by Mark Smiley | Nov 19, 2021 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
Looking for a unique holiday gift idea? Longtime Glendale Chamber Ambassador Laura Lieff wrote a book called Wookie Is Not His Real Name which provides a comprehensive look into snowboard culture through the eyes of a local legend and his community. The biography also illuminates how the life-altering circumstances of a professional athlete were handled with heart and humor. Following a career-ending injury, after which he was told he would never walk again, Wookie endured severe physical, mental, and emotional lows that changed the trajectory of his life. Exemplifying his strength and determination, he pushed through to make it back on his feet and back on a board.
The book is easy to ship and the perfect gift for anyone interested in reading about Colorado snowboard history, sports, family, local lore, Vail Valley culture, fatherhood, coming back from an injury, the outdoors, professional snowboarding, and snowskating, among other topics.
Lieff says, “My goal with this book was to demonstrate how far Wookie has come and how he clawed his way back to the top with courage, grace, and a lot of heart. The biography also shows that even with all the press and praise he’s received throughout the years for snowboarding, and his overall outdoorsmanship, being a father is his greatest achievement.”
Before moving to the Vail Valley in 2013, Lieff was an editor for the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle and a Glendale resident for seven years. She now runs her own business, Lieff Ink, and is a writing tutor at Colorado Mountain College and Vail Mountain School. On Friday nights she hosts a radio show on 107.9 Radio Free Minturn.
Wookie Is Not His Real Name can be found in bookstores and retail locations throughout Colorado, including The Bookies. For more information on the book, or to purchase online, visit www.lauralieff.com /book.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
Expert: Matthew Kline is a well-respected piano teacher and mindfulness training and meditation expert.
Matthew Kline’s reputation precedes itself. Kline is known around the country as a world class piano teacher who also focuses on mindfulness training and meditation. By bringing his expertise in building communities through outstanding musicianship, Matthew Kline founded Music Lab Dallas in 2016, now known as Now Embodied Sound Studio.
Now Embodied Sound Studio is located in Workshops in the heart of Glendale. He occupied the space in September after moving from Texas. “I’m really impressed by Glendale,” said Kline, owner of Now Embodied Sound Studio. “It’s this beautiful hub in the middle of a larger metropolitan area. This particular location [Workshops] is perfect. I fell in love with this location because of its proximity to everything. It’s so easy to access students of all ages and types. I love being in a multicultural and experimental environment.”
“I’m set up with a larger space [at Workshops] so I can accommodate a few people at a time to experience the calming and relaxing presence of sound as a tool to restore the body into a place of relaxation. This puts the body in a place where it needs to be to heal itself.”
Kline taught piano lessons and piano pedagogy for 15 years at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He honed his skills during his 15 years as Senior Lecturer in Piano Pedagogy, and Executive Director of the Piano Preparatory Department at SMU. But his experience started at an early age.
At age seven, Kline began studying piano with his mother. At age 16 he studied with David Pocock at Western Michigan University, thus undertaking a more formal study.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College with majors in piano performance and psychology. While at Hope College, Matthew studied piano with Joan Conway, Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and Charles Aschbrenner.
In 1997 Matthew began his Master of Music degree at Southern Methodist University where he studied piano under Alfred Mouledous and Piano Pedagogy under Dr. Sam Holland, the current dean of the Meadows School of the Arts.
Upon completing his Master of Music degree, Mr. Kline returned to Western Michigan University where he completed his Master of Social Work degree. As a Social Worker, Matthew built communities and served as an advocate in hospice care, public school systems, and distributing emergency financial assistance through government agencies.
Kline’s pursuit of excellence has earned him a reputation around the U.S. as an outstanding music educator who strives to meet the personal and musical needs of his students.
“Mr. Kline has a wonderful way of engaging our young son to spark his interest in piano, music, patterns, and rhythm,” said Nicole Kamprath. “Mr. Kline’s methods have taught our son the fundamentals of piano, but also provided a wider knowledge and enjoyment of music.”
Glendale Business: Now Embodied Sound Studio is located at Workshops in Glendale.
His students consistently receive marks of First Class with Honors in the Music Development Program Examinations, while select pupils have even been chosen to perform in the Van Cliburn International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, as well as the Chicago International Competition for Outstanding Amateur Pianists.
Despite the value of these successes and achievements, Kline’s satisfaction comes from bringing people together through rhythm, motion, and joy. And that is part of the reason he left higher education and started his own company. “I’m really happy to be spreading my own wings away from higher education,” said Kline. “I love what it does and what it offers but it’s really nice to be free and structuring my own world.”
One of the first orders of business for Kline after moving to Denver was to join the Glendale Chamber. “I joined the chamber because it is really important to get my name out in the community,” said Kline. “Also, I love being a part of a community with people who are engaged in the community itself. Who have businesses that serve the community and the population. To me, it’s all about building community. It’s exciting to be part of it.”
That community feel is what drives Kline to take Embodied Sound Studio to the next level. Embodied Sound Studio has what Kline calls three silos of activities: 1. World class piano lessons for students from age 6 to 96; 2. Mindfulness; and 3. Individual sessions that allow people to share what’s in their heart.
Develop The Self Through The Joy Of Playing Piano
The art of studying piano is an art of understanding the self then using that understanding to express universal truths and deepening the connection with the world. Students of piano become skilled at the language of Rhythm, Harmony, and Melody.
“Our son has been studying under Matthew for four years,” said Ling Shiao. “He is a great pianist and a dynamic, engaging, experienced teacher who is committed to his student’s excellence. He makes lessons both interesting and fun for his students using a variety of techniques. He may have a student get up and dance to learn particular rhythms or have the student sing the melody so they can literally feel the music flowing through their body. He’s at once strict and patient, disciplined and flexible, tailoring his lessons to each student’s personality and needs. Our son can go this far on piano and take great pride in it only because of Matthew’s outstanding teaching and remarkable musicianship.”
Play With Others
Making music and performing with others is not limited to those who have studied for many years and have achieved skill and mastery. Anyone can connect with others through the interlocking rhythms and tones present in a community-based rhythm event. This class is intended to build community through listening, interaction and musical exploration. No experience needed.
Enhance Your Presence
Enhance your ability to focus, relax and remain present. A Somatic Sound Bath is a unique and powerful 90-minute experience, combining restorative yoga asana, vocal toning, and sound bath. Sounds produced by singing bowls, the voice, along with other instruments become tools for weaving a tapestry that yokes the mind to the body and individual to the collective. The therapeutic sound practitioner creates an immersive soundscape that deepens relaxation and fosters awareness.
Now Embodied Sound Studio charges $100 per hour for services rendered. They are located at Workshops at 4340 E. Kentucky Avenue, Suite 352A in Glendale. Visit www.nowembodied.com for more information.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
Left to right: Denver Academy parents and supporters Michael and Elizabeth King and Campos EPC SmartLab donor Marco Campos at the Grand Opening.
Campos EPC Representatives check out student projects at the DA Middle School Campos EPC SmartLab Grand Opening.
Denver Academy (DA), an independent school serving diverse learners in grades 1-12, recently celebrated the grand opening of the second SmartLab (Science, Math, Art, Robotics, and Technology) at the school provided through a donation from the Campos EPC Foundation.
The DA Middle School Campos EPC SmartLab was completed in the fall of 2020 and serves students in grades 7-8. It utilizes learning materials and a curriculum developed by Creative Learning Systems (CLS) that includes hands-on exploration of mechanics and structures, computer graphics, photo editing, 3D modeling, sound engineering, scientific data and analysis, digital communications, alternative and renewable energy, robotics and control technology, circuitry, film creation and editing, and software engineering.
While the lab opened for DA Middle School students a year ago, the official grand opening of the space was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and took place on Sept. 9, 2021. Representatives from Campos EPC were in attendance, including Founder and Managing Principal of Campos EPC Marco Campos. Attendees were able to view and test some of the projects students have been working on in the lab.
Campos EPC Representatives attend the Grand Opening of DA’s Middle School Campos EPC SmartLab on Sept. 9, 2021.
Denver Academy Head of School Mark Twarogowski attended and spoke about the importance of the Campos EPC SmartLab for the school’s students.
“We are so grateful to Campos EPC for their continued generous support, providing more than $300,000 for our two Denver Academy Campos EPC SmartLabs,” said Mark Twarogowski. “Together, in partnership with Creative Learning Systems, the labs provide the opportunity to immerse our younger students into the world of scientific exploration and discovery in a whole new way.”
Denver Academy Head of School Mark Twarogowski, left, and Creative Learning Systems Regional Sales Manager Jeanne Timmons, at Grand Opening of Denver Academy’s Middle School Campos EPC SmartLab on September 9, 2021.
With the support of Campos EPC Foundation, the first SmartLab at Denver Academy opened in the Elementary/6th Grade Building for students in grades 1-6 in 2019. The school’s youngest students continue to benefit from instruction in the lab through which they’ve learned computer coding, problem-solving, and project management.
Based on the lab’s success, Denver Academy and Campos EPC again partnered with Creative Learning Systems to bring an additional lab to the DA Middle School.
“To be able to continue our partnership with Denver Academy to provide a SmartLab for middle schoolers is so exciting! I can’t wait to see what these bright minds continue to discover,” said Marco Campos, the founder and managing principal of Campos EPC. “Campos EPC is about more than just energy infrastructure; we want to build a better future for our communities and our kids.”
“With STEM occupations growing twice as fast as all others in the US[i], it’s critical that educators provide learners with hands-on, student-led, project-based learning opportunities,” said Creative Learning Systems CEO Ashley Mathis. “For 50 years, Denver Academy has had an exemplary record of providing students with a holistic academic experience. Creative Learning Systems is excited to support its mission of transforming lives and empowering young people by providing customized learning spaces that facilitate experiential, personalized, and collaborative experiences.”
