We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Regan Flaherty, Development Director for Cultural Care Au Pair. She visited DSM to inquire about making our DLP learning program available to members of the au pair community. "Many of our au pair's are interested in playing music and I'm intrigued about the possibility that they could share in this activity with the children of their host families."
Several DSM families have had au pair's and Regan would like us all to be more informed about this option for childcare. “In this current economic climate all families are looking for flexibility as well as affordability. Parents need to be very creative with their childcare solutions and Texans are not as inclined to consider an au pair as an option. We need to change that!"
The au pair program is attractive because it allows parents to set a schedule that works for them on a weekly basis at a cost that remains the same whether a family works 9 to 5 or has the au pair work non-traditional hours. "Having an Au Pair can go a long way toward helping families reach that critical 'work-life' balance. And contrary to popular belief, families with more than one child find the au pair program to be one of the most affordable options available."
There are other benefits to opening your home to an au pair. Studies have shown that exposing your children to a second language enhances language and cognitive development. Au Pair's are also willing and eager to teach their native language and share their culture with your family.
Unlike daycare or a babysitter, an au pair can perform all household duties associated with children, so they can vacuum a playroom, prepare and clean up after meals, do children’s laundry, make the children’s beds and organize their toys/closets/playrooms. An au pairs’ assistance with these day-to -day tasks allows you to spend more quality time with your children and spouse.
And Regan wants us to know most of all that the au pair program is "regulated by the State Department and last year we became the only agency in the world to use our own staff overseas for recruitment, screening, and orientation, rather than relying on third-party agents."
During our screening process, every candidate is personally interviewed, tested on English competency, takes a personality profile, and submits to a criminal background check as well as personal and professional reference checks. Acceptance into our program is highly competitive. Only 1/3 of the people who apply are accepted into our au pair pool, and out of thousands of applicants in the pool, only about 1/3 actually match with a family.
Any DSM or DLP families interested in learning more about au pair childcare can call Regan directly at 800-333-6056 ext 5535, email her regan.flaherty@culturalcare.com or visitwww.culturalcare.com for additionalinformation and a special savings for our families!
By Guest Blogger - Lindsey Wright Lindsey is fascinated with the potential of emerging educational technologies, particularly the online school, to transform the landscape of learning. She writes about web-based learning, electronic and mobile learning, and the possible future of education. We are happy to have her weigh in on the use of technology in music education.
Music education possesses an endless number of benefits for students of all ages. However, most people first encounter music lessons while they are still in elementary or middle school.
Often these lessons are provided through the public school system and range from general music appreciation courses to band and choir classes. Students with a real affinity for music often take private music lessons in voice or in different musical instruments on their own time as an extracurricular activity.
Yet with the proliferation of technology in our everyday lives it is only natural to wonder if there is a way to merge an interest in music with the Web. The accessibility and versatility of the Internet actually lends itself very well to continuing a musical education. In fact, interested individuals will find that there are a number of online programs and tutorials dedicated to enhancing their knowledge of and appreciation for music.
Many of these online courses are offered free of charge or at very low cost and cover a wide range of musical abilities from the complete novice to the near virtuoso. Even people who have not yet learned to read a single note of music will find an application that can introduce them to an entirely new language. For instance, anyone wishing to learn to play the piano can join the Discover, Learn, and Play website and get started instantly. Early lessons introduce the student to reading music and the concepts of rests and scales. As students progress through subsequent lessons their knowledge and skills grow as does the sophistication of their understanding. This particular site offers a variety of Individual, Family, and Group memberships to suit almost any need. These Lessons are available on 39 different instruments!
The Active Bass website is another excellent musical learning resource available to users free of charge. Here students can click on a lesson and hear a demonstration, which can help them tell if they are playing the song on key. Along with the auditory component, students are also shown the music so they can read along and practice. The lessons are structured in brief, easy-to-master segments that allow students to feel an almost immediate sense of achievement when they successfully play a piece.
Similarly, a lot of students want to learn how to play the guitar proficiently. For them, GuitarTricks is a reliable resource. Their step-by-step instruction guide introduces novices to guitar in a non-threatening and encouraging environment. Some lessons are available for free while others require a small fee. Either way, this is a learn-at-your-own-pace experience that allows students to challenge themselves and fit in their lessons whenever it is convenient.
Music education is valuable in schools for a variety of reasons. Studies have shown that a musical education is critical to the intellectual development of children. Students who have grown up with music lessons often perform better in math and science courses and benefit from the discipline and hard work that the mastery of music demands. Music training even continues to benefit the student later in life. A recent studyconcluded that musicians tend to have well developed, highly functioning brains.
Undoubtedly the challenge of music is good for the brain, but it is also a great way for people to keep alert and active throughout their life. Elderly individuals who regularly listen to or play music have less anxiety, report fewer instances of depression, and generally experience an overall beneficial effect from their interaction with music. If the study of music can so positively influence the lives of people of all ages, why are so many lessons aimed only at children? If more online music education content was aimed at people who are over 20 years old, all the way up to age 70 or 80, and beyond, the beneficial effects would be enormous.
The benefits of music education flow naturally into other areas of study. Children who study music perform better in other disciplines. Additionally, music lessons have been shown to help children develop stronger social skills. With such lessons many children learn to overcome stage fright and experience firsthand the satisfaction that comes from learning a new skill.
And by encouraging adults to indulge their interest in music on a long-term basis their lives are enriched. As they notice the mental stimulation they receive through the study of music, they will also find that their stress levels are reduced. Plus there is an innate sense of achievement that comes from taking on a challenging hobby. Every accomplishment is a victory in itself and anyone listening to the musician will derive pleasure from the experience.
As adult students of music reap the benefits of their continuing education, they are more apt to become ambassadors of local and national school music programs. Budget cuts often mean that arts programs are first on the chopping block, but this new trend may make people more proactive rather than just shrugging and thinking, “It’s only music class.” And new trends may begin to develop that could encourage more youngsters to start their own learning or even embark on a career in the music business. The focus would not necessarily be on an academic career, but rather on a path that may allow them to teach music to a broad range of students of varying ages and abilities by designing online music lessons. This could prove to be a very promising branch for the profession.
Music education should really be for everyone and it certainly deserves a healthy dose of respect and appreciation.
We are the professional music educators of the Dallas School of Music (DSM) and we work with young children, teenagers, professional adults, and senior citizens. Our students are beginners, enthusiasts, novice learners, and professional musicians alike. Some travel for hours to study at DSM each week. We use a curriculum designed 'in-house' and try as best we can to integrate state of the art technology whenever possible. Learners can also access our brand of music education online at Discover, Learn, and Play (DLP) where we continue to meet extraordinary people from just about every corner of the globe. (PS - for those of you who follow us in Twitter, MusickEd is the name we give to our collected work online and is a term mostly used internally. It is an homage to the music philosopher Christopher Small).
All faculty at DSM have at least a Bachelor's degree in music. There are 3 doctors on staff (with another nearly completed), a world renowned retired collegiate jazz educator, and many folks with Master's degrees. Our collected experiences of teaching over the past 20 years adds up to a frighteningly large number and I sincerely doubt that there is another music education facility in the world that has consistently completed more private lessons during any given month or year than DSM.
From the very outset The Dallas School of Music was determined to be a warm but state of the art facility that could accommodate anyone interested in accessing quality music education. DSM is not a 'conservatory' and there are no pre-requisites, age limits, or audition requirements. There is a basic application process that allows us to match each learner up with their best possible educator at their most convenient time.
New hires learn quickly that they must be flexible and adept at communicating musical concepts to a wide array of students. Over the past 20 years we've had students with severe disabilities, learning disorders, and even brain trauma. We have also had captains of industry, medical doctors, professional athletes, actors, actresses, and their families. On any given day students might range in age from 5 to 80 and they may be completely healthy or challenged both physically and or mentally.
We do not label faculty by their chosen instrument ('he is a clarinetist', or 'he teaches cello', etc.) and those who tend to identify themselves by their instrument often find DSM a difficult place to teach and work.
Working at DSM can be demanding as staff take on projects and tasks while learning to utilize programs that are non-music related. Over the years faculty have had to become familiar with Quickbooks, Timetonote, Mavenlink, and GoldMine that all help run the day to day operations of the school. And we are often pressed outside our comfort zones even further when contributing to projects for our web-based service and using programs like Dreamweaver, Parature, and Storefront just to name a few.
Thanks for learning more abut who we are! Click here to visit our Facebook fan page and be sure to hit the 'Like' button! You can also follow us on Twitter and stay up to date with the news about Discover, Learn, and Play here.
When a cool chick says via twitter, "we should swap music favorites sometime", one shouldpretty much just drop everything and set to getting the list together. Being the nerd on the receiving end of the tweet, I've of course, turned it into a small 'project' leading to this blog.
Amy R. Martin is an idea maven, vision cruncher, and purveyor of positive vibes. She writes a blog that typically oozes with enthusiasm and a hearty 'go gettem' attitude that always seems timely and spot on. She seems to constantly be evolving, traveling, reveling in foreign languages, and engaging in witty repartee. Learn more about her here and be sure to follow her on Twitter too - I promise you won't be sorry.
OK Ames , now for the songs. I could have gone all "too cool for school" on you and provided a list of some of the hip musicians we know who are creating great new music. But I chose instead to go a tad retro and explain why I think you should hear these songs again... for the first time.
These 5 pieces of music (and the albums they are on) have provided endless hours of enjoyment, intrigue, study, madness, glee, and in some cases... even angst. They each represent a particular moment of personal history but as time has gone by, I've found that they stand up to ever increasing scrutiny and analysis, as well as repeated listening. I've shared these choices and my analysis with family, friends, students, and colleagues. And I am happy to share them with you...and the universe!
5. Tempted - Squeeze, 45's and Under This song is a feast for the ears. If you don't get it in the first 6 seconds, you probably won't get it at all. The chromatic movement and the chords are maddening, baffling, wonderful. The song bounds along so coolly that you hardly realize it's about potentially being unfaithful and all that goes along with it.
Listen very, VERY carefully in the beginning (at 6 seconds to be exact) and you'll hear someone sing 'I bought a toothbrush baby'. On the out chorus at the end there is a repeated word that adds to the rhythm of the groove - it's almost imperceptible and sounds as if someone is saying 'sp' on the "and of beat four" in every other measure (starting at 3:22). This is how intently I have dissected the song. It's a curse, it's what I do. But I can also simply allow Tempted to wash over me as I sing along in glee - and that's the true test of a great song.
And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.
4. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen It could just be a guy thing, like The Three Stooges, or a guy from New Jersey thing, like The Sopranos, .... whatever...fughettaboudit. From the drum lead-in to the sounds of Celeste and concert chimes the wall of sound at the outset doesn't just greet you, it barrels in, throws open the door, and hollers 'come on, let's go!'.
This song lays out all the hopes and promises of adolescence and uses every trick in the rock and roll book to pull it off. The wall of sound mixing, the palm muted guitar in the verses, the 5 note sax solo (ok, there's really 6, but who's counting besides guys like me?), the series of suspended chords in the bridge, the giant chromatic scale in the middle followed by the obligatory break, and arguably the most famous "1, 2, 3, 4" in rock history(even if it isn't absolutely in time).
So go ahead, crank the windows down (man that sounds old school) and turn the volume up. Before long you will be miles from your destination and seriously considering never turning back.
And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.
3. The Loved Ones - Elvis Costello, Imperial Bedroom OK this is out of left field I know, but it's MY list of 5 great pieces... remember? 'So sayeth I'. There is more music happening in the first minute of this song than many people produce in a lifetime. The guitar stabbing intro cleans the palette like the odd introductions in many a Bergman film. The bass enters as a tease, the drummer takes over and drives the band into wide screen mode. The piano seemingly plays more notes than is possible to hear and the walking bass line makes me want to cry and shout at the same time. The diminished chords add momentary tension and release, propelling the song forward. I could easily listen to this song a thousand times, even if there were no words.
Ah, but the words! They tumble out like waterfalls; overlapping, cajoling, prodding, "sarcastic", "elastic", "gymnastics", "match sticks"??? ...genius. Who knows what he's talking about? He's got 'tude' and that's good enough for me. He's got "poison", "needle", "thread", "butcher, baker" and even "bass-line maker", don't stop him, he's on a roll! And after everything, he's got P. P. S. I. L. O. V. E. Y. O. U. one of the greatest outtros of all time. I never want it to end.
And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.
2. Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz Getz/Gilberto Your house is totally clean, everything is put away, your bills are paid, you are enjoying a great glass of wine with beautiful friends, you have not a care in the world. Dreaming? No, you are listening to this song. Infectious, cool, full of style and fashion, it beckons and disarms even the most jaded among us.
The text is pure poetry (in either the original Portuguese or English). The story tells of a simple, fleeting, mid-summer moment. It's a universal theme that might take place anywhere. Boy sees beautiful girl and she pays him no mind.
But the bossa groove ebbs and flows like waves gently rolling onshore. The soulful, phonetic singing of Astrud Gilberto is a perfect match for the intense yet beautifully relaxed tenor sax sound of Stan Getz. His solo in the middle is short but impeccably crafted and his background fills are absolutely spot on, weaving great lines behind the lilt of Astrud's voice. Even the chirping of an imperfect reed does not detract from the overall performance or listening experience...in fact, it adds to it.
And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.
1. Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra, Greatest Hits Love him or hate him, you have to admit the cat could sing. I saw him... 5 times (that comes with growing up Italian in New Jersey) and when he died my family burned up the phone lines as if we had lost our patriarch.
From the very first few beats of this track I am mush. My ADD melts away and I am completely engrossed in the groove. Led by the bass playing of Ray Brown (whose sense of time is downright confounding) and the cool zephyr-like organ sound, the intro sets the mood. Along the way there is an ever increasing, percolating tension as the horn section builds and modulates and threatens almost to bubble over. The groove swims along like a shark that smells blood in the water from miles away. And when it finally reaches its prey... it simply passes by as Sinatra sings "My ffffickle friend...."
And by the way...the entire album is amazing as well.
