And after a year or two of finding work performing at the Walnut Street Theater, casinos in Atlantic City, clubs on the Main Line, and various jobs elsewhere, Mitnick realized, “I really wanted something much deeper about music. “Suddenly I’m competing with my professors for the same jobs,” he said. Graduation brought Mitnick to another transition in his life. “Being able to sing in tune, to sightread a melody, to understand what music is all about with the only instrument being your brain and your voice.” “I learned more about music singing a cappella than I learned in all my years studying guitar,” he said. In addition to his guitar playing, Mitnick also developed his vocal abilities, singing in the university’s madrigal choir, joining a barbershop quartet, and performing with the choir of the Philadelphia Orchestra. I dove headfirst into four more years of music in college, where I practiced four, five, or six hours a day, and I studied with amazing teachers.” I realized that it’s one thing to play music with your friends at a party, but it’s another thing to play classic or jazz at a high level. “I cut all my hair off and got very serious. “Once I got there, my life changed dramatically,” Mitnick recalled. He auditioned for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where his father was an architecture professor, and, on his second try, was accepted. “Once the illusion of following an engineering and science career faded, music was what remained,” he said. “It gave me power.”Īfter two years at Penn State, officially studying science and engineering but unofficially playing guitar and drums every day and jamming with friends, Mitnick decided to pursue his future in music. “Toward the end of high school, I started to experience music as a powerful force for me as an individual, almost like a healing thing for me,” he said. He enjoyed the high school band, jazz band, and chorus, and especially enjoyed jamming with friends. Started guitar and percussion in high school in Montgomery County, Pa., where he grew up. Mitnick took up the trumpet in fifth grade, then His mother sang in community theater groups and played the piano, and his father, an architect, played the guitar. Though not professional musicians, both his parents loved music. Mitnick, 43, explained that music has always been present in his life. We are very fortunate to have his talents and passion.” “He serves as our music coordinator and instructs our singing groups, drumming circle, guitar players, and directs and writes our original annual musicals. “Alex is a treasure and a truly talented individual who brings music, theater, and other performing arts to our school community, while also leading a world renowned children’s group, Alex & The Kaleidoscope Band,” said PM Head Michelle Morrison. The musical, which will debut on April 12 and 13, involves the entire school, Mitnick said. In his 19th year at PM and currently teaching music to students from third grade through middle school, Mitnick is working on an original musical about the life of Maria Montessori to celebrate the 50th anniversary of PM. I’m able to write songs and produce shows in my little laboratory here, and that slogan informs all the work I do.” “I don’t know if it would have happened anywhere else. “I was in an environment with a school director who allowed me to do what I wanted to do, and it really did ignite a passion that I have for music and kids,” he continued. “That’s exactly what happened to me,” said PM Music Teacher and Emmy Award-winner Alex Mitnick, who also has his own TV show, Alex & The Kaleidoscope, on New York City Public TV. “We nurture potential and seek to ignite each child’s passion,” states the Princeton Montessori School’s (PM) website. This visit was sponsored by the Cultural Arts Committee of the Ithan Elementary School parent-teacher organization and the Radnor Educational Foundation. " Alex & the Kaleidoscope encourages and inspires kids to celebrate and learn through the power of songs, fun facts and adventures to interesting places around the world," states the group's website. Fourth-grade students also had hands-on experience composing and performing an original song. Throughout the week, students in grades 3-5 participated in activities led by the band's frontman Alex Mitnick during regularly scheduled music and library classes. The visits included singing, dancing, storytelling, musical games and more, ultimately preparing the students for the final Friday performance with Alex and the members of his band, Alex & the Kaleidoscope. The performances were the culminating event in a weeklong residency with the interactive music entertainment brand. Ithan Elementary School students were all smiles as Alex & the Kaleidoscope rocked the school's cafetorium during two assemblies, one for K-2 students and one for grades 3-5, on December 13.
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