2935 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 402.423.7121 harrisacademyofthearts.com

inspiring creativity through the arts

HAA Newsletter

February 2015

Student of the Month: Morgan Madsen Thursday nights you’ll hear any combination of Hound Dog, Thriller, The Twist, YMCA, and more coming through the studio walls. It’s not an all-studio dance party (although that’s an idea), it’s the Treble Maker Show Choir, a singing group for ages 7-12 years led by Christine Collins. This lively group is learning new songs for the upcoming Spring Recital. Among these energetic singers and dancers is Morgan Madsen, the February Student of the Month!

Morgan is 12 years old and also plays violin at school. Her favorite subjects in school are science, art, and—naturally—music. Morgan loves to dance and when she’s not doing the Twist (or the YMCA, or the Chicken Dance), she likes to draw.

Read the full feature on our website: harrisacademyofthearts.com/about-us/HAA-in-the-News/Student-of-the-Month

Help us welcome these new

musicians to Harris!

NEW STUDENTS ♫

Nye Alhajhusain Tanis Bennetts Xia Brooks

Bill Hooks

Milla Fiedler

Alex Kivett

Blaine Kivett

Kobe Le

Brayden Luu

Chikoti Mukuma

Alexandria Nelson

Natalie Norman

Defne Otu

Paige Pomajzl

Belinda Rademacher

Bianca Rademacher

Briana Rademacher

Learning is better…

...when enjoyed together

February 9-21

Students, bring a friend to your lesson and let them discover why

you LOVE music!

Each student and their friend will receive a special gift. PLUS, HAA

students will have a chance to win a pizza party with their instructor!

BRING A FRIEND WEEK

A unique choral experience

with choreography, Treble

Makers is designed to

introduce kids to vocal

technique without harming

their growing vocal chords.

Thursdays 5:05-5:55 p.m.

New students may join

anytime!

Treble Maker

Show Choir

“Morgan is a natural born leader and singer. She has such a passion for singing and the talent to go with it. She is always ready to work and participate in whatever activity we are doing and knows how to lead by example. It an absolute pleasure to have her in my class!”

~Christine Collins, Treble Maker Show Choir instructor

2935 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 402.423.7121 harrisacademyofthearts.com

Lee Heerspink has had his share of both life and musical experiences prior to joining the Harris teaching staff. After getting his music education degree he went on to study jazz performance for his master’s degree. From there, after a few years of private teaching and performing, he was placed in the US Air Force Heartland of America Band in Omaha, NE where he had the opportunity to boost

the morale of troops both near and far. Lee recalls a moment during his time with the US Air Force Band when he played at the bedside of a wounded soldier in Afghanistan. “One of my favorite performances,” Lee shares, “was playing an acoustic version of “Knee Deep” by the Zac Brown Band for a wounded warrior at the hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. We asked what he wanted us to play, he said “anything.” He smiled as we quietly sang and gave him a short bedside concert.”

Now, Lee shares his love of music in a different way, by connecting with students in private lessons. At Harris, Lee teaches guitar, bass guitar, and string bass. One of his main goals, right along with the nitty gritty technique and determination with learning any instrument, is to make learning music fun and enjoyable. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know yet another of Harris’ fine music teachers.

Read the full feature on our website: harrisacademyofthearts.com/about-us/instructor-spotlight

Earn $20 For every new student you refer to Harris!

Here’s how it works:

Refer a friend to Harris Academy of the Arts.

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.

REFERRAL 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@harrisacademyofthearts.com

How to take part:

Contact the office to pick up a sign

place the sign in your yard, take a photo

After 4 months, bring the yard sign back to the studio to receive your FREE music lesson or class!

YARD SIGN PROGRAM

February 9-21 Bring a Friend Week

February 14 2:00-2:50 p.m. Music Appreciation Make-up Class (mid-beginning)

February 28 6:30-7:30 p.m. Students are welcome to perform in the Lied Center lobby prior to the LSO concert

March 6 6:00-6:50 p.m. Music Appreciation Make-up Class (late intermediate)

March 9-14

Spring Break (no lessons or classes)

April 10 & 11

Student Spring Recital

April 25

LMTA District Music Festival

DATES TO NOTE ♪

Do you have a furry friend? Now accepting submissions for the

March Pet of the Month! Send your entries to:

info@harrisacademyofthearts.com

Pet of the Month Meet Gir, who belongs to Amy Fairchild, General Manager at Harris Academy of the Arts. Gir loves to attack feet and make trips outside onto the deck, and has a strange fascination with water.

Instructor Spotlight: Lee Heerspink

The 29th Annual Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy

fundraising event brings professional & local

chefs together with chocolate connoisseurs to

raise money for The Historic Haymarket

District and Lincoln TeamMates!

In addition to serving delectable chocolate

delights, entertainment will be provided by

Harris Academy of The Arts and a Silent

Auction will be featured.

Stop by and say hello to our string quartet

playing popular love songs throughout the

evening!

2935 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 402.423.7121 harrisacademyofthearts.com

Instructor Availability Our instructors’ schedules are changing daily. New students can enroll in private lessons any time during the year. Call 402-423-7121 today to enroll! If your ideal time is not available, call or email to get on the respective instructor’s waiting list. (Openings reflect after school times only. Please contact us for information about additional daytime availability.)

Jentry Barrett (violin, viola): CLOSED

Mai Butler (piano): Monday – CLOSED Tuesday – 4 openings Wednesday – 4 openings Thursday – 2 openings Friday – CLOSED Saturday – 4 openings

Christine Collins (violin, piano, voice): Monday— 7 openings Tuesday—5 openings Wednesday—5 openings Thursday—5 openings

(Christine con’t) Friday—7 openings Saturday—10 openings

Vicki Harris (piano, violin): CLOSED

Lee Heerspink (guitar, bass) Monday—5 openings Tuesday—4 openings Wednesday—5 openings Thursday—1 opening

Garrett Hope (guitar, bass, composition) Monday—6 openings

(Garrett con’t) Tuesday—5 openings Wednesday—3 openings Thursday—2 openings Saturday—3 openings

Heera Jang (piano): Monday – 1 opening Tuesday – CLOSED Wednesday – 2 openings Thursday – CLOSED Friday – 1 opening

Jeff Kuhl (voice, piano, beg. trumpet): Monday – 1 opening

(Jeff con’t) Tuesday – 2 openings Wednesday – CLOSED Thursday – CLOSED Saturday – CLOSED

Cristina Vlad (piano): Monday – CLOSED Tuesday – CLOSED Wednesday – CLOSED Thursday – 3 openings Friday – CLOSED Saturday – CLOSED

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Door Hangers Ages 14 and up. A terrific income opportunity for high school students and adults! Earn money while exercising and distributing literature about HAA. For more information, contact us at: 402-423-7121 or info@harrisacademyofthearts.com

Welcome: Christine Collins

Testimonials

Fun Facts:

Favorite color: Yellow

Favorite place to travel: The

beach! Any beach!

Favorite hobby: Reading

Favorite donut: All of them

Little known fact: My favorite

animal is a hedgehog.

Mai Butler has been wonderful. We have seen such improvement in Hannah's playing and she is truly enjoying piano. She is always pleasant and encourages us to be in the lessons and more aware of what she is learning. We cannot say enough nice things about her! -Hannah Melton

Jentry Barrett is an exceptional teacher. Our time together is not only about music, but also about life skills that serve a person well, especially when understanding them early. Jentry is a positive and integral part of my child's growth and potential success: to be a good, capable and happy person -- who also enjoys a love of music and an appreciation for hard work that pays off. I am grateful for Jentry's presence in our lives.

Cristina Vlad is prompt, having our pianos plugged in ready for our lesson. She is very thorough in explaining the lesson and gives us extra time with the difficult pieces. She is a delightful person and I am enjoying her teaching techniques immensely!! She deserves the highest praise!! -Susan Musick

Jeff Kuhl He’s pretty cool.

Heera Jang I love spending time with her.

We are excited to welcome Christine Collins, who teaches violin, viola, piano, voice, and Children’s Music Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas where she studied Music Education with a focus in orchestra and elementary music education. She has had opportunities to study abroad all over the world including the Orff Institute in Austria, the Kodaly Institute in Hungary, and Universidad Veritas in Costa Rica.

Christine began studying piano at the age of 5 and started violin lessons at the age of 6. She was involved in band, orchestra, and choir throughout middle and high school and college. In 2013,

Christine began playing with the mariachi group Mariachi Aguilas and had the amazing opportunity of opening for the world-renowned group Mariachi Sol de Mexico when they performed in North Texas in 2014.

Christine loves teaching and is thrilled to be a part of the Harris team!

Favorite quote: “Let us take our children

seriously! Everything else follows from

this…only the best is good enough for a

child.” ~Zoltan Kodaly

Love

Because it makes my life more

passionate and rich.

It teaches me about life. When I play music by each composer I can feel their history and emotions in the music. ~Mai Butler, piano instructor

Can we get a little mushy? As we all know, February is the month

of Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love. And there is something

we just have to gush about—MUSIC! We’ve asked our students

and staff just what it is that makes them love music so much.

We’re certain you’ll enjoy their answers as much as we did.

Music is like breathing. I have it around

me all the time. I can’t imagine life w i t h o u t m u s i c o r c h o c o l a t e ! ~Luanne, violin student

Because some songs are a way

to express your feelings. ~Steven, piano student

Because you can relax when you’re playing a song.

~Anna, piano student

Because it feels like

you’re in

a new world. ~Clio, piano student

It really expresses your feelings.

You can spread it, show people.

~Nora, piano student

Music is like a best friend.

It understands ME! Whether a good or a bad

day, I share it all with music. ~Vicki Harris, owner & director

Because I’ve always had music.

I always dance to it and listen

when I’m doing homework.

~Isabel, piano student

“I love music because it’s like a pretty rainbow leading lyrics to

make them sound pretty .” ~Annika, piano student