We believe all people are inherently musical. We are musical beings; music is part of our make-up as individuals and integral to our communities. Music helps us to connect with ourselves, others, and the natural world. The study of music helps students gain confidence, express emotion, improve communication skills, develop the ability to focus, identify patterns, and integrate knowledge from a variety of fields. Music is one of the most valuable activities a person can do!
Learning music is not easy, but it can be fun, and it can make you feel good.
In fact, it MUST.
Helping our students feel GOOD is our primary purpose.
We want our students to:
FEEL CONFIDENT. We want my students to feel they are successfully grasping new skills and know exactly what they need to do at home to reinforce what they did in lesson.
PLAY MUSIC THEY LIKE. At the beginning level, songs are engaging. Starting at the intermediate level, students begin to have more say in what pieces and genres of music they learn.
LEARN AT THEIR OWN SPEED. Each student is different. Some need more time and patience; some don’t need a lot of reinforcement of concepts; some need gentle nudging to push themselves to attempt a greater (but doable) challenge. We provide students individualized instruction, whether in a group or privately.
FEEL ACCOMPLISHED. We help students set goals that are right for them and work hard to meet them. We help students see all their successes building up and celebrate milestones.
GROW AS MUSICIANS AND PEOPLE. Learning music is not a single skill that only involves some hand-eye coordination. It also involves developing learning strategies, public performance & speaking skills, empathy, cultural awareness, and an openness to trying new things – all things that impact life far beyond the music studio.
EXPRESS THEMSELVES MUSICALLY. We want students to be able to find their own voice and bring their own creativity to the world, whether presenting uncommon music for performance, a unique interpretation of a standard piece, or an original work.
EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY. Through Group Classes, Workshops, End-of-Year Recitals, and other opportunities, we want students to know they share goals and interests with other students in the studio. Our students inspire and encourage one another and have fun together.
PURSUE EXCELLENCE, NOT PERFECTION. Having gone down this road myself, we know that perfectionism is a dangerous beast that can devour gifted and driven people. The emotional and mental well-being of our students is of paramount importance. We teach my students to be patient with themselves and with the learning process. We discuss the difference between working hard and becoming obsessed, about when it’s time to buckle down and when it’s time to take a break.
The Music Hub has five spokes:
Curiosity
Learning begins with curiosity, the desire to know more. At The Music Hub, we encourage musical exploration by giving students opportunities to listen to new-to-them music of a variety of genres as well as the tools they need to decipher music and eventually teach themselves the music they love.
Creativity
Students of The Music Hub are given the opportunity to unleash their creativity. Through mastering concepts and careful practice, students use their skills to put their own spin on music, learn any kind of music they enjoy, and even write their own music!
Concepts
At The Music Hub, we don’t just teach how to play songs. We teach music. This means we include music theory and notation into our lessons so that students are equipped to learn a wide variety of music without having to depend on someone else interpreting or demonstrating it for them.
Careful Practice
To successfully learn music, it is important to reinforce proper technique and muscle patterns. Practice creates a neural pathway between the brain and the muscles, and we want to make sure that the signals are smooth, fast, and unhindered. Toward this end, lessons are sequential and move in small, digestible steps. We also work with students to establish sustainable practice routines.
Community
The Music Hub is a community of learners who support one another in their musical growth. We provide opportunities to collaborate with other students, celebrate wins, and share creative projects!