Tuesday, June 29, 2010
on vacation!
I'm on vacation for 3 weeks and it's always a good chance to renew. I usually tackle getting ahead with training videos. There's quite a bit of ongoing training with Simply Music. I also am still practicing every day early in the morning. Today is was at 4:45am! I've added a new part to my composition as an introduction. I've also working on Fall enrollment forms. Cleaned up the studio even more and continuing to tweak the schedule and enroll students. My new goal for the fall is 70 students, teaching Monday-Thursday. If those that have planned on enrolling enrol it'll be very close to that! Amazing!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
getting results!
I'm constantly amazed and overjoyed with Simply Music piano's results! A student with 4 years of lessons has every chord from a fake book sightreadable, has over 30/40 songs of all styles, both hands comfortable and ready to play anywhere, their reading ability is very good... they can figure out and navigate pieces themselves and students have NOTHING written in their books that they are reading from... they don't need notes written in, they just know them!
I'm setting a new goal for the fall, to reach the 70 student mark! I will also be moving to create better results by teaching in larger shared lessons, requiring students to sign a contract with what I expect them to follow to get those results as well and upping my expectations of parents and students alike! Can't wait to see the even better results that I'm sure will happen!
Other exciting things are happening at the studio. In April, I 'tried' out a Piano Class for 3-5 year olds.. and it went well with 2 students, then I told my friends about it I ended up growing to 5 students and then I advertised again and now may have up to 10 in the class! The kids and parents love it and I love teaching the class. I really love that age group and it's great to see what they can do. Plus my little boy is in the class.
Looking forward to the summer term (6 weeks), but for now enjoying 2 more weeks of 'vacation!
I'm setting a new goal for the fall, to reach the 70 student mark! I will also be moving to create better results by teaching in larger shared lessons, requiring students to sign a contract with what I expect them to follow to get those results as well and upping my expectations of parents and students alike! Can't wait to see the even better results that I'm sure will happen!
Other exciting things are happening at the studio. In April, I 'tried' out a Piano Class for 3-5 year olds.. and it went well with 2 students, then I told my friends about it I ended up growing to 5 students and then I advertised again and now may have up to 10 in the class! The kids and parents love it and I love teaching the class. I really love that age group and it's great to see what they can do. Plus my little boy is in the class.
Looking forward to the summer term (6 weeks), but for now enjoying 2 more weeks of 'vacation!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Recital #2
Today was the 2nd recital at Living Word Lutheran in Rochester. It was just as fantastic as the 1st one at Oakmont. It is so exciting to hear all the students play their pieces so beautifully and confidently in front of others. There were 43 students that played at the recital today, including me.
I got to meet some parents that I haven't met yet as well as grandparents and siblings.
Some of the events of the day were....
A 4 year old with a couple months or lessons playing confidently, a couple special needs students playing beautifully with both hands, 2 siblings playing duets and singing together, a long term student singing and accompanying herself with 2 popular songs, a student singing and playing Love Story with only a couple months or lessons, students smiling and loving the moment, an adult that had the courage to come up and play in a recital with mostly children, students playing their own original compositions with titles like Relaxation, Sibling Rivalry, a student playing saxophone and being accompanied by his shared lesson partner... fantastic students playing their pieces and expressing themselves. I even played my 2nd composition/arrangement EVER... and I felt a sense of confidence I haven't felt playing ever.
One more week of regularly scheduled lessons, then a week of make-ups and Piano Camp, then vacation, then 6 weeks of summer lesson schedule, then 2 weeks off before starting fall again.
My goal for the fall is to follow through on my requirements for my students and help them move to a place that they never even felt existed in musicianship, ease in playing, composition!
My other goal is to put students together in larger shared lessons so I have more time with the group, more energy, more shared thinking and observing and excitement.
I also will start on a new composition/arrangment tomorrow! : )
I got to meet some parents that I haven't met yet as well as grandparents and siblings.
Some of the events of the day were....
A 4 year old with a couple months or lessons playing confidently, a couple special needs students playing beautifully with both hands, 2 siblings playing duets and singing together, a long term student singing and accompanying herself with 2 popular songs, a student singing and playing Love Story with only a couple months or lessons, students smiling and loving the moment, an adult that had the courage to come up and play in a recital with mostly children, students playing their own original compositions with titles like Relaxation, Sibling Rivalry, a student playing saxophone and being accompanied by his shared lesson partner... fantastic students playing their pieces and expressing themselves. I even played my 2nd composition/arrangement EVER... and I felt a sense of confidence I haven't felt playing ever.
One more week of regularly scheduled lessons, then a week of make-ups and Piano Camp, then vacation, then 6 weeks of summer lesson schedule, then 2 weeks off before starting fall again.
My goal for the fall is to follow through on my requirements for my students and help them move to a place that they never even felt existed in musicianship, ease in playing, composition!
My other goal is to put students together in larger shared lessons so I have more time with the group, more energy, more shared thinking and observing and excitement.
I also will start on a new composition/arrangment tomorrow! : )
Friday, June 11, 2010
Summer lessons
I've been teaching for over 10 years now, 6 of that time devoted to the Simply Music method. Each year I continue to tweak the way I schedule for summer. I need a balance of a break and keeping the student's material fresh. If I don't teach enough I start to miss the students!
This year I opted to teach 3 weeks in June, then teach a Piano Camp through the Rochester Enrichment, then take 2 weeks off, then a 6 week stint of teaching, then 3 weeks off!
Usually in the summer, my schedule is lighter, but not this year. Although I'm doing beginning piano camps starting in July which will help start new students in a fun and inviting atmosphere while helping to free up my schedule a little.
I'm also teaching Level's together.... Level 2's, Level 3's etc. This will give students the chance to focus on reviewing their playlist and doing fun and 'extra' projects in the summer. We'll also brush up on any arrangements that need reviewed.
For any students that haven't signed up for summer lessons, I recommend at least 4 weeks of lessons. I've seen students take the entire summer off and then need to review for 2 months to catch back up. Without a 'coach' to keep them moving forward they tend to lose their momentum.
One more week of regular schedule, then on to a summer camp!
This year I opted to teach 3 weeks in June, then teach a Piano Camp through the Rochester Enrichment, then take 2 weeks off, then a 6 week stint of teaching, then 3 weeks off!
Usually in the summer, my schedule is lighter, but not this year. Although I'm doing beginning piano camps starting in July which will help start new students in a fun and inviting atmosphere while helping to free up my schedule a little.
I'm also teaching Level's together.... Level 2's, Level 3's etc. This will give students the chance to focus on reviewing their playlist and doing fun and 'extra' projects in the summer. We'll also brush up on any arrangements that need reviewed.
For any students that haven't signed up for summer lessons, I recommend at least 4 weeks of lessons. I've seen students take the entire summer off and then need to review for 2 months to catch back up. Without a 'coach' to keep them moving forward they tend to lose their momentum.
One more week of regular schedule, then on to a summer camp!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Recital at Oakmont
I LOVE the end of year recital. This year I had to have 2. One I chose a senior independent living center that I go to on a regular basis with my students and then a church (with more space) for the 2nd location.
It was a fantastic recital.
I had an announcer who did a fantastic job of introducing the students and added some comic relief. He also played before the recital and after for the residents who loved it!
There were about 20 students who played of all ages. The youngest was 4 and the oldest was me.
It was beautiful to hear a newer student sing along to her pieces, a longterm student sing a couple popular style songs while accompanying herself on the piano and compositions (including my own arrangement/composition).
It was a great night!
Looking forward to the next one on Sunday. That one will have about 41 students. I've asked my most advanced students to play at both recitals so the younger or newer students have something to aspire to.
It was a fantastic recital.
I had an announcer who did a fantastic job of introducing the students and added some comic relief. He also played before the recital and after for the residents who loved it!
There were about 20 students who played of all ages. The youngest was 4 and the oldest was me.
It was beautiful to hear a newer student sing along to her pieces, a longterm student sing a couple popular style songs while accompanying herself on the piano and compositions (including my own arrangement/composition).
It was a great night!
Looking forward to the next one on Sunday. That one will have about 41 students. I've asked my most advanced students to play at both recitals so the younger or newer students have something to aspire to.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Recitals are coming up!
My end of the year recitals are coming up this Saturday and next week Sunday, the 13th. I'm always very excited about the recitals. It brings about a synergy to have all the students hear each other. I also find that for me as a teacher that sitting in the audience and just listening is an eye opening experience. Highlights for me will be hearing a 4 year old I just started 3 weeks ago play a song or 2, hearing a long time student play and sing a Taylor Swift song, hearing an adult exchange student join in the recital (her choice!). I always find it wonderful to see all the parents and the force behind the kids at home. Each and every student I teach has a unique way that they play the piano and I love the experience in getting to know and hear their successes each week and move them forward!
I'll be playing my first composition/arrangement I've ever done at the recital and that to me is also very exciting!
This year we are meeting at Senior facility for one recital which I'm happy about. The residents love seeing the kids and it's a great way to give back to the community.
I asked a parent to announce all the students this year and another to take pictures.
It will be my largest amount of students playing in the recitals yet! Amazing! I haven't looked at the numbers, but my guess is that out of 58 students, 40 are playing.
The other facility is a beautiful church in Rochester.
I can't wait!
I'll be playing my first composition/arrangement I've ever done at the recital and that to me is also very exciting!
This year we are meeting at Senior facility for one recital which I'm happy about. The residents love seeing the kids and it's a great way to give back to the community.
I asked a parent to announce all the students this year and another to take pictures.
It will be my largest amount of students playing in the recitals yet! Amazing! I haven't looked at the numbers, but my guess is that out of 58 students, 40 are playing.
The other facility is a beautiful church in Rochester.
I can't wait!
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