Music Simply Music - Warm Fuzzies

Approved: roboto101

Welcome to Music Teachers Insightful Practices (MTIPS)
Newsletter!
Written and Published by Nicholas Ambrosino
www.musicsimplymusic.com
mailto:director@musicsimplymusic.com

December 5, 2000

Table of Contents:

1. MTIPS Theme
2. Welcome Notes
3. Coaching Opportunity
4. MTIPS Development
5. Notable Quotables
6. Notable Birthdays
7. Q and A

===============================================
1. MTIPS Theme

The performances were rarely polished, but always passionate,
sometimes in-tune, but always striking “a chord”…always creating
memories that I continue to run in my mind to this day. Memories
that motivate me to get excited about what the next holiday may
create as an indelible image in my mind.

===============================================
2. Welcome Notes

Welcome to Music Teachers Insightful Practices (MTIPS)
Newsletter!

This issue goes out to 246 MTIPS subscribers! I continue to find it
absolutely incredible that, via the Internet, I have the opportunity to
be welcomed into Inboxes around the world. Technology is
wonderful!

A warm welcome to our new subscribers! And a special “thank
you” to all my colleagues and friends who have passed MTIPS onto
your friends and colleagues. I consider it an honor that you find
MTIPS valuable enough to pass it on. Thanks!

Shameless Marketing Plug:
If you know someone who would benefit by subscribing to MTIPS,
please forward them this copy and if they choose, they can click on
the link below to become a monthly subscriber. Thanks in
advanced.
http://www.musicsimplymusic.com/newsletters.htm

MTIPS is a FREE monthly newsletter that’s goal is to provide
music teachers (hopefully you!) with insightful practices that will
make the career of sharing music with soon-to-be-musicians a more
rewarding and successful one. Please let me know how I can be of
further service to you. You may contact me at:
mailto:nickambrosino@musicsimplymusic.com

Be sure to check our web site at:
http://www.musicsimplymusic.com
We have lots of information, and resources you can use. We’re
constantly adding and up-dating, so check it often!
===============================================
3. Coaching Opportunity

As the new year approaches, what is next for you? Would you like
your teaching to flow more? Would you like to feel more connected
with your students? Would you like to attract and maintain more
students? Do you simply lack the feelings of fulfillment and
success as an educator? Or are you satisfied with your private
practice and are wondering what is next?

These are just some of the ideas handled in private coaching. Over
the past 15 years, I have worked with many educators to assist them
in getting the most from their careers as a music educators. The
payoffs have been many, both financially and emotionally.

In 2001 I will have 2 spots available in my schedule to work with 2
new private coaching clients. If you are interested in finding our
just how far you can take your private practice or would like to
simply feel more successful as a music educator, give me a call or
send me an email and let’s spend a FREE 30 minutes exploring how
coaching will be beneficial to you!
U. S. Phone: 631-471-43589 ext. 62
mailto:coach@musicsimplymusic.com

===============================================
4. MTIPS Development

I remember reading an article in a science journal that claimed our
senses of smell and hearing were the strongest links to recalling
memories that we have. And I reflected about the upcoming
holidays…

I can recall my mom singing a duet in Italian with my grandfather.
The family would grow silent as my dad started the accompaniment
on the black Altman baby grand that resides in my parent’s living
room. Mom, with her beautiful soprano voice, would gently tilt her
head, look into my grandfathers eyes (her father-in-law) and
together they would embark on their musical journey through
“Inamorata”. (Translation, “My Loved One”) The Italian melody
would fill the room as the entire family stopped to listen and
invariably join in during the chorus of the song. We would lock
arms and sway to the beat of the music, sharing glances that
mirrored the way with which my mom had looked at my
grandfather. The selection would end with the two performers
embracing, while my dad and grandmother looked on with pride
and love. This performance usually occurred around the same time
the fruit, nuts and espresso hit the table. (That’s pre cakes, pies,
cookies, and puddings, for those of you who have never been to my
mom’s house for the holidays!)

Next, to move on from the “mushiness”, my dad would break into a
popular Christmas song such as “Jingle Bells” or Rudolph the Red-
Nosed Reindeer” while everyone else sang along. Without fail,
each of us who had any skill at an instrument would bring out our
instruments and play a selection. This was quite a feat considering
at any one time in the Ambrosino household that could consist of 2
trumpets, 2 pianos, a flute, a bassoon, an accordion and various
vocalists of different voice classifications! We would play solos
duets, trios or any other combination we could configure.

If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to take the time, during
this holiday, to add the tradition of music to your student’s
household. Encourage your students to take out the holiday song
they have learned and make sure they play it for their family. It
doesn’t matter how well they play it, just play it and have fun! The
family will talk about how much they have added to the holiday for
days to come! I promise it will warm the air, put smiles on faces,
laughter in hearts and memories in minds.

Wishing you and your family a holiday filled with music and
memories, and the peace and joy of your dreams.
===============================================
5. Notable Quotables

“A man of humanity is one who, in seeking to establish himself
finds a foothold for others and, who desiring attainment for himself
helps others to attain.”
Confucius

“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.”
William Butler Yeats

===============================================
6. Notable Birthdays

Ludwig van Beethoven 12/16
Hector Berlioz 12/11
Franz Schmidt 12/22

===============================================
7. Q and A

Q: I have tried different method books to get my student excited
about learning music, but without much positive results. Any
suggestions?

A: First, congratulations on recognizing that your way of learning
may not be your student’s way. To me that is the art of education -
unlocking the potential in each individual student.

Second, have you ever tried teaching music without a method book?
By rote or by hand, or any other way that your creative mind might
create. Often, it is not the music that fails to motivate the student,
but instead, the reading of it. Try some improvisatory activities.
What would the music for a rain storm sound like? What kind of
music would you make if you just found out you were getting a new
puppy?

Finally, I am not so concerned about my students always feeling
excited about making music. I am focused, however, on them
consistently feeling successful. I believe this distinction is an
important one. The only person who can tell you what it takes for
them to feel successful is the person with whom you are dealing.
Ask your student if they feel successful and if not, find a musical
activity they did in which they felt successful. Then apply that
knowledge to creating new activities in which they can grow.

Copyright © 2000 Nicholas Ambrosino. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute MTIPS so long as this cop1yright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author of this article is Nicholas Ambrosino and he may be contacted at:

http://www.musicsimplymusic.com
director@musicsimplymusic.com

To subscribe/unsubscribe, send an email to: Mtips-list@musicsimplymusic.com With either words "subscribe MTIPS" or the words "unsubscribe MTIPS" in the body of the email.

"We enjoy what we do, and so will you!"
phone: 631-863-2354 fax: 631-471-8311

Click here to return to MTIPS archive page