RECITAL/SUMMER LESSONS...

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Contemporary Music....

As your child is preparing for the "OUT OF THE BOX" recital in May... continue to give added support to the works they are studying.  Contemporary music is difficult to learn because of the dissonance between keys.  It is incredibly beautiful when all put together, but until then it's incredibly hard to practice and keep motivated.  I love this semester because of the study of this music type last week Chammelia Zentz' piece gave me goose bumps....She only has one page learned, but it's truly ga great work!   Contemporary music is never boring to teach because not many students can play it!  So many people won't take the time to listen to the different complexity or tastes these works brings to their musical palate.  I love contemporary music, and I hope that you will take the time and  listen to the interesting melodies your child is playing.  Keep up the good work!

FUN APPS!

If you want your child to be a whiz at note flashes download these fun apps!
Note Squish...Alias Gopher Game, or Flashnote Derby...I like this one personally.  You can select the notes that your child needs work on and the speed the horses gallop.  Super fun!  Hope you enjoy!

MINI GOALS/Piano Score Mastery!

Helping your child to create mini-goals encourages the mastery of specific details through concentrated, minimal practice time.  The list below shows how a piece's section can be corrected through mini goals which can be assessed easily by the student.  Each mini goal will likely require several repetitions.
1.  I will play all the correct notes in rhythm, RH alone.
2.  I will play RH alone with metronome at 88
3. I will play all the correct notes in rhythm, LH alone.
4.  I will play LH alone with metronome at 88.
5.  I will play HT, correct notes in rhythm, three times slowly.
6.  I will play both hands with metronome at 72 until comfortable.
7.  I will work with the metronome to reach 88 hands together
8.  I will add dynamics to first four measures with metronome, securing rhythm and tempo.
If your child has specific goals in mind before sitting down and practicing, they will be able to accomplish perfect practice in a short time....
I will mark music into bites, chunks and repetitious  sections, that I will call recipes.  Bites take a minute to practice. 3x's hole in one!   I will circle bites in circles.  Chunks take longer to practice.  I will mark [ ] around chunk sections.  Chunks are more measures.... Recipe's take much longer to practice... To memorize a recipe you have to make it more than one time.  Maybe 15 minutes on a recipe....They might be an entire section of work.... I will intrench this concept more each week with my students...Final works if carefully prepared will be simply scrumptious to listen to!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!

I'm so excited to start a new year!...New goals, new ideas, new styles, new reading, new knowledge, new commitments, new thoughts, new food (AUGH), new everything.....

The studio will start back up next week.  The theme for next semester will be....drum roll please...."OUT OF THE BOX"!.... The songs the older students will be playing will be modern contemporary works.  Younger students can play anything from Balloons to Circus Clowns!  I am still gathering works to show the students next week.

The recital date is May 9th,  5-9 pm... Please mark that date on your calendars...We will be having a Two group lesson this semester. (VALENTINES AND EASTER) Dates for the group lessons will be February 10th-12th, and April 14-16th.  I will be taking the week of April 21st-25th off and will continue giving lessons until the 23rd of May.

"When is the best time to plant a tree one asked"? "20 years ago",  another said... "When is the 2nd best time",  he asked again?....Quick came the reply... "RIGHT NOW"!  Remind your child if they haven't been productive with piano in the past, it's OK...This is a new year.  New goals to set, new ways to serve! My goal is to make sure every student feels important and confident in playing the piano.  Another goal is to make sure students love music and playing the piano..I hope they never regret the time they've spent practicing to only say when they get older....My Mom made me take piano, or I wish I would have continued my piano studies!

 A new year .... a new musical mindset.  Let's be the best we can be!

Christmas Group Party...

Parents,
The last week of Lessons will be the week of December 16th.  I will be hosting a group lesson and performance party for my students.
Please help your child to get their Christmas Pieces finished,  (they do not have to be memorized!)
and their ensembles ready to go by the group party.  We will also be having a white elephant gift exchange.  Please have the gift wrapped to bring at the group lesson!  We are going to have so much fun!
We will start up the NEW YEAR the week of January 6th....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

RECITAL NOVEMBER 2nd...2-6pm...

Just a reminder of the recital date and time....There will be two recitals.  2-3:30pm and 3:45-5:00pm...The 1st year will not be included in this recital.  Let me know ASAP what recital you would like your child to be in.