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THE MONTHLY MUSICIAN
763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
JULY 2024
PARENTS’ ROLE IN REKINDLING KIDS’ PASSION FOR MUSIC SOUNDS OF RESILIENCE
One of the joys of raising children is opening the door to new opportunities. We all love seeing the excitement in our kids’ eyes when they first start music lessons. For many, that spark lasts for months. Then, something shifts. Parents notice the glimmer in their child’s eyes has waned. Their young student isn’t practicing as much. Concluding that their child’s passion for music has died, they often cancel further lessons, saying, “My child isn’t passionate about music anymore.” This rationale reflects a misunderstanding on the part of these well-meaning parents of what passion really is. The word comes from a Latin root meaning to suffer or endure . It gauges a person’s willingness to endure a challenge because they believe deeply in what they are doing. As children, and even as adults, few of us can sustain that kind of effort on our own. We need people to breathe life into us during moments of discouragement. Otherwise, we are just going to flame out. I know, because that almost happened to me at one of the most critical times of my life. In the first few months after I founded MnSOM a decade ago, we had to stretch every penny just to survive and pay the rent. When I finally eked out a little surplus one day, I bought myself a desk and a phone. I was so proud to be a business owner, sitting at my new desk. I was passionate about serving the community!
that moment, when I thought I’d lost my passion for pursuing my dream, Grandma reminded me of the reasons I wanted to start a music school in the first place. Parents play a similar role with their young music students. They are often as excited as their kids when they first enroll. They attend all their child’s lessons and performances. Then, life gets in the way. Perhaps they no longer stay to listen to the child’s lessons. At home, they’re too busy to pay attention to their student’s practice. Soon, the child starts to lose interest. We often see a child’s level of interest in music lessons mirror the parent’s level of interest. This is a heavy load for parents. I understand! I have five kids, and even though I know better, I do this myself. If a child seems to be losing interest in an activity, we pin it all on them and say, “Oh, they must not like this any longer.” At this point, we as parents have to ask ourselves, “Have I been as present as I was before?” Passion doesn’t mean that suddenly, every day of their life, a child is going to wake up and want to practice music. The parent’s job is to help stoke that fire within. After some reflection, you may realize that the moment your child’s interest wanes is exactly the moment when you need to step in, show interest, and ask, “Remember why you started this? I believe in you. Let’s see this through!” This may be exactly the moment you need to breathe life into them — because in reality, their best work is on the other side of this challenge.
home. Sadly, I had to tell her, “I can’t. I just spent $1,100 on a desk and a phone.” My wife had to turn to her mom for help buying diapers, and I plunged into utter despair. I had felt so much passion about founding a music school! Then, life events intervened, and I didn’t even have enough money to buy diapers. I was ready to quit. As readers of this newsletter know, my grandma has been an ongoing presence and mentor in my life, and I called her to talk. “When my six-month lease is up, I’m done,” I told her. And at that critical moment, she encouraged me. It wasn’t that Grandma had any answers. But she was there for me, and that was all I needed. At
This is going to be great, I thought. I couldn’t wait for the phone to ring.
The phone finally did ring, but it wasn’t a new customer. It was my wife, wanting to know if I could buy diapers on the way
–Eric Nehring
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For many parents, the end of the school year begins a long, challenging stretch of unstructured time when children need something to do. Social media personalities are rushing to fill the gap by suggesting activities to inspire parents and kids alike to make the most of their time off. ADVENTURE AWAITS Craft a Bucket List of Fun Activities for Your Kids
a Polaroid to camping on the beach, and included beautiful photos to illustrate each suggestion. Among her more creative suggestions are making Nutella pizza, cliff jumping, and a trampoline sleepover. To get your children involved, one resourceful mom, Amy Pettiford, shows on a TikTok video how she listed about 70 summer bucket list choices on a posterboard in various colorful markers and mounted it on the refrigerator. She suggests checking off activities as you do them and adding the date. Among her entries are making a leaf scrapbook, jumping over waves, painting outdoors, and building a blanket fort.
Making and using these lists can teach children some valuable lessons. For example, it can inspire parents and kids to think about how they spend their days. It encourages them to do things they might not otherwise pursue, such as Pettiford’s suggestions to dance in the rain, serve a neighbor, gaze at the stars, or perform a random act of kindness. Some items a parent might add, such as Pettiford’s “go garage sale hopping,” can create an opportunity to teach children how to earn money.
The term “bucket list” was popularized by a 2007 film of the same name. It originally denoted an inventory of experiences or achievements you hope to accomplish before you die. But the idea of figuring out what you want to do in the future is handy at other stages of life, too. Young adults and parents have embraced the term as a tool for planning summer activities.
Framing her suggestions as a “summer bucket list,” one YouTuber, Advice by Angel, suggested no less than 70 summer activities, from painting old shoes or taking pictures with
When fall arrives, your children can return to school with a sense of satisfaction that their summer vacation has been well spent!
AT THE ROCK HALL ROCKING CLEVELAND!
MNSOM MUSICIANS PERFORM
A strong delegation of MnSOM students took the stage last April at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland,
Our trip to Cleveland was the latest in MnSOM’s series of annual Showcase Concerts. In our inaugural event in 2022, MnSOM was selected as one of the top eight music schools in the country and invited to perform at Graceland. Last year, our students staged a live performance at Le Musique Room just outside the Twin Cities. Showcase Concerts require dedication, hours of practice, and considerable time and effort to make the trip. They also afford our young musicians
Ohio, and delivered a fantastic performance.
The iconic music venue welcomed a group of MnSOM students for our
annual Showcase Concert. Eighteen hardworking, young musicians, including some of our best and brightest guitar,
piano, voice, and drum students, participated in this challenging and exciting event. All of these performers and their parents invested considerable time, money, and effort to perform at this storied venue, creating memories for performers and audience members alike. Young MnSOM musicians also benefited from a priceless experience performing live on stage.
unmatched opportunities to prepare for public concerts and perform at iconic venues, enabling them to grow as performers
and people. Someday, our students will remember these performances as momentous occasions in their journeys as musicians. If you would like to learn more about these exciting opportunities, call or email us for more information about future Showcase events.
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Most parents hope to influence their children in positive ways. One of the best ways to do that is to commit to an activity you both support. At MnSOM, we don’t require parents to sign a one-year contract to continue lessons like some youth activities do. While we only ask our parents to sign month-to-month agreements, I still challenge them with this observation: The students who do best in our program tend to have parents who truly commit to their children’s music education. What do I mean by “commit”? Here are three ways a parent can show commitment. GO ALL-IN. Few parents would sign their child up for a season of tennis, then tell them they can go to two practices and decide whether they want to continue. That sends a clear message that the parent lacks commitment to learning tennis. Parents who show support for a more sustained effort tend to see better results. The same strategy makes sense in planning your child’s music education. All too often, I hear adults remark on the consequences of a half-hearted commitment to learning music, when they say, “I took piano lessons and quit, and it was the biggest mistake of my life.” BE PRESENT. Many children’s activities bar parents from lessons and practices, confining them to dropping their children off and hoping all goes well. MnSOM is different. We are a parent-inclusive school. We believe parents know their kids better than we do, and we partner with parents to give their children the best possible opportunities. We invite parents to sit in on their children’s lessons, message their child’s teachers through the parent portal, or stop in at the end of a lesson to talk. All of these openings give parents opportunities to show commitment. EXPECT A SLUMP. A time will come in every child’s music training when they don’t want to practice. This doesn’t mean your child has lost their passion for music. It just reflects the fact that learning anything that requires skill and practice is hard. This challenge, however, also presents an opportunity to build character in their child. It’s okay if your child doesn’t want to practice — give them space. But also, see this as a chance to teach them that feeling discouraged from time to time is a normal part of learning. You may have more than one difficult conversation, but be patient. Remind them: What was it about learning to sing or play an instrument that made you so excited? Let’s rekindle that fire again! The Power of a Parent’s Presence Fuels Learning PARENTS INVITED!
Jane M. Brianne E. Eli T.
Juan G. Reese T. Liv M. Dean L. Evana V. Samuel V. Rose V. Joanne V. Avi P. Cooper E.
Penelope Q. Jax H. Jordy H. Charlotte D. David S. Grace P. Evelyn M. Delsie C. Vera K.
Elliot K. Maya K. Oliver B. Leo T.
Anders S. MacKinley S. Marcelo D.
IS YOUR TEACHER SOLD OUT?
Mr. Barrett: SOLD OUT Mrs. Bunish: SOLD OUT Ms. Driemeyer: SOLD OUT
Mrs. Lehner: SOLD OUT Mr. Martin: SOLD OUT Mrs. Morris: SOLD OUT Mr. Nehring: SOLD OUT Mr. Nelson: SOLD OUT Mrs. Nemirova: SOLD OUT
Mr. Nistler: SOLD OUT Ms. Possert: SOLD OUT Ms. Rotvold: SOLD OUT Mr. Spears: SOLD OUT Mr. Tubbs: SOLD OUT
Ms. Ferbuyt: 1 SPOT LEFT Ms. Hsu: SOLD OUT Ms. Jahnke: 1 SPOT LEFT
–Eric Nehring
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3533 88th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55014 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Passion for Music Requires Staying Power
Plan a Special Summer With a Bucket List
MnSOM’s 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Showcase
Go All-In on Your Child’s Musical Training
Tips for a Stress-Free Backyard Barbecue
GRILL AND CHILL HOST A SUMMER BARBECUE FOR EVERYONE
they want without stressing out their host,” says Calla Quinn, a TikTok influencer who recently posted tips on hosting up to 50 friends at your home. Another tip she shares is using of portable misting fans in dry climates. These devices create a fine mist to refresh passersby in seconds, and they are especially popular on patios and decks. If attendees offer to bring something, don’t hesitate to accept, and be specific about what you want — from lawn chairs to beach towels. Martha Stewart recommends having a stain remover on hand to manage stains and cloth towels that guests can use to wipe up spills. Expert hosts also recommend a self- serve bar for casual summer gatherings. Consider filling several 3-gallon drink dispensers with popular options. Depending on your guest list, you might offer family fare such as lemonade, iced tea, ice water, or premixed cocktails like strawberry vodka lemonade or passion
fruit margaritas. Martha Stewart suggests allowing amateur mixologists to concoct their own beverages by setting out bottled juices, artisanal sodas, and kombucha. A stylish yet simple way to serve hors d’oeuvres and side dishes to complement your grilled entree is to assemble or have catered a charcuterie board. These feature finger foods such as meats, cheeses, olives, spreads, fruits, nuts, chips, and crackers. A fully stocked charcuterie board adds a decorative touch while keeping guests well-fed for hours, adding what Quinn calls “a real wow factor.” And to make sure your day ends well, look for disposable, compostable bamboo or wooden dishes. Searching for “eco-friendly tableware and cutlery” should turn up some good options. This one last detail can go a long way toward supporting sustainable living while ensuring you don’t spend any valuable party time cleaning up broken glass or washing dishes.
Enjoying your own party can be more complicated than it sounds. Backyard barbecues are a high point of summer, but hosting one you enjoy with your guests requires planning. “If swimming is on the agenda, consider protecting new or light-colored indoor furniture with water-resistant covers so guests in wet swimsuits can sit wherever
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