february 2015 newsletter | harris academy of the arts
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2935 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 402.423.7121 harrisacademyofthearts.com
inspiring creativity through the arts
HAA Newsletter
February 2015
Student of the Month: Morgan Madsen Thursday nights you’ll hear any combination of Hound Dog, Thriller, The Twist, YMCA, and more coming through the studio walls. It’s not an all-studio dance party (although that’s an idea), it’s the Treble Maker Show Choir, a singing group for ages 7-12 years led by Christine Collins. This lively group is learning new songs for the upcoming Spring Recital. Among these energetic singers and dancers is Morgan Madsen, the February Student of the Month!
Morgan is 12 years old and also plays violin at school. Her favorite subjects in school are science, art, and—naturally—music. Morgan loves to dance and when she’s not doing the Twist (or the YMCA, or the Chicken Dance), she likes to draw.
Read the full feature on our website: harrisacademyofthearts.com/about-us/HAA-in-the-News/Student-of-the-Month
Help us welcome these new
musicians to Harris!
NEW STUDENTS ♫
Nye Alhajhusain Tanis Bennetts Xia Brooks
Bill Hooks
Milla Fiedler
Alex Kivett
Blaine Kivett
Kobe Le
Brayden Luu
Chikoti Mukuma
Alexandria Nelson
Natalie Norman
Defne Otu
Paige Pomajzl
Belinda Rademacher
Bianca Rademacher
Briana Rademacher
Learning is better…
...when enjoyed together
February 9-21
Students, bring a friend to your lesson and let them discover why
you LOVE music!
Each student and their friend will receive a special gift. PLUS, HAA
students will have a chance to win a pizza party with their instructor!
BRING A FRIEND WEEK
A unique choral experience
with choreography, Treble
Makers is designed to
introduce kids to vocal
technique without harming
their growing vocal chords.
Thursdays 5:05-5:55 p.m.
New students may join
anytime!
Treble Maker
Show Choir
“Morgan is a natural born leader and singer. She has such a passion for singing and the talent to go with it. She is always ready to work and participate in whatever activity we are doing and knows how to lead by example. It an absolute pleasure to have her in my class!”
~Christine Collins, Treble Maker Show Choir instructor
2935 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 402.423.7121 harrisacademyofthearts.com
Lee Heerspink has had his share of both life and musical experiences prior to joining the Harris teaching staff. After getting his music education degree he went on to study jazz performance for his master’s degree. From there, after a few years of private teaching and performing, he was placed in the US Air Force Heartland of America Band in Omaha, NE where he had the opportunity to boost
the morale of troops both near and far. Lee recalls a moment during his time with the US Air Force Band when he played at the bedside of a wounded soldier in Afghanistan. “One of my favorite performances,” Lee shares, “was playing an acoustic version of “Knee Deep” by the Zac Brown Band for a wounded warrior at the hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. We asked what he wanted us to play, he said “anything.” He smiled as we quietly sang and gave him a short bedside concert.”
Now, Lee shares his love of music in a different way, by connecting with students in private lessons. At Harris, Lee teaches guitar, bass guitar, and string bass. One of his main goals, right along with the nitty gritty technique and determination with learning any instrument, is to make learning music fun and enjoyable. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know yet another of Harris’ fine music teachers.
Read the full feature on our website: harrisacademyofthearts.com/about-us/instructor-spotlight
Earn $20 For every new student you refer to Harris!
Here’s how it works:
Refer a friend to Harris Academy of the Arts.
Be sure to tell them to include your name as a referral on their registration form!
After your friend completes their 3 month commitment, you’ll receive a $20 credit toward lessons and classes.
REFERRAL PROGRAM
Earn a FREE lesson or class
For every 4 months you post a Harris Academy of the Arts Yard Sign in the front lawn of your home or business, you can earn a FREE private lesson or class. For more info: [email protected]
How to take part:
Contact the office to pick up a sign
place the sign in your yard, take a photo
After 4 months, bring the yard sign back to the studio to receive your FREE music lesson or class!
YARD SIGN PROGRAM
February 9-21 Bring a Friend Week
February 14 2:00-2:50 p.m. Music Appreciation Make-up Class (mid-beginning)
February 28 6:30-7:30 p.m. Students are welcome to perform in the Lied Center lobby prior to the LSO concert
March 6 6:00-6:50 p.m. Music Appreciation Make-up Class (late intermediate)
March 9-14
Spring Break (no lessons or classes)
April 10 & 11
Student Spring Recital
April 25
LMTA District Music Festival
DATES TO NOTE ♪
Do you have a furry friend? Now accepting submissions for the
March Pet of the Month! Send your entries to:
Pet of the Month Meet Gir, who belongs to Amy Fairchild, General Manager at Harris Academy of the Arts. Gir loves to attack feet and make trips outside onto the deck, and has a strange fascination with water.
Instructor Spotlight: Lee Heerspink
The 29th Annual Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy
fundraising event brings professional & local
chefs together with chocolate connoisseurs to
raise money for The Historic Haymarket
District and Lincoln TeamMates!
In addition to serving delectable chocolate
delights, entertainment will be provided by
Harris Academy of The Arts and a Silent
Auction will be featured.
Stop by and say hello to our string quartet
playing popular love songs throughout the
evening!
2935 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 402.423.7121 harrisacademyofthearts.com
Instructor Availability Our instructors’ schedules are changing daily. New students can enroll in private lessons any time during the year. Call 402-423-7121 today to enroll! If your ideal time is not available, call or email to get on the respective instructor’s waiting list. (Openings reflect after school times only. Please contact us for information about additional daytime availability.)
Jentry Barrett (violin, viola): CLOSED
Mai Butler (piano): Monday – CLOSED Tuesday – 4 openings Wednesday – 4 openings Thursday – 2 openings Friday – CLOSED Saturday – 4 openings
Christine Collins (violin, piano, voice): Monday— 7 openings Tuesday—5 openings Wednesday—5 openings Thursday—5 openings
(Christine con’t) Friday—7 openings Saturday—10 openings
Vicki Harris (piano, violin): CLOSED
Lee Heerspink (guitar, bass) Monday—5 openings Tuesday—4 openings Wednesday—5 openings Thursday—1 opening
Garrett Hope (guitar, bass, composition) Monday—6 openings
(Garrett con’t) Tuesday—5 openings Wednesday—3 openings Thursday—2 openings Saturday—3 openings
Heera Jang (piano): Monday – 1 opening Tuesday – CLOSED Wednesday – 2 openings Thursday – CLOSED Friday – 1 opening
Jeff Kuhl (voice, piano, beg. trumpet): Monday – 1 opening
(Jeff con’t) Tuesday – 2 openings Wednesday – CLOSED Thursday – CLOSED Saturday – CLOSED
Cristina Vlad (piano): Monday – CLOSED Tuesday – CLOSED Wednesday – CLOSED Thursday – 3 openings Friday – CLOSED Saturday – CLOSED
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Door Hangers Ages 14 and up. A terrific income opportunity for high school students and adults! Earn money while exercising and distributing literature about HAA. For more information, contact us at: 402-423-7121 or [email protected]
Welcome: Christine Collins
Testimonials
Fun Facts:
Favorite color: Yellow
Favorite place to travel: The
beach! Any beach!
Favorite hobby: Reading
Favorite donut: All of them
Little known fact: My favorite
animal is a hedgehog.
Mai Butler has been wonderful. We have seen such improvement in Hannah's playing and she is truly enjoying piano. She is always pleasant and encourages us to be in the lessons and more aware of what she is learning. We cannot say enough nice things about her! -Hannah Melton
Jentry Barrett is an exceptional teacher. Our time together is not only about music, but also about life skills that serve a person well, especially when understanding them early. Jentry is a positive and integral part of my child's growth and potential success: to be a good, capable and happy person -- who also enjoys a love of music and an appreciation for hard work that pays off. I am grateful for Jentry's presence in our lives.
Cristina Vlad is prompt, having our pianos plugged in ready for our lesson. She is very thorough in explaining the lesson and gives us extra time with the difficult pieces. She is a delightful person and I am enjoying her teaching techniques immensely!! She deserves the highest praise!! -Susan Musick
Jeff Kuhl He’s pretty cool.
Heera Jang I love spending time with her.
We are excited to welcome Christine Collins, who teaches violin, viola, piano, voice, and Children’s Music Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas where she studied Music Education with a focus in orchestra and elementary music education. She has had opportunities to study abroad all over the world including the Orff Institute in Austria, the Kodaly Institute in Hungary, and Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica.
Christine began studying piano at the age of 5 and started violin lessons at the age of 6. She was involved in band, orchestra, and choir throughout middle and high school and college. In 2013,
Christine began playing with the mariachi group Mariachi Aguilas and had the amazing opportunity of opening for the world-renowned group Mariachi Sol de Mexico when they performed in North Texas in 2014.
Christine loves teaching and is thrilled to be a part of the Harris team!
Favorite quote: “Let us take our children
seriously! Everything else follows from
this…only the best is good enough for a
child.” ~Zoltan Kodaly
Love
Because it makes my life more
passionate and rich.
It teaches me about life. When I play music by each composer I can feel their history and emotions in the music. ~Mai Butler, piano instructor
Can we get a little mushy? As we all know, February is the month
of Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love. And there is something
we just have to gush about—MUSIC! We’ve asked our students
and staff just what it is that makes them love music so much.
We’re certain you’ll enjoy their answers as much as we did.
Music is like breathing. I have it around
me all the time. I can’t imagine life w i t h o u t m u s i c o r c h o c o l a t e ! ~Luanne, violin student
Because some songs are a way
to express your feelings. ~Steven, piano student
Because you can relax when you’re playing a song.
~Anna, piano student
Because it feels like
you’re in
a new world. ~Clio, piano student
It really expresses your feelings.
You can spread it, show people.
~Nora, piano student
Music is like a best friend.
It understands ME! Whether a good or a bad
day, I share it all with music. ~Vicki Harris, owner & director
Because I’ve always had music.
I always dance to it and listen
when I’m doing homework.
~Isabel, piano student
“I love music because it’s like a pretty rainbow leading lyrics to
make them sound pretty .” ~Annika, piano student