Student of the Month: Melissa
We love our students! They inspire us, they challenge us, they make us laugh and smile. But most importantly, they are each wonderful, unique individuals getting ready to go out into the world and make amazing things happen! That’s why we are highlighting one of our amazing students every month.
This month's featured student has been part of the Harmony Garden community for years, first as a Kindermusik mom and now as a student herself. Melissa joined Kindermusik with her oldest son when he was just 14 months old, and with her youngest when he was eight months.
Before long she decided to fulfill her own dream of learning piano, starting lessons early in 2020 and quickly becoming a rockstar of online lessons as the studio transitioned to fully online learning at the start of the covid-19 pandemic - even playing music Bingo over Zoom!
When asked about Melissa, her teacher Nicole says: “Melissa is a hardworking and honest student who is always a joy to work with! One of my favorite memories was getting to hear her perform one of her own compositions for the first time. I am so proud of how far she has come and all she has accomplished so far on the piano.”
Q: When did you first get into music?
A: I got into music when my parents bought me my first boombox- a little turquoise, pink, and yellow thing that played the radio and cassette tapes. I would belt out Disney movie soundtracks in my room and pretend I was a professional singer. I’ve loved music my whole life, but it became a more regular part of my life when I had my first son almost 6 years ago and he started Kindermusik. I finally signed up for my own lessons in February 2020.
Q: What do you enjoy most about playing music?
A: I enjoy the challenge of it the most. Reading music and playing piano is not something that just comes naturally to me, and I’ve had to encourage myself to practice restraint and patience as I learned a whole new language and a new way to think. It’s taught me to accept myself where I am at and find beauty there.
Q: Are there any particular musicians or artists you admire?
A: I love so many artists, but a few that come to mind are Sam Smith, Imagine Dragons, Maggie Rogers, Dua Lipa, and The Weeknd.
Q: What are some of your favorite songs or pieces you have learned?
A: I loved learning Tale as Old as Time from Beauty and the Beast (my love of Disney has never died).
Q: What role does music play in your life? Do you have any particular goals as a growing musician?
A: Music and playing piano is something that is just for me, something deeply personal that distracts me from the world and daily anxieties. It really grounds me and helps me work through a range of emotions. My goal is to keep going, keep learning, and to build confidence as a musician.
Q: You’ve also been composing some amazing pieces over the last year! What inspired you to begin composing your own music? Has this changed your relationship with music at all?
A: I didn't really intend to compose when I started lessons, but I am guessing deep down that being able to write my own music is a big part of why I started taking lessons in the first place. I was enjoying doing the short composition exercises in my practice book, so one day, I decided with Nicole that I would to write something longer, something that I could insert more of my own voice into.
I think composing has changed my relationship with the process of learning how to play music. Being able to work on my own work gives me a sense of ownership over my learning, and it gives me a creative outlet when I am feeling frustrated with a piece from my book. It's really cool to see how my composition work has evolved and progressed over the past 1.5 years.
Q: What other hobbies or interests do you enjoy?
A: I love reading, binge watching shows like The Office, and being silly with my husband and kids.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A: To fall asleep whenever or wherever I want.
Q: What animal would you be, if you were not human?
A: I think I’d want to be a bird.
