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05.2022 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
WHY YOU’LL BE SEEING MORE OF ME BACK IN THE SADDLE THE MONTHLY MUSICIAN
Last fall, I announced that I was retiring from teaching to step into a new role as MnSOM’s first principal. The goal was to get away from the day-to-day tasks and start looking at the big picture. I focused my energies on the human resources side of the business, figuring out how we could recruit, hire, train, and retain the best people. That all went well, but unfortunately, my absence from the daily rhythms of the business took a toll. These issues are prone to crop up whenever a company is scaling. But they were exacerbated by the fact that I had stepped away from the daily operations both metaphorically and literally. I was working from home and visiting the school much less. Expenses started creeping up; not all tasks were being completed with the same urgency or care as before; and the pandemic began to pinch our bottom line. Suddenly, our finances didn’t look as good as they once had. It would be easy for me to blame other people for the setbacks. But in truth, I had handed off responsibilities that should have stayed under my purview. This dawned on me as I sat in my office off-site, looking over our budget. How often do you go into your child’s school and find the principal working remotely? Probably never. To stay engaged, a principal has to be present and available.
presence here ultimately benefits the entire school. I realize that my job is not just shuffling paperwork somewhere in the background — it’s commanding the ship and being immediately accessible and accountable to our customers. Now, you’ll usually find me at the front desk, getting up close and personal and into the nitty-gritty parts. But I’ve also unretired from teaching, and I’m back in the classroom teaching our students. “To stay engaged, a principal has to be present and available.” Taking some time away to relax, learn, and strategize was precisely what I needed half a year ago, but in the end, I believe I was meant to fill this role. As much as it became clear that my business needed me, I realized that I also needed my business. I enjoy working with the students and need that interaction in my life. I also realized that if it’s my job to train people, I couldn’t be an absentee boss. A company’s owner needs to engage with the business daily and work alongside their employees. Doing so presents countless leadership opportunities I would otherwise miss. I’ve already learned a great deal from being back, and though I’m still navigating some challenges, I’ve managed to right the ship. I’m also looking forward to continuing to grow the school. With my renewed presence on-site, we’ll be able to launch more big initiatives (see Page 3!) and keep the school operating at the highest level. During your next visit, feel free to stop by and say hello. I can’t wait to catch up and see what I’ve missed — and I’ll be ready and waiting at MnSOM’s front desk.
So, these days I’m back on-site. Since doing so, MnSOM has reached more than 400 students for the first time, showing that my
–Eric Nehring
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3 YouTube Channels to Watch With Your Kids You’ll Be the ‘Cool Parent’ in No Time
React (YouTube.com/finebros) Run by two brothers, these weekly videos cover a range of topics and have kids and adults “react” to them on camera. The topics range from funny (“7 Weirdest Sports You Won’t Believe Exist”) to serious (“Adults React to 4 Shocking Unsolved Robberies”). You’ll find celebrity content, fun facts, and challenge episodes like “Try Not to Smile” sprinkled into the mix. (Best for ages 10+.)
According to TechCrunch, kids between 4 and 15 spend about an hour and 25 minutes every day watching YouTube. That means unless you’re a screen-free family, your kids are probably spending a big chunk of their time obsessing over stars like Mr. Beast and Jenna Marbles — so why not make it a bonding activity?
There are definitely YouTube channels you don’t want to watch with your kids, but there are also plenty of fun, educational options that folks of all ages can enjoy. To win extra “cool parent” points, try watching one of these the next time you’re together.
MinutePhysics (YouTube.com/minutephysics) If your kid is interested in science or just endlessly curious, MinutePhysics is the channel for you. In 10 minutes or less, its hand-drawn videos easily explain tough concepts like photons and cosmic time. The creators also dive into questions like “Why do mirrors flip left and right, but not up and down?” and “Why do compressed air cans get cold?” (Best for ages 7+.)
Good Mythical Morning (YouTube.com/ goodmythicalmorning)
This channel is a daytime talk show that has been running on YouTube for 10 years and has more than 17 million subscribers. Comedians Rhett and Link post a mix of crazy food challenges, DIY experiments, and funny guest episodes. You can watch them taste discontinued snacks, try to turn fried chicken into ice cream cake, and feed Terry Crews tiny food, among other things. Episodes go up daily when the show is in season. (Best for ages 10+.)
Pro parent tip : If your kids say they already watch one of the channels you suggest, ask them to show you their favorite video. Before you know it, you could be watching every new post together.
MEET ZACHARY BARRETT! PASSING ALONG PASSION
When Zachary Barrett’s parents gave him a red Ibanez Stratocaster on his 12th birthday, they likely had no idea how it would impact his life. He began learning to play his new guitar at the local music school, and before long, he remembers, “I became a big fan of classic rock and guitar legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, and David Gilmour.” He was bitten by the teaching bug early. “My first teaching opportunity came as a high school student when my biology teacher heard me playing for jazz band,” Zachary says. “She asked me to give her daughter guitar lessons. I immediately found joy in sharing my biggest passion with others.” From that moment, he was eager to teach others to play the music that’s meaningful to them. He has now been at Minnesota School of Music for five years, with a total of 15 years of teaching under his belt. He notes that at MnSOM, everyone is free to pursue their passions while at the same time maintaining rigorous standards. “I think the No. 1 thing I enjoy is that there is a culture of self-growth, support for one another, and encouragement for teachers and students to be themselves and take their own musical journey,” Zachary says. “I think Eric has done an amazing job of being a mentor and a resource for the teachers while encouraging them to be themselves with their own unique teaching style.”
If he’s not teaching young people how to play music, Zachary is usually making music of his own. “I love collaborating with other musicians to write new music,” he says. Zachary has a home recording studio and is working with his songwriting partner on their first album. He also enjoys hiking, playing board
games and video games, and rooting for local sports teams. And whenever he gets the chance, he loves to travel to new places.
Even after all of these years, Zachary still gets a thrill out of seeing his students learn something new — and he notes that he especially loves seeing them meet the goals they set for themselves. “My greatest joy from teaching is witnessing a student go through the process of wanting to learn a song they love, putting in the hard work at home, and succeeding at playing it.”
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Introducing Music FunTime for Our Youngest Learners A FAMILY AFFAIR
Maggie L. Kadmiel M. Payton P.
Austin M. Ashton M. Juliana B. Mehmet K. Jordyn S. Gabe J. Philomena K. Alex K. Lemuel M.
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. We previously
Lydia S. Aiden L. Mayra C. Carson T. Wesley B. Calvin B.
instructed children aged 5 and older, but now, preschoolers can get in on the fun with our Music FunTime program. What is Music FunTime? Kids 18 months and older can enroll in this nationally recognized comprehensive music program. Classes are held once a week for 30 minutes in a small group
setting. The half-hour lessons whiz by for the little ones with fun crafts and music-based activities. These classes
are appropriate for kids aged 18 months to 7 years. This program is also a great, affordable option for families enrolling multiple children in lessons at MnSOM. What will my kids learn? The Music FunTime curriculum was developed with kids’ unique learning abilities in mind. Just as they learn colors, letters, numbers, and shapes, your kids can learn musical notes and symbols. Trained instructors will teach these concepts in a fun environment with colorful tools, crafts, and, of course, hands-on experience playing 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 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 later in life. In fact, studies have shown that learning music at a young age is possible, and it helps kids develop confidence. Even better, it primes them to grasp math and science concepts as they get older.
IS YOUR TEACHER SOLD OUT?
Amber Bibelheimer: SOLD OUT Samantha Ferbuyt: SOLD OUT Pauline Hsu: SOLD OUT Laura Morris: SOLD OUT
Nambi Mwassa: SOLD OUT Kurt Nistler: 2 SPOTS LEFT Jesse Norell: SOLD OUT Gavin Popken: 2 SPOTS LEFT
To learn more, just ask at your next lesson or visit MusicFunTime.org.
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3533 88th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55014 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Eric Returns to the Classroom
The Secret to Being the ‘Cool Parent’
Meet Guitar Teacher Zachary Barrett!
New Lessons for the Smallest Learners
Hate Souvenir Shopping? Let’s Make It Easy
PICKING THE PERFECT SOUVENIR
A way to preserve or share a piece of your trip is to bring home a souvenir, but choosing a souvenir isn’t always a stress-free experience. How do you pick the perfect souvenir and not just the first thing you see in a tourist shop? Here are some tips for picking a truly meaningful gift for yourself or your loved ones. Who are you buying for? What are your recipient’s interests, or what do they spend the most time doing? If you’re buying for yourself and enjoy coffee, you might buy a local coffee blend to enjoy from home. However, if your recipient doesn’t enjoy coffee or rarely drinks it, that type of gift might not mean much to them. Is it legal to bring home? Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, there are many regulations that affect which souvenirs you can bring home. Even if you find the item in a tourist shop, that doesn’t mean it’ll be allowed into the country or even onto the plane. And the TSA does take this seriously. In 2012, two tourists were detained at the U.S. border for trying to bring home chocolate Kinder eggs — a specific kind that are illegal in the U.S. due to the potentially hazardous small toys inside. Purchase a handicraft. Handicrafts — items created by local artisans — are awesome souvenirs! But make sure you buy where artisans actually sell their own goods, such as an open-air market. Unfortunately,
while some popular tourist shops may sell “locally made goods,” many souvenirs intended for tourists are actually made by cheap manufacturers in other countries. Keep something from the adventure. Bringing a glass bottle to take home some sand is a popular way of creating your own souvenir from a beach vacation. But you can do this with almost any item! Whether it’s stones, ticket stubs from favorite shows and activities, or a handmade item from a class, make sure to look out for souvenirs that’ll remind you of great memories and experiences.
We hope these tips will help you make the best choice. Bon voyage!
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