Lesley Hoye loved singing as a child. She started formal voice lessons at age 12 and, when she began attending Sewickley Academy in ninth grade, she became increasingly enamored with musical theater.
That love for song and dance followed her to college at Grove City, where she had lead roles in shows such as“ Guys and Dolls” and“ South Pacific.” She even continued her craft after college, singing at weddings and funerals.
Then, in 2007, she took her twoyear-old son to a Music Together class and fell in love with the concept. Soon after, she took training classes and began teaching Music Together in multiple locations throughout northern New Jersey.
“ Music is universal,” Hoye says.“ It binds us to other humans in a way not even language can. It helps us express every mood and emotion. Music learning supports all learning. It nurtures creativity, self-expression and confidence, while also supporting social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. In fact, music is very important to a child’ s development.”
Hoye says she always knew she wanted to share her love of music with her children. And when she moved back to Pittsburgh from New Jersey in 2011, she had two young children and was a busy mom, but also wanted to start her own business. She got that opportunity in 2014, when she opened Notable Beginnings, with the mission of helping parents give their children the best possible beginning in music.
“ I ran through many names for my business, and when I thought of Notable Beginnings, it just felt right,” Hoye explains.“ It’ s a name that evokes the importance of music, as well as getting kids off to a great start in life.”
Hoye’ s classes are geared toward children from birth through kindergarten, as well as the adults, who are also important in the children’ s musical lives.“ I encourage adults to attend class with the child. Music is not just a once-a-week‘ thing’ that lasts 45 minutes. I teach adults how to bring music into the home and be active music makers instead of passive music listeners.
Joy
The of
Music
BY HEATHER HOLTSCHLAG
Lesley Hoye is nurturing and educating the next generation of musicians and music lovers.
Through her Notable Beginnings business and incorporation of the Music Together curriculum, which includes a mix of original songs and traditional tunes from the folk, jazz and world music traditions in a variety of tonalities and meters, Hoye is able to present a range of musical styles from lyrical to blues, folk to boogie, and provide the children with a rich music experience that stimulates and supports their growing music skills and understanding.
“ This format appeals to grownups and children alike,” Hoye says.“ The broad range of musical styles keeps things interesting for listeners of all ages, and keeps families coming back semester after semester.”
Classes begin with the“ Hello Song,” which is followed by other songs and rhythmic rhymes, including fingerplays, small and large movement activities, and various instrument play. Classes end with an instrument play-along and the“ Goodbye Song.”
“ The kids have a blast,” Hoye says.“ It’ s fun, silly and fantastic. They don’ t realize how much musical learning is going on. It’ s a relaxed, playful, non-performance-oriented classroom setting that respects and supports the unique learning styles of all participants, while creating a strong sense of community.”
Hoye explains that one of the reasons she likes teaching music to kids is because kids don’ t have any musical inhibitions. The children throw out ideas and she just goes with it, making each class unique and unpredictable. Along the way, Hoye tries to help the adults to not be self-conscious in their music making.“ The adult is the child’ s greatest musical role model. Parents don’ t need to have music skills. They just need a desire to play and have fun with their children.”
Hoye suggests that anyone interested in signing up for a class visit www. notablebeginnings. us or contact her at 724.949.0088 or lesley @ notablebeginnings. us. She currently hosts classes in Venetia at St. David’ s Episcopal Church, Arthur Murray Dance Studio in McMurray, and Beth El Congregation in Mt. Lebanon. Her Facebook page is NotableBeginningsMT. n
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