Local Spotlight: Hudson Education Center for the Arts

​By Aimee Bingham Osinski anbingham@gmail.com
 
Hudson Education Center for the Arts is not like our normal business spotlights. Founded in 2009 as a solo and ensemble accompanying program, in 2014 it became a not for profit organization. Normally the local businesses I spotlight are for profit.  It’s mission is to provide students a fun, accessible, and affordable music education and performance opportunities. In 2018 HEC moved to 8089 Main St in Dexter. On December 1  2019, The Dexter Community Choir completed its first season..
Music education is critical to both brain development and maintenance.  Study after study shows how children benefit from music education.  Learning music helps children refine listening skills, through both listening to an ensemble, and listening to yourself.  Learning music helps the brain work harder and improves math skills.  Music education can provide stress relief and increase creativity.  So much of our current education system is focused on testing, music education often falls by the wayside, in spite of the proven benefits.  Thankfully, Dexter still has a strong music program.  However,  formally learning an instrument does not typically start until fifth grade in school.  Many people give up music upon high school graduation.  But music is also beneficial for the aging brain, not just the developing brain.  In researching ways to help my brain recover from my stroke, I found a study by Houston Methodist Hospital that suggests positive, familiar music may have the power to increase activation and functional connectivity in the brain. Since much of my recovery was trying to rebuild or create connections in my brain, music was a big part of my at home therapy.  Music is also therapeutic for those suffering from alzheimer's disease and dementia, by relieving stress and anxiety and triggering memory.  A nonprofit music school for people of all ages, has the ability to help the community overall.
  I had the opportunity to discuss Hudson Education Center for the Arts with Board President Gordon Darr.  Not many music schools are not for profit and I was curious why he chose to set it up that way.  He spoke of being a young musician, as early as 7th grade and related to families asking him to hold off on cashing checks that paid for accompanying their musicians.  He also spoke of the ability to go after grant money and potentially go into low income communities.  The idea, was energizing and helped elevate their mission.  It seems that the Hudson Education Center for the Arts has a lot of plans for the future, but one step at a time. Currently, they’re focused on establishing their brand within the community and plan on building from there.
  In doing research for the article, I was impressed by the number and background of the teachers available for private lessons.  15 music instructors, all accomplished musicians with the proper training to educate others. Certainly, one of the best qualified music schools, I’ve ever seen.  I was equally impressed when I started to question Gordon about my own daughter’s potential music education.  I asked at what age can a child start to learn music.  His response was, “from birth,” and he explained that music, like language is easy for children to learn.  GIven that several teachers have degrees in early childhood education, the very young will be in great hands. They will be taught by people who have learned to teach that age group.  Many are studying education or have studied it. My 5 year-old is interested in voice lessons.  So I asked him about that.  He was gentle, just in case I was one of those moms who is trying to make her daughter a star, to feed my own ego.  He said “voice typically isn’t good to start until 11 or 12,” and he explained the potential to do permanent damage to the vocal cords. But it’s a case by case situation and a 5 year-old will start with music lessons and if the voice instructor decides the child is ready, the child will start formal voice training. The caliber of the instruction is so high, he trusts the experts to make the best decision for the child.  I understand what he was trying to say.  He didn’t know if my ego was  involved with her desire to sing or not.  I have older children and witnessed parents push practice or training on their kids that was not age appropriate simply so their child could be a star early. The result was often early burnout or career ending injury.  I selected my daughter’s ballet school for the very same philosophy, teach the children in a way that makes the child love something and when the child is physically and mentally ready, let the child develop.  Chances are if your child is going to be a professional at something, the parent won’t be able to control it one way or another. Unfortunately, many parents try. I respected his willingness to potentially lose a student for the wellbeing of the child. I want the best for my daughter and I could tell, intrinsically, he did too.  Gordon encouraged me to bring my daughter in for a  first lesson.  Part two of this spotlight will happen after I see how lessons are run and I can view the space.   If you’re interested in lessons or joining the Community Choir visit http://hecmusic.org.  You can also find the Hudson Education Center for the Arts on Facebook or call (734)645-1856.   

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