A Visit from "The Reed Guy"

You've heard us say it before but it's worth repeating; "the greatest thing about music is the people you meet through it".  We are fortunate at DSM and DLP to meet folks from all aspects of the music industry, from accountants to educators, instrument manufacturers, sheet music publishers, and retailers.

About once a year or so, Kurt Wilbur stops in to see us at DSM. Kurt is a larger than life character with a strong handshake and straight forward Midwestern appeal.  He is a D'Addario representative and he's extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their products.  I call him 'the reed guy'. His visits are always entertaining, informative, and sometimes sprinkled with samples of new reeds and reed related products. We dig Kurt!

I’ve often referred to reeds as 'the bane of our existence' to fellow woodwind players. I've lamented about reeds with teachers, students, colleagues, and even my alto hero Phil Woods. It fascinates me to learn of the rituals each person goes through to get a reed to sound 'just so' or in some cases, simply to sound.

My colleague Chiaki Hanafusa is a classical soloist and a reed aficionado.  She will coax all she can out of each piece of cane. I am much more lazy and sort of a 'wet it and play it' type of guy.  I do very little breaking in, curing, or filing, and if a reed doesn't feel right in a few seconds I'm pretty much done with it. I remember one extremely gig-happy year I spent nearly $1,000 on reeds. Luckily, I was self employed at the time and claimed most of that as a business expense (special props inserted here to music accountant extraordinaire Alan Friedman who just happened to be my college roommate and band-mate).

All that being said, I was anxious to learn about and try the new Rico Reserve and Rico Jazz reeds that Kurt and Kristen McKeon at D’Addario made available to us, and I promised to let them know what we thought.

I opened the box of Rico Select Jazz reeds (unfiled) and put one in a cup of water for a few minutes.  The first few notes were so stuffy that I actually checked to see if my Francois Louis ligature was seated properly.  I re-wet the reed, made a small adjustment on the mouthpiece (moving the reed a smidge lower), tightened the ligature, I tried the reed again. Better but it was still not the ‘lightning fast’ response I was hoping for. I placed the reed on a flat surface an noticed it was slightly bowed so I took some old reed rush to the back and made a few passes down the shoulder and vamp (basically the top sloping section of the reed) toward the tip.

Voila! Even though this was a bit more work than I would normally do on any given reed, I wanted to be fair to everyone at D’Addario. The reed is hearty and nicely responsive. I played it later in the evening during a faculty performance here at DSM and it seemed to get even better.  Now, a few days later I am playing it again after being stored in my reed case. It’s holding up nicely and still sounds great. I chose this reed randomly out of the box of ten and if the rest are similar, I’d say they have a winner on their hands. I will sample the Reserves and more of the Jazz reeds then follow up with Chiaki and share our thoughts next time. 

Thanks again to D'Addario's Kurt and Kristen!

Technology and the Music Educator

"I just invent. Then I wait until man comes around to needing what I've invented."

-R. Buckminster Fuller

Now more than ever before, music educators have the opportunity to expand the horizons of our profession.

The benefits of learning music have been widely publicized, and it seems new reports and statistics are released just about every week that prove studying music can help foster intellectual curiosity, stimulate creativity, and promote discipline. Most often, these studies are used as ammunition by organizations, teachers, and frustrated parent groups who are facing cuts to their local school band, choir, or orchestra programs.  And it's no surprise that advances in technology that allow for unprecedented communication, file sharing, and information delivery may be seen as an impending threat to those who teach music in schools or in a private setting. But we do not agree.

I recently read a blog that argued 'technology in music education can never replace the care and nurturing of a great educator'. That's like saying 'the microwave oven can never replace the delicate palette of an executive chef'.  It's an invalid argument and moot point at best. The microwave will not make anyone a great chef - but most all great chefs have one in their kitchen and know how to use it to their advantage. Technology is only as good as those plying it - it won't make a poor teacher any better.

But what technology can do is allow educators to reach new markets and encourage more learning at all levels - from the causal enthusiast to the most advanced performer. Educators can also use technology to create a sense of community among learners and allow for ideas to be shared between students, educators, and peers. Technology can also help make music teachers become better communicators and keep learning material, practice notes, and digital files neatly organized and accessible in one location.

The beauty of applying technology to music education is that we as educators have an opportunity to share our expertise with more potential music makers than ever before. And more people playing music and enjoying its benefits means a boost for instrument manufacturers, print music publishers, recording artists, concert halls and yes... teachers! We believe that more people (especially adults) becoming interested and involved in music making will undoubtedly lead to a more passionate concern for the importance of music in our schools.

Technology is here to stay. An entire generation now presumes and expects it to be part of nearly every aspect of their lives. As music educators, we need to be open to using technology to present our ideas in current and relative formats. Let's not be the last profession to 'come around'!

The Au Pair Option - A World of Experiences for Your Family!

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 visit www.culturalcare.com for additional information and a special savings for our families!

The DLP Plan for World Peace

www.discoverlearnandplay.com

Technology and Music Education

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 study concluded 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.