Music Knows No Boundaries

I came across this story several weeks ago and would like to share it with you now.  It is a 15 minute video, but completely worth every second.

Music can truly inspire everyone young and old.  It knows no boundaries!  This man's story testifies to that.  He is blind and severely autistic, but is able to communicate to the world through his musical abilities.  We take our sight and simple conversations for granted daily.  I hope this story inspires you to view the world in a different way.

Derek Paravicini--Musical Savant

Holiday Music

All students should have at least 1 Christmas song to work on for our upcoming recital.  Remember the recital date is December 18!  

 I know things are busier this time of year for everyone, but please make sure there is time to practice our songs each week.  Practice during the week helps us improve the skills we work on during our lessons.  We do not have to memorize our music, I prefer for my students to learn to use their music.  Please help your students find time to practice!

Also, remember tuition is due the first week of the month and there will be no lessons the week of Thanksgiving.

Thanks!

Notes In The Fastlane Competition

We began the notes in the fast lane competition a few weeks ago.  This year we have 2 groups competing. 

The first group is:

Sara
Joanna
Hope
Kaylin
Madelyn
Ethan
Andrew
Olivia

The second group is:

Alyssa
Riley
Natalie
John William
Addison

The notes competition helps students read notes on the staff quickly and correctly.  The student in each group with the fastest time with win a prize.  Winners will be announced at the Christmas concert in December.


Here are our fastest students from week 1 and week 2...

Week 1:
Group 1 - Kaylin with 55 seconds
Group 2 - Addison with 60 seconds

Week 2:
Group 1 - Olivia with 72 seconds
Group 2 - John William with 84 seconds

Music is more than black and white

I am always telling my students we need to play more than the black and white music that we see written in front of us.  Music is colorful and full of life!

Last Wednesday marked the 77th anniversary of the first recording for "Somewhere Over The Rainbow."  This song is one that everyone is familiar with and seems to be a classic song that never gets old.  PBS did a great interview on why this song is still so magical to so many people 77 years later.  I will attach the interview at the bottom of this post.

Yip Harburg wrote the lyrics to "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," and has a wonderful quote about music:

Words make you think.

Music makes you feel.

A song makes you feel a thought.

As musicians, our goal is to bring music to life, to make it colorful.  Take some time this week to listen to some music that makes you feel something and encourage your musicians to do the same.


Here is the interview...

https://youtu.be/RbKEB1v8McA

DATE CHANGE!!!!!

There are several conflicts with the current Christmas recital date.  So we will reschedule our Christmas recital for Friday, December 18 @ 6:00pm.  Please mark your calendars!

We will begin selecting our Christmas songs in the next week or two.  Please encourage your students to be thinking of a couple songs they would like to learn. 

Thanks!

Practice Time

Many studies show the best way to learn something is through repetition.  Repetition is important for our minds to remember something.  

Do any of you remember learning your multiplication tables in school?  Reciting them over and over?  I do!  I had a bright yellow card with all of the facts printed on it and we would work on it at school and at home until we could recite them all from memory.   Learning these took time and a lot of REPETITION.

Music is exactly the same way.  In order to truly master any instrument, we need a lot of repetition.  This repetition comes in the form of practice. Practicing at home between our weekly lessons is crucial to truly be successful with learning how to read music and play the piano. 

Practice time doesn't have to be a long and painful process.  Below are a few tips to help with making practice a little more maneagable for everyone.

1.  Practice a little bit everyday

2.  Set a certain time each day or several times each week that is scheduled time at the piano.

3.  Split your practice time into smaller chunks.

4.  Play sections of your song multiple times then play the entire song through. 

5.  Write it down - keep a log of your practice times to see how much you practice each week.

6.  If you have questions, please ask me! 

It makes a big difference when students have practiced all week and come prepared for the next lesson.   Please encourage your musician to find the needed time each week to work on their music.

Game Time!

Games are a great way for us to learn how to play the piano.  This game helps students learn the names of the keys on the piano.

This game helps has several methods to help with learning the keyboard and with reading music.  This picture shows Miss Addison working on her bass clef notes. This girl is unstoppable!! She has beaten Mrs. Jenn 3 straight weeks!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to Ethan.  He started this year off by moving up to a new book!  Awesome job!!

Great First Week!

We had a great first week of lessons!  It was great to see everyone again and welcome a few new faces too.  Most lessons last week were review from where we left off in the spring.   This week we will, hopefully, focus more on new content.  I made practice agreements with several students last week.   These agreements are taped inside your child's lesson book or notebook as a reminder of the agreement. Please ask your child if they got one, and review the agreement with them.  Practice is VERY important when learning to play an instrument.  I'm looking forward to another great week!

Fall Semester!

Quick Reminder!  Fall Lessons will begin next week, August 24.  I hope everyone has a great first week back to school.  I look forward to seeing you all next week.

Fall/Spring Semester 2015-2016

I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer.  It is time, once again, to sign up for fall/spring piano lessons.  

There are several updates that everyone needs to note:

•              Rates & Policies - please make note of the updated policies.
•              Schedule - lesson times have been updated due to changes in my schedule,                please look over the schedule and be thinking about what times will work                  for your lessons.

Sign up for lessons will begin Thursday evening at 5:00pm and will fill on a first come, first serve basis.  I will send a text/email to everyone to let you know when sign ups begin.  

I am looking forward to our new year of lessons.

Learning fun!

We always work hard at Mrs. Jenn's, but we love to have fun while we learn.  We've been playing some great games the past few weeks.....

Riley is learning the names of the keys on the piano.

Natalie is learning about intervals.  Our interval game has been a HUGE hit with everyone because you play with marshmallows and you can eat them when you finish!!  Yummy!

Congratulations!!

Ms. Kaylin completed her level A book and is beginning level 1.  Great job girl!  Keep up the hard work!!

Congratulations!

Ms. Hope was promoted to a new level today!  She completed level A and is ready to begin level B.  Great Job!!!

Out with the old and in with the new!

We are excited to announce a new addition to Ms. Jenn's this week....

We say goodbye to an old friend.....

And hello to a new friend.....

I'm very excited to have a new piano to share with each of my students.   I look forward to seeing each of you this week!

New Semester

Our spring semester begins next week!  I hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays and was able to spend time with family and friends.  Several students are ready for new books, I will be texting with you if your student is needing one.  See you all next week!