December: Sonata Fest, a new app, sightreading and another graduation!

"The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create." –President Barack Obama December Music Notes A Few Notable Dates: December 22: Sonata/Sonatina Festival Registration Deadline December 23: Makeup or Extra Lessons by appointment only! December 23 - January 3: No regularly scheduled lessons. Winter break! January 11: Intermediate Group Class, 5:30pm Fine Arts Building January 12-20: No lessons. (Exact dates to be determined. I'll be teaching in Peru.) February 7/8: Dayton Book 1 Graduation Recital (check the website for exact date) February 21: All-Student Studio Recital! PianoForte, 6:30pm. Details via evite to follow! The newest swap list for FaithSlaker Music students has been posted on my website. Ask me in lesson for the password! The swap list will be updated whenever there are changes, so it is best to look at the newest version whenever you need to use it! (Only students who are on the swap list may use the swap list.)   For those of you who study with me at the Fine Arts Building. Please continue to bring your water bottles! The water cooler in the studio is not ours. Sorry for the inconvenience! Dayton playing Allegro for his Book 1 Graduation Approval! (He was approved, by the way!) Recital Date to follow.  Orson's Book 1 Graduation Recital! If you didn't already see it on Facebook Live, here it is! Give him a high five if you see him in the hall or at group class! I was asked by the Suzuki Association to do a short video for their Parents as Partners video series. It is a collection of videos, articles and podcasts that parents can sign up to receive to support them in their Suzuki studies at home. I'm not supposed to share it, but I thought I'd give it to you guys anyway just for fun! Orson Graduated from Suzuki Book 1 in November. He gave a beautiful recital! Congratulations Orson! Congratulations to these sightreading heroes! Kabir finished all the purple sightreading books (just green to go!) and both Colin and Henry finished the red books. Nicely done! My Book 2 Group Class learns how to use a music store. We went on a hunt for music-store treasures and I think the boys found something they want to work on! MY DECEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS   ARTICLE/BOOK:  What Parents Need to Know about Piano Practice. An article that I find helps support the Suzuki method that you might enjoy!   PRACTICE HELP: Marco Polo app for your phone. This is a very quick and easy way of sharing videos. I'd like to start using it with any families that share videos back and forth. I can more easily comment, make a response video, and it doesn't take time to upload or room on your phone. You can keep all lesson videos in one place! If you sign up, find me in your contacts and send me a quick video of your child at the piano!   CONCERTS: Bugs Bunny in Concert at the CSO - January 18th. See Looney Tunes cartoons on the big screen with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing the music! Charlie Brown Christmas - December 14th (other dates available) at the Rosemont Theater. Excellent jazz piano music! Ready to Upgrade? Or do you have materials to donate? New students are always looking for footstools that your child may have outgrown. If you're no longer using it, let's pass it along! Footstools, pianos, keyboards, extra Suzuki books, CDs, Practice-help books, etc! Thanks for sharing and adding to our community! You can just bring these items to your lesson and I'll pass them on to those who need them!

November Music Updates, 2019

“Music is the shorthand of emotion.” ― Leo Tolstoy November Music Notes Intermediate Group Classes begin next week! 5:30pm Fine Arts Building. Class will be every sixth week or so for the rest of the school year. The full schedule for the year will be posted the following week.   A Few Notable Dates: November 23: Orson’s Suzuki Book 1 Recital, 6:30pm. November 26-30: No Regularly Schedule Lessons—Thanksgiving Holiday November 26: Makeup Lessons—by appointment only. November 30-December 12: RCM Examinations   The newest swap list for FaithSlaker Music students has been posted on my website. Former Sherwood students have been integrated. Ask me in lesson for the password! The swap list will be updated whenever there are changes, so it is best to look at the newest version whenever you need to use it! (Only students who are on the swap list may use the swap list.) Orson playing Christmas Day Secrets for his Book 1 Graduation Approval! (He was approved, by the way!) My student Sebastian came to visit from Mexico for two weeks. he and Diego worked on this duet together, which was inspiring and a lot of fun! For those of you who have been practicing the "StandUp/SitDown Game" for harmony, here is a clip that you can practice along with from group class! We're all content in the new studio at the Fine Arts Building. I'm glad to have you with me and I'm looking forward to accomplishing so much together! Book 1 Group Class learning how a piano works inside! Look! Toby found all the Cs on the piano! Declan gigging at a fundraising function. Way to go! MY NOVEMBER RECOMMENDATIONS   ARTICLE/BOOK:  Outsmart Your Smartphone: a fun, lighthearted book that offers advice, games, and exercises to help any family have a balanced relationship with technology.   PRACTICE HELP: A Suzuki Practicing Notebook prepared for you! For those of you who would love a system set up for your success in lessons, check out Lesson Compass! Here is a practice chart too that your child might find motivational!   CONCERTS: Harry Potter Goblet of Fire--CSO concert, Friday, November 29, 7:30pm   Ready to Upgrade? Or do you have materials to donate? New students are always looking for footstools that your child may have outgrown. If you're no longer using it, let's pass it along! Footstools, pianos, keyboards, extra Suzuki books, CDs, Practice-help books, etc! Thanks for sharing and adding to our community!