What a fun start to the school year. I love hearing the growth and maturity from my returning students and am impressed with the talent in the new students. Here are a few key updates:
Tuition
Please remember that tuition is due by the first of each month. It is a yearly charge broken down to 10 payments covering 36 lessons. It is not a per lesson charge.
Parent Tips
1. Join a parent group, like this Facebook group, called Piano Lesson Parents. There are many great idea to share of how you can motivate your student at home to be the most efficient with their time.https://www.facebook.com/groups/1503914103196755/
2. If your student has a CD with their book, get this listening to it...A LOT. Or if your student has music from a composer like Jennifer Eklund, Wendy Stevens, and Diane Hidy, go on their website and listen/watch a performance. Or get on YouTube do a quick video search. Your student is only working at 50% if they don't know what the end product should sound like.
3. Set routines in October if not already done. Student are in their routines by now. Is music a daily part of that routine? If not, help them establish that now. Otherwise we all are fighting an uphill battle the rest of the year.
4. Encourage your student to enjoy today. They may be in a beginner book or balancing life as a highschooler. Next week may be an awfully busy week. Regardless, teach them to enjoy making music today. Don't make music a stressful part of your life.
No Lessons on Friday October 24
I will be away this weekend performing in Tallahassee for the Florida State Music Teachers Conference. Please take note of the studio calendar. I'll be eager to share with my students what I've learned at the conference.
Baroque Festival by PMTA
November 1st
Dollarhides Music Center
Many of my students are working on Baroque music. If your child is not, trust me they will soon enough. If your child has a Baroque song learned, I'd like for them to play at the Baroque Festival at Dollarhides. This is not a competition or judged event. Rather, it is a day to celebrate the great music of Bach, Scarlatti, Telemann, and others, and a day to let these advancing students shine. It is a fun, informal recital setting. Memory is not required. Johann Sebastian Bach may be making a guest appearance. The cost is $10 and is due by Thursday, Oct 23rd. Talk this over with your student as I will be doing the same this week.
Swap List
Per the studio policies, To help accommodate an occasional unavoidable change in student's schedules, you can choose to be part of the email Swap List. (Please let me know if you do not want to be included in the list.) Most parents receive only a few requests a year from someone who'd like to switch lesson times. Please let me know if you have made a swap so I can plan accordingly. It's easiest to just cc me on the final email between two parents confirming that a switch will be happening. (Note: because some drive quite a distance, it may not be possible for them to switch.)
I will have a signup on my board for those who want to be put on a swap list. If you don't normally come inside the studio during lessons but would still like to be added to this list, please e-mail me and I will be sure to include you on it.
Also note, I scheduled 37 weeks this school year. So if your child doesn't miss any lessons, he get a free bonus lesson. If he only misses one throughout the year, he still receives all 36 lessons paid for.
Student of the Month
Paris Johnson
Paris is a 5th grader who enjoys mashed potatoes, the color blue, sprite, Peanut Butter Crackers, and playing with her Wii. She just turned 10 this summer. Since attending Summer Piano Camp, Paris has taken off. Her reading has dramatically improved and she is executing her songs like a pro. You should hear her play "The Ash Grove" and "Irish Washerwoman". I'm proud of you Paris. Keep up the good work!