About Music Mind Games Students

March 2007

One afternoon, 6 year-old Alex came into his lesson, crying and moaning. He had fallen asleep in the car and his mom reported that he had been really sick the past week and had hardly practiced.

I thought, "We are not going to be able to have a good lesson if Alex is feeling this way . . . so instead of going to the piano, we sat down on the rug to play some Music Mind Games. First we said the names of the 5 notes and 5 rests once. Then we played one round of Five Hiding and like magic --> instant good mood!

Next we had his lesson and he was MORE attentive and focused than usual. I could have asked him to try ANYTHING. Completely transformed, he left on a very bouncy note. His mom looked at me with one of those "I'm amazed! How did you do that?" and I thought, "WOW, what happened?"

Thank you, Music Mind Games!

Patty Ladpli Madison, Wisconsin

July 2006

From the time I was three years old I always looked forward to theory classes. Music Mind Games is only offered here in Honolulu every two years for one week during the summer when Michiko comes to teach at our music camp.

Even when I was the oldest kid in the class I still had loads of fun and learned something new. Now I'm taking a college theory class and the reason I'm getting so much out of it is from all those years of Music Mind Games. It really gave me the solid foundation I need for higher level theory classes.

Heather Shohet, 17

July 2005

Dear Michiko - We've met before. My name is Rebecca Maranville and I am the mother of Jacqueline, Jonathan and Emmeline Maranville. They all study instruments and take Music Mind Games classes at the Levine School in Washington, D.C. I just have to share this story with you. At the pool last week, Emmeline (5) was trying to pass a swimming test, which consisted of swimming one time across the entire length of the pool and treading water for 60 seconds. She was having trouble swimming the lap because her little legs were going too slow. I kept telling her to kick her legs faster...but after repeated coaching I noticed this phrase meant nothing to her.

I tried to think of a way to relate "faster" to what she need to do with her little legs and voila! I said, "Emmeline, you are kicking the rhythm jello jello and you need to kick huckleberry huckleberry." She instantly kicked at twice the speed and passed the test!!

Thank you for providing one more way for me to relate to my children. I hope this little story helps other parents realize how useful and rewarding music (and Music Mind Games) can be, not just in our children's lives but in ours too, as their successes are our successes.

Rebecca Maranville