Last month, I reminded you all that the ability to teach music is one of your “superpowers”! Dr. Dave and Josh Thye validated this assumption at our September general meeting with their powerful and inspirational presentation on “The Character-Building Aspects of Performance”. I have already begun to share their pearls of wisdom with my students as they get ready to perform in the Music Marathon on Nov. 2nd and at the Original Composition Festival on Nov. 16th and 17th. It is so rewarding to watch the students blossom and grow in their confidence and skills as they prepare for these events! It makes me so grateful to be part of an organization that offers so many wonderful performance opportunities for my students!
After being similarly inspired by the Thye’s presentation, a fellow DVMTA member sent me a related article about helping kids focus on their strengths, improve relationships and build good character. The article was written by Dr. Charles Fay who is well-known in the education community for his ground-breaking “Love and Logic” strategies for developing healthy parent-child and teacher-child relationships as a pathway to improving a child’s behavior and character. In his article, Dr. Fay emphasizes the need to carefully prioritize in order to survive the busy, chaotic lives so many of us lead to keep up with today’s world. After years of observation and research, Dr. Fay very concisely rates and examines the importance of homework, grades, healthy extracurricular activities such as music lessons and sports, chores and parent/child relationships on building good character. On a scale from 1 – 10, he rates these factors as follows: homework – 3, grades – 5, extracurricular activities – 8, chores – 10 and parent/child relationships – 10. Wow! Yet another validation of the importance of the job we do!
As I reflect back on what I have learned this month about the relationship between music and the building of good character, I am ever more determined to do my part in keeping DVMTA strong and active for the sake of our students! I can do this by volunteering to serve on the board or on one or more of our various event committees. I can encourage my piano families to participate in one or more of our events. I can share what I know about the important benefits that can be gained from playing a musical instrument with my students and their parent so that they can see the value of taking lessons and participating in performance opportunities. I can do all these things knowing that I am contributing to the healthy development of the students who sit on our piano benches each week. Are you with me?
Carolyn Rooder
DVMTA President
Click here for full newsletter
After being similarly inspired by the Thye’s presentation, a fellow DVMTA member sent me a related article about helping kids focus on their strengths, improve relationships and build good character. The article was written by Dr. Charles Fay who is well-known in the education community for his ground-breaking “Love and Logic” strategies for developing healthy parent-child and teacher-child relationships as a pathway to improving a child’s behavior and character. In his article, Dr. Fay emphasizes the need to carefully prioritize in order to survive the busy, chaotic lives so many of us lead to keep up with today’s world. After years of observation and research, Dr. Fay very concisely rates and examines the importance of homework, grades, healthy extracurricular activities such as music lessons and sports, chores and parent/child relationships on building good character. On a scale from 1 – 10, he rates these factors as follows: homework – 3, grades – 5, extracurricular activities – 8, chores – 10 and parent/child relationships – 10. Wow! Yet another validation of the importance of the job we do!
As I reflect back on what I have learned this month about the relationship between music and the building of good character, I am ever more determined to do my part in keeping DVMTA strong and active for the sake of our students! I can do this by volunteering to serve on the board or on one or more of our various event committees. I can encourage my piano families to participate in one or more of our events. I can share what I know about the important benefits that can be gained from playing a musical instrument with my students and their parent so that they can see the value of taking lessons and participating in performance opportunities. I can do all these things knowing that I am contributing to the healthy development of the students who sit on our piano benches each week. Are you with me?
Carolyn Rooder
DVMTA President
Click here for full newsletter
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