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AS SEEN ON:
FINDING INSPIRATION FOR GROWTH IN NATURE FROM TADPOLES TO TRIUMPH THE MONTHLY MUSICIAN
763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
APRIL 2024
A memorable childhood experience shaped my philosophy on leadership — the Summer of Frogs. When I was a boy, my mother worked long hours as a nurse, and my grandparents primarily raised me. I was 8 years old when they decided to install an above-ground pool. At first, it was great. My cousins came over, and we enjoyed playing in the pool together. Then disaster struck. I went out one day and discovered that our pool had been infested by tadpoles — not just a couple of tadpoles, but thousands of them! My beloved swimming pool had become a tadpole breeding ground, and now, there would be no more swimming. Sitting beside our ruined pool that summer, I watched those tadpoles evolve. And over the next couple of weeks, I noticed we had tree frogs everywhere. That was how I learned about the experience of metamorphosis. I wondered what it was like for the tadpoles to morph from their origins as soft, jellylike egg clusters at the bottom of the pool into tadpoles with tails and gills. And if that wasn’t hard enough, for them to achieve freedom as a frog, they had to grow legs and lungs and drop their tails. They also had to develop disk-shaped fingertips that produced a sticky substance for gripping and climbing up the side of the pool. Only after they accomplished all these changes were they able to hop off into a new life in a much bigger world beyond the pool.
Those tadpoles had to work hard to get up over those walls. But they knew on some level that they would be in trouble if they did not develop their little suction cup frog feet to climb to freedom. They would live out the rest of their days in the pool. Reflecting recently on my Summer of Frogs, I was reminded of how I felt, as the leader of MnSOM, forcing our business to evolve and change. Running a business is never easy, and we have experienced tremendous challenges through COVID-19, the Great Resignation, and beyond. I had done my best, but I realized that my experience as a boy watching those tadpoles become frogs had strong parallels with what I needed to do as a business owner.
never have the “frog life” I dreamed of when I started the business. If I didn’t do the work required for metamorphosis, I would be stuck in the same small pool forever. As I wrote in the March edition, I have been executing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) principles, described by Gino Wickman in his bestselling book, “Traction,” to clarify my vision for the business and identify problems. We have realized that our operational systems and scheduling platforms have been limiting our growth. By the time you read this, we’ll have introduced Opus1, our new scheduling management software. Any change to new software programs can be incredibly challenging. There is the labor of data entry, the challenge of training, and the concerns, “What if my customers don’t like it?” Change is sometimes uncomfortable. It is human nature to settle into the status quo, enjoy security, and say, “That’s okay. That’s good enough.” I know. I’ve been there. And I might have settled there had I not realized a core truth: If I am going to get out of this tadpole-infested pool, I have to change. I believe these new moves are helping us build a stronger, more cohesive school for the children we serve. And I am confident that throughout this process of metamorphosis, we are progressing toward our goal of preparing for a new decade of growth — my version of frog life! –Eric Nehring
As a leader, I was still stuck at the tadpole stage. The systems I had built over the last 10 years were tadpole systems. I realized that if I didn’t develop my version of little frog feet and climb to new heights, I would
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3 PRANKS TO KEEP APRIL FOOLS’ DAY WHIMSICAL, NOT WEARY
BALLOON AVALANCHE This one requires a bit more set-up, but it’s worth it for those who wish to keep the fun and magic of April Fools’ Day alive. Blow up 50–100 balloons and place them in your kids’ room while they sleep. They’ll awaken to a huge surprise. This prank is pretty harmless, and your kids will be sure to remember having to wade through balloons to brush their teeth. LATHERLESS SOAP Speaking of a bathroom routine, you can also use soap as a prank. Coating a bar of soap with clear nail polish and letting it dry means it won’t create a lather when
April Fools’ Day can be a tricky tradition for many families, as kids sometimes get a bit too rowdy or perhaps feel like pranks are more annoying than fun. But you can keep the laughs light- hearted and suitable for all ages with a couple of good pranks tailored to help kids enjoy the whimsy of this holiday without potential blowouts.
your kids go to wash their hands. This prank encourages your kids to find humor in the unexpected and will at least remind them to appreciate working soap the next time they wash their hands. These are just three pranks for a whimsical April Fool’s Day. Innocent mischief is a great way to unite families and share laughter. The key to a successful celebration lies in harmless, heartwarming tricks that invite magic and the shared joy of familial love. Let the surprises unfold in the spirit of April Fools’ Day, and embrace the laughter!
COLOR-CHANGING MILK This creative prank is a surefire way to
captivate young minds without any mess. You can add a few drops of food-grade coloring dye to a milk carton and serve it to an unsuspecting audience. The milk will appear to change colors as you pour it into their glass. It looks magical, and you can add edible glitter for an extra dose of the fairy feeling.
SHARON LEHNER HARMONY’S HEARTBEAT
MEET TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Sharon Lehner stood out from other children as early as age 2. While other kids toted around beloved stuffed animals, Sharon’s favorite love object was a toy piano. “I dragged it everywhere with me,” she says. Seeing her bond with her toy piano, Sharon’s mother signed her up for lessons.
mission, and culture, with numerous opportunities for growth,” she says. Sharon encourages her students to combine excellent technique with self-expression and emotion in performance, disciplines she learned as a high-school student at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp
on his love of classical, jazz, and pop music to engage him. Another student wanted to play musical scores from video games. At first, Sharon thought the rapid-fire soundtracks must be played by computers, but the student brought in sheet music and showed her videos of Japanese artists performing them. She taught him technique, theory, and how to read the music. “I try to meet my students where they are,” Sharon says. Her favorite part of teaching? She enjoys seeing students who are shy or introverted gain confidence and learn to express themselves musically. “They have that ‘ah-ha’ moment, where they tell themselves, ‘Okay, I can do this,’” she says. “I just love working with the kids.” MnSOM has many deserving teachers who have done a great job serving our families and community, and Sharon is a clear leader on the team. We are grateful to have an instructor of her caliber on our staff.
Thus began Sharon’s lifelong dedication to piano performance and instruction. A four-year member of our teaching staff, she received the coveted Teacher of the Year award this year in recognition of her excellent performance. After retiring from a 20-year career as a private school music teacher, Sharon knew she wanted to continue working with students. Among music schools in the area, we stood out. “It’s very family- oriented, and Eric has a clear vision,
in Michigan. In workshops there with artists-in-residence, including the famed classical pianist Andre Watts, she decided on the spot to become a piano performance major in college and make music her career. At MnSOM, adapting to each of her 19 students’ interests has brought many surprises. One student could watch a music video on YouTube and play the songs perfectly but couldn’t read music. She taught him to do so, drawing
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Just as I learned about business growth in my Summer of Frogs, your child can learn about personal growth as they evolve from a brand- new music student into a skilled musician. When a child begins their journey as a music student, they are like the jelly egg. Then in the tadpole stage, they can play a little bit and begin to enjoy it. But as they start performing and face increased practice requirements, many children ask to quit. If parents allow them to, they will never morph beyond the tadpole stage. To help offset this, here are three methods to help your child keep the music flowing. Persuasive Parenting Tips: When Your Child Wants to Quit KEEP THE BEAT ALIVE
Milan Y. Elias L.
Oliver G. Charlie G. Flora G. Ava G. Abigaile G. Brodie W. Max H. Madison C.
Phoebe B. Damian A. Eden B. Rebekah B. Stella H. Jett D. Zeke R. Vihaan S. Anishka H.
Olivia L. Jade A.
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. In his book “The Winning Attitude,” author John C. Maxwell describes flying with a friend in his airplane and asking about a gauge on the dashboard. His friend explained it was the attitude indicator. It informed the pilot whether the plane’s nose was pointed — up or down. The same thing is true for students. A student with a positive, nose-up attitude is highly likely to soar. Instilling that attitude in your music student can make all the difference. A PURPOSEFUL VISION. As King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 28:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The same can be said of a young music student. If a child doesn’t begin their studies with a vision in mind, they will lack a sense of purpose. Parents can help their child form a vision — even a simple goal will do — and they should share that vision with the child’s teacher. REMEMBER YOUR WHY. Learning to be a musician starts with a honeymoon period when the child thinks, “This is fun. I like my teacher.” But after reality sets in and they realize that learning to be a musician is real work, the lessons aren’t always fun anymore. Parents can play a critical role at this stage by reminding their children of why they undertook the study of music in the first place. Prompt them to reflect on, “Why did I do this to begin with? What set me on this course?” And remember: Just as tadpoles aren’t destined to remain tadpoles, children aren’t destined to remain beginners. They also struggle through painful stages of growth and change to move on to a bigger, more rewarding life — as a musician and beyond.
IS YOUR TEACHER SOLD OUT?
Mr. Barrett: SOLD OUT Mrs. Bunish: SOLD OUT Ms. Ferbuyt: SOLD OUT Ms. Hsu: SOLD OUT Mrs. Lehner: SOLD OUT Mr. Martin: 2 SPOTS LEFT
Mrs. Morris: SOLD OUT Mr. Nehring: SOLD OUT Mr. Nelson: SOLD OUT Mrs. Nemirova:
Ms. Possert: SOLD OUT Ms. Rotvold:
SOLD OUT Mr. Spears: 2 SPOTS LEFT Mrs. Tomlinson: SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT Mr. Nistler: SOLD OUT Mr. Popken: SOLD OUT
–Eric Nehring
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3533 88th Ave. NE, Blaine, MN 55014 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE How My Summer of Frogs Shaped My Leadership
Keeping April Fools’ Day Wholesome
Our Teacher of the Year
Inspiring Your Child to Stick With Music
April Escapes
ESCAPE APRIL SHOWERS THIS SPRING 3 VACATIONS SPOTS TO AVOID SEASONAL GLOOM
April showers bring May flowers, but you don’t have to stick around to wait for them to bloom. Escape to these three destinations and enjoy the new life of spring without the rain. AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS Why wait for May to see spring flowers? All April long, Holland sports the most beautiful colors in the world, and people
from all over the globe go enjoy the Keukenhof Garden Festival. This festival has occurred for 75 years, and as it’s only 30 minutes away from Amsterdam proper, you can experience the best of both worlds. Explore the thousands of tulips during the day and then spend time in the city, exploring the beautiful canals and shopping districts in the evening. Don’t worry if you miss the beautiful flowers; most of the city’s museums and hotels have tulips, too. SEVILLE, SPAIN Embark on an enchanting journey to Seville, where vibrant culture and passion come alive. Picture yourself strolling through cobblestone streets where you can immerse yourself in the parades that travel through the city during Holy Week. Brass bands build up to a beautiful celebration on Easter, and just two weeks later, the Feria de Abril begins. This fiesta is full of lively parties, even more music, and
colorful costumes. Sevillanos on horseback and the clacking footwork of flamenco dancers are captivating to watch, so don’t miss out by getting rained in. MALTA Located to the south of mainland Europe in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta is part of an archipelago consisting of several islands, including Gozo and Comino. Because of its diverse cultures, you’ll hear Arab accents in the language as you pass Baroque architecture. Nature lovers, hikers, and landscape photographers alike can explore the rocky coastlines, impressive rock formations, and dazzling sea caves, such as the Blue Grotto (Malta), plus beautiful beaches like Ramia Bay (Gozo) and Ghajn Tuffieha Bay (Malta). However, the biggest advantage of traveling in Malta is that everything is in full bloom: green fields, blooming citrus trees, and beautiful flowers. If you go in spring, you’ll beat the tourists, too, as summer is peak season.
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