Minnesota School Of Music - February 2022

Minnesota School Of Music - February 2022

A s S een O n :

02.2022 763-432-9713 www.mnschoolofmusic.com

THE MONTHLY MUSICIAN

HOW I LEARNED THE THRILL OF THE FIGHT THE EYE OF THE TIGER

When I retired from teaching to become MnSOM’s first principal, I told all of you that I intended to do more professional and personal development in addition to recruiting, hiring, and training. If this organization is to grow to its potential, I first need to grow as a leader. Feb. 1 is National Get Back Up Day. I love this concept because we all fall down in life. When we do, failure isn’t what defines us — it’s what we do afterward that really matters. On my journey to become a better principal, I recently learned this in a very visceral way. Many of the development options for business leaders are repetitive. I’m no stranger to business conferences or marketing seminars — attending another one wouldn’t be outside of my comfort zone. I knew I needed to do something different. I found an organization that fit the bill. They advertise as a boot camp for Christian men, and when I called, it was immediately apparent that their program wasn’t like any other. They wouldn’t answer many questions about what the program entailed, but they were obviously tough. As I spoke with them, I thought to myself, “This is going to be the biggest challenge of my life.” In truth, I was hesitant to sign up. So often, we let fear stop us from doing something we know we ought to do. I knew I needed to overcome fear, and my faith finally guided me to enroll. When I got to Texas, I quickly found out that “the biggest challenge of my life” didn’t begin to cover what I was about to experience. On the first day, we met an elite military special forces trainer named Sarge. He was very upfront that he didn’t care if we liked him, and he didn’t care about our feelings. What he did care about was making us better men. The other participants and I went through exercises that broke us down mentally, physically, and emotionally. It was an intense experience. It was about to get even more so when, the next day, they blindfolded us and took us to a new location that turned out to be a boxing gym. Sarge asked all of us if we’d ever fought before and told us that either way, we would that day. They made us put on our gloves and, with very little time or preparation, get in the ring and box each other — for real.

southpaw. I’m not a fighter, and I didn’t want to do this. I was afraid. But that didn’t matter to the organization. Either I would knock this guy out, or he would knock me out. Watching the first few rounds, I quickly realized this was serious business. So, when I got in the ring, I decided to play it safe and dance around to tire the other guy out. My opponent had other ideas, and he came out swinging. Before I knew what had happened, he punched me several times in the face. Fists were flying at me from left and right, and I barely knew which way was up. At the end of the first round, my coach asked me what I was doing. I told him I was scared, and when he asked why, I answered truthfully, “I don’t like getting hit!” He asked me if I wanted to stick with that strategy, and at that moment, I decided I would fight back. I went back in the ring, and about 15 seconds in, I threw a jab and then a cross. Both hit my opponent, and while he was reeling from the strikes, I hit him again in the ribs. That knocked him out, and as quickly as it had begun, the fight was over. I had won. At some point in life, we all get punched in the face. It can be metaphorical or literal, but we all fail, and we feel humiliated in front of other people. Whether your punch in the face is a job loss, divorce, or cancer diagnosis, it makes sense that you want to run away. But, as I quickly realized, running away doesn’t work. That southpaw is still there to punch you in the face, whether you like it or not. You can continue to run and get beaten up or face the challenge head-on and fight. Maybe you won’t always win, but you also won’t grow if you can’t overcome the fear enough to try. When I walked out of the ring as a champion, I realized I was stronger than I thought. I also saw that if I’m going to lead an organization, I need to be able to take a hit for the sake of my team. I didn’t set out to fight anybody that day, but I’m a completely different person today because of it. I found something that I didn’t know was inside of me. I won’t say that I’m not afraid of anything, but I am afraid of significantly less. And when the fear hits me, I know I need to get up and strike back.

I’m a bigger guy, so of course, they paired me up with another big guy. Only, this guy was significantly larger than me, a big-old

–Eric Nehring

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Little Sweethearts

BAKE VALENTINE’S DAY GOODIES TOGETHER.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for adults. Let your kids know they are the most important loves in your life with these sweet, inexpensive ideas that the whole family can enjoy! Your children will remember these traditions for years to come.

What’s better than baking with your little ones? If you are short on time, you can find premade dough, usually with a Valentine’s Day theme. Or, you can try out your skills with heart-shaped cookie cutters and sprinkles. It can get messy, but it’s certainly worth it!

MAKE A SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY BREAKFAST.

Guess what? Pink pancakes, pink milk, and even pink eggs are a thing! With strawberry milk, food coloring and strawberries in the pancakes, and food coloring in the eggs, you’ll have an effortless and special breakfast for the little ones.

WRAP UP A SMALL VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT.

Whether it’s a Valentine’s Day outfit, candy, a teddy bear, or a necklace, it doesn’t have to be big or costly! Your children will enjoy feeling the love, and they’ll be excited to get something new. Don’t forget to have fun with the wrapping! Most stores have Valentine’s Day gift bags and wrapping paper around this time of year.

Tip: Set the table the night before after the kids go to bed to make serving Valentine’s Day breakfast easier the next morning.

CREATE VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS FOR EACH KID.

Tell your children all of your favorite things about them with their own personalized cards. There are so many ways you can get crafty with construction paper and glitter. Your kids are sure to love getting mommy-made or daddy-made one-of-a-kind valentines.

Your baby valentines have stolen your heart — make sure they know it by spreading the love! Happy Valentine’s Day!

MEET GUITAR INSTRUCTOR JESSE NORELL FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARK

Nirvana changed Jesse Norell’s life. He still remembers hearing them on the radio for the first time. “I had an emotional reaction,” he says. He immediately wanted to learn drums, but his music teacher handed him a trombone instead. Luckily, that was far from the end of his musical journey. Grunge remained a big part of his life, and when he was 15, he picked up the guitar. “It was the mid-’90s, and the learning process was not streamlined,” he remembers. “There was no YouTube, so it was mostly me and my friends showing each other stuff.” He credits that culture with his love of teaching today. “While I was learning, I was already teaching.” Jesse has now been with MnSOM longer than any other employee. Of the early days, he remembers, “We had maybe 80 students. We would teach with the doors open because there was nobody in the lobby. Now we have about 400 students. The school has grown a ton, and it’s been beautiful to watch it all unfold.” He loves connecting with his students the most when he teaches. “I reserve a decent chunk of every lesson to check in with the kids and how they’re doing. My time with them feels

bigger than the lesson, the guitar, or even music, and that’s really meaningful to me.”

Jesse and his wife, Keri, have been married for 19 years, and they have two children, Tyler (8) and Alyssa (6). He has always loved playing music as much as he loves teaching it, and he put out his first album in 2005. But his band broke up, and his career in performing fell into limbo — until years later when his life changed forever. “We found out on the day Alyssa was born that she has Down syndrome, and she was going to need heart surgery,” he says. “It was a dark time for our family.” But eventually, Alyssa’s health stabilized, and it inspired him to write his second album, “Aorta Borealis.” It’s a reflection on his family’s struggles and a celebration of raising a child with special needs. The album’s title refers to both Alyssa’s heart condition and the northern lights. “When you see the northern lights, you can’t see them well unless they’re against the backdrop of darkness,” he says. “The album is about finding beauty in that darkness.”

“Aorta Borealis” is being released on March 4. Learn more and preorder at JesseNorell.com.

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Before long, it will be performance season. It’s what our young musicians spend their time working toward, but it can also be nerve-wracking. First-time performers don’t necessarily know what to expect and can build up the experience in their minds. Even seasoned performers still get the jitters. TIPS FOR FACING YOUR FEARS A LITTLE BIT OF STAGE FRIGHT?

Kathy S. Henry H. Avery H. Valerie H. Maverick M. Lindsay B. Peyton P. Aiden C. Charlotte E. Charlie Y. Sam F. Paige L.

Claire M. Andrew F. Paris K. Dagny M. Brielle A. Cora A. Haven F. Kiana F. Asher O. Lucie F. Charlie F.

This newsletter cover article is all about fear, so it’s the perfect time to talk about performance anxiety. If you’ve

ever had to perform, speak, or present in front of a large group, you’ve likely had nervous butterflies in your stomach and sweaty palms. Your child is no different, so we’ve provided some tips to help them through it.

Be prepared. The adage has stuck around for a reason: Failing to

prepare is preparing to fail. There’s simply no substitute for practice. Our teachers do everything they can to prepare students for their performances, but performers have to do their part at home.

IS YOUR TEACHER SOLD OUT?

Before performing live, a student should practice performing every chance they get — whether it’s for their friends, family, or stuffed animals. Think positively. When faced with a challenge, many of us instantly begin doubting ourselves and assume we’re going to fail. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Performers should know how to talk to themselves affirmatively and get in the right state of mind before going on stage. No matter how nervous they are, they should remind themselves that they’re great musicians and the audience loves them. Envisioning success makes it more likely to come true. Remember you’re among friends. When students perform at one of our recitals, there’s no music critic in the audience looking to rip somebody to shreds. The audience isn’t scary — they’re friends and family who all want everyone to do well! If a mistake happens, most of them won’t notice. And even if they do, they won’t judge people or laugh at anyone. Remind your child that the audience is there to show support and celebrate each student’s successes, not tear anyone down. In the end, many performers agree that a bit of nervous energy is a good thing — it keeps them on their toes and playing at their best. But a little goes a long way, and we don’t want any of our students to feel paralyzed with fear. You already know your child is a star. Help them shake their self-doubt so they can shine on stage.

Zach Barrett: SOLD OUT Amber Bibelheimer: SOLD OUT Jodie Bunish: SOLD OUT Sam Ferbuyt: SOLD OUT Pauline Hsu: SOLD OUT Sharon Lehner: SOLD OUT Laura Morris: SOLD OUT Nambi Mwassa: SOLD OUT

Kurt Nistler: SOLD OUT Jesse Norell: SOLD OUT Jennifer Parker: 1 spot left! Gavin Popken: 4 spots left! Kirsten Rotvold: SOLD OUT Theresa Sarbacker: 2 spots left! Patrick Sullivan: 4 spots left!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

How Mr. Nehring Learned to Take a Punch

Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Kids

Meet Jesse Norell

Overcoming Performance Anxiety

Improve Your Health With Fitness Trackers

IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH WITH FITNESS TRACKERS

SLEEP MONITORING

Over the past decade, wearable technology has seen an incredible boom. Wearables like Fitbits and the Apple Watch used to be nothing more than glorified step counters.

Many fitness trackers give you insight into your sleep routine and will even track your movements so you can find out if you were tossing and turning all night. Others go further by

Since their debut, though, fitness trackers and wearables have gone through various updates that have made them essential to the fitness community as a whole. This is because wearing a fitness tracker can add great benefits to your lifestyle and can even improve your daily life.

detecting your body temperature, heart rate, and energy expenditure. You can use this information to create a sleep schedule that works for you or make any adjustments to your sleeping conditions if they are preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.

HEART RATE

FUTURE UPDATES

A built-in heart rate sensor is possibly the most vital feature available in almost every wearable device and fitness tracker. There are many exercise machines that track your heart rate, but those are only useful if you know your resting heart rate. With a fitness tracker — whether you’re sleeping, sitting, running, or exercising — you will know exactly what your heart rate is and what’s normal for you. This is important because it will help you notice irregularities so you can better understand your heart health.

Fitness trackers and wearable devices are still a relatively new technology. Tech companies are continually updating them and introducing additional features. For example, new wearables that are hitting the market can track blood sugar, which could be incredibly beneficial to those with diabetes. Wearable tech will continue to evolve — only time will tell what features and functions companies will unveil next.

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