Notable Youth Foundation

New Summer Music Camps! Don't Miss Out!

2009-04-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Bring more music into your life this summer !

one-week music day camps for beginners
Classical-violin, rhythm training, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, voice, performance techniques
MAY - AUG
EARLY REGISTRATION SPECIAL OFFER $99*

(*includes one half-hour lesson for orientation/registration the week prior to camp, lesson book/CD, three one-hour group lessons and a recital band during camp week)

Sign up now - learn more about our programs and private lessons at
www.danwhitleymusic.com and www.notableyouthfoundation.org

for more information-Call Dan 801-918-7740
Studio located in Draper, Utah

Music Video for "Everybody"

2009-03-31T14:57:00.000-07:00

Another of Dan's impressive projects:

The Boy Who Didn't.

2009-03-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

This is the incredible story of one of Dan's students. Check it out!

Christmas in the Heart of Draper

2008-12-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

The Notable Youth will be performers at Draper City's Christmas Celebration. This is from the city's website:

Christmas in the Heart of Draper.

Mark your calendars - Santa Claus will be arriving in Draper on Monday evening, December 8th. The festivities will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Draper City Hall. To prevent long lines to see Santa, children will be able to participate in games and activities while waiting to see Santa. There will be performances by many local entertainers and children's groups, including the bell ringers. The event is being organized by the Draper Youth Council, so come out and show your support! There will be hot dogs, hot chocolate and cookies.

Here's the information that just went out to parents in an email:

Set up help: Dan needs a few adults to help get the trailer loaded at his house Saturday at noon. He needs a few more to help Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. to get set up at City Hall. Please let him know if you can help with either of those times.

The address for Draper City Hall is 1020 East Pioneer Road (12400 S) Draper. There is lots of parking in the back, but it will be a crowded event. Again, be there by 6:00 if you are going to carol, and a little before 7:00 if you are playing in the orchestra.

Costumes: Boys should wear black slacks and black button-down shirts, black shoes if possible, and a red tie. Make sure it’s a youth size unless he’s full-grown. The best place to get them is Tie One On in the South Towne Mall, they’re about $7. Girls should wear anything that looks nice and is solid reds and blacks. Santa hats may be worn.

How’s the practicing coming? I know our house is cramming on those Christmas songs! This is one of the city’s major events, and they are very excited to have us contributing – let’s make sure we all do our best so they’ll want us back next year!

Where to Begin?

2008-11-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

Dan has been busy growing his program. First, he has arranged (at least for now) for the use of Summit Academy. The orchestra will rehearse there on Saturdays - meet at his house at noon to load up and move over. Please bring your own instruments and amps.

November 22nd will be recital day. Recitals will run from 1:oo to 5:30 (see Dan to schedule a time). The remainder of the schedule will run as follows:

12:00 help Dan get setup if you can
1:00 to 4:00 Full recital show – sign up for a time with Dan
4:00 Brandon Reese
4:15 Hanna Rackley
4:30 Elias Family
4:45 Emma and Gracie Mead
5:00 Vance Lanvatter

6:00 Pops Orchestra
6:45 Tiny & the Heartbeats
7:00 Prodigy
7:30ish Everyone help clean up and load out.

Please invite your friends and family to come - there will be an enjoyable program anytime during the day!

Dan also has a couple of Christmas programs scheduled and is working on arranging more:

Dec. 22nd at Sandy City Hall . Carolers begin at 5:00 p.m.. Orchestra sets up in the lobby and plays from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m.

Dec. 23rd at Draper City Hall 12:00 p.m. setup, perform until 3:00. Pops Orchestra, Prodigy, and guest violin students.

Finally, Dan is starting a Tuesday night rehearsal at 7:00 for violin and other acoustic instruments that is Christmas music only. Please invite any and all guest musicians that want to play in our Christmas programs.

Stan Seale Cruising!

2008-11-06T08:01:00.001-08:00

Notable Youth is fortunate to have veteran entertainer and music instructor Stan Seale on the staff. Born and raised in North Hollywood, Stan’s career has spanned playing with Desi Arnez Jr. in Little Rickie's Combo on the I Love Lucy Show to performing on the Smothers Brothers show to being a pianist and arranger for The Letterman. His complete bio is available on the website:
http://www.notableyouthfoundation.org/teachers/stan/stan.php

Stan will be gone for the next few weeks as part of the ship band on the Norwegian Pride of America. He leaves November 22 and returns Jan. 10. His classes will be held as scheduled, taught by either Keith Knighton or Dan.

Stan is also pleased to announce that he has just completed his “String Meets Swing” project, a book and cd that is an introduction to jazz violin. Both will soon be available on Amazon and other stores. Contact Dan if you are interested in learning more.

Fall Schedule

2008-11-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that Fall schedule for the bands is as follows:

Early beginners can meet for ½ an hour at 1:30 on Fridays.
Pops Orchestra meets from 7-8 pm on Thursdays.
Tiny and the Heartbeats on 5:00 on Fridays.
That group is by invitation only, after students have learned all of their songs (Ode to Joy, Star Wars, Five Foot Two, Pipeline, Wipeout, Merry Men, When the Saint, and The Rose.)

Group vocal classes will be held on Saturday mornings at 7:00, 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. Both Keith and Dan will be teaching them. Ask Dan if you have any questions.

Tiny & the Heartbeats on Youtube!

2008-09-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Tiny & the Heartbeats performed for Stansbury Park Days, and their performance of wipeout has been posted on Youtube! If you have any clips you'd like posted, email me at sr.reese @ comcast.net.

Notable Youth Member Spreads His Wings

2008-09-07T18:35:00.000-07:00

Dan asked me to put a spot on here about some of the activities my son Brandon has gotten involved in since joining up with Notable Youth a little over a year ago. So with no humility what-so-ever...

He's been in several musicals, including his big debut as one of the leads in Ragtime (the most adorable 'Little Boy' ever.) Last weekend he filmed a movie short, playing the lead character Joey, it was called 'The Lemonade Stand'. They will be submitting it to places like Sundance. And they even paid him! (woo hoo!)

Most recently, with Dan and his sister's help, he put together a little video that he has entered in a Kidzbop contest.

http://www.kidzbop.com/contest/show_video/3599

Brandon is always eager to try something new, and Dan has helped him have the skills he needs to participate in those opportunities!

If your child has done something you'd like spotlighted, email me at sr.reese @ comcast.net.

Introducing Keith Knighton!

2008-09-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Owner and operator of the Well-Trained Singing School in Riverton, Keith Knighton has recently joined forces with Dan Whitley, director of the Notable Youth Foundation, in Draper, as a vocal instructor. Like Whitley, Knighton is a long-time music instructor who has dedicated is life to teaching children with folk music as a central part of his curriculum.

"Right now Dan is getting acquainted with me, and I am getting acquainted with him," Knighton said "I like very much what I see, and he likes what he sees in me. When I see what's happening here, I think oh my goodness, is this ever a good match."

Knighton considers his training at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary, to be the beginning of his career in musical instruction, despite the fact that he already had a B.A. in Music from the University of Utah and a Masters in Music Education from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA.

Knighton is part of the first graduating class of the Kodaly Institute, and one of the few remaining people in the U.S. fortunate enough to study music education under the master teachers trained by Zoltán Kodály himself. "You go through that kind of an experience and you're hooked," Knighton said. He spent 37 years teaching the Kodaly method of music instruction in Massachusetts before retiring to Utah in 2003.

In 1969, just out of graduate school, Knighton was given the prestigious opportunity of attending the newly-formed Kodaly Institute, with the goal of bringing the Institute's teachings to the U.S. The Kodaly method integrates several music modalities, including the tonic solfa, hand signs, and rhythmic duration syllables.

"I just simply make things cognitive," Knighton explains. "But I don't make them cognitive until I know they understand it. In other words, I don't dump things all at once. Children hear things that they don't know cognitively. We make all this cognitive, we talk about form, and everything is labeled. Eventually they'll know what they're doing. I label the things that they hear, and then they become a master of it. I do it in such a way that he will understand it."

"For example, I can take one of Dan's students and teach them the musical elements so that when Dan begins to see the musical elements coming through, it's going to make his job so much easier. He'll be able to say "I want you to improvise on a Dorian scale, and he'll know what a Dorian scale is.' He'll say make it the form a-b-b-a but make the b part a ¼ higher, and he will know exactly what to do."

Knighton started the Well-Trained Singing School after his granddaughter, who was just four at the time, asked him to teach her the piano. He realized that she couldn't match tones or sing in tune, and he couldn't teach her to play the piano if she couldn't do those things. So he rented a room at Riverton Music and began the instruction that would prepare her to learn the piano.

He named the school, and places the emphasis for his teaching, on a motto of Zoltan Kodaly: "A well-trained ear, intelligence, heart and hand. All four must develop together, in constant equilibrium. As soon as one lags behind or rushes ahead, there is something wrong."

Knighton has been a presenter at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association All- State Conference. He is a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and his favorite hobby is singing with his 13 grandchildren.

New Summer Schedule

2008-07-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

WHITLEY MUSIC
LESSONS * BANDS * RECORDING STUDIO
13602 S. 1300 E. Draper, UT 84020 Cell 918-7740 (mornings 576-0141)
8681 S. 700 West Sandy UT Paradigm High School

PROGRAMS & POLICY July & Aug 2008
FEES
Private VOCAL LESSON (from) $25*-$40 half hour ($100 or $160 month**)
Private INSTRUMENTAL $10*-$25 guitar, bass, banjo, drums, piano ($40 or $100**)
GROUP BANDS $12.50/hr. see “Band Programs” ($50 **) RECORDING $50 /half hour
$20 master CD- each CD $10 -1-10 copies
*Associate & Student Teacher fees
See Dan to Schedule Group Lessons - Voice, Keyboard or Guitar - $12.50 half/hr
** monthly fees calculated based on four week months/ 5th Week extra

PAYMENT : Payment remains a prorated tuition of fees PAYABLE IN ADVANCE ON THE FIRST LESSON OF EACH MONTH. Otherwise, please MAIL PAYMENT to the above address BY THE TENTH OF THE MONTH. If I cancel a lesson then a CREDIT will be forwarded to the following month or rescheduled as a Saturday make-up lesson. VACATIONS: if you will miss more than one week, special arrangements need to be made in order to keep your regular time slot. If you need to RESCHEDULE a lesson, please call and leave a message and I will call you back for a make-up time. If you need to cancel on the same-day as your lesson due to an emergency, please call my cell phone. PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EXTRA IF YOU HAVE A FIFTH WEEK LESSON or BAND FOR THE MONTH !

MAKE-UP TIMES: I have Saturday times available for missed lessons. It is important for you to schedule a make-up time as it is essential that I receive a monthly tuition for all of my teaching time slots, whether a student can attend all the lessons or not....so there will be no deduction in tuition for missed lessons. If a student misses two lessons without prior arrangements, that time slot could be lost. On some holidays (other than Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day), I am available to teach.
(Please check with me in advance if your lesson time falls on a holiday.)

PHONE CALLS: If you need to talk with me, call in the morning hours as I teach afternoons & have recording sessions in the evenings. Please leave a message on the answering service. I will get back to you ASAP.
LESSON PROCEDURES: Please be on time to your lesson. If you are late, I will go over your scheduled time slot if no one is waiting. If another student is waiting, your lesson will need to be cut short. If I am late getting started for any reason, or get an interruption during the lesson, I will be sure to make up the time lost. Please bring your notebook, lesson books or other equipment assigned as necessary to make the best use of lesson time. Daily practice is important to your progress, therefore please schedule whatever practice time is necessary to accomplish your weekly assignment.
PERFORMANCES/RECITALS: I usually plan several performances a year to facilitate experience in performing before an audience which takes the place of a weekly band session. It is considered “band time against tuition.” You will be given notice and instructions by separate announcement and on the Website.
Travel arrangements and performance clothing are each student’s responsibility.

MODESTY IS A MUST*
FOR THIS SCHOOL OF MUSIC
PLEASE RESPECT EACH OTHER BY DRESSING APPROPRIATELY
See our Dress Policy. Thanks for your cooperation!
*Disclaimer: Whitley Music School reserves the right to refuse enrollment to anyone
and we cannot be held liable for exclusion from our program.

Summer July & August BAND PROGRAMS 2008
[$12.50/hour ($50 - 4 week month OR $62.50 - 5 week month)
*band fees include practice session or performance]

BAND Class MONDAY 8:00-9:00 a.m. Kids Pop Orchestra rehearsal (Sandy Location)

BAND Class WEDNESDAY 8:00-9:00 p.m. Advanced Band “Prodigy” rehearsal (Sandy)

BAND Class THURSDAY 8:00-9:00 a.m. Beginning Band (Sandy)

FOLK BAND Show FRIDAY 5:00-6:00 p.m. Children’s Chorus by invitation (Sandy) Tickets

BAND Show FRIDAY 6:00-7:00 p.m. “Tiny And The Heartbeats” (Sandy) Tickets

BAND Class SATURDAY 7-8 a.m. Children’s Vocal & Choral Class (Draper Studio)
8-9 a.m. Children’s Vocal with Keith Knighton
9-10 a.m. Children’s Vocal Dan and Keith private lessons

BAND Show SATURDAY 6:00 -7;00 p.m. “Prodigy” (Sandy Location) Tickets

MAKE UPS: option to attend more than one band per week *Note: Band performances take the place of a weekly band practice session and are considered “band time toward tuition” as performing before an audience is an integral & invaluable part of the “teaching/learning/growing” experience.
Check our Website (address below) for updated performance schedules.

INSTRUMENT SALES & RENTALS: Ask me about purchasing instruments at a good price.
I recommend certain type & color instruments compatible with our program. For students who
participate in my program, I also have P.A. & light systems, cordless microphones, risers, etc.
available for rent.

THANKS for the opportunity to assist you in the development of your talents. It is my mission that
your study of Music with me will be a positive experience and make a wonderful difference in your life!
Dan Whitley
13602 S. 1300 E. Draper, UT 84020 (Cell) 918-7740
Websites: www.notableyouthfoundation.org, and www.danwhitleymusic.com
Performance Schedules, Founder’s Mission, Program Information

2008-06-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Summer Plans

2008-06-06T17:14:00.000-07:00

Big News! We've received permission to use space Paradigm High School for the summer. Dan is planning a summer program for June 26th through the 28th. The schedule for now is as follows:
Thursday June 26: Phenom will perform (Dan says you know who you are)
Friday June 27: Tiny & The Heartbeats (which is the new name for the Friday band), followed by the Folk Band and the Children's singing group.
Saturday June 28: Individual recitals starting at noon.

There should be more performances throughout the summer, including the State Fair on Sept. 6th.

Stay tuned to this site for more details!

Spring is Coming!

2008-02-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

Yes, it snowed again, today, and winter is feeling eternal. But spring is coming - really! It has to be, because our Spring Concert is right around the corner at East Mont Middle School in Sandy, Monday May 5th (the day after Mothers Day). The auditorium is HUGE to tell your neighbors, family and friends to mark the day!

Christmas Eve with the Mayor!

2007-12-29T12:51:00.001-08:00

Dan reports that the mayor was so pleased to meet the children and hear them play. They mixed some fun Christmas songs with some of their traditional tunes for a fun Christmas Eve program. Perhaps the highlight of the day was Run, Run, Rudolph, featuring Weston Elias. If I can figure out how to do it, I'll get a video on here soon!

Monday is New Years Eve so there will be no band but we will be having band on Wed 5: PM for Prodigy and Thursday 7: PM. Next Sat will be children's singing class at 7:00 then beginning band 8:00 AM.

See you all then!

Christmas Concert!

2007-12-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! Monday we'll be performing for the Mayor and nearly 100 employees from Draper City during their annual Christmas party. We will start at 12:00. Plan on wearing your black and reds, and come early if you can to help set up. This will be a fun part of your holiday celebrations!

Here it is!

2007-12-17T13:57:00.001-08:00

Hey all of Dan's students and prospective students - we finally have a blog! We'll be using this page to keep you updated on the latest comings and goings of all of Dan's programs. Currently that is the program planned for Christmas Eve at the Draper City offices. Keep in touch with this site for the latest updates and information.