Welcome: Jesse McBee

Harris Academy of the Arts proudly welcomes new instructor, Jesse McBee! Jesse will be teaching trumpet, baritone, euphonium, trombone, and tuba.

Jesse McBee is a jazz trumpet player currently based in Lincoln, NE. He graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, and the University of Louisville with a Master of Music in Jazz Performance. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Hixson-Lied Fellow.

Most recently, Jesse has had the opportunity to serve as a sabbatical replacement in the Jazz Division at West Virginia University, as well as working as a Master Teacher for the West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts. He has had the opportunity to perform with the University of Louisville Jazz Ensemble I as a featured soloist with Jamey Aebersold at the 2012 JEN Conference in Louisville, KY, as well as performing John Zorn’s “Cobra” with the Ophidean Ensemble at the International Society for Improvised Music Conference at the University of Michigan in 2010.

In his spare time, Jesse is an enthusiastic, if not skilled runner and is looking forward to completing his first half marathon in Lincoln in May.

February Pet of the Month

Meet Gir, who belongs to Amy Fairchild, General Manager at Harris Academy of the Arts. Gir loves to attack feet and make trips outside onto the deck, and has a strange fascination with water. 

Do you have a pet you love? Send us a photo for a chance to be featured as the Pet of the Month!

Now accepting submissions for the March Pet of the Month. 

Instructor Spotlight

Lee Heerspink

Lee Heerspink has had his share of both life and musical experiences prior to joining the Harris teaching staff. After getting his music education degree he went on to study jazz performance for his master’s degree. From there, after a few years of private teaching and performing, he was placed in the US Air Force Heartland of America Band in Omaha, NE where he had the opportunity to boost the morale of troops both near and far.

Lee recalls a moment during his time with the US Air Force Band when he played at the bedside of a wounded soldier in Afghanistan. “One of my favorite performances,” Lee shares, “was playing an acoustic version of “Knee Deep” by the Zac Brown Band for a wounded warrior at the hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. We asked what he wanted us to play, he said “anything.” He smiled as we quietly sang and gave him a short bedside concert.”

Now, Lee shares his love of music in a different way, by connecting with students in private lessons. At Harris, Lee teaches guitar, bass guitar, and string bass. One of his main goals, right along with the nitty gritty technique and determination with learning any instrument, is to make learning music fun and enjoyable. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know yet another of Harris’ fine music teachers.

Read Lee’s Bio

More About Lee:

What is your main instrument?
My main instrument is the guitar!

How long have you played your instrument?
I’ve played for close to 20 years (wow that’s scary, I’m having a moment…)

How did you get started playing your instrument?
I spent my first 8 years playing classical piano. I had a wonderful piano teacher, but once I got to middle school I began listening to rock n’ roll and more contemporary music. My dad suggested that maybe I should try guitar lessons, so I made the switch and never really looked back!

Do you play any other instruments?
Piano, voice, upright and electric bass

What is your favorite kind of music?
I love jazz! I’m a huge fan of the guitarist Pat Metheny, and spend quite a bit of time playing and analyzing his solos. That being said, I also have a soft spot in my heart for playing rock and popular music because it’s what got me into playing guitar in the first place!

Do you have a fun or inspiring story to share about teaching lessons?
I used to encourage my younger students in Michigan to practice with the help of candy. I’ll never forget when one of my students, Simon, found out that I had an ENTIRE drawer dedicated to just candy. His eyes got as big as saucers! #mindblown

What is your hometown?
Holland, MI

What other hobbies do you have besides music?
Making dinner with my wife Bethany, walking my English bulldog Edward, and playing video games!

What is your favorite food?
I could eat stir fry every day of the week.

What do you think is the best movie of all time?
Back to the Future. There’s no question.

What is your favorite quote?
“You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.”
-Charlie Parker

What is a little known fact about you?
I was in show choir in High School and loved it! We had a wonderful director named Kerry Daab, and he made it so much fun. Somewhere there are videos floating around of my dancing and jazz hands!

February Student of the Month

Morgan Madsen

Thursday nights you’ll hear any combination of Hound Dog, Thriller, The Twist, YMCA, and more coming through the studio walls.  It’s not an all studio dance party (although that’s an idea), it’s the Treble Maker Show Choir, a singing group for ages 7-12 years led by Christine Collins. This lively group is learning new songs for the upcoming Spring Recital. Among these energetic singers and dancers is Morgan  Madsen, the February Student of the Month!

Christine shares about having Morgan in class:

"Morgan is a natural born leader and singer. She has such a passion for singing and the talent to go with it. She is always ready to work and participate in whatever activity we are doing and knows how to lead by example. It’s an absolute pleasure to have her in my class!"

Morgan is 12 years old and also plays violin at school. Her favorite subjects in school are science, art, and—naturally—music. Morgan loves to dance and when she’s not doing the Twist (or the YMCA, or the Chicken Dance) she likes to draw. Read on to learn more about this talented girl.

More About Morgan:

What is your favorite food?
Pie!!!

What are your goals with music lessons?
To do the best I can.

What is something new and exciting you have learned in lessons lately?
A new song that we’re learning called “Over the Sea to Skye”

What is one of your favorite recital or performance memories?
My very first one when we (Ella, Eliza, me) sang “Seize the Day” from the musical “Newsies.”

What is your favorite quote? 
“Go forward. Be brilliant!”
“Do or do not, there is no try.”

What do you think is the best movie of all time? 
The Hunger Games!

What is a book everyone should read? 
Spirit Animals

What is a little known fact about you? 
I broke my arm when I was 10 years old.

Do you know any good jokes?
Me: Why did the chicken cross the road?
You: I don’t know.
Me: To get hit by a car!
Me: Knock, knock.
You: Who’s there?
Me: Not the chicken!

Welcome: New Instructor!

Christine Collins

Violin, Viola, Piano, Voice, Children's Music Academy

Christine Collins began teaching at Harris in 2015.  She received her Bachelor degree from the University of North Texas where she studied Music Education with a focus in orchestra and elementary music education.  She has had opportunities to study abroad all over the world including the Orff Institute in Austria, the Kodaly Institute in Hungary, and Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica.

Christine began studying piano at the age of 5 and started violin lessons at the age of 6.  She was involved in band, orchestra, and choir throughout middle and high school and college.  In 2013, Christine began playing with the mariachi group Mariachi Aguilas and had the amazing opportunity of opening for the world-renowned group Mariachi Sol de Mexico when they performed in North Texas in 2014.

Christine taught at the Frisco School of Music in Frisco, Texas from 2012-2014 where her studio was named the “Best Improved Studio” in 2014.  Christine loves teaching and is thrilled to be a part of the Harris team!

In her free time, Christine enjoys fiddling, reading, discovering new health conscious and delicious recipes to cook, and swimming.

Instructor Spotlight

Heera Jang

Heera Jang has been teaching piano lessons at Harris Academy of the Arts for more than four years, but she has been teaching since 1989. She grew up in Seoul, South Korea with a family that loved music. At five years old, she began piano lessons and, as she says, “it came naturally to learn to play the piano.”

Heera, her husband, son, and daughter moved to the United States from South Korea in 2004 where she and her husband worked on degrees in St. Louis. They moved to Lincoln in 2011 when her husband became pastor of the Lincoln Korean Church. Now, with her daughter in high school (learning cello!) and her son finishing his freshman year at college, their family is a blend of preserved Korean tradition and absorbed American culture.

Heera teaches beginning to advanced students of every age, some as young as four years up to adults. Her teaching is just the right combination of “push” and nurture, modeling and praise, creating a discipline in her students that leads them to succeed. Above all, Heera helps her students find the love of music within the music itself.

On top of that, you should hear Heera play! She’s truly a master of the piano, both in performance and instruction. We’re lucky to have her at Harris—a modest, caring gem developing each student’s unique skills back in Studio 6.

More About Heera:
How long have you played your instrument?
For a long, long  time….. since I was 5 years old.

Do you play any other instruments?
No. I only play the piano but I have always wanted to learn to play cello as well.

What is your favorite kind of music?
I appreciate various kinds of music, but I find myself enjoying classical music the most.

What is one of your favorite recital or performance memories?
I believe some of you still remember that last year, we instructors played a piano sextet with 2 keyboards. It was a lot of fun.

What is your hometown?
I was born in Yusung, South Korea but grew up mostly in Seoul.

Do you have any good stories about where you grew up?
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea, so it is quite a big city, and has a lot of fun places to visit. It’s also a city where older palaces and newer, more contemporary buildings coexist because it has been the capital city for more than 500 years.

What other hobbies do you have besides music?
I love watching movies and spending time with my family.

What is your favorite food?
I like Korean food such as kimchi and bulgogi, but like spaghetti too.

What do you think is the best movie of all time? 
Gone With the Wind

January Pet of the Month

Meet Rosco (right), a rat terrier and Yama (left), a German short haired pointer. These relaxing canines belong to Shea, Brin and Luke Swanson, piano students at Harris.