Ever wondered about the creative talent behind our childrens' chorus at school? My kiddos adore their music teacher and are constantly humming and singing the songs she is teaching them. Recently, they have begun to learn a song that Ms. Amy and Mr. Marc co wrote just for the Lindsley Park School!!!! The words are simply beautiful and fun. The program that allows for music to be in the school, at no cost, is "Way Into Music." As a school, we are so lucky to have been the recipients of such amazing and gifted musicians especially at a time when so many arts programs are being cut out completely.
Way Into Music
In 2005, local musicians & teachers, Marc Solomon & Mary Armstrong expanded Marc’s already thriving teaching business to become partners in the founding of Zounds Sounds School of Music and Studios. The school quickly became a popular fixture in the Dallas music, and arts community, garnering a Best of Dallas nod in both the Dallas Observer as well as D Magazine. Employing 20 of the city’s most talented musicians as teachers, Zounds Sounds’ combination of private lessons and the “Band Program” of exciting live performances, has made it the “rock ‘n roll” model of music education in Dallas TX.
Having watched their students thrive, Marc and Mary want to share the benefits of Zounds style of music education with kids who cannot presently afford lessons, not to mention instruments on which to practice. With Dallas public schools struggling to provide music education in the curriculum, Way Into Music is dedicated to keeping music alive in children’s lives.
Way Into Music’s fund is supported by caring individual donors, various fundraising projects, as well as concerts and the sale of original music created by talented and generous Zounds Sounds staff members and students.
"Helping children develop a concept of true self worth is the greatest gift we can give to them and to our collective future."--(Mission statement of Way Into Music.")
Amy CurnowOur Amy hails from an incredibly musical family. Her father James, a noted composer of symphonic, wind & brass music, and her mother, an accomplished artist, encouraged Amy from an early age (family legend has it at 18 months!) in her singing, and her piano playing. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Amy was extremely active in various church & school choirs, as well as performing in many musicals. She went on to earn her BA in Vocal Performance at Asbury College, while working with legendary producers Charlie Peacock & Dave Barrack. She then went on to earn her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Kentucky.
After graduating, Amy moved to Little Rock, Arkansas to teach for a year at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Community School of the Arts, and to perform with the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. She also recorded commercial jingles, and put together an early professional demo. It was this demo that garnered her a national McDonald’s radio ad after she moved to Dallas in 2001. (Go ahead; ask her to sing it…) She was the lead singer of cult fave, Shanghai 5 (winner Best Jazz Band by the Dallas Observer Music Award in 2007), and was nominated Best Female Vocalist in both 2007 & 2008. During her four years in Shanghai 5, Amy worked with such production luminaries as Matt Pence, Tim O’Hare (Frank Black & Franz Ferdinand) Todd & Toby Pipes & Earl Harvin. Amy is currently pursuing acting & modeling, in addition to voice over work. She is currently singing in a band with Zounds’ Marc Solomon & Gerald Iragorri, and has been doing recording session work with Trey Johnson, Danny Balis, PPT & Stuart Sikes.
Amy enjoys teaching her students to find their own individual voices. As a yoga practitioner, she believes in exploring the breath as a support system for not only singing, but for life.
December 8, 2011 @ 1:30 will be our first
Elementary Childrens' Chorus Concert.
Please support our kiddos!
