Special Section

Strike a Chord

the literary power of music lessons

Katie Hoffman, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

A Chippewa Valley YOUTH SYMPHONY MEMBER TOOTS HIS OWN HORN. Young musicians may one day be in the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony for grades 7-12.
 
A Chippewa Valley YOUTH SYMPHONY MEMBER TOOTS HIS OWN HORN. Young musicians may one day be in the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony for grades 7-12.

Bruce Hering, the band director at Eau Claire North High School, understands the importance of kids being involved in music at a young age. Music can foster confidence in not only classes, but help improve language and abilities to respond to problems outside of the music room. Confidence is necessary when handling problems, especially confrontation, and music helps give children ways to overcome that in a positive way. 

“Music is for life, it goes beyond what you do here in school,” Hering said. “The musical aspect is really the intrinsic value, but the extrinsic value is being able to work together with people on your own without a boss being there, with teamwork and how you work through problems, that goes well beyond music.” 

A key benefit of music education is that it increases literacy skills. (Remember singing the ABCs before saying them?) Loads of studies and research point to the connection of reading, comprehending, and remembering sheet music to the same qualities with literature, then expressing those written thoughts orally, as well as learning by listening. 

And research done by the Institute for Music and the Mind, which compared preschool children that have taken music lessons to those that haven’t, has shown that musical training modifies the brain’s impulses. Not only the auditory portions, but also memory and attention. Similarly, Harvard researchers allege the cognitive effects of musical training enhance motor and auditory skills, plus verbal and non-verbal reasoning. 

MUSIC LESSON LOCALES

Band Lessons on Broadway (902 N Broadway St., Menomonie) teaches lessons for trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, piano, percussion, plus vocal work. Visit BandLessonsonBroadway.com or call 879-5500.

 The local musician’s hotspot, Brickhouse Music (138 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) offers lessons in violin (with a UWEC music grad), guitar (with a Twin Cities jazz guitar phenomenon), and bass (with probably the most prolific bassist in Eau Claire). Call 835-2461 for details.

Eau Claire Music School (1620 Ohm Ave.) prides themselves on being able to teach any instrument, or guide you to find a way to learn it. Classes range from beginner to advanced talents, and they even offer opportunities to take a few classes to try out. They also make an effort to teach the history and appreciation in a social environment. Visit EauClaireMusicSchool.com.

Morgan Music has upwards of 20 instructors that handle multiple levels of: piano and keys, guitar and bass, brass and woodwinds, drums and percussion, violin and strings, plus jazz and music theory. Visit MorganMusicOnline.com.

The Phish Haus* (2303 Garfield Ave., Altoona)) has a downstairs area (JIVE) with an impressive array of instruments for youths to try – in groups and on a stage, if they so desire! They also have recording equipment for kids to cut a CD. This youth center strives to build community through visual, literary, and performing arts workshops. Check out FamilyTies-Altoona.org or call 952-7561. *see art section for more info.

Schmitt Music (4076 Commonwealth Ave., Eau Claire) gives 3,500 lessons every week, and helps more than 10,000 students join their school music ensembles each year (by selling instruments or providing them with lessons to spark their interest). Classes include: Rock Star Academy, Keyboard Encounters, and Music for Little Mozarts, to name a few. Visit SchmittMusic.com.

Unfortunately, space prevents us from listing every single private instructor for music lessons, of which there are dozens (many specializing in a specific instrument). Consult the phone book or search the web. We also did not list choir groups that include children singers, but if you’re interested there are several churches and organizations that have them.