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Should My Child Compete?

One of the most asked questions we encounter is "Should my child compete?" Some parents worry about the experience not being a positive one. Others are sure their child will do fine in competition, but worry about the travel and competition costs. We look at this situation a bit differently.

If your child has siblings at home, participates in the city sports league, enters essay contests at school, takes a playing test in band for chair placement, they already compete! They are already in a training ground position to learn to compete as an adult for scholarships, job placements, job advancements, etc. Competing in dance is actually about learning to perform at the highest level of competition available to them.

There are many different ways to compete in dance. Some think that the easiest way to learn is to just jump in and learn a dance and go to the competition. The idea in this case is that the dancers will become better just by getting the experience. 

Another method of getting to competition is to "hold auditions". That way you place them on a "team" that the abilities matching up with other dancers. Some feel this is the most successful way. Or they will group everyone in age groups, but use the audition process for lead parts or "who goes on the front row".

And yet another, is based on how many classes a child takes per week as to if they can be on the "competition team". The majority of these methods of dance team placement never bring in the personality and personal strength of the child.

We would like to suggest a different way of preparing for competition on the dance stage. One that we have found great success with for  our dance teams. It is a way of grooming, empowering and teaching them about performance first. One that allows us to help the child to find their place on the team rather than be told which team they can perform with. 

The method we use is four steps:

1. Regular weekly classes for a strong dance education.

2. Participation in master classes and conventions (we are highly selective about the conventions).

3. Community performances through out the year and recitals. A lot of community performances!

4. Competition team placement and work.

By using this method, the teachers and director has a chance to get to know the child better. We learn what a child's strengths are and what we need to work on to help them through the process. For instance, a lot of time is spent on just entering and exiting the stage that demonstrates confidence. Without confidence, the routine is not going to go well, no matter how much practice and training on the routine has been done.

Personality in performance is important as well. Getting to know the child better helps with building the choreography around the students personality, instead of pushing them into roles that they cannot pull off. As a dance adjudicator, I can say it is very evident when the personality of the students has not been considered and used to set the choreography. 

Music selection is also key to success, and again can be a part of the personality situation. Too mature or immature of  music for the dance group can mean that the dancers never really connect with the music and are unable to deliver a great performance. 

Participation in master classes, conventions, workshops and community performances is an opportunity for the student to grow not only in their dance, but as a person and performer. It is an opportunity to find out personally what their strengths are and not just be told by their teacher or parents where they are strong. It is also a way for them to face any fears in a supportive environment, without anxiety that they may "mess up" the team". It is a way of truly growing a team to work together at different ability levels.

Is your child ready to compete? Probably. Probably because they have already been competing and trying to get to the front row in class already. But the real question to ask is, "Is your child ready to grow and discover who they are?". 

*Mary Myers is the Director of Academy of Fine Arts in Woodward Oklahoma. She is a teacher, choreographer and adjudicator. 

Why Music Training Should Be A Part Of Your Child's Growing Years

Why Music Training

 Should Be A Part Of Your Child's Growing Years 

Most parents understand that music for their child is a good choice. But just listening to Kid's Bop or Disney Tunes is not what we are talking about here today. We are talking about your child experiencing and learning to read and play music on actual instruments, and not on an iPad or iPhone.

Research has found that music can help to grow a child's brain, help children make better connections to math, relieve stress and lower blood pressure in children and adults, improves rhythm for reading skills, improves focus and much more. Music is also one of the "activities" you can put your child in that can soon develop into an education, that can also lead to a college scholarship and career.

But let's look at it a bit deeper for the very young child. Young children, under 7 years of age can actually learn to read music, probably even before they can read their first book, according to Debbie Yakabosky, creator and CEO of Music FunTime.

Music is something that we can all benefit from, but a child connects to it so easily that they can use the rhythm from their favorite song to self sooth at night going to sleep. Or they can use an upbeat tune they love to hum to help with better skipping skills and other gross motor skills that fit to a rhythmic beat. Remember skipping rope to simple songs and rhymes? How much more fun it was to have a tune running through our heads or coming from our lips as we worked the rope.

Music written on paper is made up of symbols and combinations of symbols, much like math. When one of our daughters was having trouble learning fractions in grade school, and did not have a teacher that could figure out how to get her to understand fractions ( as I was told at the parent teacher conference), I quickly sprung into action and introduced her to two different helping tools, reading music notes and their counts, and baking cookies. She soon had a better idea of working fractions, much to the amazement of her teacher.

Music is magical. Just think about watching a movie with no sound track. How boring that would be! Nothing to carry our imagination and emotions to higher levels and helping us to discover connections to the characters. Next time you sit down with your child to listen to music, use the soundtrack of their favorite movie. You will certainly hear them tell part of the movie script, if not even being able to recite the full lines of the story. Music helps us with memory and recall. Your child knows this and lives it through every magical moment.

Music helps your child to create their own stories. Whether playing on an instrument or listening to someone play a piece on the piano. Recently, once of our grandsons was staying over and asked to play the piano. Of course we said yes.

He started out improving something very bold and dynamic and then it would soften and become very lyrical. He repeated the process again, and it appeared to be the same. Quickly I took out my camera to see if I could capture this moment on video. He started again. And once again, the melody was the same, big, bold and dynamic, then suddenly soft and lyrical.

He turned around to pick up a music book sitting on the bench and realized I was standing behind him with my camera. Smiling, he asked if I heard his song he had played (his improvisation). I stated yes that I did. He continued, "It is a song about two people getting married." I asked if it was a wedding march, and he said yes that it was.

Later, I asked his mom if they had attended any weddings recently and her answer was no. Most likely he has never seen or been part of an actual wedding, but may have seen one on television in a TV show or movie. Later in reviewing the video, I had to watch it three times in awe. Listening very close, you could hear a simple melody very close to Canon in D Minor. Now how did that happen? He is only 4 years old and yes takes piano lessons, but is not at that level yet for sure! Music connects with children and music is magical. Music grows the brain.

I believe that most music educators would agree with me when I tell you that it just may be time to put all digital music aside and start getting out instruments for your child to explore with. Instead of a few more video games, check out lessons. When attending a movie, ask your child what they think of the music soundtrack.

When setting your schedule for the school year and blocking out time for homework and reading, block out time for playing music. Put the videos games away and bring out the instruments and watch and listen for the magic to happen. (I see you smiling.)


*Mary Myers is the director and owner of Academy of Fine Arts in Woodward OK . 

Gymnastics For Special Needs Children?

Gymnastics For Special Needs Children?

Gymnastics can be a great outlet for activity and fun for special needs children. A properly structured class can allow them time to release pent up energy by running, jumping, bouncing, rolling, etc. It gives them another social outlet. It brings smiles and laughter.

For all children, a gymnastic class helps to build strength and flexibility. It also allows them to experience success as well as failure. Build core strength and grip, etc. But for special needs children the benefit of being in a gymnastic class are much larger and more towards life skills, such as walking, focus, and communicating. 

Gymnastics allows a special needs child to be in an environment that is not only physical, but cognitive as well. They that have to focus on small and large skills while working to place their bodies in the right position to maneuver the body through the gymnastic movement. After all, walking on a 4 inch wide balance beam is no easy feat (an act or achievement that shows courage, strength or skill) for anyone!

But lets look at what else gymnastic classes can offer a special needs child.

1. On the physical side of a gymnastic class, a special needs child can learn better balance and work on core strength that helps with day to day activities such as sitting and walking for any length of time. This in turn helps in attending school and OT therapy sessions.

They also get to experience flight by jumping on bounders and trampolines and when ready, the ability to land on their feet from a simple dismount and safely roll out. This is in hope that they will learn to do a safety roll if ever falling from a height.

Rolling itself is a vestibular  activity that helps us to understand the perception of body position and movement. It is why so many children, including myself as a child, will get in a swing and spin in it, instead of swinging back and forth, until you are nauseous. It is a necessary development need to develop this state of balance and being in space and time.

2. As an energy outlet, there is none better! With padded floors and equipment to land on, it is a great environment to start learning about success (which we highly praised) and failure (we praise the effort). The gym is a big open space that allows a child to move, run, work and train in. And with all of the colorful foam shapes such as wedges, octagons, trapezoids and more, you can't help by laugh and have a great time.

3. Gymnastics is also a social outlet. All children learn to wait their turn, walk in a line, respect other gymnasts, and develop friendships. They also learn to support each other with the demonstration of high fives, a pat on the back and sometimes even a cheer of "you can do it"!

4. Gymnastics is motor building fun! Brightly colored equipment make challenge courses, that develop gross motor skills, fun and entertaining. Learning to grip and swing on the bars can lead to better writing skills and arm strength.

5. Gymnastics is great for learning spatial and body awareness. It is great for increasing focus and controlling our movements. From walking on beams to bouncing on trampolines, they learn to control their landing on their feet.

Yes, gymnastics is great for special needs children. And yes, some may never do a back handspring or a tuck. They may never compete in a gymnastics meet. But one thing for sure, they will always steal a gymnastic coaches heart,



*Mary Myers is the owner and director of Academy of Fine Arts. They offer dance and gymnastics for special needs children.