MacPhail Center for Music presents a SPOTLIGHT VIRTUAL CONCERT SERIES performance William Tell Chapel, a musical travelogue, featuring Richard Tostenson on piano.
A Vital Angle in the Suzuki Triangle: Parents
In MacPhail’s Suzuki Music Education Program, parents play a unique and meaningful role. Thirteen years ago, when her older daughter was a toddler, Rebecca Weber read the controversial parenting memoir, …
Jean del Santo’s Teaching Philosophy
“Singers are the only musicians that are simultaneously the player of a musical instrument and the instrument itself”. -Professor Glenda Maurice, Mezzo Soprano, UM faculty mentor When Glenda first …
Prelude: Singer-Actor Lab Alums Perform Into the Woods at the Guthrie Theater
Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods begins with a retelling of four classic fairy tales—and then it complicates them. The narrative moves on to challenge its characters, throwing curveballs to make …
MacPhail Music Therapy Recommended Book Resources
Curated by our very own licensed Music Therapists, Jane Tate and Melissa Wenszell, this list contains their recommended (and some of their favorite) resources! Learn More about Music Therapy at …
Sing, Play, Learn with MacPhail®: The Finger Family
A well-known song in our SPL curriculum is Finger Family. This song is fun to do with children at many ages and stages of development. There are several areas of …
The Space Where Words Fail: Asha Belk
This season’s MacPhail’s Spotlight Series joins important visual artists with our accomplished musicians in special performances. Our culminating performance brings the narrative photographer Asha Belk to Antonello Hall on Saturday, …
Teaching BIG Feelings to Little People Using Music and Literacy
Learn why Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teachers do what they do. There’s an end goal- getting our children ready for school.
Engaging in Self-Care
It seems that everyday, we are inundated with tragic or disturbing news. The intensity continues to grow. We carry so much stress and anxiety from our own lived experiences it …
Giving Voice Founding Artistic Director Jeanie Brindley Barnett featured in Star of the North: “Sing for Life! Music for Life!”
Congratulations to MacPhail Music for Life™ Co-Founder & Senior Teaching Artist, and Giving Voice Founding Artistic Director, Jeanie Brindley-Barnett for her feature in Star of the North. “…Everyone can sing …
Sing, Play, Learn: Why We Do What We Do
Learn why Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® teachers do what they do. There’s an end goal- getting our children ready for school.
Alexandra Sapan: Three Greek Songs
Alexandra Sapan, MacPhail voice faculty, presents three original Greek songs in a project supported by Macphail Center for Music and McKnight Foundation. (Accompanied by Dr. Jonathan Tauscheck, MacPhail piano faculty)
A MacPhail Story: Matt & Crosby
Diana Bearmon, piano instructor at MacPhail, strives to make her lessons student-centered because she believes that their learning experience should be uniquely about them. With 30 plus years of teaching …
A MacPhail Story: Claire Miller
Twenty years ago, before Claire Miller was an accomplished violinist, pianist, orchestral performer, and chamber musician; before winning numerous competitions, and earning several academic degrees in music, she was a …
The Power of Performance with Austin Wahl (guitar & mandolin)
This third article of the performance series features Austin Wahl (guitar, mandolin) as he discusses his experience with the power of performance.
A Winter Wonderland Scavenger Hunt
This winter scavenger hunt will encourage venturing outside and listening for musical concepts in the environment!
The Power of Performance with Ellie Dehn
This second article of the performance series features Ellie Dehn (voice, opera, musical theater) as she discusses her experience with the power of performance.
Suzuki Talent Education: a “mother tongue” approach to teaching children music
Download Full Article Here How does a child learn a native language? Nurturing adults speak to (and around) the child from the moment of birth, naturally repeating the words and …
Tune Tools Episode 3
Tune Tools is a podcast hosted by Krysta ‘K. Raydio’ Rayford. Krysta interviews musicians, music educators, students, and shares her own experiences to help us learn about the tools of electronic music and recording arts. In each episode, you’ll hear real life examples about the tools of making music in the digital age.
The Power of Performance with Shane Cox
This first article of the performance series features Shane Cox (trumpet/cornet, trombone, tuba, jazz, theory) as he discusses his experience with the power of performance.
The Art of the Playlist
an educational perspective by Isaac Rohr Overview: This article is written for music educators within K12 (general music or academic music). College-level music educators interested in curriculum development and research. …
Scratch DJing for Beginners
This unit (1 of 3), Scratch DJing for Beginners, includes the history and evolution of DJing and DJing tools of the trade.
A Four-Class Music Curriculum (Ages 11-18)
This after-school curriculum is designed for music educators to help their middle or high school students explore ways of creating music to visual images. Designed to be 5-6 classes. Uses DAW (digital audio workstation) and other tools.
Requiem for Frankie Silver
Requiem for Frankie Silver is a NEW musical drama for singers, players, and storyteller to honor the life of Frances Stewart Silver (1815-1833) and to reveal her tragic story of injustice.
What is Suzuki Stars in Sing Play Learn with MacPhail®?
Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® offers a play-based early childhood curriculum to help prepare your child to consider the Suzuki Talent Program. Suzuki Stars offers activities like vocal development, steady …
Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors: the 2022-23 MacPhail Spotlight Series
To experience art—through a canvas, or a symphony, or a screen—is a transporting experience. It can open doors to beauty, to new understanding, to wonder. So, what happens when you …
MacPhail Story: Dee Meisner
Beginning her musical journey at the age of 3, Dee Meisner has now carried her love of playing and singing to the Giving Voice Chorus in MacPhail’s Music for Life …
Early Childhood Vocal Exploration Activity
Why is vocal exploration important? Vocal exploration helps children find their singing voices and learn how to better control them. It is a vital part of early childhood music-making. Try …
On Location: MacPhail School Partnerships
On Location: Songwriting Workshop
On Location: Madeline Island Chamber Music
“Connections and Transformations–the MacPhail music special” wins a Silver Telly Award
KSMQ Public Television partnered with MacPhail Center for Music to produce “Connections and Transformations.” This special was developed by Mischa Santora, the MacPhail Center for Music’s Spotlight Series Artistic Director. …
Songwriting Activity at Home with Adam Marshall
Does your child make up songs at home? Join us in taking your child’s songwriting skills to another level. Students will create lyrics from familiar tunes, compose new music, venture …
FREE FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERTS
SUMMER 2022
Keep the music alive in your family by attending some FREE family-friendly concerts this summer. This year, MacPhail featured some outstanding groups at our Free Family Concerts; The Bazillions, The …
McKnight Musician Fellowship Grants Four Top Musicians with $25,000
MacPhail Center for Music is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022-23 McKnight Fellowship for Musicians: Jaye Sinkfield aka DIVAJ, Rebecca Merblum, Paula Gudmundson, Lewis McCaleb akaLewiee Blaze. …
Duo Harmonia: Storytelling through Music & Narration
Harmonious: together, in agreement, in tune. A perfect word to describe the aptly named Duo Harmonia. Two artists from different parts of the world, who after discovering each other, now …
Friends of MacPhail Performance
The Michael Steinberg & Jorja Fleezanis Fund will present the world premiere of its third commission by composer Jessica Meyer at 4 pm on Saturday, May 14 at Westminster Hall …
MacPhail Faculty Performs Sarah Miller’s Composition “Aquatic Animals” for Piano, Woodwinds & Brass
Aquatic Animals Program Note – Sarah Miller The creative seed for this composition came from a remark by Mark Sullivan, one of my major professors at Michigan State University. He …
When Marian Sang, a book that sings!
Presented by Opera Oriented Projects of Minnesota, Mikalia Bradberry reads aloud and performs excerpts from “When Marian Sang,” written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick, and published by …
The Heartbeat of a People, The Voices of a Lifetime: Black Women in Music
by Mikalia Bradberry As we transition from Black History Month to Women’s History Month I’d love to share some Black women musicians who have impacted the world as we know …
MacPhail Tips & Tricks: 2 Octave, G Major Scale Exercise
With Richard Kriehn
The Wonder of Stevie
by Mikalia Bradberry “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.” Stevie Wonder One of the most prolific and widely known musicians in the world, Stevie …
Teens Find Confidence with Music
MacPhail Northside Youth Orchestra The laughter’s free, the smiles, and so is participation in the MacPhail Northside Youth Orchestra (MNYO). For 5 years now, the orchestra has graced venue stages …
Early Risers Podcast from Little Moments Count and Minnesota Public Radio
Early Risers Podcast George Floyd’s death was a tragedy and a wakeup call — expanding a global conversation about race and racism. And young children have been watching it all. …
Reflections: Julius String Quartet on their MacPhail Fall Residency
A short interview with the Julius String Quartet and Beth Nault-Warner, MacPhail Director of Marketing As part of the 2021 Madeline Island Chamber Music Emerging Artist Quartet-in-Residence, this year’s program award recipients, the Julius …
Barbara Cohen, Intro to Scoring for Film and Visual Media
Imagine the opening credits of a movie. The musical score begins with plucky strings, light drums, and a bouncy glockenspiel. What genre of film are you about to see? Judging …
Prelude: Singer-Actor Performance Lab
“Never pass up an opportunity to tell the story.” For voice and acting teacher Manon Gimlett, these are words to live by. As the program director of MacPhail’s Prelude: Singer-Actor …
The Mandolin Mantle | Richard Kriehn
“It’s not just about a right or wrong note,” Richard Kriehn explains. He believes music is about expressing yourself – expanding your vocabulary and giving the world a glimpse of …
GMI Artist In Residence: Greg Byers
A Chance to Play Modern Music As a longtime video gamer, cello teaching artist Greg Byers wanted to explore modern styles of their music for his Artist-in-Residence project, a video game music orchestra. “We talked …
An Electronic Approach to Music Making…with MacPhail’s EMRA Director Michael Cain
How many ways can you make music? At MacPhail Center for Music, we believe there’s no limit. Playing an orchestral instrument is one method. Programming digital technology is another. We’re …
How to Make a Monolin at Home
How to make a Monolin (single-stringed instrument) at home. Items needed: Large Milk or Juice Carton (one with a screw top works best and can act as a sound hole) Fishing …
Bluegrass Rhapsody with Poet Anthony Ceballos
As music genres go, bluegrass is all its own. Its melodies and messages spring from a particular soil: the hardscrabble land of rural Appalachia. The poet Anthony Ceballos hails from …
The Story of a Young Boy and His Ukulele
During the pandemic, as was the case with so many children, one of our young students (we will call him O) missed starting pre-kindergarten. O spent weekdays with his grandparents …
When Little Things Lead to BIG Possibilities | Sophia Kickhofel
The little things. That’s what Sophia Kickhofel enjoys most about life. If she could trace all the little things back to childhood, she would realize they brought her to where …
Blooming in the Desert
By Sue Ruby As educators and performers, many of us lack exposure to and knowledge of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) composers. Even before the pandemic and death of George …
MacPhail Center for Music’s “Light in the Well”
Five years ago, Ferol Grode showed up to her first day of music therapy in a “Life is good” T-shirt. Her mother, Patty, had one on, too. To a stranger, …
Alternatives to Problematic Children’s Songs
The Sing Play Learn department at MacPhail Center for Music has been busy revamping parts of our curricula for the last couple of years. Our goal was to research the origins of the songs …
Executive Functioning and the Role of Music
Executive Functioning is a term that describes a set of mental skills which includes: Working memory. Flexibility in thinking. Self-control, or impulse control. As children develop so do their executive functioning skills, however, sometimes …
Next Steps
As the summer Sing Play Learn with MacPhail® classes have come to a close, you might be wondering what next? If you are, you are not alone; we have created this guide to aid you in your next …
‘Music never really stops’ – Austin Daily Herald
MacPhail Austin student, Blake Zimmerli, has been using the extra time during COVID-19 to work on his symphonies. He’s currently working on his eight symphony and describes the hobby as, …
Community Pride Award from Lavender Magazine
Timothy De Prey, Director of Individual Instruction, is the recipient of a Community Pride Award from Lavender Magazine. Timothy believes that “through music, one can create change, justice, tolerance and …
Preparing for Sleep and the Role of Music
Sleep is one of the most talked about topics for young children. We live in a society that tends to be sleep deprived. Around 25% of young children have sleep problems. …
The Importance of Group Class to Suzuki Learning
Compiled by Ruth Bergman Some points are borrowed from Helping Parents Practice: Ideas for Making it Easier, by Edmund Sprunger Group class is one of the central components of Suzuki …
Adding Fuel to your Practice Parent Engine
By Kamini LaRusso Transcript from 2019 Suzuki Association of the Americas: “Parents as Partners Videos” Hello! My name is Kamini LaRusso. I live in Minneapolis, MN. I am a Suzuki …
Children and Separation Anxiety
Children and Separation Anxiety Separation anxiety is something that most, if not all, children experience at some point in their lives. There are a wide range of symptoms may manifest at different stages of development. Mostly, …
How to Strengthen the Adult Voice
When vocal teaching artist Jerry Rubino works with older singers in MacPhail’s Voices of Experience choir, he’s noticed that many times singers new to the group don’t know what part …
Play and Creativity Using Music: Musical Games/Creativity Play
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Play and Creativity Using Music: What Can Become an Instrument
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Play and Creativity Using Music: Explore New Music
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Play and Creativity Using Music: Sing
How can music activities at home encourage play and creativity in children? Play is one of the most important parts of early childhood. When a child is engaging in play they are building their brains …
Three Easy Ways to Beat Cabin Fever with Music
Simple musical activities to use at home with your kids. Music is fun, engaging and can motivate even the most stir-crazy kids. You don’t have to have any musical training …
Why You Should Enroll Your Kids in Piano Lessons, According to Science
Director of Individual Instruction, Timothy DePrey’s favorite article about enrolling your child in piano lessons.
Small Moments, Big Accomplishments
Beth, age 12 , Music Therapy Student Stories: Beth When Diene’s twelve-year-old daughter Beth continually expressed a passion for music, constantly asking it to be played throughout the house, Diene …
Black History Playlist
with Mikalia Bradberry Hello my name is Mikalia Bradberry and Happy Black History Month! I’m so glad to be able to share some works with you that are near and …
Talking About Race
What we believe and how we talk about race is of the utmost importance. The National Museum of African American History & Culture asks How do we teach such challenging subject …
Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books
Representation matters – it’s important and affirming for kids to see characters who look like them and the people in their families in the books they read. It’s equally important …
Playing with Music at Home
Music making doesn’t need to be formal at all times – it’s easy to incorporate music into the daily routines with your child, in fact, you may find you already …
Support Math Readiness Through Music
The teachers in our Sing, Play, Learn! with MacPhail® department know that music class isn’t just fun and play. Music learning can build a child’s math skills. Check out this …