Emily Dickinson, Poet & Musician: Madeline’s Monthly Musical Tips Blog & Radio Show for September 2025
Our blog and Radio Show celebrates the life and work of Emily Dickinson, Poet and musician.
The new school year is also a wonderful opportunity to start learning a musical instrument to learn discipline, cooperation, teamwork, motivation, concentration and self-esteem. Studying a musical instrument develops millions of new connections, synapses, between nerve cells in the brain.
Many of the world’s inventors, mathematicians, scientists, engineers, medical doctors, researchers, and teachers have studied and played musical instruments since they were children. These eminent individuals have integrated music into their thinking process.
Included is the article ,“Learning Music Helps Young People Flourish” by Edith Cowan University.
Our article of the month is “Curb Your Spending Habits & Save for Your Emergencies” by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Feature Question for September 2025: How did Classical music play a part of Emily Dickinson’s life as a Poet and Musician and what musical instrument did she play?
https://www.madelinefrankviola.com/one-minute-musical-radio-show/
Early Years:
Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts to Edward Dickinson, lawyer and trustee of Amherst College and his wife, Emily Norcross Dickinson. Emily’s mother was well educated. “Edward Dickinson’s father Samuel Dickinson, Emily’s grandfather, was one of the founders of Amherst College. Emily was close to her older brother, William Austin Dickinson, and younger sister Lavinia Norcross Dickinson.” Emily was “raised in a book loving household.”
Visit to Aunt Lavinia:
When Emily was two years old her family visited Aunt Lavinia in Monson. Aunt Lavinia said of Emily, she is “perfectly well and contented—She is a very good child and but little trouble.” She also “noted Emily’s affinity for music and her particular talent for the piano, which she called “the moosic“.
Emily Dickinson’s Education: At the age of 2, she began studying the piano and at a young age began to read. At five years of age she attended district school in Amherst. At 10 years of age she went to school at Amherst Academy for seven years where she was “an excellent student”. Afterwards she “attended Mount Holyoke Female Seminary for a year.” She was “fascinated by science.” Emily, “Viny and I both go to school this term. We have a very fine school. There are 63 scholars. I have four studies. They are Mental Philosophy, Geology, Latin, and Botany. How large they sound, don’t they? I don’t believe you have such big studies.” (Emily Dickinson Museum)
“Emily’s study of Botany”: Emily Dickinson studied botany during her spare time and produced a vast herbarium. “She also corresponded with her many friends and contacts” sharing her poems with them.
Emily was a voracious reader and had a remarkable vocabulary. She read novels, poetry, essays, scientific texts, the Bible, Shakespeare, newspapers, Lydia Maria Child, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Charlotte Brontë, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the Brontë sisters and other works.
“She frequently consulted and owned Noah Webster’s 1844 American Dictionary of the English Language, the last dictionary Webster himself worked on. The Emily Dickinson Lexicon (EDL) documents over 9,275 unique words and their variants found in her collected poems.”
Emily Dickinson wrote, “I attend singing school.” Emily enjoyed being a part of “the singing school with its repertoire of church hymns, carols, and anthems,”. (New York Public Library “My Business is to Sing: Emily Dickinson, Musician and Poet”)
Emily wrote to her friend Abiah Root, “I have the same Instruction book that you have, Bertini’s, “Method for the Piano-forte” and I am getting along in it very well. Aunt Selby says she shan’t let me have many tunes now for she wants I should get over in the book a good ways first… I have been learning several beautiful pieces lately.”
Emily wrote, “I can improvise better at night.”: “Emily Dickinson was known by family and neighbors to be an expert improviser at the piano. Her cousin John Graves when visiting his cousins would stay overnight, and be awakened .. by Emily’s “heavenly music.” Emily’s cousin Clara Newman Turner said that “before seating herself at the piano Emily covered the upper and lower octaves so that the length of the keyboard might correspond to that of the old-fashioned instrument on which she had learned to play.”
A Dickinson neighbor, MacGregor Jenkins, “noted in his memoir that: [Emily] went often across the lawn to her brother’s house. It was through him, and his handsome wife the “Sue” of her letters and messages, that she kept in touch with the life of her circle, and to a considerable extent with the village and the world. It was here that she would fly to the piano, if the mood required, and thunder out a composition of her own which she laughingly but appropriately called “The Devil,” and when her father came, lantern in hand, to see that she reached home in safety, she would elude him and dart through the darkness to reach home before him. This was pure mischief and there was much of it in her.”
Emily Dickinson collected over one hundred pieces of music which are in the “Dickinson Collection at Harvard University”. She, her sister Lavinia, and their cousin collected music and enjoyed performing. Published copies of these works can also be found “in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.”
Emily and her family enjoyed attending concerts by Jenny Lind, Germania Musical Society, and others. Emily wrote, “How we all loved Jenny Lind.” The Dickinson family servants enjoyed making music and Emily listened and learned from them.
Emily, in her early 20s, discussed “books with the Amherst students and tutors who were her friends and among whom circulated books by Thomas De Quincey, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Thomas Carlyle, and German novelist Jean Paul Richter. Dickinson belonged to a reading group of Amherst young people who tackled reading Shakespeare aloud, and she was introduced to Emerson’s work by his first book of poems, a gift from her early mentor Benjamin Franklin Newton. Friendships of early adulthood, such as that with Amherst student Henry Vaughn Emmons, enlarged her awareness of and access to books beyond her own home shelves. While her father might prefer “lonely & rigorous books” (L342a) and spurn the authors his eldest daughter preferred as “modern Literati” (L113), he seems always to have purchased any books she asked for.”
She read daily The Springfield Republican, to keep up with “current events”. This newspaper was considered “New England’s best political and literary newspaper.” She also read every issue of Susan Dickinson, sister-in-law’s subscription to The Atlantic Monthly as well as other periodicals that came to her home. (Emily Dickinson and Reading: Emily Dickinson Museum)
Writing Poetry: Emily Dickinson as a teenager began writing poetry. “The principal of Amherst Academy, Leonard Humphrey was one of Emily’s early influencers for writing poetry. Emily visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to befriend Charles Wadsworth, a minister who became “a cherished correspondent”.
During Emily Dickinson’s lifetime one letter and 10 of her poems were published. Over the years she wrote letters to relatives and friends sharing her poetry. Emily wrote her poem “Musicians wrestle everywhere” at the beginning of the Civil War in the early 1860s. She shared her joy of music in the “musical metaphors” she used in her poetry.” Her poems tell a story with her thought-provoking “vivid imagery”. “The Railway Train”, “Success is counted sweetest”, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”, “Tell All the Truth”,
Emily wrote her Poem 632, “The Brain—is wider than the Sky” (1862)
632
“The Brain—is wider than the Sky—
For—put them side by side—
The one the other will contain
With ease—and You—beside—
The Brain is deeper than the sea—
For—hold them—Blue to Blue—
The one the other will absorb—
As Sponges—Buckets—do—
The Brain is just the weight of God—
For—Heft them—Pound for Pound—
And they will differ—if they do—
As Syllable from Sound—”
Emily Dickinson died in Amherst, Massachusetts on May 15, 1886 at the age of 55. She was a lifelong musician. After Emily Dickinson’s death, her sister Lavinia discovered almost 1800 poems that her sister had written. She approached friends, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and later Mabel Loomis Todd to help her publish Emily’s poems. Emily Dickinson’s first volume of poetry was published four years after her death. Today “The Homestead” where Emily Dickinson was born has become a Museum. Emily Dickinson is considered to be one of the greatest and most original America “poets of all time”
Curb Your Spending Habits & Save for Your Emergencies by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.
Your car just broke down and you don’t have the money to repair it! Don’t you wish you had an emergency fund to pay for it?
What’s your first step?
Gabby and Jay are going to tell us how they did it!
For one-week Gabby and Jay tracked every receipt and purchase they made including the ones for their computers. They kept all their receipts and expenses and wrote them down in a note book. They included every purchase they made even small purchases for sodas, snacks, lunches, dinners, breakfasts, groceries, going to the movies, purchasing snacks, gas for their cars, cigarettes, and any other items they purchased that week. Jay and Gabby also wrote down their weekly spending for pay pal accounts, group on offers, credit cards, game accounts and iTunes accounts on their computers.
Gabby saved all her receipts for one week and totaled all her receipts. She looked at her first couple of receipts and realized she had gone to Starbucks with her friends 5 times that week spending $4 a day for Coffee, a total of $20 for the week. She decided to go to Starbucks with her friends three times the next week, and invites her friends to share coffee at her house two days a week, and puts the $8 she saved into her Piggy Bank to start her $1000 Emergency Fund. In a months’ time Gabby realizes she will save $32 and in 6 months she will save $192 towards her $1000 Emergency Nest Egg Fund.
Gabby continues looking at her receipts and realizes she bought 3 packs of cigarettes a week at $5.50 a package, $16.50 a week. Gabby says, “I spent $66 a month on cigarettes. If I cut down my smoking to a pack a week I can put $11 into my “Piggy Bank” for my Emergency Fund each week and in a month’s time I will have saved a total of $44 in my “Piggy Bank” toward my $1000 Emergency Nest Egg Fund. In 6 months I will have saved $264 toward my $1000 Emergency Nest Egg Fund.”
Gabby says, “If I continue to go through my receipts and eliminate the items I don’t need or cut down other expenses I will have my Emergency Fund in place in less than 6 months. By cutting back on Cigarettes and coffee I’ve already saved $76 this month. I will go through my receipts and look at what else I can eliminate or cut down on. My goal is to have my Emergency Fund in place in 6 months. I am determined to do it!”
Jay has saved all his receipts for one week and totaled all his receipts. He looks at his first set of receipts and realizes he has 5 days of lunches at $8 a lunch for five days and he’s spent $40 on lunches this week. He says, “If I bring a bag lunch to work three days a week, I can save $24 to put in my “Tin Can” to start my $1000 Emergency Nest Egg Fund. In a month’s time I will have saved $96.” Jay then goes to his computer receipts and realizes he’s spend $45 a week on his computer for his PayPal accounts, Groupon offers, credit cards, game accounts and his iTunes account. He says, “Do I really need these accounts, are they going to help me get my Emergency Fund up and running? These purchases are bleeding away my hard earned money. I’m going to close these accounts. That way I can put $180 a month into my “Tin Can” to save for my $1000 Emergency Fund. I will go through my receipts and look at what else I can eliminate or cut down on. My goal is to have my Emergency Fund in place in 6 months. I know I can do it!”
So, what are the three steps for you to save for your $1000 Emergency just like Jay and Gabby?
1) Track your spending for one week. Keep all your receipts and expenses for the week, writing them down in a note book, and at the end of the week add them together to get your total expenses for the week. Include every purchase you make even small purchases for sodas, snacks, lunches, dinners, breakfasts, groceries, going to the movies, purchasing snacks, gas for your car, cigarettes, and any other items you purchased that week. Also list your weekly spending for pay pal accounts, group on offers, credit cards, game accounts and iTunes accounts on your computer.
- Evaluate each of your receipts, just like Gabby and Jay did, and decide if it is a needed expense or not and start putting your saved money into your Emergency Fund “Piggy Bank or Tin Bank”.
3) Look at your computer receipts like Jay did and decide if your weekly pay pal accounts, group on offers, credit cards, game accounts, and iTunes accounts on your computer can be eliminated or cut back.
Jay turned off his pay pal account, his Groupon offers, his game accounts, his iTunes account and stopped spending his credit card money on things he didn’t need.
Jay said, “These purchases are bleeding away my hard-earned money.”
By following these three steps and being determined and disciplined to do it, you will be like Gabby and Jay, able to set up your $1000 Emergency Fund.
You can also save on gas for your car each week by being aware of which gas station has a special day for saving 5cents for each gallon you purchase. In our City it’s every Thursday. What day is it in your City or town? Every penny you save can go into your $1000 Emergency Nest Egg Fund. The sooner you start the sooner you will have your $1000 Emergency Fund in place.
This article is the second of four articles on teaching you, to take hold of your finances. ©2025. 2024, 2019 Madeline Frank
If you need a speaker/virtual speaker contact Madeline at: [email protected]
Learning Music Helps Young People Flourish (July 10, 2025) by Edith Cowan University
“A new study has found that learning music plays a critical yet often overlooked role in enhancing the well-being of children and adolescents, calling for a stronger focus on music education in schools and communities. Led by experts from Edith Cowan University (ECU), the research systematically reviewed existing studies on music learning and its impact on well-being, revealing that learning music offers significant social, emotional and educational benefits for young people.”
“While music listening and participation have long been recognized for their positive effects on well-being, the study suggests that learning music amplifies these benefits.” This study was published April 12, 2025 in “Music learning and School Aged children’ and adolescents’ wellbeing: A scoping review”. (Research Studies in Music Education”.)
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-music-young-people-flourish.html
“Musical Notes On Math” by Dr. Madeline Frank teaches your child fractions and decimals, the fun easy way, through the rhythm of music, Winner of the Parent To Parent Adding Wisdom Award is available in book form, newly updated as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, or iBook.:
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Dr. Madeline Frank’s book “Leadership on a Shoestring Budget: Timeless Principles for Everyday Use, helps businesses stay afloat in times of trouble. She calls her innovative observations, Tuning Up Your Business. For over 25 years she has helped countless people create their great image brand, and communication style that makes them irresistible. Click on the following Amazon.com link to order your copy of “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget”
“The Secret of Teaching Science & Math Through Music” shares scientific evidence, medical evidence, test results, and true stories of the world’s scientists, medical doctors, and mathematicians who have studied and played musical instruments since they were children by Madeline Frank, Ph.D. Click below:
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“Madeline’s Midnight Melodies- Music From around the World”. This CD complements her books with a blend of dance music, gigues, tangos, ballet and favorites including “Danny Boy”, Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro”, Debussy’s “Claire De Lune” and others. “Madeline’s Midnight Melodies” CD is now available for purchase by downloading a song, downloading the album click below:
Wishing you and your family a safe September, Labor Day Holiday, from Your Non-Invasive Medicine Music Expert, Madeline
For over 30 years, Dr. Madeline Frank has helped children and adults overcome problems through Classical music. Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an award-winning teacher, author, researcher, speaker, conductor, and concert artist. She has discovered a scientific link between studying a musical instrument and academic and societal success. Madeline Frank earned her Bachelor and Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music. Her education has included scholarships at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, and the University of Cincinnati and she has a violin performance diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts. (C) 2025 Madeline Frank