Miss Nina – Where Have You Been?

And now to answer the questions: “Miss Nina – where have you been?! What have you been doing?!”

Here’s Part I: where have you been?

If you’ve recently joined this email list prompted by a video telling you that you would be getting weekly emails and videos from me, you’re probably wondering why this is the first time you’ve heard from me in months!

Or even if you’ve been on the list for years you may be wondering what’s up.

Well I’m here to give you all the updates….

I don’t know how far to go back – so I’ll hit the highlights. Starting in 2005 I became “known” as Miss Nina in the NYC area. I taught at a variety of early childhood music & play programs and schools, created my own business of grown-up and me musical playgroups, and performed at birthday parties, schools, and libraries – all over the country! In 2012, after much trepidation, I launched my YouTube channel: the Miss Nina Weekly video show. And I did, indeed, provide WEEKLY videos for 12 years.TWELVE YEARS! Only taking a few breaks here and there – like 6 weeks off when Piper was born – and a few month-long summer breaks over time.

My experience with my video show at that point in time – was incredible. These days, video is everywhere and everyone is watching all the time. But back then, in 2012, it was still new-ish. There were no reels, no instagram and definitely no Tik-Tok!  And I had a mission: after witnessing 18-month and 2-year-olds getting hooked on these new iPads (!!), I felt a strong need to create something that would give little ones “active’ screen time. Something that would engage their bodies and minds rather than just sitting and sitting and sitting – just watching.

Well, what started as something for my local students (and inspired, finally, by a sweet 2 year old with Lymphoma who asked to have “more pink guitar” videos that she could watch during treatments) I was floored when I began hearing from fans across the country and the world who discovered me via YouTube! And so many wonderful opportunities and relationships grew as a result. Truly incredible!

When we were all at home starting in 2020 during Covid, having had much experience with video and livestream, it was an easy transition for me to jump online and create content. But in 2022, after nearly two straight years of non-stop online contents (live sing-alongs, online classes AND weekly video show videos), I was very burnt out. And very called to going deeper in my Yoga practice. So I enrolled in a Yoga Teacher Training program – which I loved!

While studying Yoga philosophy (the Yamas and the Niyamas), I did a report on Atseya – which means non-stealing. We typically think that means that one should not steal, like, physical property from others. Which it does. But I learned about all the other ways we might steal: we can steal time from our employers and/or our families, steal attention, steal someone’s thunder, steal focus, as well as the usual things like stealing money, or objects that don’t below to you.

It became very clear to me that my video show that had originally been all from a place of love and joy – was now a lot of work, worry and stress.  And as a result, it was stealing my time, my ability to be present with my family, stealing my focus, and keeping me from enjoying my real life. Whether by literally taking up all of my time shooting and editing videos, or stealing my attention while I checked analytics, likes, comments…. It was stealing my peace. Stealing sleep. Stealing my ability to be present in the here and now.

So, in January of 2023, I took a sabbatical.

During that 6 – 7 month sabbatical, I did indeed get myself “back”. I became more present with my family and more IN my real life. And as a matter of fact, I was offered a job! An in person, “real life” job teaching K – 8th grade music at a Charter School near me (after years of just freelancing!) – my daughter’s school.

So, although I came back from my video show sabbatical and intended to do monthly videos; I had gotten absorbed in teaching (and learning to teach) a whole new age group! I became VERY present in the day to day of my real life. It’s been a challenging and rewarding journey teachoing K – 8th grade Music, for sure!  I’ve been prioritizing being present in my real life over my online life. And therefore, I’ve been making way LESS content than I originally thought I would.

But don’t worry – I am NOT done completely!

With my summers (somewhat) off, I get to focus more on my Miss Nina life and will be making some new videos this summer.

And this upcoming school year – oh I’m so excited! I’m no longer just the Music teacher, but I’m going to be the school Arts Teacher! So not just Music, but Music, Art, Drama, Theater, Dance – all the things! I’m very excited to do my “Miss Nina” thing of exploring stories and storytelling through the arts – and I’m sure I’ll have much to share!

Well – I think that all really answers the question of “where have you been, Miss Nina?”  But I still have more to tell you!  Next up, in Part II, I’ll tell you what (else) I’ve been up to….

My Dance Renaissance!

Stay Tuned!!