KIDS THAT LOVE PIANO LESSONS!

Friday, June 2, 2017 by Catherine Williams | Uncategorized

It’s hard to believe all that we have done in the past year as part of my piano studio. It’s been one year since I put out my last official newsletter, but we’ve been so busy in the last year that I wanted to make sure you knew about all the things the students and I were doing behind the scenes to make this the best year in piano yet!

Photo: Kiandra Phelps and Peter Friesen- Achievement Day Master Class 2017

So, I hope you’ll take a minute and read about all that we’ve accomplished in the last year and even a few things that you might see in the year ahead.

I look forward to another great year of music learning and music making!

It's been an amazing year! Here is a summary of what we did:

• Achievement Day
• Kiandra Phelps was selected to participate in the Achievement Day Master Class conducted by Peter Friesen MM.
• Halloween Recital, where everyone dressed up in their costume!
• Holiday Recital at Tagawa Gardens.
• Composition Festival, where students performed their own compositions in a Senior home.
• Movie-themed Recital. Music from Star Wars, Frozen,The Wizard of Oz, and much more. 
• Performance at Parker Adventist Hospital
• Four Forms Festival, where students learn and perform an entire Sonatina.
• Performance at Morning Star Senior Living Center
• Performance at Chick fil-A
• Performance Awards were given to students who performed a substantial amount.
• National Guild Auditions.19 winners!
• Kits testing, High scores made the National Theory Honor Roll.
• Demta Festival, with 7 winners, and 7 Honorable Mentions
• Addition of lessons via Skype to keep missed lessons to a minimum
• Pot lucks, for adult students.
• Students received the CLEF award, for participating in the DEMTA Festival for 3 years and maintaining a Superior rating.
• Addition of new, fun apps to help with scales, ear training, sight reading, and theory.

Photo: Zander Loves learning theory!

I know that it's helpful for you to know what I've been doing as a teacher that is continuing my own learning, enhancing the teaching of your children, contributing to the community, and adding more value to your investment. So, I wanted to list what new activities have been going on in the last year that have directly contributed to your child’s musical education:

• I am a member of 5+ Music Teacher Associations locally, and Nationally. Monthly meetings include enrichment programs for the teachers.
• I attended multiple seminars that taught me how to make lessons more exciting and enjoyable for students.
• Attended consultations about incorporating new learning techniques that students will thrive on.
• Attained my Service Playing Certificate from The American Guild of Organists.
• I participate actively in online teaching support groups and get ideas from these generous and creative teachers every day.
• Listened to podcasts from piano teachers all over the world.