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763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com LESSONS FROM LITTLE LEAGUE HOW I OVERCAME THE FEAR FACTOR THE MONTHLY MUSICIAN JUNE 2023
One day, I had to bat against the most fearsome pitcher in the league. He could throw incredibly fast, and I got petrified that he’d hit me. As I waited there in terror, the ball drilled me in the forearm. Ouch! I held back my tears in pain as I trotted toward first base. I remember looking at my mom and the adults in the stand, feeling bad for the poor little boy who got hit by the ball. But something incredible also happened. I wasn’t worried about being hit by the ball for the rest of the season. It had already happened. I knew what it felt like, and I’d moved on. Being hit by that ball became a pivotal moment in my life. I realized I could only improve by overcoming my fear — and what had terrified me so much wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t fun, certainly, but I was fine. I see the same type of fear I had of the ball in young musicians all the time. They regularly avoid playing for their parents and peers and are terrified of getting in front of an audience. Why? Because the idea of making a mistake scares them, and they let it hold them back from becoming their true musical selves. No one wants to get hit by a baseball when they’re up to bat — it hurts! But it’s also a part of the game. If you want to play, you have to dust yourself off and move on. It’s the same for performers on stage. None of them want to make a mistake in front of an audience; it’s emotionally painful. But a musician whose primary goal is to avoid an error will be too afraid to perform and never reach their full potential. Anyone who plays music will mess up; I’ve done it more times than I can count. But as much as we hate when it happens, the world doesn’t end. Making mistakes as a musician isn’t just inevitable; it’s necessary. We must learn how to make errors and keep going. It gets a little easier every time — but first, we must step up to the plate and face what scares us.
Youth sports can teach kids teamwork, perseverance, and how to lose gracefully. But one of the most incredible things my Little League career taught me was about overcoming fear. Baseball helped me realize at a young age that the big, bad monster we’re so afraid of usually isn’t so scary, after all. I began playing baseball around 4 or 5 and felt a passion for the sport. As I got older and better, I became increasingly interested in pitching. In those days, if you wanted to learn something, you couldn’t look it up on your phone. So, I headed to the library, where I found a book by a player named Rollie Fingers. He was before my time but quite a character with a prominent handlebar mustache. “The Rollie Fingers Baseball Guide” outlined how to throw a great curveball, and I practiced until I got it right. It turned me into one of the most dominant pitchers in my league. Not many other kids my age knew how to throw a curveball. I wasn’t the biggest or the strongest, but I made a lot of other guys look silly. Once, I struck out 15 of 18 batters in a single game. But there remained a crucial problem with my game: When it got to be my turn to bat, I felt terrified of being hit by the ball. My knees would knock, and I’d shy away from the plate. I didn’t have the confidence I needed to be an effective hitter.
–Eric Nehring
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RING THE BELL — SCHOOL’S OUT! How to Keep Children Engaged Over Summer Break
Your kids are probably looking forward to sleeping in, staying up past their bedtime, and having no homework or tests now that school’s out for summer. This seasonal break is an excellent time for your children to decompress and rest until the next school year, but it’s also imperative that they don’t forget everything they learned during the school year!
You can also attend educational activities at the zoo or go online and print out various worksheets for your children to complete. TAKE A NATURE WALK. You can incorporate Mother Nature into your activities by taking nature walks. Not only can your children release their energy by running, walking, or hiking a trail, but they can also learn more about their environment. You
According to the U.S. Department of Education, during the summer, many students lose some of their academic skills because they aren’t using them. After all, what kid wants to study when they can play outside? But when kids don’t engage in the skills they learned at school, they are more likely to struggle once they go back. So, how can you make learning over the summer fun and educational?
and your child can identify trees and flowers during your walk and figure out why insects, birds, or bees gravitate toward particular plants. Dozens of rocks and gems are also lying on the Earth’s surface, and your children can also attempt to identify these pieces and learn how rocks break down to create sand or dirt.
DO DIY EXPERIMENTS. Head to your local crafts store or supermarket or go online to find premade science project kits that are fun for the whole family! These kits come with everything you need to conduct all kinds of experiments, like making crystals or observing cells and germs under a microscope. For children who love hands-on activities, these kits are a great option!
TRAVEL TO THE ZOO. Many children love seeing various animals in their habitats, interacting with zookeepers, and running around the playground. You can make your family’s trip to the zoo educational by asking your children questions about what kind of animal you’re looking at (carnivore, omnivore, or herbivore), the climates they live in, and where in the world they come from. MUSIC IN THE PARK RETURNS ON JULY 30 JOIN OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION! Minnesota School of Music is excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary this year. MnSOM began in July 2013 with Mr. Nehring teaching guitar lessons to children and dreaming of something bigger. We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved and all the students we’ve taught over the last decade. We think there’s no better way to mark this milestone than with a student recital exhibiting our students’ continuous hard work. Music in the Park will return on July 30 to celebrate MnSOM’s history and what all the kids enrolled in the school have accomplished. We’ll gather outdoors at the picnic pavilion at Tom Ryan Park from 12–4 p.m. for activities, good company, and musical performances from students and faculty. We also have some other surprises in the works and expect it to be a day of quintessential summer fun.
Music in the Park is our way of celebrating our musicians and all their hard work. We really enjoy providing a fun way for our community to gather and have a great time in the summer. Bring your lawn chairs, sunscreen, and a picnic lunch — then be ready for a day filled with fun. WHEN: Sunday, July 30, 12–4 p.m. WHERE: Tom Ryan Park, 10802 Town Square Dr. NE, Blaine, MN 55449 WHO: All MnSOM students and parents
Find more details at Facebook.com/mnschoolofmusic. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Music lessons are highly individual, but they’re also often a family affair. We’ve taught many siblings over the years, and parents have frequently asked about classes for their youngest children. So, Minnesota School of Music is excited to relaunch Music FunTime. This program is open to children aged 3–4 and will teach them the love of music from an early age. WHAT IS MUSIC FUNTIME? Preschoolers can enroll in this nationally recognized comprehensive music program. Classes are held once a week for 30 minutes in a small group setting. This program is a great, affordable option for families enrolling multiple children in lessons at MnSOM. The half-hour lessons will fly by for the little ones with fun crafts and music-based activities. WHAT WILL MY KIDS LEARN? Experts developed the Music FunTime curriculum with kids’ unique learning abilities in mind. Just as they learn colors, letters, numbers, and shapes, your kids can also learn about musical notes and symbols. Trained instructors will teach these concepts in a fun environment with colorful tools, crafts, and instruments. They’ll get a peek behind the curtain of what their siblings are doing during their classes, and this class will set them up well to move on to individual lessons as they get older. BUT ARE THERE BENEFITS TO TAKING MUSIC LESSONS THIS YOUNG? Here at MnSOM, we talk a lot about the lifelong benefits of learning to play an instrument. Music FunTime is a great way to bring those benefits to more of your family members. In addition to being a fun social activity for kids, these classes are a great precursor to individual music lessons, which we offer to children who are ages 5 and up. Studies have shown that learning music at a young age is possible and helps kids develop confidence. Even better, it primes them to grasp math and science concepts as they get older as well. Music FunTime Engages Our Youngest Learners EVERYONE CAN PLAY
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IS YOUR TEACHER SOLD OUT?
Mr. Barrett: SOLD OUT Mrs. Bunish: SOLD OUT Mrs. Dahlstrom: SOLD OUT Ms. Ferbuyt: SOLD OUT Ms. Hsu: SOLD OUT Mrs. Lehner: SOLD OUT
Mr. Martin: SOLD OUT Mr. Nistler: SOLD OUT Mr. Popken: SOLD OUT Ms. Rotvold: SOLD OUT
We hope to see your youngest children join us! To learn more, inquire during your child’s next lesson or visit MusicFunTime.org.
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3533 88th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55014 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How Fear of Failure Held Mr. Nehring Back
Don’t Let Your Child Experience Learning Loss!
Join Us for Music in the Park!
Music FunTime Returns for Preschoolers
The Best Sports for Your Shy Child
NON-COMPETITIVE KIDS CAN STILL BE SPORTY! LESS INTIMIDATING AND JUST AS REWARDING
While you may have enjoyed competitive sports as a child, that doesn’t necessarily mean your child will feel the same. Not every personality matches well with team sports and high-pressure competitive matches. Whether your child is shy or less competitive, there are still sports they can participate in and thoroughly enjoy! GYMNASTICS Yes, gymnastics can be competitive ( think Olympic intensity ), but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Your kids can start gymnastics without having to compete. Beginning gymnastics often focuses on basic movements and stretches to gain flexibility. If your child develops a passion for the sport, they can choose to go competitive later at their own speed!
their focus and concentration while practicing self-defense skills. Some other martial arts styles your child might enjoy include kung fu, jiujitsu, capoeira, judo, and aikido. SWIMMING For kids who love diving into the water, swimming should be a sport to try. Like the rest of the listed individualized sports, the choice of joining competitions or a team is entirely up to your child. As they progress in their swimming journey, they may decide to start participating in competitive swim meets at the local YWCA/YMCA. HORSEBACK RIDING This equestrian sport is perfect if your kid loves animals! While it may be more pricy, many equestrian centers offer discounts or even free lessons in exchange for stable work. Your child may thoroughly enjoy caring for the horses when working in the stables, and in return, they can also take horseback riding lessons.
ROCK CLIMBING Climbing, which debuted as a sport in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, can be done indoors or outdoors. Many rock climbing studios offer lessons for kids and ensure sufficient safety regulations. Rock climbing can lead to a lifelong passion for the sport and opportunities to compete in various events if desired later.
MARTIAL ARTS Martial arts, such as karate and
taekwondo, help kids improve their self- confidence and achieve personal goals. Martial arts can help your children develop
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