The monks of Heiligenkreuz Abbey in Austria are reviving the almost lost art of Gregorian chant singing and posting their videos on YouTube. Choosing to share those videos landed them a record deal. Amazingly their new album is doing extremely well on the European charts and is now arriving in America. On NPR Music, Father Karl Wallner talked to host Andrea Seabrook about balancing pop stardom with the religious life. You can hear that interview at YouTube Monks Storm European Pop Charts : NPR Music I have also included the video I found on YouTube that tells you more about this fascinating community. It doesn't surprise me that this type of music is receiving such a resurgence in popularity. I have always enjoyed singing in this style. It has so many layers. Listening to chant has helped bring more peace into my life as well. Enjoy!
7.30.2008
7.27.2008
Quote of the Week "It takes courage..."
"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."
~e.e. cummings
7.23.2008
Winner Parent's Picks 2008!
I am proud to announce that the Elliott Music Studio was selected as Kansas City's 2008 Parents' Pick for Best Artsy Class for Big Kids as part of Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect's First Annual Parents' Picks Awards. Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect , the online resource for parenting advice and community, asked parents to pick the best service in their local communities via the 2008 Parents' Picks Awards.
The ParentsConnect's First Annual Parents Picks Awards identified the best family-oriented places and resources in 52 major U.S. cities. Categories included Best Kids' Museum, Best Toy Store, Best Playground/Park, Best Green Space, and many more. Users, real parents, voted for nominees online from May 19 to June 30, 2008. On July 15, 2008, the ParentsConnect.com site published the Parents' Picks winners. All Parents' Picks businesses were nominated based on recommendations from ParentsConnect.com local city editors who live and work in the cities they cover, in conjunction with ParentsConnect users' feedback. Users' votes and rankings ultimately determined which venues are selected as winners in their respective categories.
Featuring the tagline "We're not perfect, we're parents," Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect strives to celebrate the reality of parenthood and makes parent's lives easier. Geared towards parents with kids of all ages, from newborns to teens, the site offers unique features like the ParentsConnect Local city guide (formally GoCityKids.com) for family activities; personalized profiles that help parents connect with each other; a digital multimedia scrapbook; daily tips for all ages and stages; expert parenting advice; a weekly meal-planner for quick and healthy meals; and celebrity-guest editorials. Each age-related section on the site provides users with daily content to help them through both large and small parenting challenges.
Thank you so much for all the time you spent casting votes for the Elliott Music Studio. We are so honored to be nominated and honored to have won. Check out our listing at ParentsConnect.com and leave a review or rating and while you're there don't forget to sign up for their local newsletter. It definately keeps me informed about all the neat happenings going on in my city for kids.
The Singer's Link
Visit The Singer Link
The Singer Link is a unique community start-up welcoming singers and choral directors no matter what age, experience level, musical preference, or geographic location. This is a unique opportunity to help form the music community you have always wanted to be apart of. I couldn't wait to sign up.
The Singer Link has plans to offer...
-Updated musical news and stories
-Easy access to the products you need
-Concert and tour information
-Ability to view and post photos and videos of concerts, people, etc.
-Special offers on products and services
-Ability to search and connect with people just like you!
Please feel free to check out what The Singer Link has to offer and please don't be afraid to tell them what you think! Check out my personal page. See you on the Singer's Link!
7.20.2008
Quote of the Week
"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."
~Scott Adams
7.13.2008
Quote of the Week
"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."~Judy Garland
7.12.2008
Elliott Music Studio Update
Things have been quite busy for me at the Elliott Music Studio for the last couple weeks. So, I thought I would give you an update on my current projects.
Private Piano and Voice instruction has grown steadily this summer.
We currently have 8 enrolled and attending weekly lessons. My voice students are working on music literacy & sight-reading skills, preparing for musical auditions for this falls' high school musicals and preparing for American Idol auditions this August. I am working with several awesome young people on beginning piano skills and we are having a blast. I am excited about all the new and innovative ways I have learned to help get the word out to our community about the awesome things we are doing at the Elliott Music Studio. I am certain that we will double our enrollment this fall. Our first studio recital is also in the works for this fall. Look for more information about that soon.
Class
room Music for Little Mozarts is a fun curriculum designed for 4, 5 & 6 year olds that are interested in learning piano but aren't sure if they are ready. This class requires no pianos or books to buy. Over the course of the 10-week session a story unfolds with Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse as we share music together. When I first heard of this idea I was thrilled. I have missed sharing music with parents and their children in a classroom setting and see this program as a way to do just that. I have spent the last week putting together a proposal for space rental at a local church. I plan to start offering these classes for families this October.
I have had the opportunity to get to know the Musikgarten program in the past couple months. I am passionate about giving families the opportunity to share music with their children at any age. So many studies show that the sooner we share music with are children the better. Musikgarten is a comprehensive music program that offers programs from birth to age 9. I am also excited that Musikgarten offers a Christian based music class for toddlers and preschools that I know my church would be interested in looking into. I am researching the qualifications for certification in this wonderful program. I plan to take classes next summer.
I am so excited to announce that I will be taking my final class for United Methodist Church Lay Musician Certification. I sent the paperwork in before the July 4th holiday. I will be taking United Methodist Studies in Doctrine to fulfill my United Methodist Studies requirement. Once that is complete, I have an application process that includes recommendation letters, an essay, and an application followed by interviews. I cannot wait to get this all accomplished. I started this process in 2001 and had no idea it would take this long. It doesn't have to, but I have enjoyed the fact that it's a flexible program of study. You now have 10 years to complete the process without having to start over. I am confident that next June, during United Methodist Church Annual Conference, I will be receiving my certificate.
Have you heard of Squidoo? I hadn't until today. You should check this site out. You can create pages which they call lenses for just about anything. They just ask that your lens be about a specific thing or idea that you are passionate enough about to write about it. Now I have a new Elliott Music Studio Squidoo lens page to share with the world. Check it out at http://www.squidoo.com/elliottmusicstudio. I can't wait to add more lenses to my list.
My goal has been to perform somewhere at least once a month as a soloist and I have reached that goal so far by sharing special music at church this summer. Well, I think that about covers it. Each week brings more opportunities and musical surprises. I will start this one with being a soloist at church tomorrow morning.
Private Piano and Voice instruction has grown steadily this summer.
We currently have 8 enrolled and attending weekly lessons. My voice students are working on music literacy & sight-reading skills, preparing for musical auditions for this falls' high school musicals and preparing for American Idol auditions this August. I am working with several awesome young people on beginning piano skills and we are having a blast. I am excited about all the new and innovative ways I have learned to help get the word out to our community about the awesome things we are doing at the Elliott Music Studio. I am certain that we will double our enrollment this fall. Our first studio recital is also in the works for this fall. Look for more information about that soon.Class
room Music for Little Mozarts is a fun curriculum designed for 4, 5 & 6 year olds that are interested in learning piano but aren't sure if they are ready. This class requires no pianos or books to buy. Over the course of the 10-week session a story unfolds with Beethoven Bear and Mozart Mouse as we share music together. When I first heard of this idea I was thrilled. I have missed sharing music with parents and their children in a classroom setting and see this program as a way to do just that. I have spent the last week putting together a proposal for space rental at a local church. I plan to start offering these classes for families this October.
I have had the opportunity to get to know the Musikgarten program in the past couple months. I am passionate about giving families the opportunity to share music with their children at any age. So many studies show that the sooner we share music with are children the better. Musikgarten is a comprehensive music program that offers programs from birth to age 9. I am also excited that Musikgarten offers a Christian based music class for toddlers and preschools that I know my church would be interested in looking into. I am researching the qualifications for certification in this wonderful program. I plan to take classes next summer.
I am so excited to announce that I will be taking my final class for United Methodist Church Lay Musician Certification. I sent the paperwork in before the July 4th holiday. I will be taking United Methodist Studies in Doctrine to fulfill my United Methodist Studies requirement. Once that is complete, I have an application process that includes recommendation letters, an essay, and an application followed by interviews. I cannot wait to get this all accomplished. I started this process in 2001 and had no idea it would take this long. It doesn't have to, but I have enjoyed the fact that it's a flexible program of study. You now have 10 years to complete the process without having to start over. I am confident that next June, during United Methodist Church Annual Conference, I will be receiving my certificate.
Have you heard of Squidoo? I hadn't until today. You should check this site out. You can create pages which they call lenses for just about anything. They just ask that your lens be about a specific thing or idea that you are passionate enough about to write about it. Now I have a new Elliott Music Studio Squidoo lens page to share with the world. Check it out at http://www.squidoo.com/elliottmusicstudio. I can't wait to add more lenses to my list.
My goal has been to perform somewhere at least once a month as a soloist and I have reached that goal so far by sharing special music at church this summer. Well, I think that about covers it. Each week brings more opportunities and musical surprises. I will start this one with being a soloist at church tomorrow morning.
7.06.2008
Quote of the Week
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
~Pablo Picasso
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