When you’re in the lab this week, stop by and enter our contest. We haven’t done this before, and we’d like everyone to try it. A lab attendant will help you input your entry if you need anything.

Mark your calendars, because August 28 and 29 we will have an outdoor recital! It’s probably going to be hot, but it’ll be great to see everyone. I can’t tell you how excited I am for this. If we haven’t met you yet, this is a great opportunity. If we have, we’re going to see each other again! Get ready, because we’re going to do this and it’s going to be great.

Young students: We have a few options for students to choose from — new coloring pages for the month that all have a music theme or try out songwriting skills in a new website designed specifically for interested younger kids. As always the lab attendants are available to help or elaborate on the assignments.

Composition Station: Jazz theme for June! Listen to a few jazz songs and try writing one yourself. We have a couple techniques to make the music for ‘jazzy’ and as always lab attendants are happy to assist! There are even a few advanced challenges for students who are more advanced in music theory.

Music History: June is Jazz for history, too. We wanted to tie this together with the composition station so our students could learn more and appreciate the music they’re also trying to write. Listen to popular Jazz music through the ages and read about some famous musicians. If it’s interesting to students they can feel free to try writing Jazz in the composition station! As always lab attendants are will be available and excited for any questions or new tasks.

Have a wonderful Memorial day and we hope the rest of your week is musical!

Next weekend is Memorial Day! Private students at Michelle Tuesday Music School have the option to make up their lessons that are regularly scheduled on Saturday, May 29 and Monday, May 31. Please schedule that with us when you are able.

We will miss seeing you. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, and don’t stop the music.

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve my mother singing the lullabies (in both German and English) that she now sings to my niece. I took both flute and clarinet lessons in elementary school before switching to chorus and amateurvoice lessons and about a year of guitar in junior high and high school.

Why am I telling you all this? Because now, as an adult, I believe two things. One: the scattered music lessons I had over the years helped me both in school and socially. Two: I wish I had stuck with one of the types of lessons.

According to a study by the American Psychological Association, if a child takes six years of music lessons their IQ will raise an average of 7.5 points. College students with those six years had a predicted two point raise over their peers. That’s pretty good. And that’s only academics.

Socially, by putting your children in music lessons; you’re teaching patience, dedication, teamwork, and responsibility. In addition, it can teach time management. All of these skills can help your child socially.

So does music help your child educationally and socially? The APA says yes. Schools seem to think they should pull music programs first. Personally I play instrumental music in my classroom when my students are doing independent work (over their protests). In the long run, it depends on whether or not you think music is beneficial to your child.

Information from APA came from https://www.apa.org/print-this