Pets Make Dog-Gone
Good Music
Teachers at
Sdoia-Satz
Pets Make
Dog-Gone Good Music
Teachers at
Sdoia-Satz
By Marylynne
Newmark, Stage Door –
Pg. 19 – Aug-Sept.
1998
That’s right! –
Pets.
♫
Phyllis Sdoia-Satz,
pianist, educator
and composer has
been teaching piano
and other keyboard
instruments for 35
years and is known
for her ability to
excite and motivate
young students to
practice and learn.
Phyllis Sdoia-Satz
and her husband
Barry Satz, are the
owners and
administrators of
Sdoia-Satz Music
Institute, a private
music school with
more than 50
instructors, who
teach students from
18 months of age to
88 years.
♫
Ms. Sdoia-Satz has
created a musical
method in story book
format, to teach
very young children.
She involves her
four pets, who
become real-life
characters for the
stories that teach
the students. The
members of the Husky
Gang are Stormy,
Sheba and Sabrina, 3
Siberian Huskies:
Sam, an Alaskan
Malamute; and
Sharon, a Siamese
Cat who is an
"honorary" husky.
These 5 lovable
animals who are also
trained in pet
therapy are the
teachers in the
humorous interactive
story in the book.
Although children as
young as 18 months
are accepted into
the program, the
ideal age is 2, 3, 4
and 5 year olds.
Tapes with songs and
dances support the
story.
♫
The entire program
is geared to teach
piano to children.
The kids and the
teachers all dress
as animals for the
lessons. The play
environment relaxes
them, breaks down
barriers and opens
new dimensions to
the learning
experience. While in
this playful mode,
the children learn
to identify notes,
symbols, and piano
keys. They learn
right hand/left
hand. They learn to
understand rhythmic
concepts and proper
hand position. They
also learn to play
simple pieces two
hands together.
Above all, the kids
learn to listen
first to stories,
then to notes, and
the application. Some sections in the
Husky Gang stories
encourage the
student to respond
verbally; some
involve the parents.
♫
These young students
love the program.
They listen to the
stories at home and
love to practice
what they hear. They
eagerly return for
the next lesson.
"Our pets are always
here, highly
visible", says
Sdoia-Satz. "The
youngsters love them
and pet them and
they become part of
the learning
process." The goal,
says Sdoia-Satz "is
to create ‘fun’
experiences while
learning. Our
students learn to
play and experience
music appreciation
in just a matter of
weeks."
♫
A student of the
great concert
pianist Rudolph
Serkin, Phyllis
Sdoia-Satz is a
serious pianist
herself and has
performed throughout
the world. Her
husband, Barry Satz,
is administrator of
the school, which
employs over 50
teachers. Lessons
are offered for
adults and children
in voice and every
instrument from
accordion to
xylophone including
the Japanese Koto.
Before acceptance,
all students are
evaluated through
the Sdoia-Satz Music
Aptitude Test, to
determine instrument
of choice. An
instructor is
assigned. They are
all highly qualified
educators with a
minimum of master’s
degree in music with
performance
background and an
expert in that
instrument.
Instruction includes
theory, arranging
and composition.
Students participate
in juries,
competitions, and
semi-annual
recitals.
♫
Sdoia-Satz also
develops programs
with therapists
using vocal
instruction,
breathing technique
and instrument
playing as tools for
treating asthma,
arthritis, physical
impairment,
stuttering, memory
improvement and a
variety of medical
and emotional
problems. Students
and instructors of
the Sdoia-Satz Music
Institute regularly
perform at
hospitals, and other
in-patient/out-patient
facilities to share
their love for music
and to bring cheer
to those in need of
it. The institute
gave 5 performances
in Dade County
School this past
June. Sdoia-Satz
Music Institute has
been featured on
CNN, Headline News,
Eyewitness News 5
times, CBS twice, as
well as Despierta
America on Univision
and other TV
channels including
FOX and WBZL. PBS is
discussing a
documentary and the
Institute is in
negotiations with
Warner Brothers to
publish the book
series.
♫
The Sdoia-Satz Music
Institute has 3
locations in Dade
County, but lessons
are also taught by
the instructors at
the homes of
students all over
Dade and Broward
counties. Offices
for Sdoia-Satz are
in North Miami
Beach.
♫