Summer Contest Winners!

Thank you everyone for the REALLY fun summer contest entries.  You guys are creative, hilarious, and really impress me.  The decision was difficult, but this year's panel of judges chose the following performances to win this summer's contests:

For best performance of a song from the radio, Declan played "All of Me" by John Legend.  Congratulations, Declan!


Untitled from Christine on Vimeo.


For the best performance of a piano repertoire piece on another instrument, Mary played "Old French Song" from book 5 on the ukulele with cello accompaniment.  Congratulations, Mary!




There was a runner-up this year in this particular contest, and in second place, I give you Colin playing one of HIS performance pieces on the cowbell.  Can you guess what piece it is?  Congratulations, Colin!



Looking forward to working with all of you this year!

Summer Contest 2015

Happy Summer!  I hope everyone is getting to enjoy some of this beautiful weather we've been having while still being able to keep up at the piano!

This summer again, there are two contests.  The first contest is to play one of your pieces using a different instrument (spoons?  kazoo?  conduct an orchestra?) and perform it via video.  Have fun with this one.  Surprise me!  The second contest is to choose a piece from the radio and learn it at the piano in the style of one of your repertoire pieces.  As always, the judges are looking for beauty, fun, and inspiration and winners will be selected based on accomplishment within their playing level, musical expression and daring choice. 

Entries must be received by midnight on August 31st (via youtube, vimeo or mp4) and winners will be announced via blog/twitter/facebook during the first week of classes.  There will be one winner for each category and the winners will be awarded fun sheet music to work on in lessons as well as the privilege of having their performance shared and admired.  

Now, head on over to the piano, warm up with your performance pieces, and see what you can do!  I look forward to watching all the entries!

Summer Contest 2014

All students of mine at Sherwood or FaithSlaker Music:

I hope you're all having a great summer so far!  Though I hear it is raining in Chicago....  Since you're not having summer weather though, you can spend a little more time at the piano!  Care to show us all what you can accomplish on your own?  

This summer there are two contests.  The first contest is to play something using technology as an accompaniment and perform it via video.  Have fun with this one.  Surprise me!  The second contest is to learn and perfect a piece entirely on your own.  This may not be a piece we have previewed in lesson and it may not be a part of the Suzuki repertoire if you are a Suzuki student.  The piece needs to be performed with beauty and accuracy, but does not need to be memorized.  As always, winners will be selected based on accomplishment within their playing level, musical expression and daring choice. 

Entries must be received by midnight on August 31st (via youtube, vimeo or mp4) and winners will be announced via blog/twitter/facebook during the first week of classes.  There will be one winner and one runner up for each category (technology or repertoire) and the winners will be awarded fun sheet music to work on in lessons as well as the privilege of having their performance shared and admired.  

Now, head on over to the piano, warm up with your performance pieces, and see what you can do!  I look forward to watching all the entries!

Summer Quarter Begins with APPLAUSE!

Welcome to the Summer Quarter!  Schedules are looking a little bit different, so you might want to download the newest swap list if you need to make a swap (see website).  Office Hours are now offered every Monday from 6:45 to 7:15pm.  I will be available via Skype, Twitter, Facebook and phone for piano help, scheduling discussions, and parent conferences.

Congratulations to Declan, for winning a half-scholarship and an iPad at Sherwood's annual 

Scholarship Competition this past month!

Newest Videos from FaithSlaker Music Studio

Katie, performing with the Sherwood Suzuki orchestra as the winner of the concerto competition, May 2014

Chamber Music Fun!  May, 2014

Newest Pictures from FaithSlaker Music Studio

Twinkle Group Learning Steps and Skips, May 2014

Chamber Music from the Sherwood Faculty Recital, May 2014.

Click HERE to listen to a movement of a Chopin Sonata.

Cellist Amber Walton-Amar

Pianist Aubrey Faith-Slaker

Summer Contest Results - 2013

Congratulations this summer to Katie, the winner of this year's performance contest!  She demonstrated that she has the skills, the patience, and the mental discipline to learn a new piece entirely on her own and get it to be performance-quality!

The piece is called Serenade, by August Muller - A German-born Classical Era composer.  Notice the careful articulation and repetitive Classical-era nature of the piece.

Katie's prize will be an exciting collection of new piano music.  If you see Katie in the hallways of Sherwood or at a soiree, please congratulate her on her hard work!  Thank you to everyone who participated this year in the summer contest.  I'm so pleased to see what everyone is able to do on their own.  See you in lessons this week!

(There were no qualified entires for the composition competition this year.)

Summer Contest - 2013

All students of mine at Sherwood or FaithSlaker Music:

I hope you're all having a great summer so far!  Care to show us all what you can accomplish on your own?  

This summer there are two contests.  The first contest is to compose your own piece of music and perform it via video.  You do not need to write it down.  Decide what the mood of the piece is and use as many piano techniques that I've taught you as you feel like!  The second contest is to learn and perfect a piece entirely on your own.  This may not be a piece we have previewed in lesson and it may not be a part of the Suzuki repertoire if you are a Suzuki student.  The piece needs to be performed with beauty and accuracy, but does not need to be memorized.  As always, winners will be selected based on accomplishment within their playing level, musical expression and daring choice. 

Entries must be received by midnight on August 30th (via youtube, vimeo or mp4) and winners will be announced via blog/twitter/facebook on Labor Day.  There will be one winner and one runner up for each category (composition or repertoire) and the winners will be awarded fun sheet music to work on in lessons as well as the privilege of having their performance shared and admired.  The winner of the composition contest will be able to play his/her composition in the next studio recital. 

Now, head on over to the piano, warm up with your performance pieces, and see what you can do!  I look forward to watching all the entries!

Summer Contest 2012 - Results!

Wow - you guys are creative!  I had a lot of fun watching everyone's entries into this summer's contests.  There is a winner and a runner up for each one.

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the COMPOSITION contest is Mary, who demonstrated with her composition (titled "composition2013") great understanding of musical structure and style.

The runner up of the COMPOSITION contest is Jerecho, who used the steady beat, performance poise, dynamics and technique that he learned during his last year of piano study to play us "Thunder-Clap."

While composing is a noble skill, sometimes you just have to be goofy.  There was a contest this summer to showcase the goofy side I get to see of all of you in lessons on a weekly basis!  I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the CIRCUS CONTEST this year is Pauline.  Her humorous use of a balancing routine while still incorporating beauty and accuracy in her performance won her first prize.




And the runner up of the CIRCUS CONTEST is Anne Marie, who chose a very difficult skill to demonstrate her daring abilities at the piano!

Congratulations to all of you!

I must say that it was difficult to choose winners in these competitions, and I couldn't have done it alone.  Everyone's entries were worth sharing multiple times and each time I watched, I was reminded of why I teach piano.  Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who participated, and let's goof around with composition and circus tricks more in lessons this fall!  Deal?

Summer Contests

All current students of mine at Sherwood or FaithSlaker Music:

I hope you're all having a great summer so far!  Care to show us all what you can accomplish on your own?  

This summer there are two contests.  The first contest is to compose your own piece of music and perform it via video.  You do not need to write it down.  Decide what the mood of the piece is and use as many piano techniques that I've taught you as you feel like!  The second contest is to perform a piece with a circus-type trick involved.  The piece still needs to be performed with beauty and accuracy.  We've talked about ideas in lessons and there are several ideas on my youtube channel.  As always, winners will be selected based on accomplishment within their playing level, musical expression and daring choice. 

Entries must be received by midnight on August 31st (via youtube, vimeo or mp4) and winners will be announced via blog/twitter/facebook the first week of fall classes.  There will be one winner and one runner up for each category (composition or circus trick) and the winners will be awarded fun sheet music to work on in lessons as well as the privilege of spending a lesson working on either composition or circus tricks!

Now, head on over to the piano, warm up with your performance pieces, and see what you can do!  I look forward to watching all the entries!

Studio Star Scholarship Results!

The Studio Stars of the 2011-2012 school year have been decided and I'm happy to announce that the winners are Natalie Rehkemper and Katie Schneider!

Natalie has proven to be a committed piano student by making strides in developing the ability to practice in a goal-oriented manner and solve problems at the piano on her own.  She took that focus and motivation and worked very hard over the summer break.  To recognize this achievement, Natalie is being awarded one free piano lesson in which she can choose anything she wants to learn at the piano and her choice for where she plays in the order of this year's studio recitals.  Congratulations Natalie!

Katie, this year's second place winner, has continually proven herself to be a committed student with a passion for music.  She has been working on musicality, stage presence, and calmly facing passage-work without too much frustration.  I have seen her make great improvements in these areas and I love listening to her play.  Katie is also being awarded one free piano lesson in which she can choose anything she wants to work on at the piano.  Congratulations Katie!

All of my students are eligible for these awards, which are given yearly.  Both Natalie and Katie take lessons at Sherwood and if you see either of them in the studio or the hall, please congratulate them on the hard work they've put in this year!

Repertoire-Learning Contest Results!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the repertoire contest this summer.  Wow!  Everyone played wonderfully and it was a close call!

But I'm happy to announce the two winners, who will get their prizes in the next couple of weeks.

In first place, with her poised performance and great use of the technique she learned this year is Pauline, playing Jazzy Joe:



In second place, with her enthusiasm and musicality, is Mary playing Carnival:





Congratulations to ALL the participants.  I'm really pleased with your performances and can't wait to work with you further this year!

Summer Repertoire-Learning Contest!

All current students of mine at Sherwood or FaithSlaker Music:

I hope you're all having a great summer!  Care to show us all what you've accomplished?  I've given you all the skills you need; we've worked hard together during the school year; now you have the opportunity to show everyone what you can do on your own!

This contest is for the performance of a single piece (or portion of a piece) played by you on video with beauty and accuracy submitted by e-mail (mp4, youtube or vimeo).

Winners will be selected based on accomplishment within their playing level, musical expression and daring choice.

Entries must be received by midnight on August 31st and winners will be announced via e-mail by Labor Day.  The first place winner will be awarded a book of wonderful music to learn at the piano as well as a CD of inspiring piano music by great performers.  The second place winner will be awarded a collection of fun sheet music that we can work on together during the year.  

Now, head on over to the piano, warm up with your performance pieces, and see what you can do!  I look forward to watching all entries!

*Suzuki students:  Suzuki repertoire will not qualify.