Amanda Mylcraine’s love of music began at a young age while being homeschooled in Hawley and Abilene, TX. Her brother started learning piano at age 10. His lessons trickled down to her sisters. One of her sisters began to teach her at age 6. She was a strict teacher, always insisting on the importance of counting the beats. Amanda had her brother’s music books, her sister’s teaching, and a little keyboard to start her off on her musical journey.
As a child she explored other extracurriculars, but came back to music around age 16, starting back up with piano and guitar. Amanda also started writing songs around this time putting words to the guitar. Artists that inspired her songwriting as a teen were Laura Story and Holly Starr. Amanda expresses, “ I loved the way their music felt so genuine, I wanted to create my own that way as well.” She did some live performances, including playing violin at church, but realized her passion was in teaching others and not in performing. She began teaching her nieces and nephews, which gave her a “good foundation”, free of judgment, to establish her teaching career.
She has now been teaching for 9 years and offers lessons in a variety of instruments including violin, viola, cello, flute, piano, guitar, mandolin, and ukulele. The cello is one of her favorite instruments. She teaches ages 4 and up and states it is important to offer “a variety of instruments for little kids because they like to hop around a lot” to discover the instrument that suits them best. Amanda expresses the importance of “exposing kids to a variety of music to help them understand and feel rhythm.” If children do not “hear or feel music, they are not going to want to create it.” A great place to start is with classical music because it provides “a good foundation to other genres”
The role of parents is also important when they are going to class, especially when they are really young. Small children need reinforcement of lessons at home. Amanda says if parents come to lessons, it is easier for them to help and encourage their children at home. Parents can also help by minimizing distractions, such as screens. An example Amanda gave was she had a talented 4 year old who was learning piano and doing very well. For his 5th birthday, he got an iPad and his interest in music waned. The 4 year old exclaimed, “"I don't want to play piano anymore, I want my games!" As Amanda puts it, “Technology kills creativity.”
For older children and adult students, she emphasizes the importance of “picking up your instrument everyday, so that it becomes part of you” and reduces the awkwardness of being with something new. It is important for each student to have “a lot of patience with themselves.” No one is perfect right away. Students have to remember it will take time to learn their instruments.
One of Amanda’s future ventures is becoming the volunteer pianist for the local homeschool choir. You may not get many opportunities to see Amanda on stage, but you will surely see her influence in music through her many students around Abilene.
If you are interested in music lessons from Amanda, please contact her on her Facebook page:
Amanda currently has over 45 students a week She teaches each student once a week for a tuition of $100 a month, so each student gets at least 4 sessions a month.
Amanda’s Music Lessons on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086179474306
