Phillip Marcus Jr (he/him)’s Post

I recently delved into Zoe Greenhalgh's book, "Music and Singing in the Early Years." It's a really insightful read discussing the transformative power of music and singing in early childhood education. I would highly recommend picking up a copy if you're working in the early years or music education sector. Key Takeaways: -Foundational Development: Greenhalgh beautifully illustrates how music and singing are not just forms of art but foundational tools for cognitive, emotional, and social development in young children. -Creative Expression: The book emphasizes the role of music in offering children a vibrant medium for self-expression and creativity, essential in nurturing confident and imaginative minds. -Inclusivity in Learning: One aspect that stood out to me is the inclusive nature of music. Regardless of background or ability, every child finds a voice in a musical setting. -Practical Strategies: Beyond theory, Greenhalgh provides practical strategies for educators and parents to integrate music and singing into daily interactions with children, making the book a valuable resource. Greenhalgh, Z. (2018) #EarlyChildhoodEducation #MusicEducation #CreativeDevelopment #ZoeGreenhalgh

In my approach to music teaching, I have developed a set of guiding principles that shape how I interact with and instruct children. These include: 1. I Excite Children: I believe in sparking a genuine passion for music in every child. Through engaging lessons, interactive activities, and creative exploration, I make learning music a joyful and thrilling experience. 2. I Engage Children: By fostering active participation, I ensure that children are fully involved in their learning process. I create an environment where every child feels valued, encouraged to explore their musical potential, and consistently engaged in meaningful, hands-on activities. 3. I Educate Children: I provide a well-rounded music education that goes beyond the basics. I help children develop a deep understanding of music theory, technique, and performance, all while making the learning process accessible and fun. 4. I Empower Children: My goal is to empower young musicians by equipping them with the skills, confidence, and mindset to excel not only in music but in all areas of life. Through mentorship and encouragement, I help them realize their full potential and become confident performers. #MusicEducation #EmpoweringChildren #CreativeLearning #HandsOnLearning #InspiringYoungMusicians #ChildDevelopment #MusicForKids #PracticalMusicTraining #WonderkidzMusicAcademy #YouthEmpowerment #EngagingChildren #MusicPassion #TeachingThroughMusic

2008: Just a young kid playing the Church organ 2024: - Working with musicians like Ne-Yo, Jax, and Jesús Molina. - 1.4M views on my lessons on YouTube. - Former Berklee professor. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows… The first 3 years of my music career looked something like this: - Messing up pieces. - Practicing 8 hours/day. - Constantly feeling behind. - Only performing at Church. - Doubting I’ll ever be good enough. - Watching YouTube to try & improve. But it was in this I learned the 3 key aspects of learning music: 1. Make practice fun, not a chore. 2. Learn from teachers that inspire you. 3. Follow a structured plan to gradually improve. Today, those 3 lessons are at the core of what we do at Yousic Play. Because if students don’t have the right environment to learn, they face the same struggles I did. Yousic Play isn’t just about learning music; it’s about transforming how music is learned. It’s taking the hurdles I faced and turning them into stepping stones for others.

🎶 Keys to Connection: Music for Everyone 🎶 At Foundation Music School, we recognize the immense challenges facing our young people today. The world they’re inheriting is complex, and it’s our responsibility to help them navigate it through the power of music. For 17 years, we've been dedicated to filling crucial gaps in our community, providing support for young families and individuals alike. Our "Keys to Connection" campaign aims to expand our reach, ensuring that music therapy and education are accessible to those who need it most. Why This Matters: Research-Backed Impact: Musical interventions are proven to be among the best ways to connect with young people feeling isolated or disconnected. Creating Safe Spaces: Our programs foster emotional expression and resilience, helping youth find their voice in a chaotic world. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the noise of today’s challenges, we invite you to take action: Support Our Campaign: Your contributions will help us bring music therapy where it’s needed most. Spread the Word:  Share this post and help raise awareness about the importance of music in mental health. Get Involved:  Whether through volunteering or partnerships, your support can make a real difference. Music is one of humanity's greatest gifts—a powerful tool for connection and healing. Together, let’s create a brighter future where every young person has access to its transformative power. Comment "I'm in!" below if you want to join our mission or visit https://lnkd.in/gxYrWFSv to learn more! #KeysToConnection #MusicForEveryone #YouthEmpowerment #FoundationMusicSchool Thank you for being part of our journey!

Unlock Your Child's Full Potential with Music Color Method Discover how Music Color Method can unlock your child's full potential through adaptive and fun music lessons. This innovative curriculum uses color as a scaffold, helping children focus on what matters and achieve big results quickly. Activate your child's potential today with Music Color Method. #ChildDevelopment #MusicLessons #MusicEducation #LearningMadeFun #UnlockPotential #MusicColorMethod #AdaptiveCurriculum #FunAndEffective #ParentingTips #EducationalTools

Kids can rock out in a band too! Starting in a band offers tons of benefits for your child’s overall development. Here are just a few: 🎵Social Skills: Collaborating with bandmates teaches kids how to communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and work as a team. 🎵Confidence: Overcoming performance nerves and receiving applause from an audience can significantly boost your child’s self-esteem. 🎵Better Musicians: Playing with peers helps students become better musicians! They challenge each other, learn new styles, and are exposed to different genres and playing techniques. 🎵Discipline and Time Management: Juggling school, band practice, and performances teaches children the importance of discipline and time management. 🎵Creativity: Writing songs and improvising with bandmates helps kids explore their creativity and develop their artistic abilities. 🎵Academic Success: Studies have shown that children who participate in music education tend to perform better in school and have stronger cognitive abilities. Read more: https://rpb.li/o9k8 #bachtorock #bandlessons #rockband #kidsband #musicians #musiclife #parents #parenting #activitiesforkids #musiclessons #musicschool

Teaching grit is just as important as teaching anything. Knowing when you must help a child fight through the tough stuff is a valuable lesson.

Here’s a #shoutout and thanks to Paula Davies for giving my daughter’s band DEADSHEEP a chance to perform on stage as part of the Summer in the Square event run by Coastal Radio DAB and Blackpool BID. There are so many talented young musicians across the Fylde Coast, all being taught by amazing music tutors across the local music academies which are small businesses or charities. I’ve been lucky to be involved with three academies either as a parent, helper, volunteer or working since my daughter first started having lessons in 2005. The work they all do to support young people is incredible. But there is a definate lack of spaces and venues for young people to perform live, which is why opportunities like this are so important. Learning an instrument at any age is challenging and costly. Playing live and experiencing problems like forgetting a guitar tuner, or a cable, really helps these young people understand what it takes to be a musician. If they want to do it as a profession they need to think on their feet and problem solve quickly, as well as being able to play their parts, give some sass on stage and build their audience and fan base. There is a lot to learn, and with the right team of tutors, professional musicians, supportive family members or carers, opportunities to perform, they can learn their craft well. Do you have any gigs, festivals in the next 12 months where young people can perform as I know so many young bands who want a chance. We really have a duty of care to help these young ones follow their hobbies which can often end up as career options especially for those who may not do well academically, but can entertain a room filled with people when given a microphone and an instrument. Life is not always about passing GCSE’s and A’Levels. #parenting #musiclessons #careers #livemusic

Starting is easy, but continuing can be challenging. Many children stop studying music around the ages of 11-13. In most cases, children give up when their parents give up as well. I understand that what I'm about to say may not be well-received by everyone. Our lives are influenced by our subconscious minds. In psychology, there is a concept called "hidden benefits" - these are the unconscious advantages we gain from different situations. For example, when it comes to illness, hidden benefits could include increased attention, rest, and others catering to our needs. Schoolchildren even get a break from attending school - what could be better? Of course, no one consciously wants to get sick, but sometimes, when we desire these benefits, our subconscious mind looks for ways to obtain them. Hidden benefits can exist in various aspects of our lives. When parents give up and allow their child to quit studying music, there are hidden benefits for everyone involved. The child no longer has to put in effort and study, and they could use that time to play games on their phone instead (imagine if the same opportunity was given for quitting math lessons - how many children would take advantage of it?). Parents don't have to pay for music lessons or go through the trouble of getting their children to lessons, which requires effort and time. When I was studying at a music school, I would take public transport to my lessons. If my parents had to drive me, I'm not sure if I would have been able to continue. My dad didn't mind when, at the age of 11, I expressed my desire to quit music school. It would save the family money, and I would have more time to take on adult responsibilities like cleaning the house and cooking. Of course, no one openly discussed these hidden benefits, but I'm describing them to shed light on the situation. Being a parent is not easy, and my intention with this post is not to criticize anyone's decisions. Instead, I encourage honesty with oneself and finding ways to resolve issues in a healthy manner. I will never stop expressing my gratitude towards my mother for not allowing me to quit music school. She set goals for me and removed any expectations. Music has become my passion, and I happily share it with others. P.S. The photo shows a music school, where for 7 years I went for lessons 3 times, sometimes 4 times a week. #musiceducation #hiddenbenefits #nevergiveup #passionformusic

Stop perpetuating the myth that musicians are good at math. 1. The kids that had private music lessons had well off parents. 2. The kids that took music lessons had parents that could afford instruments 3. The kids that had music lessons had parents with time to be involved 4. The kids that had music lessons probably had parents that sent them to preschool 5. The kids that had music lesson’s can play an instrument but it doesn’t make them a musician 6. The kids that had music lessons probably had parents that helped them with math and other homework. 7. The kids that had music lessons probably were exposed to more than just music. Apart from the odd rocket scientist with Queen , how many real musicians are good at math? Exposure to all forms of art is good for everyone and should be available to everyone. Art is part of everybody’s culture and music is universal.