Evan Rea Music Studios

03/18/2023

Please come hear three of my students tomorrow, performing at the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's Rising Star Showcase! The three students are Anna Podlesak, Zach Tarcak, and Matt Wells. All three are AMAZING!

04/25/2022

Did you know that a 3-year old (top left image) and a 6-year old (top right image) have significantly different skeletal structure in their hands?! Notice the bones in the wrist of the 3-year old -- many of them are still mostly cartilage! Look at all the spaces in between the bones where muscles and tendons will change through the years. Even the difference between a 6-year old and a 14-year old (lower right) is huge!

Preschoolers have SO much development to do before they can write the way school-aged children or adults can!

Please do NOT stress if your preschooler does not want to write or draw. Some love it and some don't.

While they are growing, strengthen those little bones and muscles! Here are some great pre-writing, muscle-strengthening activities:

* painting, drawing, coloring
* playdough
* tearing and cutting
* gluing
* poking holes in things (try toothpicks and paper!)
* digging in dirt
* building with LEGOS, marble runs, or other blocks
* beading (try beads, cut straws, or even bobbins!)
* puzzles
* squeezing (try stress balls, squeezing water in a sponge, or using a pipette)
* picking up and throwing balls (use different sizes!)
* playing with toys (watch what their little fingers do when they pick up and move little cars, marbles, action figures, etc!)
These all strengthen and help develop little hands, muscles, and bones. When they are physically ready to write, it will be so much easier than if they were pushed when they didn't want to and weren't ready!

11/11/2020

This is amazing!

05/26/2020

I love working with young people! During this pandemic I've seen many of my students thrive. Caroline has always been a wonderful student to work with, but she has really kicked it up a notch recently. Pieces that used to take a few weeks to learn have only been taking 1-2 weeks to learn. Regular thoughtful practice goes a long way! Keep it up, Caroline!!

This is Caroline playing a piece called "Reflections", written by Valerie Roth Roubos

12/11/2019

I want to send out a big THANK YOU to my students and their families for another successful Winter Concert! We raised $1,285 for the Frankfort Township Food Pantry and Meijer Foods DOUBLE-MATCHED that amount! Thank you, Meijer! Also, thank you to Janine at the pantry, who helps our neighbors in need!

12/06/2019

Join us Friday, December 6th, for a piano concert featuring most of my piano studio. We are doing a benefit concert for the Frankfort Township Food Pantry. Please bring some non-perishables to donate. No admission charge.
Location: Immanuel Lutheran
10731 W LaPorte Rd in Mokena
6:30pm

11/16/2019

07/22/2019

What an inspiration!!

06/27/2019

A new study shows that students who take music lessons in high school perform better in science, math and English.