What's Missing In Music Education Today?
Music education has come a long way in recent years. We are no longer relegated to any one style of music or instrument. We now know that all individuals are born to be musical, and that music can be taught as its own language. And we know that a strong music foundation can raise academic success in all subjects.
So what’s missing?
A family centered approach to learning music.
A customized and proven path of teaching music with age- appropriate stepping stones to understanding.
Teaching creativity.
First, why are so many music classes still not involving families?
As educators, we now know that a child’s first and most important teacher is, and always will be, parents. At Olenka School of Music (OSM) we believe that when children learn, sitting right next to their parents, children literally learn HOW TO LEARN. Parents don’t have all of the answers, but they demonstrate to their children how to ask questions, how to challenge themselves, how to have fun learning, and what to do with that newfound knowledge. When parents are involved, children feel safe, secure, and confident in a new environment, and we want to foster and encourage that confidence in their new music skills.
OSM classes incorporate family challenges and parent/ child contests. Essentially we believe there is an exponential return on investment when we educate multiple individuals for the price of one. Parents as well as children leave class with a new understanding, respect for and confidence in - music, and each other. Everything is stronger when done together. And that’s an important core value for OSM.
Second, why are so many music classes stand-alone courses, unconnected to a larger picture of stepping stones and clear paths for growing and learning students?
We’ve seen time and again music classes that either focus on age OR level of experience, but not both. At OSM, all of our classes are specifically created with both age and music experience taken into account. We KNOW we have the prefect class for your family, because we offer classes to fit every age group (from 1 month-olds to adults), with age- appropriate exercises, activities, and challenges. But we ALSO have these classes available for every experience level. So we offer beginning music foundation classes for adults who have absolutely no music experience. And we offer advanced curricula for middle and high school students, who are eligible to apply it toward college credit. And every class in between - for every age and experience level.
What’s more, at OSM each of our classes incorporates what students have learned in previous classes, as well as introduces new concepts. We’ve been studying music curricula nearly fifty years, so we know what works and how much new information we can introduce in each class without overwhelming students. We know how much review will really help cement a new concept in a student’s brain and which activities work to help do that. We know how to keep classes engaging with just enough new material, without becoming overwhelming (with too much) or boring (with too little.) Our curricula builds on past classes, creating stepping stones to future classes, and involves fun, age- appropriate activities to truly win over families and make learning music fun!
Finally, music education involves whole-brain learning. The reason music students perform so highly in other academic areas is because their brains are already stimulated in so many different arenas. The left-brain focuses on the rational, logical side of music: the “math” of music - counting and key signatures and patterns, while the right focuses on the creativity, the emotional aspects, the tears, or inspiration one feels with certain songs.
So why do so many music classes fail to incorporate that creativity into their curricula?
Many music classes focus on the left-brain, how to count rhythms, or memorize scales, but fail to even mention the very key component that fills us with life - creativity - from the right-brain.
At OSM, our classes DO incorporate that critical piece of learning, because THAT is what fuels our souls! Without the passion, the emotion, the thrill, music would be a lost art, and OSM not only teaches that, we PROMISE it. At OSM, your student will begin composing their own music. They will sit down at the piano and improvise - ON THEIR OWN. Furthermore, they will LOVE to do it. Why? Because they understand the foundation, true, but perhaps more importantly, because they understand how to love the creative process.
At OSM we believe involving families, creating a logical stepping stone age- appropriate path, and inspiring creativity are what makes our music school different from all of the other music schools out there. We ARE special and we love what we do, here at OSM. Come see for yourself!