January Recap

It's February!  I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by.  It's been a busy month as we are continuing with our online lesson journey.   Students are continuing to impress me with everything they accomplish each week.  

This month the studio has been busy with several things.  We've been composing, we've been working on our theory, we've been playing games, we've been reviewing our notes and we even had some extra fun with our Lesson Choice Wheel.

Behind the scenes, I've been busy planning some upcoming studio challenges - including our new "Rhythm Chaos" challenge that is happening this week.  I've been lesson planning, working on a few website updates and learning even more ways I can continue to make online lessons fun and successful.

 

September Recap

 We are officially done September and can't believe it!  It's been great welcoming everyone back to the (virtual) studio and working on a routine.

I spent some time over the summer somewhat revamping my teaching space.  I now have a new overhead camera which has been used several times to help better demonstrate hand positions and specific areas in songs. 

We've been working on our theory - here's a little peak at what I see as I'm teaching.  I've been building up my digital music collection since the spring and it's been great having access to them so I can have the book open on one side and you on the other!

Still having lots of fun!  What better use of filters than a unicorn filter for a September unicorn song!

I am working on a practice challenge that we will hopefully be starting soon.  Halloween music will be started in the upcoming weeks and plans for a Christmas recital are in the works as well!

June and Recital Wrap Up

Our first virtual recital was Sunday!  If you missed it or just want to watch it again, the video is still available following the link that was emailed.  I want to give a huge thank you again to parents, friends and family who supported every student on their work in learning their recital pieces and preparing for the performance, especially as it was a completely new experience this year - I couldn't be more proud of how each of you played.  It maybe wasn't what we were used to but I'm so happy that we were able to have all the technology available to us to make it a success!

This week we start to wrap up our regular lessons of the year!  Here's a peek at what we will be doing:

1.  Debriefing the Recital - we'll talk about everything from favourite pieces, which songs they also might want to learn, and what they thought about the virtual recital.  We will also discuss that they thought of their own performance.  The goal of these conversations will be to help students to see the bigger picture and what we are working towards, why we make goals and why we do all that we do.
2. Finishing up our current topics - our final lessons are typically used to finish up our current pieces and review.  We want to make sure we go into the break with everything wrapped up.
3. Having Fun - We'll play through a favourite song or two from the year, play a game, pull out the ipad, do some review and talk about our accomplishments from this past year.
4. Make Goals - We won't learn a new concept but that doesn't mean we still can't learn new songs!  The final lessons see us learn a new song(s) that helps us review our learning from this year.  We will talk about what we can do during our time apart and make any goals for break.

Thank you everyone for a great year! I look forward to finishing up our final lessons and getting into summer!  

March Recap

Wow!  March!

What a crazy month this has been in every way!   The first half of the month went great - students were on track to complete books, memorize songs, learn new concepts and were looking forward to March Break.  Then March Break happened and oh my!

Online lessons started after March Break and I couldn't be more proud of each of you for how well you have done!  They definitely have their challenges on the technology side but so far I feel we are doing amazing considering the circumstances:  6 of you have completed your books this month!

In my new studio you can find:

- A webcam - above the piano for those times you need to see exactly what your hands should be doing

-laptop - for connecting to all of you and for all my main camera shots

-small white board - for when words just don't cut it - sometimes you need to see the staff/note/counting etc.

-copy of students books

-basket of games - yes the games will still be making an appearance when time allows 

-headphones - for when I need to hear you a bit better

January Recap

Welcome back to the studio.  We've had a great month getting back into the swing of lessons after what I hope was a relaxing Christmas break.

Most of this month was spent really focusing on practice routine and getting back into it or even establishing one that works better for your family.  Click HERE to jump to a blog post that will help create some great practice habits.

We did manage to squeeze in a little fun.

top left:  reviewing staff notes in Flashnote Derby

top right: using dice to help with practicing.  Jumping to various places in the music and just reviewing those sections is a great way to mix up practice

bottom left: using fun erasers to jump to different notes

bottom right: another note review game (think wack-a-mole) called Note Squish

I've also been working on a "Surprise Me" week that's coming up the week of February 10-14.  More information was sent home with your child this past week.  Students are going to choose one of 7 activities that they will take the lead on over the next couple weeks.  Then when we see each other again in two weeks they will surprise me with the activity of their choosing.  Students are more than welcome to work on more than one activity.

Also a reminder to parents to please read your child's notebook.  While there are no notes written in it directly for you, I do use it to write down some specific practice ideas along with any theory homework that should be completed.  Please make sure they are completing practicing with some of my hints and are not just playing through the song from beginning to end.

See you all in a couple weeks!

December Recap

Happy New Year Everyone! 

We are coming to the end of our Christmas break but first our recap of the craziness of December.

1. We decked the halls:

2.  We celebrated and showed off our hard work at the Christmas Recital:

(to see the full recital recap click HERE)

3.  We had an "online" piano recital for those who couldn't get to the Christmas recital due to the date change:

4.  We learned all about rests/notes and played some card games:

  

5.  The studio joined a piano book club where every month moving forward we get new original music.  This month is all for beginner students and centres around the holidays each month - there's music for Valentin's Day, Mothers and Fathers Day, and St. Patrick's Day

January Preview:

-getting back on track after the break

-learning new music

-piano exams

-fun and games

Reminders:

-be sure to check out the studio calendar 

-follow us on Instagram

November Recap

November was a busy month with the majority of students preparing for the Christmas Recital!  We are just 2 days away and I am very excited to see and hear each of you perform - some for the very first time!   The recital is set to begin at 2:30.  Please arrive a bit earlier so leave time for bathroom and finding a seat.  Don't forget your music and snacks!


When not working on recital prep some of us were having fun with Ipad games.  I enjoy using the Ipad as another resource to help with note reading, listening, and rhythms.  The 3 pictures below show just that.  The first is from a game called Note Works and it's a great game to reinforce note reading on the staff.  The second is helping the student hear if the notes are going up or down, from an app called Music for Little Mozarts.  It's perfect for beginners.  The final picture shows and example from Rhythm Cat where you have to tap along with the beat of a song.  All of these apps and a few more that I use occasionally during lessons can be found along the top under Ipad Apps.









While some were reviewing using the Ipad, others were working on fingering for positions and scales.

Looking at December - We have 3 more lessons and then a 2 week break.   Final lessons will take place during the week of December 16-20.  With lessons resuming the week of January 6.
December will also have a fun Christmas listening challenge and perhaps another small practice challenge.

October Recap

October was such a fun month at the studio!    We started our first big practice challenge - Pumpkin up the Practice.  It was great to see how into the challenges everyone got and I definitely noticed the practicing improve from everyone!   Plus how fun it was to see all the pumpkins slowly get turned into jack-o-lanturns - everyone is so creative!

October also saw the return of our Star Students board.
Each month students who complete a book, finish their own personal challenge, or go above and beyond during their practicing will receive a star!










We work hard in the studio at each lesson.  I love having one on one lessons with each student so that I can make the lesson suit exactly what it is they need to work on at that moment.  Here is a little peak at a student working on finding C Position and all the C's on the piano.  Little character erasers are the perfect size for piano keys!







We also get to have a little fun:

Looking at our November plans:  Everyone will be working on their Christmas song to prepare for the studio recital on Sunday December 1 at 2:30.   As we get closer to the recital we will be also be working on our stage presence and the performance as a whole - getting to the piano, bowing, and walking away. 

September Recap

What a great first month of lessons!  This month saw the return of many students and also the start of many new students as they began their first piano lessons and we are so excited to welcome them to the studio!

We focused on getting into routines, worked on black keys and started the white keys.  Continued with rhythm work, learning the piano alphabet, reinforcing staff reading skills and good old fashion theory homework.



Several returning students have already made great progress - finishing books, starting RCM songs, working on new scales and sight reading skills and preparing for upcoming exams.

This month we are focusing on our "Pump-kin up the Practice" challenge which will hopefully see all students working on method books reinforce their practice habits and really make daily practice part of their routine.  We will also have fun working on some Halloween inspired songs soon!

I am in the process of finalizing the date and time of our Christmas Recital - hopefully will have that confirmed this week.

Remember to follow on Instagram for more behind the scenes and be the first to know about upcoming events!

March Recap and What's Next

I can't believe how quickly March flew by!  There were several students who finished up books this month and moved onto new ones.  A handful of students are currently preparing and putting finishing touches on their Beckettfest pieces and several more who are looking towards their June exam dates (which might seem like a long time away but it will fly by!)

April will bring with it another studio wide challenge:  "Surprise Me" Day is coming soon!  (more details will be sent home next week.  We also have Easter and Good Friday, plus our makeup week at the end of the month.  We will also see information sent home regarding summer and fall registration!

Good Friday - April 19 - there will be no lessons

Easter Monday - April 22 - we DO have lessons

April 23 - 26 - these days do not have regular scheduled lessons - Any outstanding make up lessons will be made up during these days.  Keep your eyes open for more details as we get closer to this week.

I'm also in the process of booking our Spring Recital.  This will occur sometime near the end of May or beginning of June.  Once the date is officially booked students will start the process of choosing their pieces to perform.

Finally I leave you with this:

February Recap

What a great month we had in the studio!

We've had a few snow days (which will be made up in the spring), several students have finished up books and started new ones, some students have registered for upcoming exams, while others have registered for Beckettfest.

Our beginner students have been having fun with some note reading activities including "Mr. Bunny"



We also celebrated you!  Students got to choose a special activity from the Student Appreciation Chart:



This week is our last week of lessons before March Break!  There are no lessons over the break so be sure to read your child's notebook carefully for some extra work and fun that will be sent home to keep everyone busy and practicing for an extra week!

January Recap

January saw a great amount of work come to the studio.  Everyone came back to lessons after Christmas break ready to get right back to work.  There was several check ins with students to make sure practicing got back on track, many new songs were learned, scales are being mastered, theory is being completed and games are being played!

February will bring with it a fun student appreciation week and family day! (no lessons February 18)

Studio Happenings

We are in the last week of our fall practice challenge - everyone has been doing a great job with their challenges!  I've had some wonderful feed back as well from parents who are going to be making their own challenges at home to continue practicing.  If you want help with ideas for your own I will happily help out.

This week we are picking our Christmas songs to start in our lessons in the next couple weeks! While it might seem early, the recital is just around the corner (I'm in the process of booking it but it's looking like it will be in the first few weeks of December).  Starting early is a a good thing when it comes to performances - the better you know your song, the more confident you are when playing it, the less nervous you'll be at the performance.

Halloween is tomorrow!   I wish everyone a fun time filled with lots of candy!

Mid Summer Catch Up

We are just about half way through the summer so I wanted to give everyone a little up date on what's been happening at the studio this summer!  I hope you are all having an enjoyable summer and that it has been filled with adventures and memory-making!

July was a very busy month for me at the Beckett School at Laurier where I made up half of a team of our Music Mania and Music Explorers camp.  Music Mania ran for the afternoon on two separate weeks, with Music Explorers running for the morning during the last week of July.  It was a great two weeks with 55 students getting to experience different instruments, crafts, singing, improvisation, and much more.

There are also several students that are continuing lessons this summer with 3 students who are completing exams in August! We've made some great progress together so far.

I've also been doing a lot of reading, learning and planning as I prepare for another exciting year of piano lessons.  I have some new ideas in the works for some practice incentives and hopefully a few fun surprises that will be added along the way.

I will be in touch with each of you closer to the end of the month, in the meantime here are a few reminders:

-Lessons will begin on Tuesday September 4 (the same day as school!)
-Some students will be requiring new books - I will be sending out an email in a few weeks to those families who will be needing them for September.
-Setting up a practice schedule for the weeks leading up to the return of lessons is a great idea.  If possible, plan for at least 15 minutes of practice a day during the summer, and remember to try doing it in the morning - this ensures practicing gets done before you get busy with your day's activities.

I can't wait to reconnect with you soon and I look forward to hearing about your summer fun!

November Recap

November saw lots of Christmas music enter the studio!  It's one of my favourite times as a teacher to hear the great music but also to see the excitement of everyone.

We started to work on the final touches of our recital performances this week including practicing our bows.

Only 9 more days until the recital!  After the recital everyone will have two more lessons then it's Christmas break.

October Recap

-October saw the end come to our PianOlympics Challenge.  Everyone who was completing weekly challenges did a great job with their practicing.  Plus the practicing is continuing which is always a great thing in my mind!

-Halloween music began for some students for a little bit of added fun

Coming up:
-The Christmas Recital date should be finalized this week
-Christmas music will be chosen and started soon

September Recap

Our first month back to lessons has been a great success!  It's been so fun getting to see you all every week and hear your beautiful playing again.

I've seen some great progress already from a number of you and we are all well on our way to making all of the goals we've set for the year.

This month many of you have been working hard on the PianOlympic Practice Challenge.  There are only two weeks left in the challenge so keep working right to the end to earn a great prize.  For those students who are not participating in this challenge will have plenty of opportunity later in the year to take part in other challenges.  Don't worry there are many prizes to earn!

A reminder to Friday and Monday students that we are not having lessons this week.

Keep a look out in the next couple weeks for Halloween music coming to the studio!