Lotus Centre for Special Music Education

07/04/2022

Check out our NEW page! Please follow or like our new page to stay up-to-date with the latest programs, registrations, and activities happening around Lotus Centre!
https://www.facebook.com/Lotus-Centre-for-Special-Music-Education-102795135831291

07/01/2022

A message from our Executive Director, Dr. Erin MacAfee:

I'm writing to let our Lotus Centre community know about some upcoming changes for the next year. As some of you may know, I will be off on maternity leave starting this Monday, July 4, 2022. While I am excited to embark on this new adventure with my family, I will miss working with all our wonderful students, parents, families, staff, volunteers, and partners while I'm away. It's a privilege to work at the Centre towards our mission of increasing access to special music education opportunities, and I will look forward to continuing this important work when I return.

I am happy to announce that Jennifer Thivierge will be Lotus Centre's new Interim Executive Director, effective Monday, July 4, 2022. With a background in education and non-profit experience, we are very excited to have Jennifer bring her skills to our Centre and we can't wait to welcome her to the team! I know she is looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you over the next year.

Wishing everyone a safe, fun, and musical year!

06/28/2022

🌼 It's Teacher Tuesday! 🌼

Our founder, Dr. Erin Parkes, was on the show Piano Teaching Success! Here's the roundtable discussion, titled "Teaching Piano to Students with Learning Difficulties, Part 1."

In Part 1, we look at learning difficulties which are both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Guests include: Dr Erin Parkes (Lotus Centre - Music Education for Stud...

06/21/2022

🙂 It's Teacher Tuesday! 🙂

Check out this fun infograph with some key elements for inclusive music teaching!

06/19/2022

Yesterday was our recital day! 🎼

In the morning, we hosted our third annual virtual recital and in the afternoon, we had our first in-person recital since the start of the pandemic! Over the course of our musical day, we heard more than 75 beautiful performances and we could not be more proud of all our amazing talented students! Thank you to all the students, parents, teachers, and staff who worked so hard to make our recitals happen. BRAVO!! 🤩

06/14/2022

In case you missed it: Help your students with ADHD reach the "Optimal Zone" in music learning!

Based on the statistics, if you’ve been teaching music for any length of time, you’ve probably had more than a few students with ADHD. People with ADHD often have difficulty focusing, are easily distracted, make careless mistakes, and have difficulty staying organized. They may also have difficu...

06/13/2022

We're still looking for teachers to join our team for Fall 2022! Be part of our mission, have fun, and work with some pretty amazing students in a supportive environment. For more information or to apply, please email Dr. Erin MacAfee at [email protected].

06/07/2022

🍦 It's Teacher Tuesday! 🍦

Get ready for summer with this ice cream-themed pitch activity! It's a great way to practice single notes, intervals, chords, and inversions!

06/04/2022

We had so much fun this afternoon learning about the drum kit in our Virtual Music Circle, presented as part of National Accessibility Week taking place between May 29 and June 4, 2022. Thank you to Jonathan Wade and the National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts for a fun afternoon workshop!

06/02/2022

🤩 It's Teacher Thursday! 🤩

Looking to create a fantastic group music experience for your students with exceptionalities?
Check out these resources for creating your very own adaptive music circle! They were developed by the Lotus Centre and the Ottawa National Arts Centre, with help from occupational therapists.

A unique opportunity for students with special needs to explore string, woodwind, brass or percussion instruments in a supportive and professional environment while developing their auditory, motor, social and motivation skills through hands-on workshops with a trained NAC Orchestra musician and a s...

06/02/2022

We're so grateful to receive a generous donation of $5,000 from the Carolyn Phillips Fund – Ottawa
Community Foundation! Thank you for supporting our mission to increase access to adapted music education in Ottawa and beyond!

06/01/2022

Registration for our Summer Mini-Music Camp session is now open! Join us Sunday afternoons for music, friends, and fun! Register here today: https://www.amilia.com/store/en/lotus-centre/shop/programs