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Teacher Spotlight: Abbey Gable

Abbey Gable

Meet Miss Abbey, one of our new teachers here at MTMS! Abbey studies music at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and she is very excited about joining the MTMS family. She will be teaching piano, voice, percussion, bass guitar, and saxophone. She became a music teacher because she was inspired by all the great music teachers she has had in her life, and she loves helping young musicians develop their own appreciation for music.

To get to know Miss Abbey better, here are some fun facts about her!

  • Her favorite song is “A Place to Go” by Half Past Two
  • She loves skiing in the winter
  • She has a cat named Hufflepuff (shout out to all the Harry Potter fans!)
  • She loves going to musicals and plays in her free time

Welcome to the MTMS family, Miss Abbey!

From the Mouths of Babes: What Our Students Have to Say About MTMS

A few weeks ago, we asked our younger students to fill out a survey so we could get better insight into what their thoughts and feelings are about music and learning. After a week of “wait how do you spell…” and “I can’t pick just one!” here’s what our students look for in a teacher:

“What do you think makes someone a good teacher?”

  • “One who challenges students and studies ways to make the classroom a productive learning environment.” -Alycia
  • “They are kind, helpful, and AWESOME!!!!!!” -Gargi
  • “I think good teachers are those that are able to adapt to the way that the students learn the best.” -Trey
  • “Treating your students as relative equals.” -Lauren
  • “Someone who is funny, and understands what I am struggling with. Someone who tells me how I can make myself better because I know when I am not doing my best.” -Avi
  • “One that is patient, one with personality, and a broad knowledge of the topic they teach. Also one that has humor.” -Mahir
  • “A good teacher must be funny, kind, and smart.  My teacher is all that!!” -Sasha
  • “Teach me stuff.” -Priya
  • “The ability to listen and adapt based on what the students need.” -Thomas

It made me smile when one student said, “I don’t really know how to answer this question, but I think my teacher is a good teacher, can I just describe her?” At MTMS we know that learning is a lifelong process, and we have just as much to learn from our students as they do from us. Thank you for lending your input, we appreciate each and every one of you! 💜

Written by Katie Ball, Gahanna Lab Lead

Interview with a Student: Willow

This week I talked to Willow, one of our french horn students here at the MTMS Gahanna campus. Willow is a high school senior, and she recently committed to the Peabody Institute of Music at Johns Hopkins University, where she will be pursuing a degree in french horn performance.

At MTMS, Willow takes lessons with Krissandra, one of our main winds and brass instructors. Willow told me that Krissandra has helped her more than any teacher has before, both with her music skills and the college application process. To audition for music school involves many steps, including pre-screening recordings and auditions. Krissandra helped Willow pick her repertoire and wrote letters of recommendation to the schools she applied to in addition to teaching her the music along the way.

Willow has been working hard on music composition projects in the computer lab since she tested out of MacGamut, the hardest program we offer here. When I asked her how she felt about her theory training here, she said that it was “nice to have a place to practice music theory skills every week.” As a high school senior, things are busy enough as is, and to sit and practice theory for just 20 minutes a week helps keep the information fresh and helps students prepare for music theory placement tests they will have to take once they get to college. MacGamut is used in most music departments across the US, so having experience with it already will make theory a little easier in college!

We are so proud of Willow and her accomplishments! Thank you for being such a dedicated student and sharing your experiences with us. We wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors. 💜

Willow’s next performance with MTMS will be May 11th at the Adult Recital. She and Krissandra will be performing Gallay’s Grand Duet No. 2 (Allegro Poco Agitato), you won’t want to miss it!

Musically,

Katie Ball, Lab Lead

Interview with a Student: Arianna

She is a pianist who has participated in many performance opportunities and ensemble classes in her time here. I asked her what some of her favorite memories are from over the years. “Definitely the great teachers I have had…

I recently sat down with Arianna, a student and lab attendant here at MTMS who began lessons in 2011 when she was just 7 years old. She is a pianist who has participated in many performance opportunities and ensemble classes in her time here. I asked her what some of her favorite memories are from over the years. “Definitely the great teachers I have had. They helped me with both the technique and artistry components of piano playing. I also had a lot of fun with my band, Gum!”

I remember Arianna telling me from the time she was 11 years old that she wanted to work here one day. It’s easy to see the love she has for music and learning. I asked her about the impact that this school has had on her. “I have learned a lot about music theory from the computer lab. Learning how chords work helps me understand harmonies when I’m playing in an ensemble. I have also learned over time in my lessons how to really play musically, not just how to play the notes.”

We hired Arianna as one of our computer lab attendants in December 2017. When I asked her about the opportunities MTMS has provided her with, she said that getting hired here was definitely the biggest. But she also told me that she really learned how to express herself here. Through all her recitals and performances over the years, we have watched Arianna grow as a musician. “Music has become a really big part of my life,” she said to me. “I think it really has shaped who I have become as a person.”

We want to hear from you too! Post a review on Google or our Facebook page to tell us what MTMS means to you.

Musically,
Katie Ball, Lab Lead

Promotion: Save up to $60 on music lessons

Mention promo code MTMS60W and save $10 per month on your standard private lesson tuition for up to six months.

  • New enrollments only.**
  • Cannot be combined with other offers.
  • Expires 5/31/2018.

**Returning students are considered new enrollments when they have been withdrawn for a minimum of three months. Current sampler students who enroll in private lessons are considered new enrollments.

For more information email lessons@michelletuesday.com, call or text 614-418-7110, or use the comment box below.

To take advantage of this great deal right now, choose a lesson sampler from our sidebar. All online sampler enrollments automatically include the 6-month tuition savings if you enroll in ongoing lessons by 5/31/2018. As an added bonus, enrolling in a sampler saves your $30 enrollment fee.

You can’t stop the music!