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-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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-Stathia Orwig  There are numerous reasons to be a part of a professional music teachers organization, but one of best is attending annual music conferences around the US. I just returned from the MTNA conference in San Antonio, Texas, and wow is all I can say! By the 4th day, my brain was about to explode! The benefits of going to conferences are the relationships you make with other teachers in the nation, learning from each other, hearing about the “new” teaching resources that are out there, and of course, the continuing education you receive. Why would music teachers need continuing education? Don’t we already know what we are doing? What extent of learning could justify the make-up lessons and the expense of a 5 day conference? Here are just a few topics to give you the idea of what filled my brain:
Amazing, right? Did I mention the fact that we got to hear Time for Three perform AND talk with us on making music a career? I was in the front row!! If you have not heard of them, check them out! I cannot say enough about these guys.  I left the conference with what Time for Three said still in my mind: “In teaching music and in performing, you can’t sell something that’s fake. You can only sell what’s real. You have to believe.” I think this applies to both myself, as well as my students. I have to be myself to be successful. My students have to believe that they have the talent and ability to learn music. Regardless of whether they are super serious musicians or making music for fun, learning music helps one to be successful in life.
The desire to be a better person and teacher is continually on my mind. I’m excited to bring back all of the knowledge I learned and apply it to my teaching. To my students- are you ready!!?? -Stathia Orwig
There is significant meaning behind the name Music So Simple; here’s a little insight to how I chose the name of my music studio. I was taught a very “old-school” approach to teaching, especially in my toddler and preschool classes. Over time I realized how much I loved writing my own curriculums for babies, toddlers, and especially preschoolers; it is my passion! I find it fascinating how little ones learn and how much they can learn. I also see that in today’s world, music making has become so complicated. Honestly, I feel like life is already complicated enough without adding music to the mix. Music instruction is supposed to be simple, easy, effortless, and wonderful. When I’m teaching, I like keeping the classroom simple, giving caretaker and toddler time to just kick back and have fun, or the opportunity for the preschooler to express himself. I found that through being a parent myself, my children were often overstimulated in a couple of their activities. The rooms were super loud, lots of color on the walls, and there were too many activities to choose from. In music class, they were content sitting on my lap, playing instruments and singing. So as we began eliminating other activities, music class became the only activity that stayed. A few years later, I discovered that other parents felt the same way about my music classes. I miss those “simple” days with my own kids! This in a nutshell is how the name “Music SO Simple” came to be (the “SO” is actually my initials, Stathia Orwig!) I want there to be love in teaching and for relationships to be the heart of music making. The logo is traditional, musical, and exactly what I wanted (and I designed it myself!). Opening a studio is something I have been wanting to do for a while, but I just had to wait for the right time in my life. If the time ever comes to expand, the name “Music So Simple” will be a constant reminder that music making needs to stay just that- simple. I will always keep the student as the focal point of everything and hope to spread the love of music to as many families as I can. |
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