Recital Reminder

Just a reminder that our Spring Recital is quickly approaching...it is Saturday, April 17th at 2:30pm at the Sandy Library. I'm debating dividing it up into two sessions...one at 2:30pm and one at 3:30pm. What do you all think? Any opinions? We will have a rehearsal on Thursday, April 15th from 4:30pm to 5:30pm at my home. Students need to come prepared to rehearse their MEMORIZED piece in front of the other students...recital manners are a must here as well as at the recital. It is optional to attend, so let me know if you can't make it.

Also, make sure your filling out your practice record sheets if you want to earn the piano party on April 29th. In order to earn the party, sheets must be filled in correctly, signed by a parent, and reflect that the student met their practice goals. If you have questions, let me know. Sheets must be complete and turned in before the party to earn entrance.

And lastly...Spring Break is next week. There are no lessons scheduled on Mon. March 29th, Tues. March 30th, or Wednesday March 31st due to the 5th week. There are lessons scheduled for Thurs, Fri, and Monday - April 1, 2 and 5th. If you have lessons these days but will not be there, please let me know. I can reschedule these lessons on March 29th - 31st if you would like. Let me know. Thanks!

Happy Easter!

New Calendars and Practice Incentives - 3 of 3 Posts

I will be sending out new calendars this week and next for Feb., March, and April. Please watch for them to come home. I plan to do a Spring Recital the end of April or first part of May. Also, just a heads up for the Summer Calendar, I am expecting a baby in June and plan to take 6 to 8 weeks off this Summer. Most likely it will be the last 2 weeks of June and all of July, but June is tentative depending on when the baby arrives. I'm sure that's good news to the many that enjoy taking time off in the summer as well!

With the calendars, I will be sending home new Practice Incentive sheets. This time around to earn the Piano Party, students need to meet certain practice time expectations as well as passing off 3 things -
1. Flashcard Note Identification in 1 minute or less (24 cards total)
2. Memorization of certain scales and chords - beginning and intermediate students goals will differ
3. Memorization and perfection of one recital song

Please help your students fill these out weekly and initial them if you would like them to participate. It is optional of course... but fun and helpful I hope.

Music Federation - 2 of 3 Posts

Last year I joined a state music program called the Utah Music Federation Association. It is a great program that sponsors two music festivals a year. They do a solo festival in the Spring (April) and a Duet Festival in the Fall (October). I tested it out last Spring and took 4 students to the festival. They were required to learn one required piece of music and one Classical piece they were able to chose. The music had to be memorized and then they performed in front of 3 judges (all local piano teachers). They are graded on about 8 or 10 factors. It is not a competition but a chance for students to master some great music and then perform it for helpful feedback. They get a rating from poor to superior. Once they earn 4 superiors they earn a Gold Cup. It takes a few years of participating to earn one. Its a fun opportunity that can be very helpful in motivating and challenging students to progress and grow.

I plan to participate again this April if there is an interest. I will take 8 or 10 dedicated students. They must committ to practicing lots and being prepared to perform well at the competition. There is a small fee - $8.50 per student as well as the cost of the music of necessary.

Please let me know by the end of the week if this is something you think your student would like to do.

2010 Updates - 1 of 3 Posts

Okay all -

I'm finally getting around to dusting off this piano blog and updating you on some things for the New Year.

1st - Thank you to those that have turned in the parent feedback sheets I sent home. I appreciate the comments that were made and found them helpful in making a few changes to my lessons. If you haven't filled one out, please check with your students to see if they have it still. If you need a new one, I will email a copy out later today.

2nd - Some minor changes I plan to make in lessons:
*I plan to write more comments, feedback, instructions in the students notebooks to help them and parents be aware and remember what they should be doing in their practicing. As parents you can be a great help to your students by checking these and making sure they are on track.
* I plan to have some higher expectations for the students, especially those that are intermediate players. I know I can be a softee and pass off songs that should be worked on longer. But I plan to encourage the students to have a little more perfection now in order to pass off a song - can they play the dynamics and other details to make it more interesting and more animated. I would love parents help in letting me know what is appropriate for your student - please feel free to leave me notes in their notebooks about how they are doing. Are the coping, feeling frustrated, bored, etc.
*I was somewhat frustrated by our last recital. It felt very restless and lacked the formality that I would like at a recital. I know that many of you like to have the recitals in Herriman, I think that once a year I will do them at City Hall but divide the groups into 2 groups (2 recitals) to shorten them a bit and deal with the crowd size. I will also maybe only have the students do one song and it must be memorized and perfect to be performed in the recital. The second recital of the year I will try to do somewhere like the Sandy Library or a recital hall at one of the music stores where they have a grand piano. I would love your help with the recitals to encourage students and guests to be more attentive and respectful to the performance.
*Fun Music - many parents tell me their students want to play "fun songs". I completely support incorporating fun or popular music into their lessons as long as they are able to maintain a balance of other music as well - lessons books or classical material, dozen a day or hanon exercies, and theory. Just using popular books limits their progress. Please feel free to send fun music with your students. I'm happy to give suggestions if you want some ideas of what works best. If you're going to the music store, please take your student with you so they can test the music out. The store employees will be happy to accomodate your requests to use a piano - just ask first. Also, keep in mind that even though it may say "Easy Piano" or "Big Note Music", that doesn't make it appropriate for beginning students. Please check with me if you are unsure of their level.

So that's some of my goals for the New Year. I am always open to feedback and hope you feel comfortable letting me know how things are going. I know my limits as a teacher and love it when I can get feedback that helps me learn and grow. Thank you for your support or me and your students. I'm looking forward to a great year!

Christmas Books

It's that time of year when we start practicing holiday music. If you have a book at home at your level that you'd like to start bringing to lessons...please do so. If you don't have a book, but would like one...leave me a post here or email me and I'll make a trip to the music store this coming week and pick them up. If you know of other books you need, I'd be happy to pick them up as well. Just let me know. The cost of the Christmas books is usually around $7. Please plan to reimburse me for the books with your Nov. tuition.

Hope you have a safe and fun Halloween!

Piano Party

Just a reminder that there are no regular lessons on Thursday (Oct. 29th) or Friday (Oct. 30th) due to the 5th week. However, we are having the Piano Party/Auction on Thursday, Oct 29th from 4pm to 5pm (this is a different time than posted on the practice logs). If your student has completed the piano practicing log, they are invited to attend. They must bring their practice log to the party to participate in the auction. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!

Fall Piano Recital

Hey all-

I've had a busy summer and fall and haven't been as on top of my piano blog as I would like to be. So here is an overdue update:

I've scheduled our Fall recital a bit later than I usually do...Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at 6:30pm is the date I'm planning on. If this creates big problems for anyone let me know. I could still change it if it doesn't work for the majority but it seems like my best option right now. Most students have started working on at least one piece and I hope to get them doing 2 if possible. I have several students doing duets and I'd love to convince everyone to try it...with me or a sibling or parent. So if you're interested in that, let me know ASAP.
Leave me a comment or send an email if the recital date doesn't work for you.

A couple of other things coming up...we've been working on a practice record sheet since August to earn "piano bucks" for an auction. Most students have been good about filling this out and staying on top of their practicing. Check their folders if you're not sure...they do need a parents intials. For those that complete the record sheets, I'm having a party on October 29th at 4pm for them to come spend their piano bucks at an fun auction. I'll send home reminders the week before for those that earned it. So keep practicing and writing it down...the more you practice the more money you'll have to spend!

And last, I'll be sending home a feedback sheet soon. I love to hear from parents how things are going and what they'd like to seen done differently. So watch for that to come home.

Thanks!