Hello everyone! It’s a huge privilege to be featured by my alma mater in “20 Outstanding Eastman Women for 2020.” I’m absolutely inspired and grateful to be featured next to musicians I so deeply admire! And yes, I just about dropped my phone when I saw the article, it was a wonderful surprise! Mobile users, click through to your browser to access links and photos. Check out the article on Eastman’s home page here, and tune in to a recent Eastman video about Kids Aren’t Lazy here. Wishing you all a safe and musical spring break with your families!
Photo credit: Dr. Lisa Caravan. Shared with permission.
Last week was so full of teaching inspiration! It was a dream come true to speak about pedagogy with string performance students at the Eastman School of Music (mobile users, click through to your browser to view the photos). Eastman’s performance majors (both graduate and undergrad students) already had so much insight into teaching and it was such a privilege to spend time with them! Many thanks to Dr. Lisa Caravan and Eastman’s Music Teaching & Learning Department for sponsoring my visit. It was especially exciting to hear that Dr. Caravan and her students headed to ROCMusic to teach immediately following our class together! If you haven’t heard of ROCMusic, click this link and check it out!
It was incredible to speak with musicians, professors, administrators, and teachers before and after the lecture. One band director introduced herself to me before the lecture and mentioned that she has been teaching band for 34 years. Of course, my immediate thought was, “my goodness, I’d love to listen to YOU here tonight too!”
One thing that brings us together as teachers (regardless of whether we teach middle-school brass, conservatory violin, or collegiate physics!) is that deepening our understanding of Growth Obstacles (musical, technical, or academic challenges that, given appropriately, spur development) and Hindrance Obstacles (matters of circumstance that stall progress and strike students unevenly) helps students reach their highest goals. Last week really lit a fire under me to continue collaborating with performers, educators, and administrators in support of students and their families!
There is the distinct feeling that Rochester is full of possibilities for becoming Ever Better. And yes, I’ll be carrying that spirit with me back to my Houston lessons! Together, we are persistent and resilient in our pursuit of self-betterment through collaboration, literature, music, theater, science, medicine, technology, and history.
Many thanks to Dean Mary Ann Mavrinac (vice provost and Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of the University of Rochester Libraries), Ashlee Huff, and Matt Cook for arranging this visit, and to the River Campus Libraries for hosting my trip.
PS — How fitting that on the day of the lecture, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performed for Rochester public school students! Note the school bus parked right by Eastman. 😉 When children see artistic paths and possibilities, it furthers their own voices and artistic potential. And yes, if you look closely, you’ll see that Eastman’s crosswalk features piano keys!
Dr. Kathleen Baynes, Lauren Haley, and Herbert Smith at WXXI Photo credit: Robert J. Braden
As you’ll hear in our conversation, Herb’s enthusiasm for music bubbles over into literally EVERYTHING he says. Listening to Herb, you’ll definitely have an extra spring in your step when you head into the practice room! I would totally have been a trumpet player had Herb been my teacher. Come to think of it, maybe it’s not too late!
Dr. Kathleen Baynes’ warmth and her emphasis on helping families develop self-esteem and soft skills in young musicians made we want to reach across the table to give her a high-five every time she spoke. Y’all, I learned so much and just KNOW I’ll be quoting Dr. Baynes going forward! PS — She has two young musicians (ages 8 and 10) at home!
Many thanks to Dean Mary Ann Mavrinac (Vice Provost and Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of the University of Rochester Libraries), Ashlee Huff, and Matt Cook at the UR, to Evan Dawson and Megan Mack at WXXI, and to Hebert Smith and Dr. Kathleen Baynes. Photo credit: Robert J. Braden
The Rochester Cello Society and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance announce Strategies for Parents of Instrumentalists, a special event with Lauren Haley on Saturday, October 5th from 1:15 – 2:45 pm at the Hochstein School in Rochester, NY. All are welcome to attend this free workshop, which will include an intermission.
From Sandra Halleran, Founder of the Rochester Cello Society:
“The Rochester Cello Society and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance welcome Lauren Haley, renown author of Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation and Talent through Music. Lauren will give a session to Rochester’s parents of instrumentalists. Any parent who wants to learn strategies for supporting their young musician is welcome. Topics will include: the power of parents (and effective communication), developing practice routines that *really* stick, and helping young musicians and their families prepare for peak performance (competitions, auditions, etc!)
This workshop is FREE and will take place in the Hochstein Recital Hall.”
Speaking of interviews, check out Mind Over Finger and listen to Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier’s latest podcast, which features renowned violist Michael Klotz! Both Dr. Gauthier and Mr. Klotz also studied with Zvi Zeitlin, and it’s an absolute delight to hear them reminisce and share their own wisdom as well! Two LHS students, Christian and Jordan, will be studying viola with Mr. Klotz this summer at the prestigious Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival of Miami. Congratulations are also in order for LHS violinists Catherine and Elizabeth, who have also been accepted to the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival (at the age of 11!).
In other studio news, congratulations to Riya, Archana, Vivika, Neha, and Ananya on their successful March orchestra performance at Carnegie Hall! Special shout-out to Ananya for her concertmaster solo!
All are invited to live stream Evelyn Lam’s DMA recital this Thursday, March 21st at 8 pm CST (9 pm EST). Mobile users, click through in your browser to view the live stream link, program, and invitation. Join us in celebrating Evelyn’s amazing musical achievements!
In other news, click HERE to check out a list of brilliant Eastman alumni who have been nominated for Grammy Awards! You can catch the Grammys this Sunday, February 10th.
“Time and time again, Eastman has availed itself as one of the top conservatories in the world. You don’t have to look too deeply into the school to see why. The faculty rate among the very best around the globe. You can take a look at any department and see what makes this school so incredibly amazing. . . . What we especially like about the school is its close-knit relationship to the University of Rochester, one of the premiere research universities in the country. Eastman is exceptionally difficult to get into . . . but for those who want the balance of an incredible education with musicians on par with those studying at schools such as Juilliard, you cannot beat the Eastman experience.“
We welcome everyone for an evening of chamber music, solo performances, and a guest appearance by the LHS Sugar Strings! Pianist Evelyn Lam (DMA candidate, Eastman School of Music) will join us from New York to collaborate with LHS young musicians.
We’ll perform music by Tchaikovsky, Lalo, Bach, and Rachmaninoff in addition to holiday classics! All are invited to join us for a reception following the performances. See you there!
LHS students Lauren, Molly, and Kyle are all smiles following their performances
“This book is absolutely brilliant…a must read for every teacher and music parent in the land…I shall be recommending it to all I know – go buy, now!!!”
ESTA UK Review of Kids Aren’t Lazy, Arco Magazine, Fall 2018
We’re over the moon to share the European String Teachers Association review ofKids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music from the Fall 2018 issue of Arco, which hits mailboxes today. For mobile readers, click through to your web browser to view the full review.
LAUREN HALEY STUDIOS 
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