1485 S. COLORADO BLVD. SUITE 130
720-708-3251
admin@denverama.org
October 2024 Newsletter
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Costume Concert/Pizza Party
Sunday
October 27nd 5:30-7:30pm
at the studio
You're Invited
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All guests are encouraged to wear a costume but everyone who performs MUST wear a costume!
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This is not a formal recital. We will be playing party games and mingling while students are performing. This will give students the opportunity to get practice playing for an audience who is not focused solely on them. This takes away some of the pressure and helps to promote a positive experience.
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Adults or students' siblings who play an instrument or sing are also encouraged to perform but they must wear a costume too!
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We will have pizza and dessert and non-alcoholic beverages, however, adults may bring their own “adult” beverages and/or snacks if they wish.
The Spooky Details
Costume Concert
at DAMA
October 27
5:30 - 7:30pm
DAMA Closed
Halloween
3pm-8pm
Entertain ElderlyBrookdale Senior Center
Nov. 10th
2-3pm
DAMA Closed
Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 28 - 30
Entertain ElderlyBrookdale Senior Center
Dec. 8th
2-3pm
Winter Holiday Recital
New Denver Church
700 Bonnie Brae Blvd
Dec. 15th times TBD
DAMA Closed
Holiday Break
Dec. 23 - Jan. 1
WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!
Adalay S.
Ava Y.
Celia L.
Harlyn S.
Maggie B.
Max K.
Simon C.
Sloane C.
Tahlia B.
New students who registered in September were entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon Gift Card.
The winning entry was:
Simon C.
CONGRATULATIONS!!
EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT OF THE MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER 2024
Are you doing everything right but you didn't get chosen for Student of the Month?
Keep in mind there are over 60 students enrolled in DAMA and students who are chosen have worked exceptionally hard or have showed exceptional initiative. It's a difficult decision to make and sometimes it comes down to whether students who have been working on a piece are ready to perform it yet or if they had to cancel lessons during the month. It is not about who is the most talented or who has the most potential. It is about honoring the student who stood out because of their work ethic, attitude and initiative.
Be sure to talk with your teacher if you have questions or concerns.
CONGRATULATIONS
Chloe M.
Chloe M. was awarded DAMA Exceptional Student of the Month for September! Chloe has only been taking piano lessons since June 2024 but since she has been practicing at least 5 hours every week since she started, Chloe has advanced very quickly. Chloe is in 7th grade and she enjoys reading, writing, drawing and playing volleyball. Her parents are Maria and Fernando. Check out the video of her interview to hear her play. CONGRATULATIONS CHLOE!
How to Win Student of the Month
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Focus during lessons
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Follow directions
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Have a good attitude
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Practice and come to lessons prepared
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Show initiative to learn and improve
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Attend at least 4 lessons in one month
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Be ready to perform the song you are working on
Practice Derby Winners:
1st Place= Chloe M. (34)
2nd Place = Charlotte L. (20)
3rd Place Tie = Elea G., Marin W.,
Simon W. (19)
May Raffle Winners:
$25 1st Place = Niko G.
$15 2nd Place = Gabriel H.
$5 3rd Place = Connor G.
Thank you to Sophia for picking the tickets.
Raffle tickets are picked on the 1st of the Month. Students 7 and younger receive 1 ticket for every 15 minutes of practice. Students 8 and older receive 1 ticket for every 30 minutes of practice. 1 ticket is awarded for each lesson.
The student with the most tickets at the end of the month will receive a medal.
WAY TO GO!
Congratulations!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU!
On Sunday, September 28th, a small group of DAMA students performed at Brookdale Senior Living Center in Cherry Creek.
Thank you to Lydia B, Elsa P, Felix M, Lucas H, and Max H for entertaining their residents.
We will be going back Nov. 10th and Dec. 8th. It's a great way to get performance experience in a very low pressure environment so please consider signing up for next time.
To sign up to volunteer to perform at Brookdale, click on the "Current Students" tab on our website. It's on the same calendar as the one used to reschedule lessons.
Oct. Birthdays
Brendan K. 4th
Chloe M. 11th
Marlo B. 14th
Max H. 20th
Joseph G. 30th
WELCOME
OUR NEWEST INSTRUCTOR
Alyssa Stoner is a musician, singer, songwriter and educator. She attended Los Angeles College of music where she studied Music Composition. She is also an alumni of Denver School of the Arts where she was a voice major for 7 years. She has been performing and recording her original music for the past 6 years and has been teaching piano, voice and guitar for 3 years. Be sure to ask her about her music that is currently streaming on Spotify. We are honored that she has chosen to share her musical gifts with us.
MISS ALYSSA
From Miss Michele's Bench
One of the books on the table in our waiting area is titled GRIT -The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. The book is for parents, students, educators, athletes and businesspeople to show them the secret to success is not just talent, but a special blend of passion and persistence called “grit”.
In a nutshell, those who do the work that others won’t because it may not be enjoyable; those who put in the hours and work through the pain; those who do tedious, and sometimes monotonous, repetitions past the point that others would have quit; those with the mental toughness and self discipline to get started when there are a thousand other things that they’d rather be doing; they never give up...ever. It’s simply not an option.
My (former) stepson was on the path to a successful hockey career. He was the kid in the driveway every night shooting 100 pucks into the net at the far end of the garage. He got up early before school to work out with a personal trainer. He worked with skating coaches and was on the ice every single day for hours. His efforts paid off when he was elected captain of the first junior olympic hockey team representing USA in Vienna in 2012 and, at 16, he was the youngest player to be drafted into the USHL. (The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey). He was then drafted into the Canadian semi-pro league. No one can argue that the boy had grit.
Once upon a time, back in the 2009 I was in Faribault Minnesota because my stepson, who was in eighth grade at the time, was attending Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a small private prep school for 6th-12th graders. Shattuck (what most people call it) is known for producing superstar hockey players such as Sidney Crosby. I was fortunate enough to be able to watch some of their hockey practices, which were closed to the public but open to parents. My stepson was definitely one of the better players. He deserved to be there. All of those kids had grit or they wouldn’t be there. But there was one kid who stood out. He won all the speed drills, he shot with astonishing accuracy and he out-maneuvered some of the best young players in the country and then he went back for more. Time and Time again. He had a look in his eye that said everything. It was competitive determination and tenacity. It was almost a crazed look as if he was daring anybody to stand in his way. As a ninth grader it was clear that this young man had more grit than anyone I had ever known. You may have heard of him, Nathan Mackinnon.
Nate was the first overall draft pick in 2013 and he’s an NHL superstar and, lucky for us, an Avalanche superstar. Back at Shattuck I got to know his parents and it was clear that Nate didn’t become Nate the Great on his own. His parents fostered his passion for hockey. His determination was matched only by their level of support. His dad was calm, quiet and strategic. When his son scored a goal he’d smile and nod. If Nate got checked hard, he didn’t flinch because that comes with the territory. Before and after each game, Nate and his dad would go off by themselves to talk. I always wondered how the conversations went. Before games, I’m guessing that Dad was telling him the tendencies of certain players on the other team. After games, I think it would be Dad bringing Nate back down to earth because Nate played in a different sphere. His dad was the kind of guy who would analyze the play without criticizing. Basically he was Nate’s bird’s eye view from the stands. They were a great team. Some kids will do anything to please their parents and that is their motivation. The kind of grit that Nathan has doesn’t come from trying to please anyone but himself.
I have lost touch with the MacKinnons. I doubt if Nate would even remember me. I don’t think that my stepson even talks to him anymore. Speaking of my stepson, he was slated to be drafted in the top five of the first round in 2014 but unfortunately, he shattered his wrist his draft year and when he was able to play again, after a difficult surgery with pins and rods and months of rehab, he never played the same. I believe that, subconsciously, he played with caution to protect his arm, which is not what pro teams want.
Most people would be incredibly defeated. His whole entire childhood was defined by hockey and then it all went away in one afternoon. As a testament to his character, he didn’t let that define him or his life. Things happen for a reason, which is evident because today, he is finishing endodontic school after graduating dental school early and he was number one in his class. He has even been chosen to speak at national endodontic conferences around the country at the age of only 28. There’s no doubt that the grit that he developed during his childhood hockey days played a significant part in why he is also a superstar. That, and he has a very high IQ. So the formula to become uber successful in any field, including the music industry, is natural talent, support, plus unwavering
Guts Resilience Initiative & Tenacity. You'll see it first hand if you go see an Avalanche game.
Best,
