Student of the Month: JUNE 2024 Edition
If we learn anything from June’s Students of the Month, it is that music is not a thing that we do; rather, it is a thing that we feel. From an acoustic guitar-playing 9-year-old to a bass-playing 16-year-old drummer, take a moment out of your day to feel inspired by these students’ stories.
Brandon Encee
There are two things you will notice about Brandon upon meeting him: 1) he has a smile that lights up the room and 2) he really cares about music! This science-loving, Lego-buiding 9-year-old loves playing guitar, maybe even more than he loves playing Minecraft. When asked why he loves music, he responded by saying that “you can play music in your heart.” This is where he feels it. He also feels strongly that music is part of his lineage. His father played bass and it means a lot to Brandon that he can carry this musical ability into his generation.
Ezra, Brandon’s instructor, says improvement is the name of the game for Brandon. He can’t believe how much Brandon’s skills have developed this year. “This dude has gone from barely able to hold an E minor open chord to playing barre chords and slash chords and open chord extensions with no problems in record time. I don’t think I have a student that practices harder.”
Brandon’s positive attitude also impresses Ezra. “He cares about music! He practices, and he’s a fun dude to hang with and teach! He’s quiet and gentle and he listens and practices!” Although Brandon has previously learned piano and drums, he is enjoying acoustic guitar and plans to stick with this instrument for a while. We can’t wait to watch him progress!
Emma Lahr
If Gloria Estefan is right and the rhythm is indeed gonna get you, then it’s too late for Emma Lahr. The rhythm has claimed her and there’s no going back. Rhythm forms the foundation of Emma’s life. Hardly ever seen without her headphones, music is a constant. When not wearing headphones, she admits she inevitably hears beats and rhythms in her mind anyway. She has been taking lessons with Sam for about two and a half years. She started with bass and has recently expanded to drums, the two instruments (you may note) that create rhythm. Emma is also passionate about horseback riding. It is no surprise that she participates in jumping, the equestrian event that requires an excellent sense of rhythm and timing.
Emma enjoys playing jazz music due to the cool basslines found in this genre. When playing the drums, she prefers upbeat rock. For Emma, music encapsulates her life. She appreciates how it can motivate her to move through daily activities. When not playing music or horseback riding, Emma loves the world of anime. Her favorite? Bungo Stray Dogs. (You’ll have to go down the anime rabbit hole to find that one, she tells me.)
Sam enjoys being Emma’s instructor because of the similarities he notices: “It’s so fun and relaxing to just have a student with the same drive I consider myself to have. Emma pushes me to learn new things myself as well so that we never run out of things to do!” Sam also appreciates Emma’s work ethic. She comes in prepared to learn something new every week.
- Danielle Parker