Autumn Piano Events

Upcoming Events for Pianists

If you’re interested in participating in any of the below-mentioned events, see your teacher right away!

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Sonata-Sonatina Festival

Pianists prepare two contrasting movements from a Sonatina or one movement from a Sonata

December 7, 2014 at Sherwood!

Registration due by November 2.  $25 per student

Gold medalist recital Sunday, December 14 at PianoForte Foundation

Music Development Program Winter Assessments

Pianists prepare a selection of repertoire and etudes along with scales and ear training exercises.  Preparation to be closely supervised by student’s teacher.

Assessments occur November 29 - December 11

Registration due by October 14.  It’s coming up soon!

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Summer Creativity and Autumn Goals

It is finally October!  Everyone is solidly in the swing of things and it is time to start making some musical goals.  Some ideas:  Suzuki Book Graduations, Music Development Program Assessments, Chicago Festivals (Sonatina Festival perhaps?).  Let's discuss this in lessons!

Here are a couple of videos of creativity in recent lessons:

Katie and Mary, performing one of Bach's Minuet on two ukuleles, August, 2014.

Fish-Eye-Evan, playing a very solid Happy Farmer, August 2014.

Technology allows me to play both parts of a bit of Rachmaninoff for Two Pianos.

Studio Star Scholarship Results!

The Studio Stars of the 2012-2013 school year have been decided and I'm happy to announce that the winners are Eddie and Erica!

Eddie has proven to be a committed piano student by focusing his practice on that which will get him closer to his goal of giving his Suzuki Book 1 recital.  He has proven himself able to take what we learn in lessons and improve on them at home and he has taken on this responsibility in a very mature way.  This is going to be a great year in piano for Eddie!  To recognize this achievement, Eddie is being awarded 5% off tuition for the remainder of the school year as well as his choice for where he plays in the order of this year's studio recitals.  Congratulations Eddie!

Erica, this year's second place winner, has continually proven herself to be a committed student with a passion for music.  Because of her careful and consistent work, she has shown herself to be a very musical and solid performer in competitions around Chicago and on stage.  Erica is being awarded one free piano lesson in which she can choose anything she wants to work on at the piano.  Congratulations Erica!

All of my students are eligible for these awards, which are given yearly.  Eddie takes lessons in my home studio and Erica takes lessons at Sherwood, so 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!

Waiting for the Video

Parents, Students, and fans of my students:

I know you're currently waiting for me to post the recital video.  I was sick over the weekend and so I expect to have the video up NEXT week.

In the meanwhile, please enjoy this picture of a piano made of legos built by one of my students:

Happy February!
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Parent Lesson Week!

Parents! Now is your time to shine! Or at least to get a good handle on what your child is learning. The week of March 23rd is going to be Parent Lesson Week. I will be working with YOU on helping your child practice at home, music reading, and proper technique. If there is something else that you wish to work on or a piece you would like to prepare for me, let me know!

I look forward to hearing everyone play!

Suzuki Piano Volume 2

For those of you trying to track down the New International Edition of Suzuki Piano Volume 2, you can get them here.

I recommend getting the book and the CD together. This new edition has a clearer format, editing more true to what is played, and includes romantic and 20th century music as well as the baroque and classical we are used to hearing in the Suzuki repertoire.

I’m very excited about teaching from the new books!