UPDATE: Extra Ordinary Music by TLC Nielsen

I love interviewing great people with interesting stories! Updates from past interviewees makes this even more fun, since folks share the fascinating events currently happening in their own words. If you missed Becky's first conversation with me, check it out here: Becky Cappelli of Songbird Studio Inc.

Welcome back, Becky!

Thank you—oh, how time has flown by since we last connected. So much has transpired since 2016, for all of us!

At Songbird Studio, we're so grateful to continue proving music lessons to Grayslake and the surrounding communities. Like so many local businesses, we found ourselves thrown into a new dynamic of moving everything from in-person to "online" during 2020 into 2021. Such an adventure!

During 2020, the contact-less time, we altered our lessons to be online for all of our students. In doing so, we learned A LOT. And not just the obvious things like how to set up Zoom lessons, what else is needed on both sides of the screen to make virtual lessons happen, and how to navigate teaching lessons while feeling so separated. Even more so, we learned how our musical families are truly amazing and resilient.

During this virtual time, we saw our students grow into independent learners, taking the initiative to learn new concepts on their own. We also found this to be a season where families became even more involved in their student's musicality. This was fun to witness! And speaking of FUN, the studio hosted many fun but silly themes and contests during remote lessons: crazy hair week, costume week, bring a family to online lessons—we saw a lot of pets on this one. Although overall it was a hard season, it brought a lot of JOY and LEARNING.

As we came out of the 2020/21 season, we did find ourselves needing to make a move. This placed us in a new location only a mile north of our previous building. Our address is 422 Barron Blvd. still in Grayslake on State Route 83. We love Route 83! We are fully back to in-person lessons although we do stay flexible for any families who may prefer the online option.

Our new location provides exactly what we've been offering but on a smaller scale. Although our size is smaller (3 studios rather than 5), we continue to grow. For this we are so thankful. Grayslake and its surrounding communities continue to amaze us!

Songbird Studio has been able to continue offering music lessons to all our students because of our amazing team of instructors and each of our Songbird families. Our musical instructors and families really do ROCK!

Thank you to everyone for such support and whether it be through Songbird Studio or another fabulous music group, keep making MUSIC.

Here are some links for Songbird Studio:

Becky's 1st ExtraOrdinary Update, 2016

Becky's Songbird Studio website

Songbird Studio Music Instruction on FB

Update: ExtraOrdinary Musician Becky Cappelli

As I interview ordinary folks with extraordinary stories, I uncover some interesting connections. After the ExtraOrdinary Music post of June 2016, I found this picture of Becky Cappelli and myself in an old newspaper clipping, circa 1992, at my folk’s house. 

Lakeland Newspapers, TLC Nielsen (L) and Becky Cappelli (R)

Post interview, Becky moved and expanded her music studio and signed me on as a brass instructor. Her interview changed both of our lives.

Becky's ExtraOrdinary Music Update...

Since moving Songbird Studio to it's new location, which is only a couple minutes south from our original location, we expanded in hopes of providing more opportunities for teaching the joy of making music to more individuals within our community and surrounding communities.

At our new location we now offer three new opportunities!

• Using the latest techniques, we offer group piano classes to motivate and impact musicians so they can enjoy a lifetime of creative and beautiful music making. Our students love making music with their friends! It's been a blast.
• We have new teachers available to teach guitar, piano, trombone, and baritone. This has been a very fun and exciting addition.
• We can now offer our piano students an extra 30 minutes to their private lesson time for activities in a setting where creativity meets technology - in our Music Tech Lab. Added recording abilities will be coming soon!

My favorite part has been the many new faces of people now able to become a part of Songbird Studio. The more the merrier. I am excited for what is ahead for us as we head into 2017!

Waiting Room at new Songbird Studio location

Thanks for visiting the Extraordinary Ordinary blog here at www.lookandbe.com! 

Becky's June 2016 interview can be found here: 

http://lookandbe.blogspot.com/2016_06_01_archive.html

Link to Songbird Studio's website :

http://www.songbirdstudioinc.com