Murray Arts Academy Center Stage: Anita Norman

What ages/levels do you teach? Piano to ages 5-95

Education: University of Nebraska-Omaha (Music Education/Organ Emphasis)

Number of Years in Profession: 30 years 

When do you offer lessons?  Monday-Friday (flexible hours morning/afternoon/evening).

Fun Fact: I started singing and playing with my father's gospel quartet at an early age that ministered at churches locally and around the Midwest. During one revival service, Dad took the guitar solo on a song, but by the time he finished, he had inadvertently switched to a whole different song! The rest of the band followed along, and at the end of the impromptu medley, he said to the congregation, "Well, that's not the way that song goes, but that's the way it went!" This was a valuable lesson that I carry to this day: We don't have to be perfect in order for God to bless our gifts when we give them back to Him. Excellence is always the goal, of course, but God looks more on our hearts. I try to impart this perspective in my students.

What Makes You Excited About Working with the Murray Arts Academy at MPCS: Music is a gift from God that should be developed and nurtured to help make the world a better place for His glory, and music education in a Christian setting can deepen a student's spiritual growth and connection to their faith. My approach to teaching builds on that concept in a fun and joyful way. I am excited to teach in a Christ-centered setting that also allows me to also incorporate spiritual concepts into my students' music.

Professional Experience: I felt the call to music ministry at a very young age, and God has blessed me with a lifetime of open doors to answer the call in a variety of roles - Music Director, Pianist/Organist (pipe and electronic), Handbell Director, Children's Music Director, and more. Memberships and certifications in Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and American Guild of Organists. I am a former Montessori music teacher and Omaha-area clinician, teaching Montessori teachers how to incorporate music into the classroom.