Music Fills Teens With Positivity

Hannah Feyling, age 15 says “Whatever you have going on in your life, use that, harness it, and put meaning in your singing”.

Music Has A Positive Influence On Youth

Making memories with music during the pandemic

“It all went away overnight.”

Hannah Feyling, 15, lives in Redding and is describing what spring of 2020 was like, as her action-packed schedule of vocal lessons, dance, school and gymnastics disappeared instantly with the pandemic. But talking with Hannah, it’s inspiring how positive her outlook is and how mature she seems for her age.

“We are all struggling right now and that’s okay,” Hannah says. “As time passes so will it (meaning the pandemic). There are so many memories you can make during this time.”

Hannah was very quiet as a young child. When she was eight, however, she discovered that she was comfortable expressing herself with very loud musical theater. She says she was taught, “Whatever you have going on in your life, use that, harness it, and put meaning in your singing.”

Hannah has been busy singing in the garage, sometimes accompanying herself with a ukulele, and playing upbeat tunes in the car. Just as often, she’s listening to slow melancholy songs such as “Grow as We Go” by Ben Platt, relating to the message that you don’t have to be alone when you are going through changes and becoming who you are as a person. Hannah connects daily with her three closest friends and laughs as she mentions that she is constantly talking on the phone. At night, she drowns her thoughts with the steady beats of lo-fi music.

This past August, Hannah started working as an intern at Redding Performing Arts Center (RPAC), where she is assisting with choreography. RPAC offers in-person and virtual music lessons and owner Brandon Baumann has made adjustments to the 4,600-square-foot facility to meet new restrictions. Long acrylic dividers hang from the ceiling inside a 25-foot by 25-foot room, allowing for safe singing lessons, and there is ample outdoor space for musical theater practice.

Music exercises development in a fun way

Brandon says his students discover confidence, overcome fear, and find their voice through music. In turn, music exercises multiple areas of human development, including cognitive function, emotional awareness, and body coordination, in a fun and therapeutic way.

“I’ve been noticing this fear that is in our kids right now,” Brandon says. “It’s important that we give children and teenagers safe environments that allow them to process and be motivated, helping to encourage their emotional and mental health.”

At Inspire School of Arts & Sciences, a public charter high school in Chico, professional musician Jim White has seen a lack of confidence in some students since distance learning started. As the school’s instrumental music and recording arts teacher since 2012, he teaches a student-driven style of learning that creates real-life experiences. In his Pop Band class, students get to be part of a rock ‘n’ roll band. Small ensembles made up of a drummer, guitar players (bass, electric and acoustic), a keyboard player and a lead singer play rock, pop, and jazz from the 1950s through today’s hits.

“The students are filled with positivity when they come away from music,” Jim says.

Music teaches self-discipline

Greg Takemoto, the owner of Redding Music School, says learning to play music is similar to studying a new language, and he emphasizes the self-discipline that it teaches. “Music is an important art form that activates both hemispheres of the brain at once,” he explains. “Accurately expressing yourself in music, like in language, is one of the highest goals one can achieve.”

A professional alto saxophone player and music instructor, Greg grew up in Redding and spent several years teaching for Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School. He believes that music gives kids opportunities to reach personal goals and encourages their exposure to professional organizations such as the North State Symphony. His music school provides video and in-person lessons, and Greg says he loves having a direct impact on his students’ lives.

One of his former students is Redding native Cameron Sewell-Snyder, who is now studying jazz performance at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Working towards becoming a professional musician

Cameron, who is now 18, signed up for alto saxophone in fifth grade and is working towards becoming a professional musician. “Music has played a significant role in my tween and teen years,” he explains. “It’s been a very humbling experience and has shown me how hard I have had to work…music has taught me to embrace different types of music, cultures, and backgrounds that bring us all together.”

He’s thankful for Greg’s guidance and says his teacher and friend is “the embodiment of what it means to be a hard worker, constantly trying to improve his own playing even when he already plays at a high level.”

Cameron encourages his generation to never stop improving at a hobby or interest. “We have lots of time on our hands and how you choose to spend it is up to you,” he says. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for tomorrow.

Inspire School of Arts & Sciences in Chico, Virtual Gala, January 9: This is a great way for parents to view the public charter high school’s education model and music program.

Redding Performing Arts Center will be live streaming an evening of monologues during the last week of January.

North State Symphony will be streaming a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” in March. The concert will include a narrator and an opportunity for interactive questions.