The Top 5 Reasons YOUR CHILD Needs Music Lessons

Bob Dylan truly hit the nail on the head when he wrote “The Times They Are A Changin” in 1964! 

As a whole, the world we live in is always changing. What we do for our children today can make a huge impact on their success for tomorrow. With the paradigm shift in today’s education system, there is a drive to always be one step ahead of the game. Parents just like you are finding it harder to keep up. It is harder to help your children at home with their school work and to get better grades, harder to help them deal with stress and anxiety, and just harder in general with the demands and expectations of them in today's world.

Here at NHAOPA we constantly here things like:
“ I can’t do their math, it’s not like ours was”  
“ I can’t believe they are learning that already”  
“ I don’t remember how to do that”
“ He/She is so shy”
“ He/She has behavioral issues”
“ He/She struggles making friends”
  etc., etc.

In today’s society, Google, Siri, Alexa, etc. have made it so simple to just ”ask and you shall receive”. Although technology can be helpful, in many ways it can also teach us to not think on our own and doesn’t encourage creativity. Getting your child to want to put the work in and not look for instant gratification is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to challenges facing parents today. Let’s not forget all the social media outlets can be both good and bad! 

Any extra curricular activities like sports, dance, martial arts, scouts etc are amazing ways to keep your kid active, thinking, socializing etc. But there is something very special about music lessons. Music lessons exercise the mind in a way like no other extracurricular activity does.
That is why music lessons are one of the best ways parents can help their child with their education, emotional/behavioral issues, and their overall well-being. With that said these are the …

Top 5 Reasons YOUR CHILD Needs Music Lessons:


1. STUDYING MUSIC CAN INCREASE YOUR IQ
Extensive research done in this area has proved that children who learn to play a musical instrument do better in academics. Learning an instrument can dramatically enhance children's abstract reasoning skills. 

PRETTY AWESOME, RIGHT? Well, what’s even more awesome is : playing a musical instrument is the only activity that neuroscientists have studied (including playing sports, reading and painting) that has this effect.

Playing an instrument requires counting notes and rhythms and can help your child’s math skills.  Also, learning music theory includes many mathematical aspects.  Studies have shown that students who play instruments or study the arts are often better in math and achieve higher grades in school than students who don’t. Students who are involved in making music in their teenage years score 100 points higher on the SATs.

According to a study published in the journal Psychology of Music, “Children exposed to a multi-year program of music involving training in increasingly complex rhythmic, tonal, and practical skills display superior cognitive performance in reading skills compared with their non-musically trained peers.”  It’s not surprising to hear results like that because music involves constant reading and comprehension.  When you see black and white notes on a page, you have to recognize what the note name is and translate it to a finger/slide position.  At the same time, you also have to read what rhythms the notes are arranged in and force your tongue to produce the correct pattern

Dr. E. Glenn Schellenberg led a study to find out if students would have a greater IQ boost from taking music lessons for a longer period of time. The test groups were given music lessons for six full years instead of just one, and the researchers found that the lessons had a positive and cumulative benefit.

“The study involving the younger children found that each additional month of music lessons was accompanied by an increase in IQ of one-sixth of a point, such that six years of lessons was associated with an increase in IQ of 7.5 points, compared with children who did not have the same amount of musical instruction.” – C. Munsey

2. STUDYING MUSIC CAN IMPROVE SOCIAL SKILLS
When you become a musician or a vocalist, you become a part of something very important a “community”. In a digital age where electronics teach us to become introverted, kids find it more difficult to talk to others and express how they fee. Learning an instrument can help foster self- expression at it’s highest level, can improve social skills, and can help children learn how to relate to others. 

Learning to play and instrument as a solo artist is definitely something that your child can enjoy, but getting together with others to create a unified sound has been proven to have extra benefits for your child. 

Friendships and relationships are strengthened through common interests and artists typically find that their most meaningful (and longest lasting) relationships are found through those they meet through the sharing of their art form. Even today as I write this blog I find my longest lasting friendships are with the friends I made in my early years as a singer in high school.

Not all children are naturally outgoing or like to be the center of attention. Shyness in children can be tough to overcome and one of the best ways to deal with shyness is to approach it head-on, and music is a great way to combat it. Gaining a musical skill creates a sense of confidence, and this confidence can greatly impact your child’s interactions with others. Once the musical skills start growing, the next step is performance, although this can seem terrifying at first. 

As music educators, we have found that consistent, low-pressure performance opportunities are key to overcoming these fears.

At NHAOPA  we produce a minimum of six cabaret style shows per year giving our students the opportunity to perform on a consistent basis.  This consistency helps to keep them motivated with constant short term goals that are achievable and allows our parents to see their child’s growth. 

When you combine increasing musical skills and consistent performance in an encouraging environment, shyness usually diminishes and the student begins to blossom.These changes can positively impact a child for a lifetime.

3. STUDYING MUSIC CAN BUILD CONFIDENCE 
Being able to play an instrument well doesn’t happen overnight. Polishing this ability involves a great deal of patience, time, passion, skill, discipline, and most importantly, practice. Although the training process can be quite complex for any individual, the reward in the end is like no other. Overcoming musical challenges that you thought you’d never quite master can give you a great sense of pride.  When you first start learning how to play an instrument, it seems like just holding a note for a couple beats or hitting a high pitch is an amazing accomplishment.  Many small successes will eventually breed long term, innate self-confidence. Completing a practiced piece and hearing the applause, children are filled with a sense of achievement and learn that even the most difficult tasks are possible. This prepares them for life by providing a sense of confidence that enables them to tackle any and all difficult tasks head-first.

4. STUDYING MUSIC CAN HELP ACCOMPLISH SHORT AND LONGTERM GOALS
Setting goals is crucial to making progress in anything that we pursue in life. Many times others set goals for us including our parents, teachers, bosses, coaches, government or peers. Goal-setting is an important part of day-to-day living, and it is the first step toward achieving a sense of accomplishment. Proficiency on an instrument is a long-term goal achieved over a period of many years. In order to accomplish this goal, the music teacher and student must set and accomplish short-term goals that will ultimately lead to long-term achievement. One of the greatest rewards of being a music teacher is to help young students become top-notch musicians and performers over the course of their elementary through high school years. Some students go on to pursue music as a career path and others go on to pursue other passions. Whatever their pursuits, taking music lessons will have taught them how to make progress towards their dreams.



5. STUDYING MUSIC CAN FOSTER SELF EXPRESSION AND CREATIVITY
Stuck in everyday routine lives, many of us lose touch with our creative side. Learning to play a musical instrument, especially when you reach advanced levels, can foster that lost creativity. The same is true for your children, since music education plays on your mental, emotional and cognitive abilities, the brain is stimulated to think out of the ordinary, which results in improved creativity. The world’s greatest leaders, innovators and inventors have something in common – creativity. Making music naturally elicits self-expression and creativity, and the ability for students to express themselves with confidence and creativity opens up incredible doors of opportunity. As you think about which extracurricular activities to choose for your kids, consider the true benefits of your investment. We all want our children to live life to the fullest and to experience great happiness as they follow their dreams. Sometimes, they need a little guidance from us. We invest in our kids' futures by giving them opportunities such as music lessons. Taking music lessons cultivates qualities that lead to lifetime success. Make learning a music instrument a priority in your home and encourage your kids every step of the way.

The list can truly go on. As a private music educator I have had the pleasure of seeing so many student’s lives transformed for the better because of music. At the end of the day that is what teaching is all about, making a difference in a child’s life!! If you want to see a difference in your child’s self confidence, behavior, and academic performance, you might want to consider music lessons. 

PS. If you would like to see how music lessons can help all the difference for your child book your consultation today!

The word “lesson” during the summer time can be a very scary thing for children and teens. Summer is the time when they have no homework, and they can finally pay attention to things like social media and video games. Summer can also be a great time to relax, go to the beach, and enjoy family vacations. Even suggesting lessons can definitely put a lot of stress on their precious time off. However, we have found summer music lessons can be one of those activities that awaken artistic interest in children and teens.

The 5 Top Reasons Summer is the PERFECT TIME TO START MUSIC LESSONS!

After collecting some information from our teachers and parents, we’ve reached these conclusions:
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 1. Students who take private music lessons during the summer in voice, piano, guitar and the like tend to advance faster. During this time, most kids have no homework, therefore, they can dedicate more time to learning an instrument.

2. Summer can be fun, but it can also be very boring; adding music lessons eases boredom. Spending time learning an instrument keeps kids working on something positive and staying out of trouble, especially when the parents are at work and they are home by themselves. When students start working on pieces that they can quickly show off to their friends and family, they get a great feeling of accomplishment! 

 3. Combining music lessons and free time is a great recipe for making friends. When kids attend music schools, they get to meet others with the same interests, creating new and long-lasting friendships. This applies to adults also!

 4.  Adults can also take advantage of music lessons. Maybe now, during the slower summer months, you might have the time to finally dedicate an hour or two a day to that instrument you have always wanted to play. If you can go through the challenging parts of learning an instrument during the summer, when it’s time to get back to work, lessons will be easier and less tedious.

 5. Voice lessons aren’t just for singers! Professional speakers such as teachers, lawyers, doctors etc. are the worse vocal abusers!  In professions such as these, your voice is your way of making a living! Learning simple vocal exercises, typically used for singers, can help keep your voice in good health for your profession. Taking lessons during your time off in the summer can truly help protect your career. When you are back to your busy work schedule and have to do things such as travel, lessons with one of our certified coaches are still available via Skype or FaceTime from anywhere in the world!

As the summer approaches, many students (and parents) look forward to the smell of BBQ’s, beach days, field trips, waking up late in the morning and to do nothing at all. It sounds like a dream come true, right? 
But now that I am not only a teacher but also a parent, I have become concerned about the amount of free time my child will have, most likely on his tablet or watching TV. Then my PARENTAL instincts kick in and I realize that my child will be off for two months! Most likely he will lose whatever progress he has made by not practicing the instrument he has been working on for the past school year. Finally I realize, it’s going to cost me more money to bring him back into it. Basically it will be like starting all over again, becoming a vicious circle of money and time wasted.

Summer, It’s the perfect time to REALLY get into your favorite instruments for various reasons:

1. Keep your mind active  Sitting around all day playing video games can become obsessive during summer. It’s a fact the playing an instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and can raise your IQ by up to 7 points! Research has also shown that playing an instrument increases the capacity of your memory. Kids need a bit of structure.  Freedom is wonderful but an idle mind is not.  A diet of only TV and friends is unhealthy to say the least.  Parents need to moderate and encourage brain work.  Since music is a language, if it is not used it’s lost.  When a student does not take summer lessons, depending on the age of the child, it can take up to a month to retrieve past skills and establish a practice schedule.

2. Retain the Skills You Learned!  Each year students learn new skills in their music lessons, which are essential to their growth as a musician. These are quickly and easily lost when we let our instruments collect dust all Summer. Becoming a musician is like building a house. If the foundation is weak the house comes a tumbling down. Fundamentals, reading and technique are the first things we lose when taking an extended break from regular playing.

3.- Musicians are athletes. We need to retain muscle memory in our bodies to be able to play our instruments. Do you think professional football players take the summer off? No way! They’re training harder than ever to get ahead during the summer months.

4.- You can work on problems and challenges during the summer. This is the perfect time for a student to master and overcome problems and challenges they have encountered throughout the school year. Maybe there is a piece the student has been working on, but not enough because of school homework, and other extra curricular activities. Summer time offers you the time and the freedom to really master and overcome any obstacles you are having with your instrument. This brings me to the next point.

5.- Build Self-Confidence and Learn Perseverance & Discipline – Overcoming musical challenges that you thought you couldn’t master can give you a great sense of pride. Learning to play an instrument takes time and effort. Practicing often and working on technique and new material requires perseverance. The best musicians are the ones who have mastered discipline!

We can conclude that music, as a language, should be used and practice on a daily basis, otherwise it will be lost. So when you are thinking about those amazing plans for the summer, make sure you include some time to continue the growth of your child’s music education.

"And the Winner of the 2016 America’s Got Talent is Grace Vanderwaal !!
Many of you probably watched live as this 12 y/o little bundle of joy and her Ukulele claimed the top prize at one of the most famous talent competitions around the world, America’s Got Talent! In 2016 she won a 1 million dollar recording contract and her on show in Las Vegas. Not too shabby!!!!!

Since that day, we have been doing some research on this fun instrument, We started to realize that it’s becoming a trend among young musicians, first time learners, and adults. Many professional recording artists like 21 pilots are making it the "Cool instrument to play". In this instant  gratification world of today, the Ukulele, can give the new student the ability to play and accompany oneself rather quickly. This instant gratification leads to the student wanting to practice and perform. It's a total WIN, WIN for students and parents!

Here are our TOP 8 Reasons we think the Ukulele is the perfect instrument for beginners!

1. The Ukulele is a small instrument and has 4 strings. This makes it a perfect  instrument for children, whose hands and fingers are still small and not strong enough to play larger instruments like the guitar!

2. If you don't know how to read music it is an excellent instrument to learn because most music for the Ukulele is written in easy to read Tablature.

3. It is one of the most affordable instruments and is perfect for parents and students on a budget. You can find a good Ukulele for about $50-$100

4. The versatility of this instrument also allows you to play any kind of music like jazz, evergreens, pop, soul, Hawaiian and more!

5. You can jam with your friends on the uke, no need to plug in, no need for bass or drums. 

6. A ukulele player can easily play the chords to a song while a parent, sibling or other friend play the same song on guitar for an instant musical duet!

 7. It's also cute, instant conversation starter and  a new hope for people who always wanted to learn how to play a stringed instrument but didn't. 

8. Lastly, learning to strum the ukulele leads naturally to singing faster than any other instrument!
We are now pleased to offer ukulele lessons at New Haven Academy of Performing Arts.There is nothing better than  the joy of being able to learn and play your favorite songs, and the ukulele is the perfect instrument to get started on.
We can start you on the right path, with proper technique, a bit of music theory, and a TON of fun!
So, if you or your child would like to start learning an instrument, think about the ukulele, who knows this might just be the next "BIG THING" !
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Get your FREE In-Person Ukulele Lesson at New Haven Academy of Performing Arts . Contact us today at 475-238-8119 or simply fill out the form below and one of our office staff will be in touch with you 

When I first heard that Adele was coming out with a new album I was so excited. After she has been gone for so long due to her past vocal damage and a pregnancy I was hoping that she had found a teacher to retrain her vocal technique and rid herself of ever damaging her voice again. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Our beautiful Adele is like so many other singers I meet. Like a moth to a flame she went right back to what got her in trouble in the first place.

I recently watched her first live performance of her new hit song HELLO and my heart broke for her, both as a teacher and performer. What could be one of the best voices in the world will probably be lost yet again. Adele is right back to her old habits that got her vocal damage the first time around.  For those of you who don't know, Adele had a vocal polyp which burst and caused a vocal fold hemorrhage. For a singer this is a very serious problem not to be taken lightly.

The key for her to prevent this from happening again is to be trained to sing correctly with Mix Technique instead of pulling her chest voice too high.  If you pay attention to her words starting at the bridge of the song  at 1:13 of her live performance that I attached you can hear how she has to splat her vowels widely because she is trying to hold onto her chest voice and not release into a mix. Instead of singing hEllo she is singing hAGHllo. She is also forced to  slam all her hight notes with way too much air blow and glottal attacks instead of singing with an even airflow on a legato(smooth) phrase. Sadly she is already having to lower the key to the song and even lower, her voice is sounding taxed and pushed. At times she is not totally in tune either.

This is such a challenge as a teacher today because students come in , idolize these singers and want to sound like them. Too often I hear I want to sing just like Adele ( or blah blah ) and I am like noooooooo you don't. Let me help you learn Mix  and free your voice so you can sing better. We have to look like the bad guy when we attempt to show them that what that person is doing will cause them damage. I hope each and everyday that I can enlighten and educate our students that there is a better way and what you hear on the radio today is so manufactured. Most of the time the real singer can't even sing what we are hearing. 
I am sad to say that I foresee us saying good bye to our dear Adele yet again if she continues down this destructive path. 

P.S. If you would like to learn to sing in a healthy way and not damage your voice click here

Written By Billy DiCrosta 12/12/14

While many people may be thinking “Let it Snow Let it Snow”, as singers we are thinking AHHHHHH my poor voice !! One minute it’s hot and the next its freezing! The cold weather season  is always an issue for singers. The lack of humidity in the air ,due to all the dry heating systems in our homes, tend to beat up our poor voices .Add to that all the coughs and colds going around and it is over dramatic central for all of us singers. So many of you have been asking what you can do to stay healthy and take care of your voice during our lovely  cold, dry cough and cold season. Well Mr Billy. is here to save the day and as always help keep your voice in tip top shape!!!!!

Billy’s Top 5 Winter Vocal Health Tips

1. Hydrate!!!

I can never tell singers this enough. Water is our best friend. People are suppose to drink 8 glasses of water a day (8oz’s each) . For singers ,the recommended dose is double that. In general room temperature is better than drinking cold water when you are singing because the cold shocks your system and can tighten up your throat and voice.Your body does not require any other drinks to hydrate it. Stay clear of soda and coffee !!!!Anything with caffeine is going to   cause reflux and dehydrate the body, You can drink hot tea with honey and lemon (especially  on a cold winter day) 

My Top choices are:

Herbal Teas that do not have Caffeine 

Herba Mate(can be found in health store) it's an Argentinean Tea like product with many wonderful health benefits and is low in acid .You won't get reflux from it like coffee which in the end will  help keep your voice healthy. I buy mine at Trader Joe’s

Throat Coat Herbal Tea(The coaches and I Love this one)


2. Dry air is not our friend!

Although you may like the fact that in the winter your hair doesn’t get frizzy our vocal cords are crying out for the humidity. Radiant and Central heat both dry out our homes humidity. I think all singers should own a humidifier to keep the air and your voice moist. Beware though humidifiers can also get filled with germs . Here are my recommended steps for dealing with the dry germ filled air:

Make sure you have your heating ducks cleaned regularly. Filters get clogged up with all kinds of gunk like dust, pet hair and germs that you do not want to be breathing in. 

Use a cool mist humidifier in your bedrooms but make sure you are cleaning it or the same little germs will take it over.

If you don't have a humidifier you can always fill a bowl of water and put it on your radiator or near your forced hot air to push moisture into the air.

A few months ago a wonderful teacher friend of mine recommended I buy a personal steamer. Let me tell you when I don’t feel well, I'm  dried out or stuffy this little guy is my best friend!!! The personal steamer I have and love you can get on amazon.com It’s called Mabis Steam Inhaler and retails for about $35.00.

3. Wrap It Up!!!!

Baby its COLD outside! Remember we said our voice likes to be warm and moist . Listen to mom and dad DRESS Warm. Simply wearing warm clothes and a scarf goes a long way in protecting you from getting a cold and keeping your voice safe and sound. I must say I LOVE MY TURTLE NECKS . In the winter they are my voice’s gatekeeper!

4. Stick that nose UP in the Air!

Yes, it may be hard for you to remember but try to breath through that good ol' schnoz!  The man upstairs (or whomever you believe in) gave you a nose for a reason . TO BREATH!!!! So many of us often find that we are mouth breathers. Science has proven that breathing through your nose is more beneficial and heres why..

Your nose is like a filtration system. It will catch all the junk in the air and prevent it from getting to your throat and vocal cords.

When you breath through your nose it helps from drying out your throat because your nose moisturizes the air passing through it.

Your nose will also help warm the air before hitting your vocal cords and as we know the warm voice is a happy one.

5. Warm up and Cool Down Fa La La La La!!!

Nothing is worse than singing on a voice that is cold and not warmed up. A cold voice lacks flexibility and vibrancy . Be smart and protect your instrument. On any given day that I have to perform I typically wake up early the in morning, Drink a HUGE glass of WATER and start my vocal warm ups. I typically recommend warming up 3 times the day of a show . If its just a regular day for you I still recommend that you warm up in the morning for a minimum of 10 minutes before going to school , work and wherever else you plan on going.When you warm up your speaking pitch tends to be about a minor 3rd higher .It gives you more flexibility in your speaking for the day and agains helps to prevent vocal fatigue and damage.

But what about cooling down your voice??? Yes that's right Cooling Down! This is equally  as important just like any athlete out there we have to warm and up cool down. Singers tend to forget a vey important factor in the game. We are vocal ATHLETES! So when you are finished  singing or talking for the day make sure you take a good 5 to 10 minutes and sing some relaxing descending scales and put that poor voice back to its happy resting place .

Happy Holidays to all and to all a Goodnight !

Last but certainly NOT least go sleep my little angels of music! In this crazy busy world we all tend to forget that one of the most important things for our health  and happiness is a good nights sleep.


OKAY BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO GET SICK ………


My very dear friend and Ivtom  Advisory Board Member ,Dr. Curt Stock Md. has the best clogged up nose protocol and it helped me so much this past year when I got sick.

This is a 3-5 day on 3 day off protocol. For 3 to 5 days do this everyday in this EXACT order:

1. Use Neo Synephrine (phenylephrine) or similar brand nose spray as directed. This is quick acting, but temporary. It will reduce the swelling in the nasal turbinates and allow the nasal rinse to clean better. It can produce a rebound effect so can only be used for 3-5 days at a time.

2.Use a bulb syringe or Neti Pot with Dr. Stock's all natural recipe for saline rinse. You can do this everyday for good nasal hygiene.

3. Follow with a nasal steroid. This is an effective long acting swelling reducer. It will do a better job with clean turbinates.

Rest 3 days and repeat if needed.

Note: You can buy all these products in the pharmacy without a prescription in the US.

If this is not possible in your country, discuss this protocol with your doctor and see if they will allow you to keep the products on hand for when you may need them.

Curt Stock Md. Saline Rinse. 

To 1 quart of distilled water add and mix well

2 tsp sea salt 

1 tsp baking soda

Some possible additions:

For moisture: 1 tsp glycerine

For crusty thick mucus add 1/2 tsp. of lemon or lime juice (this helps with infection).

By Katelyn Gavagan Piano/Vocal Coach
As a teacher and performer, I have learned the hard way that I am not a super hero if I can sing in every genre of music. If you think of famous artists of today, such as Taylor Swift, you define her genre as ‘pop’. Maybe she could effectively sing a classical aria, but people expect from her music that comes from a pop style. This is a good thing, not a weakness! Sure, if you are asked to sing a classical song but you mostly perform as a jazz artist, I would say it is worth the experience and to go for it. But classical voice and pop voice, although the same instrument, will require very different uses of mix. I felt frustration with this because I have recently joined a funk band as lead singer, while in the month of December I am preparing to sing Handel’s Messiah at a church in my home town. (If you are unfamiliar with the Messiah, it is a classical oratorio, and you have probably heard the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ played during winter or during excitement/relief in television moments.) Every winter I have the opportunity to sing several soprano solos and be a member of this choir. However, while training for the performance, I am finding it difficult to sing classical comfortably, as I have been working on my hard mix for my funk band.  But singing is a discovery process, and I am discovering that my ‘true’ voice is in singing funk. Funk music is a jazz/ rock/blues infused genre, and my voice lends itself well to this style. When I sing classical, I must remember to incorporate what is called a ‘light’ mix. I am excited to have found my ‘true’ voice, while being ok with singing in other genres from time to time.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Sing on!

By Katelyn Gavagan. Piano/Voice Coach
Preparation for a performance can be fun and motivating, but it is important to start preparing weeks before. My 'mix' is becoming stronger and stronger with every voice lesson I take. Yes, as a teacher I still take lessons! And my teacher still takes lessons and so does my teachers teacher! I believe that you can always grow and develop as a musician if you allow yourself to.

This past weekend we performed a musical that Neil wrote called The Witches View, and in it I sang Let it Go from Frozen. When Neil asked me to sing Let it Go I thought, "Me? That song is challenging, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it justice!" This moment I call 'musical dread' because your nerves can sometimes get the best of you. Still, I accepted and began the hard work before performance time.
Here was my checklist during practice:
-Keep vertical vowels and think down on the high notes
-Allow the low notes at the beginning to be in a more spoken voice
-Incorporate movement to add to expression of the song
-Try to sing as myself, be who Elsa is to me, what do I have to let go?

The day of the performance the run through went very well, and when I put on my costume I felt confident! The performance was an exciting success because I was ready.

Sing on my friends!
-Katelyn