Coralville July 2015 Musician of the Month: Vivian Polgreen
Vivian has been studying ukulele with Dan Engle for 6 months! She also plays the piano and handbells. Vivian says she loves playing because it’s fun to make music! She is in 5th grade at Horn School and is involved in the school choir. When she's not playing music,...
Quad Cities July 2015 Musician of the Month: Arianna Rodehaver
Arianna has been a voice student of Alica Lumberry at West Music Quad Cities since the beginning of May. "Arianna is a dedicated student who LOVES to sing. She is not afraid of a challenge and consistently works hard to improve every week. Though we have not worked...
Marion July 2015 Musician of the Month: Katherine Anderson
Katherine Anderson has been studying piano with Jim Jenkins for 16 months! She is in the 4th grade at Westfield Elementary. She also plays recorder and will be starting drums and violin. Katherine says she loves playing music because it is fun! She is in the 4th and...
Urbandale July 2015 Musician of the Month: Jessica Seim
Jessica is in 5th grade at North Ridge Elementary. She has been a piano student of Janet Winship at the West Music Piano Gallery in Urbandale for nine months. Her musical goal is to join a band and maybe learn another instrument someday. Her advice to other musicians...
Supporting Music Education: Critical Factors for a Successful Program
If you are looking to maintain, build or expand your music program, Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from Schools that Value Arts Education examines 13 critical factors that influence successful arts programs. See an organized approach to the critical factors each...
Rhythm, Composition, and Collaboration Activity for Music Appreciation Classes
Here is a fun and interactive activity for teaching rhythm, composition, and collaboration to students that already have the very basics of reading music (time signature, tempo, and the different note lengths). Ask your students to bring an object to class (preferably...
Telling the Story: What Administrators Can Do
Your administrative team - principal and superintendent - allocate time and resources for instruction. Their support is critical to developing a climate in which your arts program can grow. Administrators need your help in making the music program successful. It is...
NAMM Announces West Music as a Top 100 Dealer
Coralville, IA – June 9, 2015 – The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) recently announced that West Music, headquartered in Coralville, IA, has been recognized as a Top 100 Dealer. This recognition honors the industry's best, brightest, and most...
Encouraging Family Involvement in Music
Research presented from many professional education sources confirms that family involvement is a key element of excellence in learning. Students have more opportunities to be successful and to have meaningful experiences when their families are involved. Music...
Cedar Falls June 2015 Musician of the Month: Bonnie Sun
Bonnie is currently in 8th grade at Bunger Middle School. She has been taking piano lessons with Virginia Lee for the past four years. Bonnie is a motivated student and an enthusiastic learner. She has made a lot of progress over the years. When Virginia assigns music...
Marion June 2015 Musician of the Month: Emma Benjamin
Emma has studied piano with Alice Lindsey for six years. She is a sixth grader at Taft Middle School. She was nominated by Alice because her lessons are always prepared and she plays expressively. Her advice to other musicians is that practice makes perfect. Emma...
Quad Cities June 2015 Musician of the Month: Avery Monson
At only 10 years old, Avery has been playing violin for 4 years, ukulele for 2 and taking drums with Ken for 2 years. She is in 5th grade at Orion Elementary School. She plays basketball, LOVES legos, has been in the Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years and next...