“I don’t have a musical bone in my body!” “I have no musical talent.” As a musician and music teacher, I hear phrases like these regularly. There is a prevailing belief that talent is what it takes to excel in
You Don’t Need Talent
Beating Alzheimer’s by Learning Something New
Hello KCRB students! I recently watched an incredible TED talk by neuroscientist Lisa Genova titled, “What You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s”. Genova says Alzheimer’s doesn’t have to be our destiny—even without further development in medicine. How can this be?
July Newsletter – Practice Tips Booklet!
Practice Tips Booklet – Do you have yours? Hello and Happy Summer! We are having a wonderful start to summer at KCRB with lots of new students and a new Elementary Rock Band! Three years ago, I created a booklet
Don’t be afraid of being a beginner.
Being a beginner….again. About nine months ago, I took up a hobby from my childhood—making pottery. I took a few classes on using a pottery wheel in school, but most of that knowledge is long gone. My first three visits
Battle of the High School Bands!
Are you as excited about Spring as I am?! This season change is my favorite. I become a new person when the sun starts shiing and I can go outside without a coat! Spring also means a student concert
We are made to create…and lots of concerts in KC!
A few months ago I wrote about a book I was reading, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. I finally finished it in January and found it really insightful. Cameron makes the argument that the creative process is a
Possibly Side Effect of Studying Music – Strength of Character
Side Effects of Studying Music: Strength of Character I just watched a video by Simon Sinek on the shortcomings and challenges of the Millennial Generation. (If you’d like to see it—search online for “Simon Sinek on Millennials in the
Welcome 2017! Let’s look at the music news of 2016…
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were wonderful! We loved the time off but are so glad to be back teaching music lessons. Looking back on last year, wasn’t 2016…unusual? I mean, in the world, yes, very. But also
Live Music in Kansas City!
December is here! This is my FAVORITE month and, probably not a coincidence, is also the month most filled with musical performances! Below I’ve listed out some noteworthy live music events going on in Kansas City this month. Search online
Fall Concerts and Cultivating Creativity
I love to read, and in the last few years I’ve been gravitating towards non-fiction. Lately I’ve been reading and working through a very interesting book, The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron. It’s a 12-week study to discover and cultivate