September Announcements

Welcome Back! The new school year is taking off nicely. I've handed out the updated Studio Policies for 2013-2014. If you didn't get one, I have extras. The Christmas Party is Monday, December 16, not Dec 9th. Sorry if you received a copy with the wrong date. If you have not made a $40 Materials Account Deposit, please do so this month. Most of the students have heard about some of the new features in the studio. But in case you didn't catch this, here is what's new.

What's New in 2013-2014?

1. Vimeo:  I am working on setting up a private Vimeo Channel (It's like Youtube). Each month we will record one song from their repertoire that they have worked on polishing and upload it to Vimeo. Now you have the ability to share the link with family and friends. Plus, after recording 3 videos during the year,  it will give us a way to track their growth. Remember this link will be private and commends disabled. If you prefer your child's face not be shown, let me know and I can just video their hands. 

2. Composer Corner: Each month I will have a composer to learn about posted on the wall

3. Give 'Em a Hand: To encourage development of a good hand position, I will post pictures of those with a strong hand position on the wall. Weird, I know. But fun. They'll get the point. =)

4. Payment Options: You understand how I get paid and how you get paid probably varies quite considerably. Your paycheck is probably directly deposited nicely into your account each at the first of the month. What a luxury. =) Mine takes some time to collect from everyone. =) To help simplify things for you and me, I have added some more options:

     *Paypal Button on my Website (New)

     *I will have a debit/credit card reader starting with October's tuition (New)

     *Add me as a Payee with your Online Banking and request a check arrive to me before the 1st.

     *Check or cash during Lessons

5. Fall Costume Party: For Students in 1st-6th Grades, I will have a party here at my house on Saturday, October 26, 6pm-7:30. This is for students only, so parents, enjoy the night off. We'll have some snacks, fun games, crazy craft, and play one song for each other. A sign up will go around in October. THIS DATE WAS JUST ADDED TO THE CALENDAR.

6. Studio Class: Once in the fall and once in the spring I will have a Studio Class. This is a great way to interact more with others in the studio, gives me the change to do fun I can only do with a group, hear their piers play more often, and learn how to handle themselves in a performance by performing for their piers in a safe environment with no recital or judge's evaluation pressure. This is for students only, so parents, enjoy a little coffee break. This is in place of their lesson for the week, so please do your best to schedule them at one of these times when the signup goes out early November. A big benefit to you is everyone gets an hour lesson this week and no one loses a lesson due to Thanksgiving holiday.

Fall Dates are:

November 25  4:00-5:00

November 26  4:00-5:00, 5:15-6:15

November 27  4:00-5:00 Session

Spring dates will be announced later.

7. Assignment Sheet: Their assignment sheet is trimmed down and no longer needs a parent signature. I'm all about simplifying in life right now. =)

What Can You Do as a Parent to Help?

I hear this phrase all the time: "I'm not musically gifted, so I don't know how to help my child." Here are a few ways you can help make your child more successful in their music education.

1. Make Lessons a Priority. Our children can pick up what is important in the home and what is not. They are more likely to take things seriously if you show them this is a big deal. Help them make sure their books are packed for lessons. Schedule dinners, appointments, outings, etc for another night of the week. Make sure they can get to their lessons every week. 

2. Create a Work Space for them at Home. Put the piano somewhere they can easily get to and remove distractions when it is time to play (ie, turn off TV, leave cell phones and tablets in the other room, ask other siblings to go to another room, etc). One of the saddest stories I heard was of a boy who had to practice in the garage (not in Florida, btw). Nothing says "music education is not important" more than being demoted to the garage. We don't put our family TV or Computer in the garage. Why the piano?

3. Be Their Biggest Fan.  Very few others going through the daily and weekly self examining as musicians do. One of my jobs as their teacher is to tell them what they are doing wrong on a weekly basis. Doesn't that sound depressing! The last thing they need is mom or dad or brother or sister saying "Sheesh, that sounds awful." or "Shouldn't you be better by now?" You get the point. Chances are your child already feels bad when they are struggling with a song. They don't need more criticism. Be the voice of support and praise. Find something good to say. Let them know you enjoy hearing them play.

4. Commit to Music for the Long Term.  There nothing like teaching a child who is forced to take lessons against his will, knowing he just has to make it through until the end of the year so he can quit. It is horrible for everyone involved. I know there are phases and ups and downs, but what a great time to teach your child about loyalty and pressing on through tough times. Commit to music for the long haul. Definitely complete a full academic year of lessons. Don't let your child jump ship in the middle of a year. You wouldn't pull your child out of school because things got hard or he wasn't liking it, so don't give them that choice with music. But also, encourage them to continue with lessons until they graduate high school. You never know when things will click and they will take off. What a shame if they quit just before the "ah-ha" moment was about to come. Also, by the time they complete 12th grade, they will have the tools and skills to continue playing for the rest of their life. By then music won't be something "I have to do". It will be "Look at what I CAN do". And hopefully they will continue to play and sing for others throughout their life.

5. Get Them to the Piano!  When I sense a problem with a student, I will analyze his problem until I am blue in the face, change my teachings tactics, changes songs, approach things differently, etc. Anything to help! But sometimes it just boils down to, YOU HAVE TO GO HOME AND TRY IT MORE. I love playing basketball, and I remember going to the gym and shooting 100 free throws and 100 layups after practices in highschool because I wanted to improve. (and I'm still not great =)  I would never expect to have a clue of what I am doing, let alone be captain of the team if I just shot 1or 2 layups and maybe 2 or 3 free throws. I know everyone is busy, but I know there is 25-35 minutes SOMEWHERE hiding throughout the day. Most people spend at least that much time staring at Facebook. If you child doesn't have 20 minutes, help them trim down their life and get "un-busy". This is just for the average student. If you are wanting your child to be playing advanced level repertoire in high school or even studying music in college, WE need to help them now develop a habit of enjoying their time on the bench.