from 3rd grade until I was a junior in high school. I learned to play the flute with braces on and had to relearn quite a bit once I got them off!
What is your favorite kind of music?
I like any music that is going to make me feel something! A good beat, thoughtful lyrics, emotional instruments –anything like that.
What is your favorite food?
Mashed potatoes and peanut butter… but not together!
Do you have a fun or inspiring story to share about teaching lessons?
I just love it when a student understands something they have been working so hard to obtain! [Something like] a hard rhythm or a vocal technique. It makes my heart happy to see all my students succeed. I had a student last year who didn’t really know she could sing. By the end of the year she sang a solo at our final concert. To help students realize what they can accomplish in music and life is what makes teaching worth it.
What is one of your favorite recital or performance memories?
At my junior recital in college I was so nervous I skipped a whole verse of one of my songs! My accompanist just stayed right with me, though, and no one knew! He is the best and we worked together enough that he knew what to do. Everyone one makes mistakes and I felt awful after it happened, but when I realized that no one noticed and that my partner and I still got a standing ovation at the end… I realized a little mistake does not mean the end of the world.
Meet Sapphire (left photo), Cloudy (right photo, left) and Snowstorm (right photo, right). They belong to piano student Nate Pribil and family.
Nate’s mom, Jennifer, shares:
Cloudy is our boy and quite the handful. He has made it up to our ceilings with his agility jumping from the floor to counter, to microwave, to ledge and all the way back down again. Snowstorm is a girl and laid back, only watching her brother get into mischief. They both turned one on October 4th and give Sapphire, our girl husky, trouble as soon as she walks in the door. Sapphire is anxiously waiting for that first snow again so she can bury her head and roll around with the kids.
Do you have a furry friend? Now accepting submissions for the
December Pet of the Month! Send your entries to: info@harrisacademyofthearts.com
It’s a fact at Harris that many of our students come from the elementary through high school age range. However, what you may not know is that almost 10 percent of our student base is made up of adult students, and that number is growing. This isn’t Trix, silly rabbit, music lessons aren’t just for kids! Some adult students are developing skills they have nurtured over the course of their lives (just read about our November Student of the Month), while others are shaking off the dust of musical training they laid to the side years ago. Still others are taking the plunge into something fresh and learning to play a new instrument or even experiencing music-making for the first time.
Many classes, like the String-A-Longs senior violin class (a story all in itself that has been featured in several Lincoln publications and television programs), had their roots in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNL (taught by volunteer HAA faculty) and continued on after the initial 6-week course to make their home at Harris. One such class, Adult Beginning Piano, currently meets on Tuesday afternoons in Studio 12. Susan Musick is one of those budding pianists. She played flute from 4th grade through her sophomore year in college, and watched her children progress through piano lessons, but never took the time to learn piano herself. “I have always wanted to learn to play the piano,” says Susan. “It is on my bucket list!”
Just ask Google, and you’ll find that music lessons benefit adults just as much as they benefit children. Music lessons offer adults a social outlet and a mind-sharpening activity. In fact, in some ways, adults taking on lessons are at an advantage compared to children. Adults are internally motivated to learn music; their parents aren’t pushing and persuading them to practice. They also have developed critical thinking skills and can understand complex concepts more easily, meaning that leaning music theory and analysis happens much faster than it does for children. Combine that with developed emotions, an increased attention span, and the ability to read easily, and adults sure seem to have the upper hand. (http://www.key-notes.com/adult-piano-lessons.html)
Naturally, music lessons come with their fair share of challenges, as well, but they provide an even greater reward—a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Susan knows this well and finds it most difficult when learning a new piece. “I’m not very good at sight reading music,” she says. It’s also a challenge to find enough time at home to practice, something every adult can relate to. But, when asked what she considers to be the best part of taking the class, Susan replied, “Accomplishing one of the pieces that I found really challenging!”
Susan has this encouragement to share with adults who are still on the fence about taking lessons. “I would recommend [music lessons] to any adult. It is so satisfying to learn something new and really enjoy playing music for fun!“ And for those already in the thick of lessons, who perhaps need a little “chin up”: “Stick with it. Time and practice really pays off and it is so rewarding to learn the music, and to make it sound like it was written!”
Ready to start your lessons? We would love to talk with you about instructors, class options, and convenient scheduling in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings! Call (402) 423-7121 to learn more.
Meet Simon (left) and Chopin (right), feline friends of Michaela Wolverton, Communications & Relations Manager of Harris Academy of the Arts.
Michaela shares:
“Simon was a rescue cat after the Hallam, NE tornado in 2004. He has happily been the big baby of the family since then! Chopin is actually the baby of the family, and loves to wake Michaela up at 7:01 every single morning for love and attention. Simon wasn’t happy when first introduced to Chopin, but now they love being brothers (most of the time).”
Now accepting submissions for the November Pet of the Month! Send your entries to: info@harrisacademyofthearts.com
Grace Oh takes voice and piano lessons at Harris Academy of the Arts. She also plays piccolo in marching band and flute in concert band at school. This 15 year old, who is in the top 3% of her class, aspires to become a general surgeon or an anesthesiologist. Her favorite classes in school cover anything related to math and science. In addition to her studies in school, band activities, and private lessons, Grace also joined Science Olympiad to challenge herself. Put all that together – this girl is a go-getter!
Cristina Vlad, Grace’s piano instructor, has seen Grace’s hard work and dedication firsthand in lessons: “Being involved in several activities, she is showing improvement in her piano playing every week.” We snuck into one of Grace’s recent piano lessons to share some footage. You’ll find that she and Cristina “get down to business” and work hard – and it really pays off!
More About Grace:
What are your favorite songs?
I like “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie and “Memory” from the musical Cats.
What other hobbies do you have besides music?
I would read and write for most of the time, and occasionally I would draw, paint, or craft if I have enough time.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is pineapple upside-down cake.
What is a little known fact about you?
I can speak fluent Korean.
I’m left handed.
I have a saltwater aquarium with a pair of clownfish and a starfish.
Sherri’s spunky personality and sense of humor are welcome additions to Harris Academy of the Arts. She teaches flute, beginning woodwinds, Children’s Music Academy, beginning piano, and the Ukulele Workshop, growing more and more popular. As Sherri says, “nobody can be grumpy while holding a ukulele!”
Although Sherri’s primary instrument is flute, she originally thought she was going to play violin. “But my mother brought home a flute one day,” Sherri says. “When I tried to play it I couldn’t make a sound on it. I was really frustrated with the instrument because of that, but I kept trying. It took me two to three weeks after that to finally get a sound and I went from there.” And she’s played it for 27 years!
This semester, Sherri is student teaching at North Star High School with Rob Salistean. She is gaining experience in orchestra, marching band, wind symphony, and concert band, as well as coaching students for all-state. Once completed, she will earn her post baccalaureate teacher certification in music education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Then, look for Sherri at a music classroom near you!
More about Sherri:
What is your hometown?
Lincoln, NE
Do you have any good stories about where you grew up?
When my sister and I were in middle school, she would play rap music so loudly that it shook the walls of my room next door. I would get her back by playing the really high notes on my flute as loud as I possibly could. This would last until we couldn’t take it anymore, or until her rap song was over.
What is your favorite kind of music?
Indie rock, jazz, and classical.
What other hobbies do you have besides music?
I love to travel and have lived abroad. I also like to cook, read and visit art galleries.
What is your favorite food?
Macaroni and cheese
Do you have a fun or inspiring story to share about teaching lessons?
I’m really enjoying my ukulele class right now. It’s an instrument that pretty much everyone can learn to play. During class, everyone is having fun and has a smile on their face. Nobody can be grumpy while holding a ukulele! It’s just not possible.
What is one of your favorite recital or performance memories?
Playing piccolo with the Western Michigan University chamber orchestra during our performance of Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite. I also love to play in the pit orchestra for musicals and have played in Oklahoma!, Pirates of Penzance, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Music Man, and Man of La Mancha, amongst others.
Do you know any good jokes?
What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.
What did the llama say when he got kicked off the farm? Alpaca my bags.
Did you know electric violins have been in use since the 1920s? Built from Kevlar, glass, and carbon fibers (rather than the traditional wood), these instruments and their “raw” sound are ideal for rock, pop, and jazz music. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_violin)
David Pratt, violin instructor at Harris Academy of the Arts, began playing the electric violin around age 13. He was interested in playing in bands and other nontraditional violin settings in which the electric violin, and its ability to be amplified (without the issue of feedback), fit well with the other instruments. He was also interested in being able to alter the sound of his violin, much like one can on the guitar. Now, five strings (traditional violins have four!) and an amplifier later, this Fritz Kreisler and classical music fan has the best of both worlds.
According to David, the ability to electronically alter the sound lends the electric violin to jazz and rock music. “I like to improvise over rock riffs,” says David. “I also enjoy streaming instrumental versions of popular songs onto a multi-track recorder, and then replacing what would have been the vocal track with violin improvisation.”
While equipment can be pricey, it is possible to find a quality “rig” (or set up) at a reasonable cost. David has found using a keyboard amp provides multiple options. “For instance, I like to amplify my electric violin with a keyboard amp that has a multi-channel mixer built into it, so I can stream music, add a drum machine, add a bass guitarist, add a vocalist, and play violin, simultaneously or in any combination while controlling the volume of all inputs.”
More information about purchasing an electric violin and equipment follows (provided by David, unless otherwise indicated). If all this technical talk is just mumbo jumbo to you, David is happy to answer any questions on the topic. Contact Harris Academy of the Arts at 402.423.7121 to ask your questions. Curiosity is welcome!
More From David:
What equipment is needed to play the electric violin?
For some electric violins, such as the Yamaha Silent Electric Violins, the only equipment needed is the violin, the bow, and a pair of headphones.
“If your only intention is silent practice, than a set of headphones will be sufficient, provided your instrument has a headphone jack. If not, you will need some other device, such as an amp or effects processor that does have a headphone jack, which will then require a cable. If you want to be heard by others, you will need an amplifier, or the ability to connect to a PA (Public Address) system through a soundboard. This will require at least one cable.” (www.electricviolinshop.com/blog/resources/faq/#amp)
Can I use my regular bow? Strings? Rosin?
“Yes, yes and yes! Electric instruments use normal strings under normal tension. Therefore, any traditional horsehair bow and rosin combo will work. That said, there is tremendous variation in bow quality, which will affect your tone and technique greatly.” (www.electricviolinshop.com/blog/resources/faq/#bow)
What kind of investment is it to purchase an electric violin?
“Cost can be significantly reduced by shopping online, on Craigslist, on Ebay, or elsewhere. Multi-effects units are generally far cheaper than buying individual units and hooking them together. Multi-effects units dramatically simplify setups. For about $1000, one could find a basic electric violin, an amplifier, and a preamp/multi-effects processor. One may even be able to do this for $500.”
Anything else you'd like to share?
Guitar amps, and guitar effects are optimized for guitarists, who dominate the market for these items. Guitar amps exaggerate mid-range frequencies and many guitar effects make the violin sound harsh and brittle without significant adjustment. There are violin amplifiers on the market, but I would be wary of these, because they do not yet have the same economies of scale as the keyboard or guitar variety and one may well end up paying a premium for sound quality that can be obtained through already available products (such as a keyboard amplifier).
Jagger belongs to Avery and Tucker Smith. Avery takes piano and flute lessons and Tucker takes piano and voice. They say Jagger loves coming to Harris!
Do you have a pet you love? Send us a cute photo for a chance to be featured as the next Pet of the Month!
Mai Butler, piano instructor at Harris Academy of the Arts, grew up in a musical environment. Her mother was a piano teacher and Mai always knew that the piano would naturally be a part of her life forever.
Mai was born in Japan in a town called Kawaminami in the Miyazaki Prefecture. “Miyazaki Prefecture is located in the southern island in Japan,” says Mai. The population of my hometown is about 17,400 and the best feature of Kawaminami is that it is close to both mountains and sea.” Now, thousands of miles across the ocean, Mai lives in Lincoln, NE and holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance.
Teaching piano is Mai’s dream job. “My students always make me happy,” she says. “I have very special connections with my students. When I witness students' improvement, I am deeply touched by them and I reconfirm that my job is one of the most amazing jobs. I have goose bumps when my students are able to deliver very beautiful tone color and quality.”
Mai is also involved as a performer in the Lincoln area, giving frequent solo recitals and piano duo recitals, teaming up with fellow pianist, Feifei Jiang. Whatever she is playing, her heart goes into it. “My favorite performance memory is when I was touched by my own performance. I feel that I am practicing so hard every day to experience this special moment and it is one of the best feelings I have ever experienced. There are two times these special moments happened to me: when I played a Beethoven sonata for my high school entrance exam (as a piano performance major) and when I performed a piano concerto with the Jefferson City Orchestra.”
Do you play any other instruments?
I used to play trumpet when I was an elementary student as a member of marching band
What is your favorite kind of music?
I love all classical music. I love to listen to music from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. I enjoy more playing contemporary music rather than listening.
What other hobbies do you have besides music?
My hobby beside music is window-shopping for home decorations. I love looking at wall-decors, paintings, furniture, and gardening materials.
What is your favorite food?
I love Asian foods, especially Japanese, Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese foods. My favorite Japanese food is cold Soba (buckwheat noodles) served on a wickerwork platter and eaten after being dipped in a cold sauce.
What do you think is the best movie of all time? Up and Avatar
Elisabeth, the September Student of the Month, is
an easy going, positive 16 year old. Take, for instance, her favorite recital
memory: “When one of my songs was a complete train wreck, because now I look
back and just laugh!” Or her favorite food: “Watermelon and mangoes…also,
pretty much anything delicious.” Pretty much, Elisabeth is pretty great and we
love having her as a student at Harris.
Elisabeth has studied with her instructor for 10 years
and is making tremendous progress. (You can listen to her playing in the video.)
Her goals with music lessons are to continue learning music to have the skills
needed to play for the rest of her life.
Elisabeth’s instructor, Vicki Harris, says she is an
absolute delight. “She has blossomed as an artist and her piano skills have
also enhanced Elisabeth’s interest in guitar, ukulele, and singing.”
More About Elisabeth:
Other Instruments
You Play:
Ukulele, Voice
Favorite Songs:
Dawn from Pride and Prejudice
Favorite Classes
in School:
Music classes! (choir), math
Something New You
are Learning in Lessons:
I am learning how to relax my hands. Playing with tense
muscles is no fun!
Favorite Quote:
“Do small things with great love.”
-Mother Teresa
Favorite Movie: Pride and Prejudice
Favorite Book:
The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society or The
Book Thief
A Little Known
Fact About You:
In kindergarten when we dressed up as what we wanted to be when we grew up, I
dressed up as a janitor.
Barney belongs to Miss Vicki. He's an ornery, sweet, and spoiled Cavachon (King Charles Cavalier and Bishon mix). He loves to nap and rest his chin on Miss Vicki's foot while she practices piano.
Do you have a pet you love? Send us a cute photo for a chance to be featured as the next Pet of the Month!
The just-crowned Miss Nebraska Princess has a brother.
His name is Kyle and he’s for sale.
Okay, not really.
“Brother for Sale” was Kadynce Mullin's talent number at
the Miss Nebraska Pageant last May and she chose to dedicate the act to her
brother (that’s him in the picture she’s holding). Her performance, along with
other criteria such as modeling, beauty, and speech, earned her the title.
“Hey, would anybody
like to buy a slightly used big brother?
Even if you have
one now, trade him for another.”
Kadynce worked with Jeff Kuhl, instructor of voice and
theatre at Harris Academy of the Arts, to prepare for the talent portion of the
pageant. Kadynce’s mother, Brenna, said Jeff is “very passionate about what he
does and works diligently to make his students successful. [He] shared insight
and enthusiasm which made “Brother for Sale” such a success for Kadynce!”
Kaydnce’s newly-earned title as Miss Nebraska Princess
has opened up a bundle of opportunities for this soon-to-be 7-year-old. When
she isn’t working on developing her skills for the National American Miss Pageant
in Anaheim, California this November, she’s meeting with Nebraska Senators,
throwing out the first pitch for the Lincoln Salt Dogs, making parade
appearances, and–most notably—donating 100 volunteer hours to Lincoln and
Nebraska organizations.
Especially meaningful is Kadynce’s personal pick for her
summer project. “The day after her pageant, Kadynce had a seizure and was
transferred to the Children’s Hospital in Omaha,” says Brenna. The ordeal naturally
led to Kadynce’s decision to raise support for the Children’s Miracle
Network, selling suckers to raise funds. In
addition, she's baking goods for the Rainbow House at the Children’s Hospital,
as well as donating books and reading time.
Q&A
with Kadynce’s mom, Brenna:
How did Kadynce
get started in the pageant world?
"She competed in the local Applejack Festival pageant...in Nebraska City."
How many
pageants has Kadynce participated in so far?
"Only two of this type. (Two state pageants and one national)"
What is
Kadynce's favorite thing about competing in pageants?
"She loves to be on stage now and she has so much fun!"
Kadynce's talent
number is "Brother for Sale". Does she have a brother? If so, tell us
a little bit about their relationship!
"Kadynce has 3 older step-brothers, Kyle, Michael, and
Keith and she loves her “bubbies”. She
chose to dedicate her Brother for Sale number and feature her brother Kyle, who
is now 21. He was much younger in the photo…lol. She loves to hang out with him
and also he picks on her. He still spoils her so much!"
What is something
about the National American Miss Pageant that most people don't know?
"This is a prestigious pageant system that is truly
invested in the future of young leaders and offers the chance for development
and personal growth. They offer amazing
rewards and even a Mustang to a lucky girl at nationals!"
If she wins
the national pageant, what would Kadynce "do" with her title?
"She would have the opportunity to participate in so much
more community activities and raise even more funds for charitable
organizations."
Is there
anything else you would like to share, from a mom's perspective, or from
Kadynce's perspective?
"I will never forget the moment they called her name as
the Miss Nebraska Princess! It is such an honor to be part of all of this. She was so excited to tell Jeff [Kuhl] that she had
won and she loved to make him so proud!
Thank you Harris Academy for all your support!"
You might have seen some purple, yellow, and blue “bills”
around the studio. These notes, not exactly musical or legal tender, are called “Music Money” and they can be
earned by students and redeemed for prizes. Want to start your own cash flow? It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Do something to impress your instructor: Meet a
practice goal. Pass your level of books. Attend a symphony concert. Perform in a studio
recital. Compose an original song. In
return, your instructor will reward you with Music Money!
2. Save! The prize boxes start at $1 and go all the way
up to $60. The more you save, the better the prize. Unless of course, you just
want candy!
3. Spend! When you’re ready to cash in, take your “bucks”
to the front desk and ask to redeem them.
Our Music Money venture started in August 2013. Our first Music Money dollar is proudly displayed on the wall next to the prize "store". We’re looking forward to many successful years ahead!
Why couldn’t Mozart play his violin? It was Baroque.
The joke above was shared by August Student of the Month, Jesse Hansen. Besides her witty jokes, this 15 year old can also recite pi to 30 places (3.14159265359…okay, we give up!). She’s also into hiking, reading, writing, drawing, nerdy T.V. shows, anime, video games, and playing violin. And, she takes voice lessons at Harris Academy of the Arts.
In voice lessons, Jesse is learning how to create a scene around a song and incorporate acting with her singing as a way to emphasize the story. She showed what she’s learned in her performance at the Spring Student Recital (check out the videos below!). One of Jesse’s favorite performance memories is getting a hug from a random audience member after performing in a talent show in Wisconsin. Surely, this talented girl will receive many more random hugs in her lifetime!
More About Jesse:
Favorite Songs:
Homeward Bound, Naughty, Defying Gravity, Let it Go, Look to the Rainbow
Goals with Music Lessons:
To have fun and to improve/learn as much as possible
Favorite Food:
Pasta
Favorite Classes in School:
English, Science, History
Favorite Movie:
Star Trek 1
Favorite Book:
The Disappearing Spoon (a collection of fun science-related stories)
Favorite Quote:
“The important thing is not how long you live. It’s what you accomplish with your life.” Grouyle, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
We're pleased to announce the addition of three very fine musicians and individuals to the HAA teaching staff: Colt Ballou, Katie Morris, and David Pratt. Please help us welcome them!
Colt Ballou
Colt Ballou teaches voice, piano, organ, Children's Music Academy, Kindermusik, and vocal ensembles. He is currently attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he is pursuing a Master's degree in Choral Conducting, as well as studying organ. Colt was active as a vocal music teacher in Iowa before relocating to Lincoln, NE.
Hobbies: Travel, fitness and exercise, cooking, reading Favorite Foods: Sushi, pistachio ice cream A Book Everyone Should Read:Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss Favorite Quote: "The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind." ~Khalil Gibran Favorite Joke:
Q: How can you tell when a singer is at your door?
A: They forgot the key and don't know when to come in!
Katie Morris
Katie Morris teaches voice, piano, flute, Kindermusik, and Children's Music Academy. She graduated from Doane College and taught K-12 vocal music for Planview Public Schools before moving to Lincoln, NE. She was just married at the end of June - congratulations!
Hometown: Utica, Nebraska Hobbies: Running, reading, and spending time with the love of my life! Favorite Foods: Peanut butter and mashed potatoes...not together though! Favorite Book:To Kill a Mockingbird and the whole Harry Potter series Little Known Fact About Me: I played French horn in fifth grade for two days before switching to flute for good.
David Pratt
David Pratt teaches violin and electric violin. A fan of the Suzuki Method, he enjoys using the repertoire to
teach in an intuitive manner with a natural progression. Originally from San Diego, David also grew up
in the Washington, D.C. area, before moving to Lincoln,
NE. David will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a chemistry major in hopes of attending
medical school. More About David >> Hometown: San Diego, CA, and Washington, D.C. Hobbies: I am learning Spanish using Rosetta Stone and have found the program useful. I enjoy mountain biking but haven't found many mountains in Nebraska. Favorite Food: Mexican and Sushi Favorite Piece of Music to Play:Praeludium and Allegro by Fritz Kreisler A Book Everyone Should Read:The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable Favorite Quote: "The number one reason why people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they have gone." ~unknown
Cristina Vlad, a piano instructor at Harris Academy of the Arts, has been
playing the piano since she was very young. She started playing for fun but after more and more performances and
competition wins, she began to realize she really
loved playing. Now, years later and having just completed her doctorate in
piano performance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, we are privileged to
have her on the Harris team!
Cristina was born in Romania in a town named Deva. You
might be more familiar with the region, called Transylvania, the home of Count Dracula.
But don’t worry, Cristina’s bubbly, friendly personality has nothing in common
with that character. And though you wouldn't need to, you can always score
points by offering her one of her favorite desserts: cheesecake and ice cream!
More about Cristina:
What is your
favorite kind of music?
Besides classical, I enjoy a wide variety of genres. I am
really fond of Jazz, among others.
What other hobbies
do you have besides music?
I love dancing and soon will go get some tango lessons. J
What do you think
is the best movie of all time?
I don’t have a “best movie of all time” but rather a list…Forrest Gump
is on that list J, among others.
Do you have any
good stories about where you grew up?
Of course, you can find out more by asking. Let’s just say
for now that my last name (Vlad) is the same as Count Dracula’s, and that I am
from the same area (Transylvania).
Do you have a fun
or inspiring story to share about teaching lessons?
Everyone has different goals when taking on music/piano
lessons. It’s always great hearing back after years from students, thanking you
for the change you brought to their life through lessons.
What is one of
your favorite recital or performance memories?
Sharing your love for music with an audience is something
unique. After a broadcast performance of mine, the camera showed the reaction
of the audience. It was very touching seeing someone tearing at the end.
What is your
favorite quote?
“If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend,
experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.” – Joseph Addison
Harris Academy of the Art's Beginning Fiddling Summer Workshop wrapped up today after
a full month of exploring fiddling technique and repertoire.
We spent a little time with instructor, Jentry Barrett, to learn more about fiddling and what her students have been
learning. No fiddling around, this sounds like fun!
What’s the
difference between a violin and a fiddle?
"A violin and fiddle are the same thing. Fiddling is just a
style of violin playing. There is an old joke that fiddling is just violin
playing with bad posture, but not in my class!"
What skills does a
student need to have before they can start fiddling?
"If you can play the violin successfully then you can play
fiddle tunes. You need to be able to consistently play in tune, cross strings
without excess noise, and have a relaxed posture so playing fast notes is easy."
What is your
favorite fiddle tune?
"I love Cripple Creek. Lots of fast notes, but not a lot
of different notes, so it looks harder than it really is!"
What else can you tell us about fiddling?
"There are lots of different styles of fiddling, and so
much music to enjoy. That is the gift of playing the violin well, you get to
play so much fun music."
The Final Class Performance
Mark Your Calendars:
World Fiddle Day is May 17, 2015 Look for moreFIDDLE CLASS OFFERINGS from Harris beginning Fall 2014!
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