Hello SKC Music Academy students and families!
I hope you had a wonderful year. I’m so thankful for all that happened in 2024; as a music school we:
• Celebrated our 11th anniversary
• Taught over 3000 music lessons
• Added three great teachers to our roster
• Hosted our first Christmas Jam Session
We are thankful for EACH of you—definitely the best music students in Kansas City!
I read an article in The Atlantic about adults learning to play music, and I want to share this amazing quote with you:
“Plenty of research shows that adults could benefit from playing music. Doing so is neuroprotective. ‘It helps you build up larger brain networks and new pathways,’ Daniel Levitin, the author of the recent book I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine, told me. You build these pathways by listening to music, but physically playing an instrument strengthens motor pathways as well: ‘You’re building up a lot of brain capacity.’ Musicians tend to have better attention than non-musicians. Banging on a drum or tooting a horn can also relieve stress, reduce burnout, and help with anxiety and depression. For older people specifically, research has shown potential cognitive benefits along with a possible decrease in dementia risk.”
If you needed an excellent reason to get into music at ANY age, there you go.
I’ve been toying with ideas of how to make music more accessible for grown-ups – in May, we’ll host our first Band Workshop exclusively for ADULTS! Bands are so fun and educational for our younger students, so I’m very excited to create a space for adults to make music with other adults – no pro level necessary! — this will be a fun month of learning songs in a band setting with a music teacher coaching the way. If you would be interested in that, let me know and I’ll send you more info as we get closer.
Our Winter Band Workshops begin January 6 & 7, and we have two openings left in each band. Please call or email asap if you’d like a spot!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Laura Lee Crandall, owner
Leave a Reply