Congratulations to Aidan!

Congratulations to Aidan on moving up through his method books!  He's out of the primer and on to level 1 where he starts doing some more impressive music making!

Well done!

Studio Recital, February 2014

Everyone played so beautifully and it is nice to know that while the winter was harsh, everyone made such great progress and getting together for our winter recital was well worth the trek out of doors and the fancy shoes!  Congratulations to all performers!

For performances by Whitney, Valentina, Pauline, Kabir and Declan F., click below:




For performances by Chloe, Diego, Aidan and Mary, click below:



For performances by Leyla, Katie, Declan H., Colin, Evan and the Copycat Duet, click below:




For performances by Anjali, Graham, Jimena, Fiona and the Dragon Dance Trio, click below:



For Debussy's Pagodes, click below:

Piano Media Music Challenge

Who plays video games?  Watches movies?  TV?  Listens to the radio?  Are there any recognizable tunes from these games/moves/etc. that you think you can play on the piano?

Bring me an idea and we'll figure it out!  All media performances will be posted as a challenge for anyone else to try!  Here is Declan's media performance of some of the music from Minecraft:

He's pretty excited about it.  What can you play??

Congratulations to Pauline!

Congratulations go this week to Pauline for completing her Level 2 Faber book and moving on to a whole new set of more advanced books!  She has committed to working towards advancing through the levels in the Music Development Program and is preparing for a spring assessment.

Good work, Pauline!

Studio Star Scholarship Results!!

The Studio Stars of the 2013-2014 school year have been decided (a little later than usual - I'm sorry!) and I'm happy to announce that the winners are Mary and Kabir!

Mary has proven herself committed to music this year by working very hard in lessons, flying through her newest Suzuki Book, and performing at a consistently high standard.  She has performed in every studio and department recital, participated in all competitions and festivals she has been eligible for as well as joining up with the Music Development program.  To recognize this achievement, Mary is being awarded 5% off tuition for the remainder of the school year as well as her choice for where she plays in the order of this year's studio recitals.  Congratulations Mary!

Kabir, this year's second place winner, has continually proven himself to be a committed student with a passion for music.  Because of his enthusiasm, careful preparation and maturity in taking on some of the responsibility for his musical assignments, Kabir is being awarded one free piano lesson in which he can choose anything he wants to work on at the piano.  Congratulations Kabir!

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

(Donations to future scholarships can be made at FaithSlaker Music's donation page.)

Listening to the CD - A Reminder for Suzuki Students as to WHY

By hearing a recording before learning a piece, students internalize an overall concept of the music.  They do not have to be able to play it to get an idea of what it sounds like.  This process of absorbing the entire piece through the ears supports what educators call "whole to part" learning.  When the target is established first, it is far easier for students to know where the steps of the learning process are taking them.  Knowing what the end result will sound like is not only motivating, it also sets up a category in the brain into which all of the random bits of learning can be readily organized.  Learning is then more efficient and effortless.  This mental soundtrack also makes memorizing and performing easier and more secure.

Excerpt from Studying Suzuki Piano:  More than Music by Carole L. Bigler and Valery Lloyd-Watts, 1979.

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.)