Welcome!

Welcome to the Take Note Studio blog!
When we first discussed this blog, we planned to share child development articles, activities, and parenting resources.  We hoped to highlight our budding musicians across all disciplines, and give you a weekly or monthly recap of what is happening in our studio.  We wanted to celebrate the daily happenings of our studio--whether a stamp on a pudgy baby hand, a toothy smile from an elementary student who finished their first lesson book, or one of our brave adult students picking up a new instrument for the first time -- we are proud of the community we create by enjoying music together. 
By now this is a trite statement, but it’s utterly amazing how much the world has changed in the last few weeks.  The amount of information we are exposed to each day regarding the pandemic, coupled with the changes we make in regard to that information has been exhausting.  We have been isolated, forced to slow down, forced to make choices we never anticipated having to make. We have adjusted and will continue to adapt to this new normal, but if you’re anything like me, I’m guessing it hasn’t always been a pretty ride thus far.
We still want to bring you a blog that celebrates all the things listed above, but we can’t do that without first acknowledging this new, uncharted journey we are on.  Our children are resilient and will adapt to this new normal, but while we are isolated, we understand the importance of connection--staying virtually connected to our friends, class and lesson routines--will help daily life seem more familiar.  Our Kindermusik programming is rooted in brain-based research, which tells us that connections on the outside with other people, build neural connections on the inside. Our interactions with our children and students literally shape their brain!  We want to empower you with skills, tricks, and friendships to make that task just a little less daunting, especially during this time of isolation.  
For our instrument artistry students, we hope to be an outlet for expression and creativity at a time when many other outlets are unavailable.  We are exploring new ways to teach and inspire our students, and we are excited by the possibilities available to us through technology. Our teachers are passionate about being process-based, and I can’t think of a more appropriate time to just enjoy the process of making music and creating art than right now.
Our theatrical singing students will continue learning essential theatre and singing skills like breath control and projection, and their teachers are more than a little excited to use the mute button during these lessons! (Kidding. Kind of.)  We have virtual choreography lessons prepared, as well as mindfulness and performance-anxiety meditations that are great for at home use. We will miss our ensemble sound, but we’re looking forward to watching them grow as solo singers!
While we teach music, underneath the surface we are developing lifelong skills like self-control, willingness, and communication.  We are empowering children to be problem-solvers and to be independent thinkers, and we’re inviting parents to enjoy the process of learning right along with their child. Don’t those all sound like skills we need right now? We thank you for being brave enough to come on this new, virtual journey with us, so we can continue to make Music for Life!
Stay tuned for more details while we stay at home, 
Now wash your hands!
Miss Erin and the Take Note Studio team

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