-Stathia Orwig
A few months ago, I was listening to a great business podcast while I was driving home from taking my oldest to school. The podcast was asking questions like "what does your business do to set you apart from your competition?" It got me thinking and I jotted down some notes about Music SO Simple. What sets MSS apart from other music schools? My number one thought is our teachers. I have always known that if you don't have the right teachers, you have nothing. I learned this very early on from a much wiser woman than me, Becky Corley. She always put her teachers first, she treated them right, and she was very picky about who she brought on to her team. To say that we have amazing teachers is an understatement. Even as we have faced this pandemic, we have been able to do multiple brainstorming sessions to help us with our online virtually lessons. My second thought is our student families! We have the most caring, wonderful families that we have the privilege of teaching. We get lots of feedback from them, and they help us grow by recommending us to other family and friends. So, in total, what sets us apart from other music school? It is our wonderful community and family-like atmosphere. And world-class teachers who care for each student. We truly are like one big family! Who is our competition and why should you chose us? There really are not any other music schools around our area, so our main competition is other private teachers who teach from their homes. Our teachers and class/instrument options we have are a huge reason we are successful. It's almost like one stop shopping- if you need to changes teachers for a reason, we are able to help. The same goes for adding or changing instruments- we have violin, guitar, voice, and preschool classes! Our students are able to enter into festivals and competitions city-wide, we have 2 yearly (awesome and fun) MSS recitals that most students participate in, and we have lots of fun practice incentives. For the first time ever, we sent our parents a questionnaire at the beginning of the semester. We are so fortunate to have had a great response to this! In the next part of this blog, I would like to share the results with you! So, stay tuned for the next part of this blog and to see how we did on our "report card".
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-Meredith Manley There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has changed every aspect in our daily lives, and we’ve all had to adapt quickly to this new way of life. From figuring out how to continue school and work remotely to being isolated from family and friends, this virus really has turned our world upside down. It’s easy to dwell on all the things that are going wrong, but what about the things that have been better? In the last few weeks, I’ve reflected on what positive changes are happening, even though they are sometimes hard to see. Like a lot of people, there have been many changes in my work life, and I am so grateful that I am one of the lucky few who are able to work from home. Before the pandemic, I had never taught virtual lessons before, although I know that many teachers across the world were already teaching this way. After teaching online for 2 weeks, I definitely miss being with my students in person, but at the same time, I am learning a lot about what my students really understand and my own teaching abilities. Because I am not there to point to certain things in their music or to demonstrate something, I have had to become a clear communicator: my feedback and instructions are now much more specific and descriptive than before. Online lessons are really showing me what my students do and do not understand: can they find certain keys on the piano? Do they really know their finger numbers? Do they understand what all the different notes are called? Do they understand measure numbers? If they don’t, they are learning these concepts much faster because they have to do so on their own! (my home studio setup- teaching assistant included!) My students are also becoming better communicators with me as well. If they have a question, they have to be able to explain different musical elements to me. My younger students who have relied on me to point to their music as they play are now responsible for keeping their eyes up and following the notes independently. I believe my students are also becoming better listeners and applying their ear training in a new way. If I hear something wrong in their piece, I will play it back to them correctly, so they now have to be more aurally engaged to figure out which notes need to be fixed. Another huge improvement I’ve noticed is that students are completing their weekly theory homework on a regular basis. I usually text students or parents sometime before the lesson to send me a picture of their completed work, so just having them check in on whether or not it has been done has been a huge success in the theory department! It’s also been very enlightening to get a glimpse of my students’ pianos at home (for those students who take studio lessons). It’s allowed me to learn about sticking keys, broken pedals, pianos that need tuning, and for those students who use keyboards, if it might be time for an upgrade in the near future! So to sum everything up- are online lessons effective? Yes. Would I rather teach in-person? Yes. But teaching virtually has allowed me and my students to grow in a way we wouldn’t have before, and I can see how virtual lessons could be useful in the future after this virus has subsided. Virtual lessons can be a great way to get in a make up lesson without anyone having to travel, or would allow for a regularly scheduled lesson to still happen if the student or teacher has a contagious illness. We are so grateful to our families who have stuck with us through this difficult time, and I know I speak for all the teachers when I say we can’t wait to have in-person lessons with you all again soon! Let’s keep making music!
-Stathia Orwig
I have been doing a lot of soul searching in this past week, as I'm sure a lot of you have as well. I think this is only natural when the world feels on edge and everything is very uncertain. As we begin to face our temporary "normal" in finding new schedules, routines, and embrace technology in a way that is so very different, I find myself grabbing on to the things I know and need. Why is learning an instrument so important? And why should we continue now as our lives have been disrupted? Well, for starters, here's what we know learning an instrument does:
So, knowing why learning an instrument is good for us, the next question would be why do you value music lessons? Well, the answer is going to be different for each family. For my family, it is important that we are well-rounded. I'm a music teacher and my husband is a software engineer. We are on two different planets! But, we want to raise our children to use BOTH parts of their brains! So, why does your family value lessons? Why not quit when it gets hard? Um...I get this question a lot!! Are we really teaching our kids to quit when things get hard? That's when the REAL learning begins! Try holding a plank- how long can you hold it? Do you drop out when it's hard? Nope- we push through so we can build muscles and get stronger. What does letting our kids quit help them? It doesn't! It teaches them that when something gets difficult, that you move on to something different. This is why we ask for a commitment to learning an instrument. Hopefully, I've given you some things to think about today besides the spread of the Coronavirus. This is much more fun to think about! lol. But in all seriousness, do your best to keep your routines, give your kids (AND YOU!) a creative outlet. Sit and enjoy making music together. If there's anything that we can learn from this situation, it's that we are getting lots of quality family time together. Put on a family concert! Ask your teacher if they can teach you a few lessons! Use a part of your brain that allows you to distract from our problems and makes you think on a different level. I'm praying everyone stays safe and healthy!! I hope to see you all soon!! -Stathia Orwig
It's that time of the year when I start getting a bit sentimental. This past Sunday, January 26th, was the 4 year (!!) "anniversary" of our "Doing Business As" or DBA. I remember that day so well; only my kids and husband knew. I went down to the Dallas county building with my secret plan, making sure I didn't run into my dad (since he had restaurants in the county buildings). I think I was shaking with nervousness and excitement. It didn't take long since I had done my homework thinking about names and getting my paperwork together. Why Music SO Simple? Well, I am pretty sure that 4 years ago I was ready to get back to making music lessons simple again and I caught myself saying that a lot. Then, it dawned on my that "S" and "O" were my initials. I thought about "Music SO Simple" for about a week or so until I couldn't take it anymore- I KNEW it was perfect! Next came setting up a google domain and website. I wanted something I could edit myself (insert total type A personality here). But, what I had learned is that I wanted to be able to edit and change anything anytime that I wanted. I'm not always great at waiting on others. I had all of that set up within two weeks. Once you start thinking of what you want and you begin getting excited, it's really hard to put the brakes on and I was not going to back down. Needless to say, this dream of Music SO Simple was the birth of our new music school in Richardson, Texas. I honestly couldn't call it a "music school" until this past summer. For some reason, it always felt too formal. However, I think with over 170 students and 10 teachers, it's officially a school. :) I had no idea what the plan was for me (or us). Anyways, all of this to say that every time I start letting things get too complicated, I always come back to the "simple". It's is my mantra. When we keep things simple, we allow our imagination to flow. We keep it pure, uncomplicated, and natural. Music SO Simple is truly the perfect name. -Meredith Manley This week I am writing about what really goes into the cost of private lessons. Some people are a bit surprised when they learn how much private lessons can cost, but there are a lot of things that must be considered when determining a rate. First off, we look at what other teachers are charging in the same area; the price for lessons varies all across the metroplex. Rates are usually higher in affluent neighborhoods and if there is a lack of teachers in the area. If several teachers are offering the same services in one place, rates may be a bit lower to give a competitive edge. Besides the expertise and guidance a teacher offers in the actual lesson, there is a lot of prep work that occurs before, especially when it comes to choosing repertoire. On average, I’d say it takes me anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to find two or three pieces for a student and and then play through them to see if it is a good fit. Now, multiply that time by how many students you teach (usually around 20-25 students). That’s a lot of time spent just finding pieces! Planning recitals and attending festivals that our students participate in is also extra time that is usually unpaid. We have to tack on any administrative work that is required to keep the studio running (checking in with our families, purchasing and picking up new music and materials, billing, and marketing). Keeping up with social media accounts and blogs also takes time, but again, we think it’s important to send our families the latest research, events, and insight and to build a sense of community within the studio.
Another factor that increases a lesson rate is if the teacher travels to your home for the lesson. Obviously, this is extremely convenient for families as it is one less activity to drive to. Most traveling teachers expect their travel time to be incorporated into their rate since that time is taken out of their teaching schedule. If you are unable to take lessons at the teacher’s home/studio space or prefer to have lessons at your home, expect to pay a bit more. Lastly, I have to mention every self-employed person’s favorite topic: taxes. Outside of paying ourselves, we also have to budget for quarterly payments. Self-employment can be a beautiful thing, but let’s face it, those taxes can take a real hit financially. So, why be a teacher when there is all of this extra unpaid work outside of lesson time? This may sound cliche, but watching a student progress, achieve new goals, and grow as a person through music is priceless. Our goal is to provide something wonderful for the community, but also to be able to make a living, so please remember everything that happens outside of lesson time that we must account for in our rates. We feel that our prices reflect the high quality of our teaching, but we still remain accessible to families in our area. We are so excited to see so many bright and eager young beginners. We know that you must have many questions as to what this year will bring. This is to provide you with some information about what to expect and maybe a few words of wisdom...
How much practice is required? This depends on how well your child practices, but as a general rule, try to aim for 5 days a week. If you can help your child practice, that’s ideal.. It is especially helpful to practice with them the first couple of days after they get their assignment; after that, they can probably practice on their own, perhaps within earshot. At first your child will probably be practicing 5-10 minutes a day. I always say: "Practice each piece 3 times in a row. Then go on to the next piece." The pieces are short. Often we will encourage kids to count or chant rhythm on "ta" while they play or before singing, which helps with rhythmic accuracy. For piano, singing the words while playing may help some students. We ask that our students reread their assignments when they practice, and to mark their practice log since it is the only visible thing the teacher has to go on. (You will need to help them do this at first.) We give small rewards based on good practice habits and progress. Try to include practice with their daily routine: perhaps find a similar time each day. Treat it like "homework" (in a sense that it is necessary and not an option), only it's more fun! We have two recitals in December and May, and your teacher will be in touch with you about these. There will be much preparation ahead of time during lessons, and it is a great opportunity for students to showcase their hard work and gain self-esteem. Can lessons be made up? Music SO Simple has a 24-hour cancellation policy. Certainly, if your teacher has to cancel, the lesson will be made up. If you know your child is going to be absent, please let us know as soon as possible, and we will try our best to reschedule at a mutually convenient time. We appreciate close communication with our parents, as it will only make your child more successful. Feel free to call, email, or text anytime. You will receive a Music SO Simple weekly newsletter that will feature our “Students of the Week”, and a monthly newsletter with upcoming events via email. .Also you should "like" us on Facebook to see student achievements and news. Can/should you sit in on lessons? This is up to you and your teacher. Parents are welcome to sit in on private lessons at any time, and it may be helpful to attend so that you are able to help your child practice correctly at home. How long does it take to know if private lessons are the right thing for my child? We know that if you say "we're just going to TRY this to see if you like it", there will quickly come a time when your child says "I DON'T WANT TO PRACTICE! I WANT TO QUIT!". We recommend that either your child take lessons through 6th grade if he/she started early,, or for 3 years, -something long term without an easy out. We think that piano is a great instrument to begin on (and continue on), but after 3 years, they will have enough general knowledge of music that they will be equipped to pursue any other instrument they wish! What happens if they lose interest? Don't panic! Discuss the situation with your child and talk to your teacher to see what might can be done to rekindle their enthusiasm. Give them increased encouragement and support. Frustration typically sets in when they are not practicing enough, and that happens to everyone from time to time. Remind yourself that the habits of self-discipline that are learned in music study carry over into other areas of life. Your child is developing the confidence to master difficult tasks and to pursue challenging goals! Hopefully, you have found this information useful. If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email us. If you would like to come in and talk in person, that would be fine! Learning an instrument is such a lifelong gift. Thank you for making it a priority! It's gonna be a great year! Sincerely, Stathia & Meredith Paige Kelley was a piano student of mine for 11 years, and she wrote this essay as part of her application to Vanderbilt University. She is now a senior in college and still plays piano for enjoyment. She has such a special place in my heart as my first piano student to graduate from high school! It's wonderful to know that the teacher-student relationship os two-fold! "Sitting at the piano, I squint at the sheet music in front of me. Frustrated, I continue to stumble through the next measure of the piece. I cringe. Something about the previous chord was not right. I slump, filled with chagrin. My piano teacher’s voice rings in my ear, “Not perfect yet. Try again.” Once again, I remind myself of the five flats in the key signature of “Clair de Lune” - B,E,A,D, and G. The thought of mastering this piece makes me want to bang my head against the white ivory keys looming in front of me, but I know that my teacher, Ms. Stathia, will lead me through the intimidating jumble of music in my Classics book. She is my guiding light - in many ways other than music instruction. Lessons learned from her, through the key of D-flat, are lifelong and everlasting. B – Blunt. Occasionally, an overwhelming amount of schoolwork hinders me from coming to a lesson well prepared. Although I may try to convince my teacher that I managed to practice, she can tell when I haven’t met my expectations. She is not afraid to let me know when my performance is sub-par. However, my teacher is also able to commend me when my discipline has paid off to transform a sheet of music into a piece of art. Her honesty has taught me to never expect any more – or less – than my dedication deserves. E – Encouraging. Performing in recitals has always given me the worst case of nerves. Despite my unfailing commitment and countless hours of practice, trembling hands can reduce my flawless production into something lackluster. At every recital, she sits besides the stage to mentally prepare me before I walk into the spotlight. Disregarding the times I have frozen in the middle of a piece and skipped to the final measures during a performance, she has never relinquished the hope that I have the ability to astound the audience with my artistic capabilities. Whenever I doubt myself, I can turn to her consolation and fortitude. A – Avid. My teacher’s passion for the piano proliferates every minute that I spend with her. It’s evident that she teaches children the beauty of music because she treasures the impact that it can make. Without hesitation, she will lower the tuition fee for a student from a struggling family. She will meet for a lesson at 7:00 on a Saturday morning or 11:00 on a Wednesday night. Regardless of the circumstance, she continuously stretches herself for the absolute wellbeing of those whom she teaches, influencing me to do the same. D – Delightful. Although my study of piano requires focus, the first ten minutes of my lessons are generally filled with light conversation. I look forward to sharing my week’s highs and lows with my teacher, as she proves to be a source of advice. Unlike the stereotypical piano instructor, she is understanding and easygoing, serving as an outlet for my venting. Because of her charming disposition, she makes every moment we share enjoyable as well as constructive. G – Greek. Both my teacher’s mother and father were born and raised in Greece, and her roots are evident even in her name – Efstathia Dimoulakis. Throughout the eleven years that she has served as my mentor and instructor, I have enjoyed learning about the various cultural characteristics of Mediterranean tradition. Not only have I been exposed to the customs of her country, but I’ve also experienced first-hand the characteristics of the typical Greek. She is vivacious and lives every moment as if it may be her last. She is faithful and hospitable, treating me as if I were not her student, but instead a member of her family. My time with my instructor has been a learning experience for the both of us. As heart rendering as it is to conclude my study of the piano, I will continue to carry the lessons that she has taught me as I embark on my journey of adulthood. As I face future disappointments, I will be reminded of my mastery of the five flats in “Clair de Lune” and my piano teacher, who lead me every step of the way, so that I can persevere and live the life I dream. B, E, A, D, and G."
-Meredith Manley, Director of Music So Simple This week’s blog is all about how Music So Simple was born. Before we get into the details of how it formed, let’s back up a bit to see how Stathia and I began on this adventure. We initially met working together at a music school right after I moved back to Dallas; she had been there for about 15 years when I was hired. Before I moved, I previously owned a voice/piano studio as well as a music therapy practice in Chicago. I knew that I wanted to work at the school for a year or two and then open my own studio again when the time was right, as there are many perks to being self-employed. Stathia and I initially hit it off as we discovered that we had very similar teaching philosophies. We are both traditional teachers, love teaching baby/toddler/preschool music classes, and value building strong relationships with our students. She was a great mentor when it came to finding piano repertoire, introducing me to the Dallas Music Teachers Association (DMTA), and giving advice whenever I needed it. It’s safe to say that Stathia really helped me get on my feet and was a great support system for me there (not to mention, a super fun co-worker!) As we continued to build lesson plans for our classes, we discovered that we not only worked well together, but that we were building a great friendship. Around the time Stathia left the school in March, I really started thinking about what I wanted to do after the semester ended as I felt ready to go out on my own. After I left the school in May, I decided to call her to see how things were going. I knew that she was preparing to open a studio over the summer in Richardson, which was a great location for me as well, so I presented the idea of having a joint studio. The idea of being partners was ideal because we would split the administrative tasks, and it would prevent burnout/loneliness as a sole business owner (these are things I did NOT like previously in Chicago!) Plus, we share the same work ethic and studio mission. She agreed, and the rest is history; Music So Simple officially launched in June of 2016. We are so excited for our future plans, and we appreciate the support thus far from our students and families!
-Meredith Manley One of the most common questions that we are asked is, “Can we try a few lessons and see how it goes?”. This question might seem perfectly reasonable for someone looking into a new hobby, but to a music teacher, it tells us that perhaps these students (and parents) are not mentally prepared to learn an instrument. Do you know why your child wants to take lessons or why you want them to take lessons? Is it because you know music is good for them to learn? Or is it because their friends are doing it? Or have they expressed an interest on their own? Either way, make sure you are honest with yourself. Knowing that your child will benefit greatly from music lessons will help keep you strong when your child begins to feel discouraged. Learning an instrument is a true lifelong skill; there is always something to improve, and always more challenging pieces to tackle. One must be aware that hard work is ahead, and remember that learning it proficiently takes time. I’m fairly certain that Rachmaninoff didn’t master the piano in a year or two. Even as a teacher myself, I am constantly trying to improve my skills, be more sensitive to dynamics, put more expression into my work, become a better sight-reader, etc. With that said, nothing gives me more pride than when my efforts come to fruition and I finally master a new skill. This brings me to my next point; learning an instrument builds character. If we let our children quit an instrument after a few months, what values are we teaching them? Is is really okay to give up if we aren’t good at something right away or because it gets tough? Should we only do things we are naturally good at? Think about this idea as an adult; should we switch jobs if we aren’t at the top right away? Or should we work hard to be better at what we do? As I observe children of this day and age jumping around to different activities and looking for instant gratification, I can’t help but wonder how they will be as adults. No one ever said that parenting is easy, and this is a perfect example of how being the “parent” versus being a friend is even more important. Our children depend on you for guidance, and if you agree that music lessons are important for the development of your child, then help them stick with it.
My advice to students (and parents!) who are considering starting an instrument is be prepared to work hard, be challenged, and feeling frustrated at times is a given. Personally, I wouldn’t have the work ethic I have today if it wasn’t in part for learning an instrument. It has taught me persistence, patience, resilience, and self-discipline. These are all necessary traits for a successful student and adult, and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to to build these traits from learning an instrument. -Stathia Orwig The mission statement of Music So Simple was an easy one to write! I knew that I wanted to keep it simple when it came to teaching music and having my own music studio. I also wanted to bring quality, traditional lessons and classes to the Richardson area. The mission statement reads: “Music So Simple is a music studio in Richardson whose mission is to promote a love of music through traditional instruction. We make it easy to learn music with our patient and compassionate teachers. Music So Simple is committed to quality music education integrating proper technique, artistry, and musicianship.” Why promote music? For me, inspiring and teaching music to babies, children, teens, and adults comes so easily; it should hardly be called “work”! Of course music enriches all aspects of life, and one of the best parts about teaching is seeing first hand how it opens up a child. There is so much great research on music and the brain, so there’s no secret that it’s beneficial. It’s hard to find a reason NOT to start lessons if it’s fun, educational, and good for your brain! Why traditional instruction? Music So Simple promotes a well-rounded music program, including learning how to read music, developing proper technique, incorporating music theory into the lessons, playing with confidence and enjoyment, and learning how to perform. Traditional instruction allows us to touch upon all of those aspects in the easiest way for both students and teachers. Why is the teacher important? Who would you want your child spending time with alone every single week for (hopefully) many years? We want you to feel comfortable knowing that we are well-educated, compassionate, and patient with your child during lessons. We know you have many options when it comes to choosing your child’s educator, and we don’t take that lightly! Quality? Aren’t all music teachers the same? I wish they were! We all come from different backgrounds and educations. Just because one teacher is an amazing performer does not mean he/she is a great teacher! Teachers obviously need to know how to teach, how to be patient, and of course, enjoy teaching. This is not always easy to find! Why incorporate technique, artistry, and musicianship?
There are teachers who incorporate some of these skills better than others, and some that don’t at all! We feel that all three of these skills are essential to learning any instrument, and are just as important as the notes on the page. Technique and artistry should be intertwined with the basics in order to establish a well-rounded musician. So, there you go! Our mission in a nutshell! If you are looking for music promotion through traditional instruction AND caring qualified teachers who incorporate technique and artistry, look no further! :) |
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