music so simple
  • Home
    • student/parent login
    • Blog
  • REGISTER
  • Staff
    • Stathia Orwig
    • Robin Coolidge
    • Logan Herod
    • Chiara La Ferla
    • James Landrum
    • David Large
    • Meredith Manley
    • Emily McMullin
    • Lynne Nevill
    • Teodora Pounds
    • Employment
  • Lessons & Classes
    • Babies & Toddlers & Preschoolers
    • Private Lessons
    • Group Piano
    • Studio Kids: Ensemble Piano
    • SUMMER 2023
    • Calendar

We've got a lot to talk about

What to expect of us in 2019

1/29/2019

0 Comments

 
-Stathia Orwig
Picture
It’s the end of January 2019, and I’m taking a little time to reflect on 2018. 2018 was a great year for MSS. We got a new studio, built up some classes, and added teachers to our MSS team! To date, we have 135 active students. At this time last year, we had 80. That’s unbelievable!! Last year we had 4 teachers and now we have 8. Those numbers are looking great, but since I am always trying to improve and be better, I’m setting up my goals for 2019.

Our Goals for 2019:
  1. Fill up teacher schedules- we are pretty close to this goal!
  2. Building up our baby and preschool classes
  3. Creating awesome summer camp and class that students & parents will love- stay tuned for this coming soon!
  4. Starting master class series for our private students

Bring on 2019! We are ready to continue working hard!! Thanks to our MSS families and student for helping us be so successful! 
Picture
0 Comments

Getting to know Mr. James!

1/13/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture

Q: Tell us about how you first became involved in music.
A: I started piano lessons as a young kid, probably at around 6 or 7. I picked up guitar and singing for my school/church worship team when I was 10 and have consistently been involved in worship music even into my career.

Q: Is anyone else in your family a musician?
A: No, actually! They’re all engineers. My brother-in-law plays French horn in the Amarillo symphony and is a co-owner of Houghton Horns in Coppell, but my immediate family is not particularly musical.

Q: Tell us more about your music education/background.
A: I was self taught on the guitar for 15 years. I had my first professional lesson when I was 25 and it completely impacted my feelings on the instrument and my capabilities. I studied under Noel Johnston, who is currently a professor of jazz guitar at UNT. Since then, I have chased every scrap of knowledge I can from successful online educators to local jam sessions and open mics, eventually to paid gigs that I learned from on the job.

Q: Did you have any influential teachers/professors who guided you towards becoming a professional musician?
A: When I was in high school, the Spanish teacher at Richardson HS was Mr. Wing, and I believe he still teaches there. His room on Tuesdays at lunch time was always a jam session, so I would bring my guitar and play. I was terrible, but he was always patient to play with us and let music be a part of our day. I never took a class in Spanish, but he gave me a taste for how impactful music is in community (and how important a patient teacher is). I have always grown as a musician primarily because friends and mentors share music with me.

Q: What is your personal teaching philosophy?
A:  You can never do something fast that you can’t do slowly. Learning music develops daily over time, and practice should always focus on succeeding in small ways before moving on to bigger ones.

Q: What is your favorite part about being a teacher?
A:  Cranking up the distortion on my amp so the piano teachers know guitar is vastly superior.
More seriously, I love that guitar is a versatile instrument adaptable to any style. My students are all individuals and each one of them develops an interest in completely different music, often teaching me something new. I have worked with some of the same students long term and seen them use music in their own lives as they are exposed to a variety of influences. I cannot overstate how valuable it is to watch them learn to love music outside of class, with their own families and friends involved.

Q: What are some of the skills that you hope our students will learn from you?
A: I prefer to learn music by ear, so that just by listening to a song I can jump in and play it. Reading sheet music is valuable, but the guitar is so portable sometimes it’s more convenient just to understand the mechanics of a song by hearing it. This takes practice and hard work, not just “natural talent”, but I certainly hope they learn that it’s entirely worth the effort.
I also want them to find and pick songs they want to learn for themselves, and develop a personal musical style, and even perform it! The best concert I could ever go to is one my students perform.

Q: What styles of music do you enjoy playing the most?
A: I have performed in several folk and jazz groups on acoustic guitar in the last few years, but Top 40s, funk, and rock tend to be what I play professionally. If I had to pick one I would say funk. The band Ripe or Cory Wong will likely be blasting in my room when I’m not teaching.

Q: When you are not teaching, what do you like to do in your spare time?
A:  Honestly, more music! I love performing and rehearsing and practicing.
My son, Oliver, keeps me active and also encourages me to cook more to experiment on his weird taste buds.
My non-music hobbies include roasting/brewing coffee, playing tabletop games, and disc golf.

To see more about James, click here

0 Comments

Silly Rabbit: Lessons are not just for kids!

1/2/2019

0 Comments

 
-Meredith Manley

We talk a lot about how many benefits there are for kids to study an instrument: enhancing language and math skills, developing “grit”, and learning to appreciate the arts, just to name a few. But did you know that there are several benefits for adults too? Many adults think they are too old to learn an instrument, but this is absolutely not true. If you are motivated to learn and have the time to practice, then it really is possible! Here are my top 5 reasons why adults should take up an instrument:

  • You have a clearer understanding of what your child is learning. Several parents within our studio have started lessons because they want to keep up with their children in their studies and be able to help them with their practice. I think many parents are intimidated by all of the different musical concepts at first, but if your child can learn it, there is no reason why a parent can’t either! Parents really carry the torch in their child’s learning between lessons (teachers only see them once a week for an hour or less!), and being involved in practice can be a nice way to spend one on one time together.

  • Music relieves stress. Music can improve your mood and help you unwind during the week. Stepping away to your instrument removes you from the everyday stress of work, family, and responsibilities, and can leave you feeling refreshed afterwards. Whenever I begin to feel overwhelmed or anxious about my to-do list, I make time to sit down at the piano and play, even if it’s just for a few minutes. It definitely helps me clear my mind, allows me to release some of those emotions, and helps me feel a sense of control.

  • Music is a lifelong hobby. There is an infinite amount to learn about your instrument- millions of pieces, styles, techniques, improvising, and composing. You could spend your entire life playing your instrument and still not have learned everything that’s out there! I can’t describe how rewarding it is to see yourself improve and master a piece that may have been challenging a few weeks ago. Instead of scrolling through Facebook or watching TV, do something meaningful with your time!

  • Learning an instrument can delay the effects of aging. In addition to relieving stress, there are so many research studies about how actively participating in music can create new neural pathways, no matter how old you are. We know that the brain is a muscle, and like any other muscle in your body, if you don’t use it, you lose it! Learning an instrument will not only keep your memory sharp and challenge you cognitively, it can also keep your joints flexible and reduce the effects of arthritis.

  • Studying an instrument comes with a built-in community. Group classes for adults are a great place to start, providing you a social environment for learning. When I first moved to Chicago, I took group guitar classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music to meet new people, and I didn’t regret it! I ended up meeting people who would later become close friends. If group classes are not available, you still can make connections with other musicians that you meet in other social settings. It’s always nice to chat with people who have also studied an instrument, and it’s a great way to get past small talk when meeting someone new!

Whether you took lessons as a child and want to return, or you’ve never had a single lesson, we know how to get you started. Reach out to us if you have an interest in taking up lessons, and we will match you with a teacher that’s right for you and your musical goals. If you’ve always wanted to learn, you haven’t missed the boat on this rewarding hobby!
0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    40 Piece Challenge
    About Our Teachers
    About Us
    Contests
    DMTA
    Ear Explorations
    Early Childhood
    Festivals
    For Our Parents
    For Our Students
    Goals
    Honor Roll
    Music Bucks
    Music Library
    Policies
    Practice
    Recital
    Research
    Student Of The Week
    Summer
    Theory
    Theory Test
    Voice Lessons
    What To Expect At A Recital
    Written Work

    RSS Feed

MUSIC SO SIMPLE
469.778.2121
​
info@musicSOsimple.com
​
1144 Plano Road, suite 142, richardson, texas 75081

Music So Simple, Music Schools, Richardson, TX
  • Home
    • student/parent login
    • Blog
  • REGISTER
  • Staff
    • Stathia Orwig
    • Robin Coolidge
    • Logan Herod
    • Chiara La Ferla
    • James Landrum
    • David Large
    • Meredith Manley
    • Emily McMullin
    • Lynne Nevill
    • Teodora Pounds
    • Employment
  • Lessons & Classes
    • Babies & Toddlers & Preschoolers
    • Private Lessons
    • Group Piano
    • Studio Kids: Ensemble Piano
    • SUMMER 2023
    • Calendar