Felix Spengler | Official Website

If you're interested in the Music Tutor Training Program, please click here to download the admission form, then fill it completely, and send it by mail to: contact@felixspengler.us, or fax it to 1-305-596-1089

MISSION
The mission of the Ars Musicum Academia is to facilitate and provide the proper musical education to under-privileged and at risk youngsters in order to create the opportunity for “culture” and “social” progression, prepare them for entry into mainstream universities and musical competitions, and, thus, allow them to realize their full potential.

HISTORY & BACKGROUND
Ars Musicum Academia is a music-education project that offers training and artist support programs, especially for young people who have not enjoyed mainstream musical educational opportunities. The organization aims to create new musicians and widen access to learning. Students from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds are encouraged onto the course. Given the fact that all those students have extraordinary musical abilities, but lack formal training, the organization faces the challenge of bringing them to a level that prepares them for mainstream training and, potentially, for stage performances. In his capacity as a piano teacher/mentor, Felix Spengler, the organization’s founder, has gone deeper into the training of his students bringing them to unprecedented performing readiness. “My kids,” as he calls them, have performed in different venues locally and have entertained the public in functions sponsored by well-recognized individuals such as City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. In addition, Mr. Spengler has worked as a Professor of Music at Florida Memorial University and has had the opportunity to obtain ample experience as he teaches students with special talents, a small group of gifted individuals who require a very special teaching approach. At present, Mr. Spengler is completing a Doctorate of Music at the prestigious Rutgers University and has an exciting concert career as a soloist as well. He has performed in Germany, Austria, Italy and, most recently, in Russia (Please see attached information).

OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of Ars Musicum Academia are to:

• Provide music education opportunities for young people of all cultures and styles particularly those least able to enjoy mainstream participation;
• Pilot innovative training, education and enterprise models;
• Strengthen the formal musical arts learning sector;
• Promote the development of a creative music curriculum;
• Sponsor the creation of new awards.

Research has shown that youngsters who study music perform better in school and, in general, in life. Dr. Gordon Shaw, the co-discoverer of the "Mozart effect," shows how music can help us understand how the brain works and how music may enhance how we think, reason and create. In his landmark book, Keeping Mozart in Mind (Second Edition, Academic Press, 2003), he includes key information about his original research, plus the latest findings that indicate that Second Grade students who were given four months of piano keyboard training, as well as time using math puzzle software, scored 27% higher on proportional math and fractions tests than children who received no special instruction. They were also able to solve proportional math problems at the Sixth Grade level.

Another study, the Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers, conducted by the College Board in 2001 with college-bound seniors with school music experience, shows their scores to be 57 points higher on the verbal portion of their SATs and 41 points higher in math (98 points combined) than those without arts/music instruction.

It is hoped that the students participating in Mr. Spengler’s program at Ars Musicum Academia, will be pioneers in the field of music, and they will serve as role models to other youngsters in their neighborhoods. Overall, it is expected that the impact of their achievements will generate a positive response within the community, help to identify and develop additional talent, and shine a light on the accomplishments of under-privileged youngsters.

All the students receive intensive coaching in reading music for the piano, and they play the exercises from the text book (Sightreading for Piano), a task that is particularly important because, as a rule, reading music is their weakest skill, and yet, it is the most essential in order to be admitted into a music school, or to learn a musical composition on their own. In essence, teaching the students to read music is like teaching them how to fish instead of giving them the fish. Ars Musicum Academia offers an annual program of activities for students ranging in age from 10 -17 year olds. Young artists are supported with private teaching classes, promotional opportunities, and advice from other artists/professionals from the local and regional music community. Using his highly original system, Professor Spengler has achieved excellent results as he gets youngsters to play up to professional standards.

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