February 2018 Newsletter by Harris Academy of the Arts

FEBRUARY 2018 | Inspiring Creativity Through the Arts

Introducing Harris Hotshots! Harris Hotshots is an exclusive club made of individuals who challenge themselves to make wonderful music. These musicians are motivated, talented, hard-working – and we happen to think they are pretty cool. There are two ways to join the Harris Hotshots: 1) Setting and achieving a personal goal, or 2) Completing the monthly practice challenge. Personal Goals: 1. Work with your teacher to determine a good goal for you. It could be something like memorizing a pack of flashcards, completing a level of books, memorizing scales, etc. 2. Set a due date for your goal. 3. Your teacher will fill out a form for you and give it to the office. Your goal will be displayed on the Harris Hotshots bulletin board. 4. Update your teacher on your progress every week. We will update the bulletin board with your progress. 5. Complete your goal by your goal due date and you’re in! Monthly Practice Challenge: 1. In the monthly music challenge, you will compete against yourself to meet a goal for practice minutes. 2. Each level has a different time goal – your teacher will help you determine which level is best for you. Once you have decided on a level, we will put a tracker up on the bulletin board. 3. Take a practice chart (available by the bulletin board) and keep track of your minutes every day. Be sure to write down how many minutes you practiced right away! 4. Tell your teacher how much you practiced each week, and we will update your tracker on the bulletin board. 5. The contest runs from the 1st of the month to the last day. If you’ve met the practicing goal by the end of the month, you’re in! Once you are in the club, your picture will be taken and added to the Harris Hotshots bulletin board. But don’t just stop there! For every goal and monthly challenge you complete, a star will be added to your picture. See if YOU can have the most stars!

Do you have what it takes to be a Harris Hotshot? Let’s find out!

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

New Students Welcoming in all of our new January 2018 students! Dillon Blank Eleanor Eberspacher Ana Grigoras Christopher Gutierrez Russel Hansen Shari Hansen Srikar Kota Ella Stevens Sandarika Warjri Eliza Cline

FEBRUARY STUDENT ANNIVERSARIES 1 YEAR Isabella Neri Sydney Ray Hailey Sheets Kristin St. James 2 YEARS Ayda Balkir Azalia Heider Katelyn Hillhouse Blake Semrad Megan Steckelberg 3 YEARS Alexandria Nelson Alex Kivett Blaine Kivett Elliot Seckman Brooks Xia 5 YEARS David Ruwe 6 YEARS Prema Vasudevan

JANUARY 2018 RECAP On January 4th we had story time for a wonderful group of kids AND a room full of ancient elephant fossils at the University of Nebraska State Museum! WOW! We even made our own history at the history museum; at the end of our story time, one of our audience members thought Archie the Mammoth should be able to play the tambourine too so he threw Archie the tambourine! No ancient fossils were harmed in the making of this Story time. We can’t wait to go back on February 10th! Throughout the month of January, we had the pleasure to attend several wedding fairs both in Lincoln and beyond to show Brides just what our professional musicians can do! Brides loved having actual professional musicians perform at the fairs too! Come by and listen to our professional musicians at The Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy (Feb 9th) or at the Norfolk Bridal and Prom Extravaganza (Feb 18th)! We’ve expanded! Since mid-January, construction workers have been busy knocking down walls, re-routing electrical wires, and putting up drywall as we start our journey to move into the upstairs unit. Upstairs will be the home to administrative offices, a new music library, and more storage! This will allow for even more studio space downstairs for our ever-growing lessontaking musicians! Be on the lookout for little changes to Harris Academy of the Arts these next couple of months!

JOKES

SEE PAGE 4 FOR ANSWERS

Q: If a band plays music in a thunderstorm, who is most likely to get hit by lightning? Q: Why doesn’t the piano work? Q: What would you get if you crossed a stereo with a refrigerator?

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

QUICK TIPS Kara Eddy, piano, cello, beginning strings instructor: “If you are struggling with a section of music, it helps to narrow down the problem. Ask yourself; is it notes, rhythms or fingerings? Once you identify the issue, then you can focus on that one problem. For example: you’re working on a song and can’t seem to get the notes right. Identify that the issue is a note and maybe a fingering issue. Go through the measure slowly and identifying each note by name out loud and make sure the correct finger is on the correct note. Once you have fixed the note issue, double check that you’re fingers are in the correct spot. Then you can add the correct rhythm.” Lincoln Havranek, saxophone and beginning woodwinds instructor:

“It is important when working through music to find out what notes are the most important in the phrase. If a melody can be broken down into just a few notes, do whatever you can to bring out those notes, because most likely, they are the most important ones within that phrase of music.”

You’ll LOVE our Professional Musicians! Do you or a loved one have an event coming up soon? HAA’s Professional Musicians provide live musicians perfect for your corporate event, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, family gathering, birthday party and more! Check out some of our frequently asked questions in regards to our professional musicians

Q: What style of music do you play? A: Depending on the selected ensemble type, our musicians can provide a wide range of musical styles including Classical, Easy Listening, Popular, Broadway, Blues, Jazz, and music from 1940 - 2018. Q: Do I need to make an appointment to meet with you and/ or pick music? A: Our professional musician’s coordinator will meet with you FREE of charge in order to put together a musician’s time line, and assist with the final details. Q: Do you perform during the holidays? A: You bet. We even have our Charles Dickens Carolers that would love to sing for your future holiday event! Q: Can I see a sample contract to learn more about pricing? A: Absolutely! Email Olivia at musicians@harrisacademyofthearts.com and she will get a sample contract sent your way!

A NOTE FROM SYDNEY, INSTRUCTOR & EDUCATIONAL/COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR I don’t know about you, but February tends to be tough for me in terms of productivity – the gloomy weather just makes me want to curl up with some tea and procrastinate work! I know that a lot of our students are feeling the same way, and thus practicing can often be a challenge. We have a couple of ways around the studio to get a little more motivated to be productive in practicing. First is entering in LMTA District Music Festival which would gives a due date on preparing a few songs. Ask your teacher if they are a member of

LMTA and how you can get signed up for festival. Another way to get motivated is by getting involved in the goal-oriented club, Harris Hotshots. You can gain membership to the club by setting goals and competing in the monthly practice competition. Everyone goes through slumps, but we are here to help you through it! Your teachers love motivating their students, and have tons of ideas on how to do so. Happy practicing!

- Sydney

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

COMMUNITY CORNER Referral Program

Earn $20 for every new student you refer to Harris! When you refer a friend to HAA 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!

Yard Sign 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: info@harrisacdemyofthearts.com

JOKES

ANSWERS Q: If a band plays music in a thunderstorm, who is most likely to get hit by lightning? A: The conductor Q: Why doesn’t the piano work? A: Because it only knows how to play. Q: What would you get if you crossed a stereo with a refrigerator? A: Very cool music Do you know any grand musical jokes? Share them with us! Send your musical trivia to marketing@ harrisacdemyofthearts.com

Kindermusik Flashback: These three kids participated in Kindermusik during HAA’s early years AND all three of them, now in middle/high school, are enrolled in music lessons here today! Wow, time sure does fly when you’re having fun! That’s the power of Kindermusik!

February 2018 Spotlight

It may be cold outside, but our students and teachers are on FIRE! Check out our February 2018 student and teacher of the month!

STUDENT OF THE MONTH AMELIA BURBA Amelia Burba has taken lessons at HAA since 2014. Amelia was nominated by her piano teacher, Mai Butler because she practices a lot, has tons of musical talent, is a hard worker, improves very fast, and is working on advanced pieces for her age. She also takes violin lessons with Joy Holz. “Amelia is focused in lessons and comes prepared from week to week. I admire the way she tackles new challenges without hesitation,” says Joy. Congrats on being the February 2018 Student of the Month, Amelia!

TEACHER OF THE MONTH HEERA JANG Heera has experience as a piano instructor in a variety of settings: classrooms, groups and one-on-one. She has worked with students of all ages and levels, including her instruction in middle schools for 13 years. She has been teaching piano since 1989. Heera is creative and adept at adjusting a structured curriculum to the individual needs and talents of her students while ensuring consistent progress. Good musicianship, healthy technique and joy in music are top priorities in her teaching. Heera earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Sookmyung University, where she attended on full scholarship. She also earned her Master of Education in Music from Yonsei University in South Korea and a Master of Education from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. She became a Harris instructor in the summer of 2011.

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

Instructor Availability Have a friend or family member who wants to take music lessons?! Instructor openings at Harris don’t stay available for long. Check out their availability below and sign up today! Mai Butler - piano: Monday 2 openings Tuesday 1 opening Wednesday 1 opening Thursday 2 openings Friday 2 openings Kara Eddy - piano, cello, beginning strings: Monday 1 opening Tuesday 1 opening Wednesday 2 openings Thursday 2 openings Friday CLOSED John Fucinaro - guitar, bass, ukulele, trumpet, trombone: Monday CLOSED Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday CLOSED Thursday CLOSED

Lincoln Havranek - saxophone, beginning woodwinds: Monday 5 openings Tuesday 3 openings Wednesday 7 openings Thursday 5 openings Friday 6 openings Saturday 8 openings Joy Holz - violin, viola: Monday 3 openings Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday 1 opening Thursday CLOSED Friday CLOSED Saturday CLOSED Heera Jang - piano: Monday 3 openings Tuesday CLOSED Wednesday 1 opening Thursday 1 opening Friday CLOSED Saturday CLOSED

Jeff Kuhl - voice, acting, trumpet, beginning piano: Monday 2 openings Tuesday 4 openings Wednesday 1 opening Thursday 2 openings Saturday CLOSED Spencer Perkins - piano, composition: Monday 1 opening Tuesday 3 openings Wednesday 3 openings Thursday 5 openings Saturday 2 openings Sydney Timmons - voice, piano: Tuesday 1 opening Wednesday CLOSED Thursday CLOSED Friday CLOSED Saturday CLOSED

*weekday availability is shown for after school hours, from 3-9 pm ONLY. If you’re looking for daytime availability, please contact the front desk at office@harrisacademyofthearts.com or 402-423-7121.

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

FREE GROUP CLASSES - FEBRUARY/MARCH RSVP today! Practicing Tips & Tricks (Students & Parents!) w/ Sydney Timmons Saturday, Februrary 17th @ 3:25pm For those striving to be better/more efficient at practicing. Also for parents who are struggling to get their kids to practice. Time Periods - Baroque w/ Heera Jang Saturday, March 3rd @ 12:35pm For students wanting to learn about composers, instruments, style of music; good festival prep opportunity. If you are interested in attending a free class, please RSVP by clicking HERE, or calling 402-4237121, or emailing info@harrisacademyofthearts.com to sign up. Classes with no enrollment close 48 hours before class date.

District Festival - Tips & Pointers #1 For those students who take lessons from LMTA teachers, District Festival will be here before you know it! There are three components to festival: performance, theory, and ear training. Each month leading up to festival, we will highlight one component and give tips and pointers to help you or your student nail their performance!

PERFORMANCE

SIGHTREADING: • The judge will hand you music to sight-read. • Take a minute to collect your thoughts! • Look at the key signature • Look at the time signature • Glance through the piece for any surprises, accidentals, etc. • Count a steady beat in your head before you begin. • Once you begin, just keep going. • You’ll likely make mistakes – we’re just sight-reading! Just keep going! The sigh-treading does not affect your score!!!! SCALES: • Your instructor will help you prepare for how many octaves and the correct key signatures based on your level and the keys of the pieces you are playing. • Think quality versus quantity – you are not receiving a rating on your scales. • Set a good steady beat and keep going! • Mostly the scales are a great opportunity to get used to the sound in the room. For pianists, you get a chance to try out the piano and make sure you are seated at the right height, distance, etc.

PIECE #1 • When the judge says they are ready, you’ll play piece one. • Before you begin, take a deep breath, clear your mind, get a good steady beat and begin. • If you make a mistake – just keep going!!! Do your best - No one is perfect! • When finished, wait quietly until the judge tells you what to do next. PIECE #2 • Wait for your judge to tell you when they are ready. • Again, take a deep breath, clear your mind, get a good stead beat and then begin. • Wait at the end for your judge to let you know what they’d like you to do next. At this point, more than likely, they’ll say thank you and dismiss you. That being said, some judges ask follow up questions or may even provide a bit of teaching to help you with technique, style, etc. • As you are leaving, if the judge does not need your music, you can take it from the judge, otherwise, wait a few minutes after you leave the room to ensure that you get your music back before going to the next activity!

WHEW – pat yourself on back! You did it!

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

HAA Events February 2018 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

SATURDAY

Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy 7:00pm-10:00pm, Embassy Suites Lincoln

Investigate 10:00am-12:00pm @ The University of Nebraska State Museum

Little Ladies Date Night , 6:00pm-8:00pm @ Lincoln Children’s Museum

Practicing Tips & Tricks 3:25pm @ HAA

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

FRIDAY

Norfolk’s Bridal & Prom Extravaganza 12:00pm-4:00pm @ The DeVent Center at Divots in Norfolk, NE

24 25

Make-Up Class (FREE) = RED Holiday*Current Break HAA Holiday Students BreakOnlyHoliday Break Field NO LESSONS Trips (FREE) NO = YELLOW LESSONS NO LESSONS OR CLASSES *Current HAA OR CLASSES Students OnlyOR CLASSES Community Outreach (FREE) = GREEN HAA Professional Musicians Performance = BLUE Other = BLACK

Harris Academy of the Arts Newsletter • February 2018

Recipe of the Month

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS! Feb 2 Gregory Burroughs

Kalainey Nickel

Feb 3 Cadence Romano

Estes Stratman

Feb 17 Amelia Burba

Brooks Xia

Feb 18 Cameron Coen

Feb 4 Corbin Rhoades Feb 19 Lincoln Cosby Margaret White-Mclean Feb 22 Vicki Harris, staff Feb 10 Anna Kim Feb 26 Kole Fillmore Feb 12 Harley Campbell Feb 27 Seona Clemens Feb 14 Sophia Schell Porter Giles Feb 16 Chiara Fitzekam

Feb 28 Melanie Weatherly, staff

PET OF THE MONTH: MOSELY Mosely (“Mose” for short) is a rambunctious English Springer Spaniel who belongs to Olivia Wilson, HAA Special Events/Outreach Coordinator. Mose’s favorite things to do are play with tennis balls, chase and bark at squirrels in the backyard, and sing songs with his family! Although Mose is a handful, he is the ultimate cuddle bug who follows his mom around EVERYWHERE.

Want to honor your pet here? Email a picture & some fun facts about your pet to marketing@harrisacademyofthearts.com

HarrisAcademyoftheArts

HarrisoftheArts

HarrisAcademy

Buffalo Chicken Cheesy Penne Ingredients • 2 cups shredded chicken breasts (boil or pressure cook 1 lb of chicken and shred) • 8 oz cream cheese • 1/3 cup buffalo sauce • 1/2 cup chicken broth • 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 3/4 cup blue cheese dressing • 12 oz uncooked penne pasta

Directions 1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. 2. Add the cream cheese, buffalo sauce and chicken broth. 3. Whisk until creamy. 4. Add the paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and salt. 5. Stir to combine 6. Add the blue cheese dressing. 7. Stir to combine 8. Add the shredded chicken. 9. Allow the sauce to simOptional toppings mer for 10 minutes over • Green Onions (chopped) low heat. • Crushed Red Pepper 10. In the meantime, boil a Flakes large pot of water and cook the penne pasta according to package directions, drain, add to the cheesy buffalo chicken sauce and stir to combine.

(Recipe from WhitneyBond.com)

Harris Academy of the Arts Business Hours Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sunday By appointment 2935 Pine Lake Rd, Ste C, Lincoln, NE 68516 402-423-7121 | harrisacademyofthearts.com