January 2026 Newsletter
In This Month’s Newsletter
Clapping Builds Musical Brains and Help Kids Read
Fun and Important Dates
Upcoming Recitals and Forum
Welcome Our New Students
Student of the Month: Auldin Jump
Spotlight on Taichiroh Kanauchi (Miss Ty)
Did You Know?
Inspirations
Music Playdates in the Parks
Did You Read Your Newsletter Contest?
Referral Program
Clapping Builds Musical Brains and Help Kids Read
Clapping is one of the simplest, most effective ways to build musical brains. A steady beat in the hands becomes a steady beat in the eyes and ears, which is why clapping correlates with improvements in reading fluency, attention, and working memory: you coordinate timing, prediction, and left–right integration at once. In music, clapping makes rhythm visible and feelable; it turns abstract notation into something the body understands. When children can keep a pulse, subdivide it, and copy or create short patterns, they learn new songs faster, play more accurately, and listen more deeply — skills that translate to schoolwork (reading groups of sounds/letters) and sports (timing and coordination) as well.
You don’t need special gear, just hands, voices, and a tiny routine. Start with a shared pulse (walk or sway together), then layer simple patterns on top. Keep activities short, playful, and repeatable: a few minutes a day beats a long session once a week. Use clear cues (count “1-2-ready-clap”), small goals (“four perfect claps together”), and lots of success — if a pattern doesn’t land, slow it down or shrink it.
Keep tempos slow at first; count out loud together; celebrate tiny wins; and stop while it’s still fun. A few playful minutes most days builds a steadier beat, cleaner reading, stronger memory, and the kind of musical confidence that shows up everywhere — from the lesson room to the living room.
FUN and IMPORTANT DATES
New Year’s Day
Thursday, January 1
During Off-Days
(12/22/25 - 1/2/26, Closed)
Epiphany
Thursday, January 6
Lessons are ON (Open)
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
Monday, January 19
Lessons are ON (Open)