Pet of the Month: September

Meet Jagger!

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!

Instructor Spotlight: September 2014

Mai Butler

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.”

Read Mai's Bio >>

More about Mai:

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

September Student of the Month

Elisabeth Gross

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.

Know Any Good Jokes:

A magic tractor turned into a field.

Instructor:

Vicki Harris

Pet of the Month: August

Meet Barney!

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!

Brother for Sale!

“Brother for sale, only fifty cents.

Brother for sale, he’s not a big expense.”

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!"

Music Moolah!

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!

August 2014 Student of the Month

Jesse Hansen

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

Jesse’s Instructor:
Jeff Kuhl