Hopefully this helps Keytones find the right corner of the internet.
They’re virtual, not representing the reality of real practice.
For advanced string players, not absolute beginners.
Not a listening game, but a literal visual meaning of first position.
A practice tool, not entertainment.
Continuous polishing is ongoing.
And I do not profess to know everything, so I am always open to conversation.
-J.S
Some recent brainstorms,
What do I need to do to best serve people?
How can I be most accountable so I never deceive the reality of the service I’m providing?
So I always know what adjustments to make.
So I am organized with the tasks at hand and never overwhelmed by them.
All in service of others. Not solely in service of myself.
These are challenges I will spend my life pondering over, although I have made some progress on them recently.
I wanted to write here to provide a service update. It is March of 2024.
This year has been service in the form of KeyTones, the note reading game, which will act as a way to simplify the note reading process for beginner string players. Find the catalog here. https://balanceworldmusic.org/2023-2024/
ALSO
Soon will be genuine service in the form of a concert series to put on live music performances in support of local featured artists who will collaborate on stage.
The venue will be in New York City. The start date will be in early May, and the goal will be to run monthly throughout the summer. Stay tuned for details.
A lesson program can be created from this, too. If each concert receives 10 donations of $25, then an instrument will be donated to a family’s home and a member of that family will receive weekly lessons to learn how to master that instrument.
That is the goal.
Genuinely, to pioneer a service that supports artists, creates a great music education program, and passes music mastery along to the next generation.
J.S
While in the eyes of storms, music, I hope, will be a form of inner-peace.
And during the sunlight, when it’s time to shine, melody and harmony will help nurture a sense of self-expression.
An inward safety precaution for the bad times and an expressive outlet for the good.
To be a musician is an invaluable gift to have during life’s whirlwinds.
And it is up to teachers to provide that gift for the next generation.
A lofty responsibility it is to be an educator of music.
Being this has taught me about the education ecosystem that includes lightning that strikes many in the form of a learning disadvantage.
KeyTones hopes to catch this lightning in a bottle and deflect it towards a brighter musical future.
It hopes to make music fundamentals fun for all.
It is a teaching tool for teachers, a learning tool for learners, and a resource to better weather the storms of life.
Mobile-friendly versions are on the way.
I will write about it throughout the year.
I will never let money affect the equality of its access.
Please do enjoy it throughout the seasons of your 2024 and I would love to hear your thoughts about it.
More soon. Stay tuned,
-J.S
This year, I will continue working in charter school settings. It’s an honor to have opportunities to do such meaningful work.
I am grateful for these opportunities, but that does not stop my personal mission of creating a program in New York City.
Long Ago was when I began thinking about a charter school violin program, specifically. One that works. One that innovates. One that puts learning over profit.
So, I wanted to answer these questions to clear up a common misconception that the Suzuki Method cannot be added to a variety of curriculums.
Is it accessible for group classes? Say, in a charter school setting?
Yes!
The group class is the foundational component. This is where student musicians inspire and motivate each other. Everyone has the opportunity to shape the sound of a true musical ensemble together. Everyone learns core ensemble skills together. Everyone aims for excellent musicianship together. A sense of community is prioritized.
Is the expectation of mastery too high of an expectation?
No!
Any child can master the violin. A natural ability and an environment full of music are the ingredients for violin mastery. A skillful teacher can help children develop zero bad technical habits. All children have the ability to express a full ringing tone. The pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designed to pace the skill development needed for mastery, starting from the absolute beginning. The repertoire has been analyzed and proven effective for decades.
Does it take enormous family support?
No.
What is needed is consistent practice at home. Reminders from parents to practice are nice, and adult guidance is needed for very young ages, but not necessary when there are students who have desires within themselves to learn. I hope to ignite this desire and passion for students so they become independent learners at home.
Does it value reading notes?
Yes!
In fact, there are so many professional musicians who started with Suzuki Method and they read notes for a living. Suzuki Method does not ignore the dots on the page. Reading notes is taught, but learning music naturally, by ear, is taught first. It is identical to native language learning. It is very effective to learn by listening to others first, while reading is taught along the way.
Are Suzuki teachers adaptive?
Yes. And the label of Suzuki teacher does not define our entire being. The method is simply an analytical tool we use that works. I know tons of Suzuki teachers who incorporate other method books and philosophies into their classrooms.
I am not just a Suzuki teacher. I am a collaborator.
For those wanting to know about this endeavor, lets talk. Reach out by emailing.
Balanceworldmusic@gmail.com
-J.S
The profound musician Jon Batiste recently wrote in a New York Times article,
“I am not who you think I am”
It got me thinking about how musicians are so misunderstood and way under-valued.
Those who love music, like myself, know good and well the value musicians provide. The value we have to shape cultures and convey universal emotions.
Those who do not believe in musical value are not bad people. It makes sense why they would not believe in things like donated instruments, quality lessons, and collaborative musical exchange programs.
But I hope non-music lovers do understand this,
The value of music is not what you think it is. It is what you can build around it.
We can work together to create,
Concerts that provide resources for under-privileged communities.
Galas that raise money for medical research.
Performances that help small businesses.
The problems music can help fix are endless.
I will always believe that being a musician is both a personal journey for life and a way to be a shining light for others. I know this to be true.
But let us remember that there is also opportunity to create noble pursuits, fighting for causes everyone believes in, around musical atmospheres.
-J.S
On March 31st, 2023, “Something is Blooming on Spring St”, an evening of art and music, occurred in Soho, New York City.
A deep gratitude goes out to New York Quality Strings for sponsoring the event.
It was hosted by the Atrium Quartet, consisting of Marybeth MacKay, Jacob Shur, Malachi Brown, and Jennifer Ko. The evening also featured filmmaker Tashrika Sharma, painter Sam Adlin, and photographer Ayla Stern. The sponsorship funds were used to pay the artists involved and gift an electric piano to residents at the New View Alternatives group home.
An impactful night, indeed.
The artists were compensated, the audience united, and more human beings now have access to musical instruments.
A true success.
This event was designed to utilize funds in the most meaningful way. It simultaneously provided for audiences, artists, and under-privileged communities.
It allowed audience members to find fulfillment in another passing day, helped local artists stay afloat in their present circumstances, and gave a community musical resources for their future.
Thank you to all those involved.
Stay tuned,
J.S
I am here, alive and well, in New York City.
Residing, working, and exploring. A place full of culture. Full of humanity. Full of uniqueness. Full of love.
Sadly though, entangled within this special place, is an unhealthy fixation on capitalist wealth.
Hu-money-ty. When millions of people swarm around the dollar bill, while forgetting about equality and fundamental well-being.
Minimum wage jobs have people suffering while CEOs gain wealth.
Both homelessness and luxury apartment buildings are on the rise.
The wealthiest companies are prioritizing the sale over those on the frontlines actually doing the sale.
This fault is not caused by any one, but rather caused by several collective systems that are in place.
It is not to say that there are no charitable systems doing exceptional work. It is to say, rather, that there is not enough exceptional work being done and way too much greedy work being done.
A species that is motivated to work for its own greed is a species that will fail.
Can alliances form to fund solutions?
If so, I hope to play my part.
More soon. Stay tuned.
-J.S
“I am extremely grateful for this partnership with New York Live Arts. Three years ago, this organization was nothing but an idea in my brain, and now with the help of New York Live Arts, it has turned into a legitimate fundraising organization that has a real chance to make an impact right now.” -Jake Shur, Founder, Balance World Music
Link to make tax-deductible donations,
https://newyorklivearts.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n3q00000YSaTVAA1
Balance World Music is a fiscally sponsored member of New York Live Arts, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. Contributions in support of Balance World Music’s work are greatly appreciated and may be made payable to New York Live Arts, Inc., earmarked for “the New York Live Arts member project of Balance World Music” A description of the work and current project activities for which such contributions will be used are available from Balance World Music or New York Live Arts, upon request. All contributions are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law. (Note: A copy of New York Live Arts’ latest annual financial report filed with the New York State Department of State may be obtained by writing to the N.Y.S. Dept. of State, Charities Registration, 162 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY, 12231, or to New York Live Arts, 219 West 19th Street, New York, NY, 10011)
Monday is a chord.
Some Tuesdays are bright, some Wednesdays are bleak.
Thursdays may be loud and Fridays may resolve to quietness.
Sounds of serenity are found within Saturdays and harshness may speak on Sundays.
The phrases of life we all experience at once. All people living through unique chords, each and every day.
One chord may seem to last a life-time while the next one pulses by in what feels like a singular breath.
Though, every chord, in all that it brings, creates emotional tone colors. Tone colors in the forms of beauty, love, hatred and suffering. Infinite compositions of feelings are what keep the music going.
A progression of emotions found here on this spinning concert hall called Earth.
We are the voices of the chords. What an incredible responsibility. To harmonize with one another.
Because this progression is blissful when the chords are striking just right. Magical moments when the sound of the moment is all that matters.
But, it is also a progression of piercing dissonance, at times. When the notes of the day clash in such a way that challenge us to march through the sounds until the air is cleared.
Until it vanishes. Until silence ends the music for the day. Until the next morning sounds again.
Today is a chord, so let it ring.
-J.S
