For Annetta Smith-Frankel, teaching music lessons for over 40 years seems “a little surreal”, but the passion of the owner/founder of Musical Offerings remains the same.
Smith-Frankel’s unwavering dedication to music education was recently recognized by the Kansas Music Teachers Association. The KMTA named her Teacher of the Year at its annual meeting in Newton in September.
While attending Wichita State University and earning a degree in Music Education, Derby native Smith-Frankel began teaching private lessons.
“I thought I would end up teaching in public schools, but it turned out that it wasn’t my love,” Smith-Frankel said. “I didn’t enjoy it as much as private teaching.”
Smith-Frankel has spent 40 years teaching at Musical Offerings (which she runs with her husband, Richard Frankel), apart from taking a break at Newton’s store.
Primarily, Smith-Frankel teaches piano lessons. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music Performance in Piano Pedagogy from WSU. The Derby High School graduate, who grew up playing additional instruments, also teaches violin and viola lessons.
With a strong Kinder Music program, Smith-Frankel doesn’t worry about teaching younger children. Usually she starts lessons with her students aged 7 and up and has taught “whatever” she can. Her current 20 students range from her age of 7 to adulthood and have equally varied experience levels, but she hopes to develop the same passion for music as each of her students. increase.
“When they come to me, I want them to feel that they can always be a part of the music, regardless of their age or level,” said Smith-Frankel.
Smith-Frankel is shown working with one of her dozen students during a piano lesson.
courtesy
In private lessons, Smith-Frankel acknowledged that he has found his niche, enjoys his work, and helps his students succeed.
Currently, Smith-Frankel said he has three students preparing for the concerto competition. Given the length of the piece and the need for memorization, preparation for such competitions usually begins six months in advance.
Given all the work between these competitions and advanced recitals by recent graduates, Smith-Frankel said it was rewarding to see the fruits of their labor come to fruition.
Today, the KMTA is realizing the fruits of Smith-Frankel’s hard work by receiving the Distinguished Teacher Award. She joked, if you stay long enough, you can get an award like this. I realized that I had benefited from this and was urged to pay it upfront.
“First of all, I nearly fell out of my chair when they told me at last spring’s meeting that they were going to nominate me. He was even my professor, so it’s a great honor,” Smith-Frankel said. I always wondered how I could say no.”
Smith-Frankel said the award was “shot in the arm” and that teaching motivates creativity. She understands that not all students will become professional musicians, but she hopes to impress them that music can help them regardless of their aspirations.
“I hope they will always love music and find a way to make their own music, because I think it’s therapy and stress relief,” Smith-Frankel said. I think it’s a lifelong skill that you can always use wherever you end up.”
Comments
Post a Comment