If you look closely you will notice that this issue has a new look. I’m hoping that by putting the calendar first, you will read it. The primary purpose of this newsletter is to notify you of when I’ll be teaching and when I’ll be gone. It is your official notification of when I’ll be teaching or not. If you chose to throw it in with the junk mail or otherwise ignore it, that’s not my problem.

You should also be aware that my schedule doesn’t necessarily coincide with your child’s school schedule. At a given time I may have students in four school districts and half a dozen private schools. I don’t keep track of when they’re in or out. So let me know in advance if you’re going away for Spring Break or other holidays. The cancellation policy is still in effect and payment is still due the first lesson of the month less deductions if you will be gone.

When great musicians are interviewed a standard question is "Who influenced you?". The answer is a list of musicians to which they listened early in their development. That is usually how they got interested in the first place.

If someone is going to play music, they MUST listen to as much music as possible! How else can they know what they are trying to accomplish? How will they discover the possibilities? Learning to play an instrument is a voyage of discovery of ourselves and the musical world around us. That is how we develop our tastes and preferences as well as our standards of quality. That is where we acquire the ingredients that go into our own concept and style.

It’s certainly good for the kids to hear your music but they’ll learn the most by listening to what interests them. That is what will focus their attention and inform them as to the skills they need to express themselves.

As a parent it is your job to make sure your child can easily listen to the music they enjoy. At the very least they should have their own radio. A CD player is an important tool as well. Inexpensive radios and players are available everywhere. Make sure your child has one.

If you want to go higher tech, there is plenty of legally downloadable music available on the internet from iTunes and other sources. They are a great source of low cost music. File sharing sites, on the other hand, are to be avoided. Make it clear to your child that file sharing is criminal theft and will not be tolerated. Don’t allow it in your home.

Once the basics are covered, encourage your child to listen to a wide range of musical styles. There are great players in all genres and listening to them will enrich their experience of all music. Feed their curiosity and watch their appetite for learning grow as they enjoy the feast that music provides.