Novinger Music Center expands services
Glenda Novinger and her husband, Ross, have operated Novinger Music Center since August 2015.
Originally named Novinger Music Conservatory, the business underwent a recent name change in January to reflect expanded services.
“We offer private music lessons on the piano (beginners to advanced levels), the flute and violin (beginners and intermediates), the clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone & percussion (beginners),” Novinger said. “Our private students range in age from 5 to 85. We also offer fun group music classes for toddlers (age 18 mo. to age 3) and preschoolers (ages 3-4). We offer performance training through 4 recitals per year; our upcoming March 19th recitals at 2 p.m. (younger students) and 4 p.m. (older students) are open to the public. Students also develop their musicianship through playing together with other musicians in ensemble.”
In addition, Novinger Music Center offers high school music students the services of an accompanist for solo performance, and students auditioning for college entrance can find an accompanist, as well. Piano students who desire college-level preparation can receive it at the Novinger Music Center. “Also, high school students may job shadow us to learn more about this particular career path,” adds Novinger.
When asked what has excited them most about opening their business in Boundary County, Novinger replies, “We love meeting people and developing relationships with them through our music studio. In addition, from one recital to the next, we always notice our students’ improved musicianship and poise, which is exciting and motivates us to continue serving the public. We appreciate the opportunity to offer something unique and special to downtown Bonners Ferry where our convenient location—across the street from the post office—makes it easy to access our services.
The Novingers want to make a positive contribution to Boundary County through music education, and all the benefits that quality music education provides. Some of those benefits include:
Develop confidence and personal discipline, which leads to a fruitful life
Add joy / reduce depression
Meet new friends
Accelerate cognitive brain development in children, which leads to their academic success
Learn a fun and rewarding hobby
Increase personal peace through playing an instrument and/or singing
Learn how to read music, play by ear, understand music theory, write your own song
Receive worship-leader preparation and worship-band training
Novinger is enthusiastic about the value of music education.
“Novinger Music Center offers more than a music lesson. We offer an enriched life!”
Her enthusiasm includes music education for young and old. Novinger Music Center provides live piano music for the Community Restorium residents and Boundary County Extended Care residents on Monday afternoons, from 4:30-5:30pm. Novinger teaches music classes at the local Head Start to 17 preschoolers, participate in The Pearl Theater’s Performer’s Circle (last Friday night of every month), as well as the Bonners Ferry Community Orchestra.
Novinger has extensive training and experience in the music education profession. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1978 with a double music degree in Piano Performance and Music Education. Since 1979, she taught General Music, Band and Choir in several public and private elementary schools in California with student populations of 500 plus.
Novinger home-schooled her own four children for 14 years while continuing to teach and perform music.
For 40 years, she taught private piano students and played piano professionally for weddings, memorial services, musical theater, churches, corporate dinner parties, and many other special occasions.
She is also a trained piano adjudicator for the Music Teachers Association of California. Novinger hopes to connect with other music professionals in this area, and looks forward to collaborating with them.
Novinger said she wants potential customers to know that she loves what she does.
“I am passionate about the benefits of music education because I have personally witnessed thousands of men, women, boys and girls whose lives have been transformed by the power of participating in music,” she said. “Everyone likes to listen to their favorite music, but not everyone believes they can make music themselves. When my students experience the joy of playing music personally, it changes them on the inside. It gives them confidence, hope, encouragement, and a gift that they can share with the world. Their life is enriched forever!”
In the next year, Novinger plans to start an elementary choir for 1st through 6th-graders that will sing a varied repertoire, and regularly perform in the community. She is currently taking sign-ups for this top-notch group which will begin when at least 20 students are registered. From this initial choir, which will receive any child who wants to sing, she will conduct auditions for a smaller group which will have recording studio opportunities.
She is writing a worship training curriculum for children, which will include books, pictures, and songs that coordinate with each topic, and is looking to build a trained, high-quality group of children to professionally record the music she writes for this project.
Novinger says that she and her husband are thrilled to have Novinger Music Center in Boundary County.
“We love living here,” she said. “We love our home and property. We love the people, the scenery, and the friendly atmosphere. We hope to contribute positively and significantly to Boundary County for many years to come. Thank you for welcoming us!”
The Novinger Music Center is located at 6426 Kootenai St., Suite 101, Bonners Ferry. Their hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m.