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Play it again SAM!

Click here to download Family Fiddle Fest Information.

Sign up for Singing
Thursday, January 12, 5:00-6:00 PM, meet Blake Siskavich at SAM and sign up for "Little Voices Singing" classes which begin February 2 at 5:00 PM. These high-spirited singing classes, designed for young students ages 5 - 8, will include folk songs, singing games and rhythmic sequences using singing rhymes. The children will learn how to find their natural voices, use them in a healthy way, how to sing with others and follow a conductor. No audition is required.

"Hot" Classes in the Cold Winter
Monday night Jazz Band with Zach Lange.....starts January 30.

Wednesday night Blues Band with Tj Wheeler.....starts February 1.

Private lessons in Banjo, Mandolin, Blues Guitar, Ukulele and more with Tj Wheeler.

Stay healthy Alexander Technique Lessons with Carol Kenney.

Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) for High School Credit.........more to come so.........Play it Again SAM!

Guitar Tricks for a Middle-Aged Dog by Gary Marcus:

Is mastering music and languages just for the young? Not if you know how to teach older brains.

Wall Street Journal - Life and Culture - Guitar Tricks for a Middle-Aged Dog.

NHMTA Competition Winners Recital

Left to right - Lynne Wilby, Jeannie Goodwin, Kevin Ma, Mila Filatova, Kevin Chen, Sam Williams, Kara Grellman, Natalia Grellman, Catherine York, Christine Petrucci, N.C.T.M.

NHMTA Fall Honors Recital

SAM students of Christine Petrucci and Ernie Houle performed at the NHMTA Fall Honors Recital on November 19th (front row - students Brian Coffen, Jack Gallahan; back row - students Meghan McPherson, Ben Kotzen, and instructor Christine Pertucci, N.C.T.M.).

Hannah does it for the 2nd time!

Congratulations to Hannah Thompson for her acceptance into her region's Maine District Music Festival. Hannah, a sophomore at Traip Academy in Kittery auditioned and was selected to participate in the festival. She is a horn student of Jennifer Larson. Congratulations, Hannah!

SAM Student wows audience at NHS Talent Show!

Ben Kotzen, played his way into local fame with his creative performance of The Theme from "Phantom of the Opera" at the North Hampton School talent show recently held on the stage of Winnicunnet High School. Ben is a piano student of Christine Petrucci, N.C.T.M.

New Course - The Alexander Technique

One of the leading methods of teaching body awareness and the "best use of self" is the Alexander Technique. We welcome Carol Kenney, a graduate of the Ted Dimon Institute for Alexander Technique, to our SAM teaching staff. The Alexander Technique is taught in universities and conservatories such as the Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory of Music, Yale School of Drama and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television...and now at Seacoast Academy of Music!

For more information on the Alexander Technique, visit www.alexandertechniqueworldwide.com.

Why should anyone study a musical instrument?

In the early 1970's I was teaching piano and organ at a local music studio. At my busiest, I taught 106 students each week, individually and in small classes. The majority of my daytime students were retired adults, and I quickly learned from these "seniors" that the old saying you can't teach an old dog new tricks was patently untrue! My oldest "beginner" was a delightful 86-year-old former schoolteacher who proved to be a quick study indeed. I also fondly recall a couple in their late 70's who took six months of lessons before moving to Florida. They later wrote me describing how much they were thoroughly enjoying their "golden" years playing their favorite songs on the piano. Science, of course, has since proved that we can continue learning throughout our lives, and that doing so is not only good "exercise" for the brain, but also good for our overall well-being.

In the early 1980's psychologist Howard Gardner wrote the book Frames of Mind to promote his theory of "multiple intelligences" (MI). Gardner felt that intelligence, as narrowly defined at the time (reading, writing, arithmetic), did not take into account the wide range of human abilities. Gardner defined seven (later expanded to nine) distinct areas of human intelligence, in the hope that parents and teachers could use his MI theory as a way to recognize and nurture special talents in children. One example of Gardner's "intelligences" is what he terms bodily-kinesthetic, where talent is expressed through bodily sensations, such as in dancing or athletics. Music is another area, as demonstrated by individuals with "innate" musical ability. Many of us view these intelligences as our "talents" or "gifts." We desire to develop our talents and to use them to benefit others. Yet as we do so, we improve our own spirit, mind and body. While innate "natural" musical abilities may vary from person to person, human beings are all "hard-wired" to learn music, and the benefits apply to everyone.

If you've ever studied an instrument - piano, for example - you've likely experienced the initial frustration of trying to get your two hands to work together (coordination). Think of your brain as two very powerful, specialized computers (left brain and right brain) with only a thin, ethernet cable (the corpus collosum) connecting them. This "connection" or communication pathway between the two brain hemispheres is what you are developing as you practice, and it becomes more efficient over time. This enhanced ability to use simultaneously both sides of the brain translates to greater creativity (thinking "out-of-the-box") and problem-solving (seeing the "big picture"). More than many other activities, learning music exercises the entire brain. It is particularly important for school-age children, as it improves their learning ability, reasoning, memory, and even language and math skills. As for the adult learner, music will keep your mind young; you will think more quickly and accurately, and you will even improve your memory!

So, if you've ever wanted to learn an instrument - just do it! It's never too late! Do it for fun, for your health, for your brain. You don't own an instrument? Actually, you do - it's your voice! And to put those voice lessons to good use, you could join a community chorus or church choir. If you're thinking I can't learn music because I'm tone deaf, consider this: if you can tell the difference between Happy Birthday and Jingle Bells, you're not tone deaf!

A special note to parents... If you are concerned that music lessons might interfere with your child's "regular" studies, be assured that quite the opposite is true: learning music will positively enhance your child's learning. Alas, realize that studying music is not apart from your child's schooling - it is a part of it!

Ernest G. Houle - SAM Piano Faculty

To show our appreciation we will offer to all SAM students:

Give the Gift of Music

Give the gift of music! Special gift price for a limited time. Buy a gift certificate for any of our 6 week trial lessons (6@30 minutes or 6@45 minutes) and receive 10% off tuition price! Call or email us to purchase your gift certificate and mention code GC10B to get your discount. Offer good through December 1, 2011 - not valid with other offers and lessons must be taken and completed by June 4, 2012. Sorry, no refunds or exchanges.