West Music Staff Blogs
Our Mission: To enrich people's lives through the participation in music!
Change is often hard for most people. Whether it is a change in job, change in location, or change in clientele, change can be difficult but can provide many unexpected rewards! As Director of the Music Therapy Department, I talk to my employees on a regular basis about their favorite populations to work with and how to build upon their successes. It is my firm belief that employees have to be happy and do what they love! However, we always say that, "The only thing constant here at West Music is change." Just when you get comfortable, things seem to change.
Curious about ClavFest? West Music Cedar Falls had a lot of talent and a lot of fun. Take a look: 
Amy with daughters Kylie and Lillie
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Audience listening to clavfest participants
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Posted by: Shannon Price in Music Instruction on
Nov 04, 2009
 We will have a tent on Hawkeye Rally Alley Nov. 7th from 8:30AM-10:30AM. (Find us across from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in the grassy area that used to be Grant's Field, next to Duane Banks Baseball Stadium.)
- FREE Hand drumming circles
- FREE Group guitar lessons
Anyone can participate. NO EXPERIENCE on any instrument necessary. Learn to play immediately and have a blast!
Did you know that 82% of Americans who don't currently play an instrument wish they had learned to play one? (Gallup Poll)
West Music will be handing out $ 5 West Music Money to use in the store for any purchase or you can REGISTER FOR LESSONS FREE!
Presented by Mike Campbell Former teacher for Alan Swain, author of the Four Way Keyboard System Approach to Jazz harmony and private Jazz Piano Instructor at the West Music Conservatory. Who: Intermediate to advanced piano players.
What: An organized, structured approach to Jazz Piano for the non-professional; the Four Way Keyboard System for Jazz Harmony and an introduction to the Blues.
Where: West Music Cedar Falls, 6322 University Ave. 319-277-1000 or 800-248-7004
When: November 14th | 10–10:45 AM
How: Sign up with Lea Ann Huegel lhuegel@westmusic.com
 You and your students are cordially invited to participate in a Jazz Piano Master Class presented by internationally acclaimed Steinway Jazz artist, Dan Knight. The master class will feature jazz and pop pieces performed by young area pianists.
Afterwards, Mr. Knight will offer thoughts for each pianist on how to perform their music even better. This is a tremendous opportunity for you to expand your knowledge on teaching and performing jazz repertoire. Pieces prepared for the class include all jazz idioms including pop and rag. There is no age limitation for participation. The master class is open to the public.
Posted by: Katey, MT-BC in Music Therapy on
Oct 30, 2009
How much is that doggy in the window? Ya know, the one with the waggly tail? I always thought of this as a silly children's song, until I started seeing hospice patients. Don't get me wrong, it is pretty silly, but I have come to realize the love people have for this song. It's as if when this song was played, everyone would turn up their radios and sing (or bark!) at the top of their lungs. One day, I was playing for a lady who was having a lot of pain. She was trying to relax, and I was working her down, and I played this song. I knew how much she enjoyed it, but was surprised to see her add in the bark right at the appropriate time, even though it appeared as though she was sleeping. We shared a laugh, and I knew at that moment she was not focusing on any of her pain. Another time, I played this song with a lady while everyone was starting to come into the dining hall. It doesn't seem to matter whether the person is 100 or 75, they know this song. Everyone was smiling and singing along, adding the barking, and having a great time. What is with this song? If only I could have lived back when it was released, so I could fully understand.
When you go to a concert that has a spectacular pyrotechnic display, complete with lights and lasers, that take a crew 15 hours to set up, what are you expecting to hear? What about when the guitarists come in with long hair and you see famous musicians like Aerosmith and Joan Jett joining them on stage? Are you expecting to hear classical music? Probably not, but that is just what you will get with The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. (Listen to some selections below.)
Music Therapy Services at West Music has recently been accepted by the American Music Therapy Association as a National Roster internship site. This means that we can now accept interns from all accredited music therapy programs throughout the world. The internship serves a number of populations including adults and children with developmental disabilities, adults with dementia, well elderly, and individuals in hospice. Interns would gain experience working with a variety of populations in a contractual music therapy setting. Opportunities to lead 1:1 sessions, small groups (3-8) and large groups (up to 30) will be provided.
Posted by: Kyle Ware in Software, Computer, Combo on
Oct 19, 2009
 I know notation software tends to scare people...well, most software scares people. Finale tends to be the main culprit with this fearful bunch. But I have news for you: Notation software should not be scary to anybody anymore! Finale should not be scary to anybody anymore!
Why? Notation software has gotten to the point that virtually anybody, whether you are a new computer user, master computer user, the creator of the computer, etc, can use it. Seriously! And Finale, the be-all of notation software, has figured out a way to let users do what they want, however they want, without making it overly complicated. Finale has been around since 1988, and through most of its transitions, it has been notorious for over-complicating tasks. However, it was a very powerful tool, so powerful, most engravers and publishers would (and still) use Finale for their professional needs. However, when Sibelius came into the fray, a good number of Finale users jumped ship and went to the “easy” program.
As a music therapist who works in hospice, I am fortunate to see what a powerful tool music can be, and sometimes it is all about being in the right place at the right time. Recently, I was fortunate to experience this and see how music can be a powerful tool for our patients as well as the family. Sometimes, I see individuals who I am told are unresponsive. Typically, in these types of sessions music can be used as a tool to help relax the client and bring comfort during the dying process. Music is also a powerful tool for the family members who are present who can choose to honor their loved one with a special song, or who prefer just to listen to the music rather than the monitors, which beep.
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West Music Staff Blogs
