Christmas Piano Recital 2009

Dear Piano Students,

I want to take the opportunity to say how proud I am of each of you for your amazing performances at the Christmas Recital!  I was so thrilled for you; many of you overcame feelings of anxiety and nervousness in order to perform, and I couldn't have hoped for a better result.  I thought each of your performances reflected your very best efforts.  I truly enjoyed listening to every song, and I hope your evening was as wonderful as mine. 

Sincerely,

Jennifer 

P.S. Spring Recital - April 24!  ;)  Let's start planning this week!

Piano Lessons Calendar Dates January - April 2010

Welcome back, piano students!  I hope you each had a wonderful holiday break and are ready to get back into the swing of lessons once again.  I know I'm looking forward to seeing each of you again!

As you probably know, lessons resume today, January 5.  This week I will be giving each student a new calendar covering January through April 2010.  I will also list those calendar dates below for your convenience:

Week of January 5 - Regularly scheduled lessons

Week of January 11 - Regularly scheduled lessons

January 11 - Payment due.  Monday students have three lessons; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday students have four lessons in January.

Week of January 18 - Regularly scheduled lessons (Yes, lessons WILL be held on Monday the 18th)

Week of January 25 - GROUP LESSONS!  A group lesson will be held daily Monday - Friday from 4:15 to 5:30.  Typically each student attends the same weekday as their regularly scheduled lessons.

Week of February 1 - Regularly scheduled lessons 

Week of February 8 - Regularly scheduled lessons

February 8 - Payment due.  All students have four lessons in February.

Week of February 15 - Regularly scheduled lessons

Week of February 22 - GROUP LESSONS!  A group lesson will be held daily Monday - Friday from 4:15 to 5:30.  Typically each student attends the same weekday as their regularly scheduled lessons.

Week of March 1 - Regularly scheduled lessons 

Week of March 8 - Regularly scheduled lessons 

March 8 - Payment due.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday students have five lessons; Thursday and Friday students have four lessons in March.

Week of March 15 - Regularly scheduled lessons 

Week of March 22 - GROUP LESSONS!  A group lesson will be held daily Monday - Friday from 4:15 to 5:30.  Typically each student attends the same weekday as their regularly scheduled lessons.

Week of March 29 - Regularly scheduled lessons

Week of April 5 - Regularly scheduled lessons

April 8 - Payment due.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday students have four lessons; Thursday and Friday students have five lessons in April 

Week of April 12 - Regularly scheduled lessons

Week of April 19 - GROUP LESSONS!  A group lesson will be held daily Monday - Friday from 4:15 to 5:30.  Typically each student attends the same weekday as their regularly scheduled lessons.

APRIL 24 - TENTATIVE DATE FOR THE SPRING RECITAL - 7:00 p.m.

Week of April 26 - Regularly scheduled lessons

Piano Schedule through the End of the Year

The piano schedule will be as follows for the remainder of 2009

November 25, 26, 27 and 28: NO LESSONS (Thanksgiving break)

November 30 - December 5: Regularly Scheduled Private Lesson

December 7 - December 12: GROUP LESSONS!  Students will be performing their Christmas recital song for their group.  Note that ALL GROUP LESSONS will be held from 4:15 - 5:30!  This time is different from the time we used in the past and from the time shown on your calendars.  I apologize for any confusion this may cause, but I find that this time better meets the needs of the majority of my students.  Group lessons will take place TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY.  Your student may attend any day, but generally it is recommended that they attend the day of the week they usually attend lessons.  (Note: Monday students - I am sorry, but there are only two of you!  Hopefully another day during the week will work for your schedule and give you a better 'group' experience!)

December 14 - December 18: We WILL have regularly schedule private lessons this week.  This is not clear on your calendars.  This will give the majority of the students a chance to meet with me once more before the recital.  Also, this will be the week of our ANNUAL RECORDING STUDIO lesson.  Generally, this is one of the most anticipated lessons of the year.  To learn more about this, please click here.

December 17:  Christmas Recital!  7:00 p.m. at the recital hall in Baker's Piano.

December 19 - January 3 - NO LESSONS for Winter Break.  Lessons will resume January 4.

Payment Chart for December:

Monday students will have 2 lessons

Tuesday students will have 3 lessons

Wednesday students will have 3 lessons

Thursday students will have 3 lessons

Friday students will have 3 lessons

Saturday students will have 2 lessons

What is my Annual Recording Studio lesson?

The last piano lesson of each calendar year is dedicated to my annual RECORDING STUDIO WEEK! This is one of my favorite weeks of the year. (The students usually feel this way, too!) I will send home a handout with each of my students containing information about this week's lesson, but just in case you don't see it (that never happens, right?) I will give the same information here:

"The week of December 14 - 18 will be our last piano lesson of the year! It will also be our annual "recording studio" lesson! Students will choose 3 - 6 of their favorite and most polished songs from the year to record. Usually recital pieces are good choices for this, as well as some of their favorite songs from their books. I will then turn their recordings into musical CD's. This is a great opportunity to review all we have learned so far (or this year) and to remember the student's favorite songs. The student should have a list of the songs he/she has chosen to record in their piano notebooks.

I will give each student one CD of their recorded music as my Christmas gift to them! You may have additional copies of the CD if you wish; each additional CD is $1. You will need to email or call and make arrangements with me if you want additional CD's.

Please be sure that your student brings any music they want to record to this week's lesson, especially if it is a recital piece or another song that is not in their usual piano books. Please call if you have any questions, suggestions, or comments."

I think you will find that these CD's become treasured keepsakes as you collect them over the years, and your student can hear how they have matured and improved in their piano playing over time. I am definitely looking forward to our annual 'recording studio' lesson!

Christmas Recital!

It's official!  Save the date; our annual Christmas Piano Recital will be held on Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the recital hall at Baker's Piano.  Baker's Piano is located at 2670 E County Line Rd #A.  Please dress up!  Light refreshments will be served following the recital.  Look for invitations in the mail as the event gets closer.  I look forward to seeing you there!

GROUP PIANO LESSONS THIS WEEK!

Just a quick reminder to everyone that this week we will be having GROUP PIANO LESSONS in place of regularly scheduled private lessons.  There will be a Group Lesson offered Tuesday, October 27 from 3:45 - 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 28 from 4:15 - 5:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 29 from 3:45 - 5:00 p.m.  Generally, students attend the group lesson that falls on the same day as their regularly scheduled lesson, although the same things will happen at each group lesson so there is some flexibility in whichever day you want to attend.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let me know. 

Thank you so much!

OCTOBER ANNOUNCEMENTS!

I am having so much fun with all my new piano students!  They really seem to be getting into the swing of things and learning so quickly; I am proud of each and everyone of them.  I want to send out a special thank you to all you parents for your support and encouragement!

Now, for a few announcements:

First of all, the Christmas recital has been tentatively scheduled for the evening of THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17.  Save the date and stay tuned for more details!  Your student should be bringing home the song they chose for the recital within the next week or so.  I am really excited about the fun and challenging songs they are all choosing; this is going to be a wonderful recital!

Second, please remember that our first GROUP LESSON is two weeks away - the week of October 26 - 30.  

Finally, I would like to clarify my cancellation/rescheduling policy.  I understand that there are times when students cannot attend lessons due to family vacations, illness, etc.  In my policy, it states that when this occurs, I will be happy to offer you a reschedule lesson.  Here are some different possibilities for rescheduling a lesson:  

1. The week of the next group lesson, your student could also have an individual private lesson.  This works well because group lessons are so different from our usual individual lessons that it helps keep the flow of learning and practicing going.
   
2. We could make one of your student's regular lessons twice as long - this is usually very effective and doesn't require you to bring them to my house twice.
3. Your student could have two lesson within one week. (Evening and weekends are available for these situations.)
4. We could schedule your student's make-up lesson during a time when piano lessons are cancelled.

I assure you that the last thing I want is to make your busy lives more complicated or to make you feel that you are not getting your money's worth!  On the other hand, my piano business is virtually my family's only source of income.  When I calculate our budget at the beginning of the month, it's difficult when several families cancel on me and therefore don't pay their full amount.  Of course, if I ever cancel on you, or in cases of long-term vacation or illness, or if we try to schedule a make-up lesson and simply cannot find a possible time, then exceptions can be made.  I'm a reasonable person. =)  Feel free to communicate with me about these situations, and we'll work something out!  

With fall breaks and such happening this month, I did have a high number of people not pay the full amount due to cancellations.  I was obviously not as clear on this policy as I thought, and take responsibility for the confusion.  Therefore, I will be enforcing this policy starting in November 2009.  THANKS!  :)  Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments!