This month, AJ had the privilege of speaking with none other than,
Emmy award winning artist, Elissa Oppenheim Schreiner! We are
delighted to share the following interview with all of you...

Tell us about yourself ...
I have been married for many years - I actually got married in my senior
year of college! My husband is an architect, recently retired and is now
busier than ever with his new self appointed career in photography.
We have two children; Gary is a composer/producer/ performer
(can't imagine how that happened). He produced Grandma Rocks and
created the name for my web site grandmarocksthehouse.com.
You may have seen his credits at the end of a movie. Our daughter Robin
is creativity in motion and chose to be a stay at home mom. For a while
she taught arts and crafts to oodles of neighborhood children right in
her house, now her children are grown and she is a substitute teacher
in the neighborhood elementary schools. Her daughters, Amanda and
Lauren Kroll are two of the talented voices on my CD. I graduated from
Music and Art High School and Hunter College. My first experience in the
real world was teaching Music in the Yonkers NY school system which
I did until I became pregnant with Gary. When my husband took hammer
in hand to build our house (just like you see on TV) I would come by from
time to time to "inspect" it. The neighbors recognized me as the music
teacher at school and pleaded with me to give their children piano lessons
by saying "I'll watch the baby if you teach my child". I have done lots of
things from the get go as well as performing with my friend, the legendary
Diahann Carrol and the celebrated tenor Robert White. I continue to take
great pleasure in teaching gifted young musicians.

Grandma Rocks is awesome; do you offer any other original recordings?
Grandma Rocks was 6 years in the making. It took so long because I put so much thought into it. I met with a whole bunch of kids and asked them lots of questions about what they would like to hear. One answer was Bubble Gum! So I wrote "Chew Chew Pop". I told them I wanted to write a baby rap; they immediately wanted to hear the voice of the baby in "Oh Baby". It is important to have meetings with the people I write for. My musicians are the cream of the crop; that is why the quality of my CD is extraordinary. 

I have always loved to write music and have done arranging and composition for years. I designed my most recent piano lesson book Playland, to inspire students to add expression and feeling to their music. I went to a wonderful Playland in Rye NY and watched how the children related to the experience and how their emotions affected them as they transitioned from fast to tranquil rides. I won my Emmy for writing the musical score Sneakers in collaboration with Sunnie Miller lyricist.

Grandma, would you please share what challenges you face as a parent in business? 
When I was first trying to teach piano lessons in my home my son, being a very active child was always running around. It was challenging to come to an understanding that the house needed to be in the "piano mode". When Robin napped it was fine but when she woke up she wanted just me!

Put things in perspective ...family is # 1. If possible, work around the children's schedule. It is important to spend time with them during those growing years ...but ...if you need bread on the table; you have to juggle it a bit. Working at home can definitely have a positive impact on them. For instance, they can "help you" ...from easy "assignments" to more difficult ones. You will be their role model and through you they will ultimately learn responsibility and dedication. When they enter school it will be their work and like you they will need a quiet space a place to work (not next to a TV). And one more thing...always, yes always be positive. Thank them for doing a good job when they do a good job if not explain how they can make it even better...but be positive. Works wonders!

What advice would you like to offer other Parentpreneurs?
Just go for it. Don't be discouraged; if you feel rejected they are not rejecting you, your concept is not what they are looking for at the time. Always pursue....

What is your ideal workday like?
Each morning I get up and go the computer in my pjs and robe to see what someone has written to me after I went to bed; then I exercise with weights, on the treadmill and stationary bike. I give lessons at various times during the day and basically take time off for meals. I still perform on a regular basis and rehearsals and performances take a great amount of time.

If there is one thing you could pass on to your children/grandchildren about being a parentpreneur, what would it be?
They should feel good about what they do. There is nothing that can stop you from doing it all - whatever business it is.

What is next for you and/or your company?
One never knows, but hopefully another album, jazz for kids. I also have some interesting ideas about Grandma Rocks (Shh) don't tell!  

More fun stuff about you!
Favorite Comfort Food …
Nuts - I had them for breakfast!

Favorite self indulgence …
A massage, for sure.

Favorite foreign city …
Paris - for the food; if I could call Paris 006413 and have them deliver my dinner...that would be the best!

Who was your childhood hero?
My heroes were real people, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett - those with real beauty and talent within them.

Most memorable life experience?
Ah!  Life experiences are very interesting. I have two that are different but life changing. One might be considered frivolous: I was on the telephone with a 411 supervisor. During the call a shelf which held my Emmy collapsed. The Emmy fell to the floor and the head fell off. The 411 operator told to me that it was a sign and I needed to get back to work!

The second might be perceived as negative: approximately 15 years ago I came down with Parkinson's. How could I play with a tremor in my hand?  Thanks to good medicine, good care and my doctors at New York Presbyterian Hospital I am doing everything I did before. No matter what happens to you just keep pushing ahead.  

Anything else you would like to share ...
There is some great talent out there. Just this morning I was listening to Nora Jones who is so delightful. Alicia Keys is another pianist/composer that I enjoy listening to. It is wonderful to keep up with the fine artists today who have such beautiful voices and good pianistic skills. One up and coming talent is the jazz singer Catherine Russell (CAT)...just watch for her name. (She's on Grandma Rocks CD too!)