Tuesday, April 20, 2010

SPRING INTO ACTION

Students see this sign as they arrive for their lessons:

Spring Showers Bring Practice Hours!

I post it every year in April and watch students smile after reading it. I think they "get it" and most even express they like having something to do indoors when it's rainy and chilly out.

It's been one month since we finished our piano year in March. I hope the students that I haven't seen since March are practicing! It only takes a few weeks to begin sliding. Continuing students should continue preferably in both Spring and Summer Sessions but at the very least, one or the other. If your child is getting a bit lazy and needs a jump start, new music and help with a few new songs will help him/her pick-up their practicing.

I am in the process of completing fall placements for current students. I've emailed new lesson times for everyone except high school students. If you haven't received yours, please contact me right away so you'll know which day to reserve. High school students should plan early evenings and will be contacted individually.

April has been pretty crazy with all the scheduling I get to do. I am emailing a reminder the day before or day of your scheduled lesson during April-July. If you don't hear from me, please check-in to make sure I have your child on schedule and have the time correct. I try to be perfect but I guess I need more practice!

That's it for now!
Thanks,
Mrs. Adams

Monday, February 22, 2010

SPRING PIANO

Spring Piano Registration begins Feb. 22 for the month of April. You can also schedule May lessons at this time if you wish. During Spring Session through the Summer, I only offer private lessons. Fee: $40 per 1/2 hr.

I'm registering students on a first come, first serve basis now. Email your date and time requests. I will confirm your reservation and attach a statement.

Tuition is due May 15. Music fee is additional if needed.

Please keep in mind that Spring Session is vitally important if your child isn't able to study or studying minimally in the summer. From April to September is way too long a span to be without instruction and practice.

Monday, February 1, 2010

NEW IN 2010

2010 marks 30 years of teaching piano for me! Children and music combined have been a tremendous source of inspiration and joy in my life.

2010 also marks the year I'll be making some changes to piano. These changes are in the works now as I'm exploring adding some variety to my profession as a teacher-composer-author. Priority on my agenda will be to announce a new location for piano before our piano year ends the week of March 22nd along with info. on Spring/Summer lessons. I appreciate the feedback from the survey I sent home in January. If you didn't send yours back, please send it in with your student this week.

In the mean time, it's piano as usual. Please check the Feb. and Mar. calendars (to the right) for any canceled classes. I don't plan to be around on those days should you forget and drop your child off.

February's Theme is "I LOVE PIANO"! What else???!!!!!!!

Thanks for your never ending support!
Rebecca

Monday, January 4, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We're kick'in off the new year with 2010 Piano Speedway! It's time to fuel up and get moving! Students will be given a Disney Car Practice Card this week. The goal is to reach the finish line by Jan. 31. (This will replace the Disney Pass we've been using.) Students should color one symbol each day they practice 30 minutes. Please continue to aim for a 5 day practice week. Students will also bring home a Speedway Piano Topper. Put it where it will be seen every day - piano, desk, bathroom mirror, kitchen table, wherever. It's a "silent" practice reminder. I hope when students see it, they connect it with piano practicing. Be sure to check out their new year goal on the back.

I like cold weather because it usually means more inside time to practice. The trick is to get back in practice mode after a two week break. This week may be a bit of a challenge as students return to school but we can do it! Hopefully, they'll return home with car batteries charged after piano this week!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

The Holidays are approaching....

Depending on which day your student attends piano, you may only have 5 or 6 lessons until Winter Break! That's why we've started holiday songs. I'd like all students to have a nice repertoire by then. There are plenty of opportunities for performance this time of year whether it be with your Scout Troop at a Senior Center, for your church service or right at home for your own holiday party. At the very least, schedule a family night to hear your child perform. Make it a special part of your holiday! Children who create their own program to pass out and help prepare a favorite treat will always remember their special concert. Holiday music brings a nice spirit of warmth, love and kindness into your home. Don't miss out!

Friday, October 9, 2009

O.C.T.B.E.R Sharing Time

To encourage students to retain what they've learn, I've asked them to share ALL 2009 Fall or Halloween themed songs at Sharing Time Oct 26-31. This will also encourage futher polishing and surprise memorizing while helping to build repertoires.

A story of commitment and discipline....

Thunderous applause filled the concert hall. One of the world's greatest violinists had just completed his final selection of the evening's program. Eagerly, a woman made her way to the stage in hopes of expressing her admiration to this great artist. Threading her way through the crowd, she finally reached him. Shaking his hand, she said exuberantly, "Oh, I'd give my life if I could play like that." He promptly responded, "Madam, I have!"

My love for piano started at age 5 with my grandmother as my teacher.

My love for piano started at age 5 with my grandmother as my teacher.

SUMMER PIANO

Registration is open for Summer Piano beginning June 7 through July 30. Email your dates and window of time. Fee: $40 - 1/2 hr. private.

SPRING PIANO

Spring Session April and May.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 CALENDARS

FEBRUARY

Monthly Piano Tuition Payment due Feb. 1st


NO CLASSES are scheduled for students attending on these days:
Monday: Feb. 15
Tuesday: Feb. 16
Wednesday: Feb. 3
Thursday: Feb. 4
Friday: Feb. 12 and 26
Saturday: Feb. 13

IN-Class Sharing Times:
Mon. - Feb. 22
Tues. - Feb. 23
Wed. - Feb. 24
Thurs. - Feb. 25
Fri. - Feb. 19
Sat. - Feb. 27
__________________

MARCH

Monthly Piano Tuition Payments due Mar. 1


NO CLASSES are scheduled for students attending on these days:
Monday: Mar. 1
Wednesday: Mar 10
Thursday: Mar. 4

The final day of scheduled classes for this semester:
Mar. 22 - Mar. 27th. Sharing Time will also be this week.

Spring Quarter - TBA

January 2010 Calendar

Monthly Piano Tuition Payment Now Due.

Classes are cancelled Fri., Jan. 29th.

Inclass Sharing Times -
Mon. - 25th
Tues. - 26th
Wed. - 27th
Thurs. - 28th
Fri. - 22nd
Sa.t - 30th

Snow cancellations? Call 847.948.7554 after 2 p.m. the day of your class for a recorded message. I'll also email.

Calendar to the end of 2009!


Final Tuition Payments are due Dec. 1

Monthly Tuition payments are due Nov. 1, Dec. 1, Jan. 1

My address for mailing : 14 Sheffield Court Lincolnshire, IL 60069.

Thanksgiving Break begins Nov. 24. Students return back to class beginning Nov. 30. Happy Thanksgiving!

Winter Break begins Dec. 19. No classes until the week of Jan. 4. Happy Holidays!







O.C.T.O.B.E.R

2nd Tuition payments are due Oct. 1st.
Monthly payments are also due Oct. 1st.

The only cancelled class for the month is for Monday students on Oct. 12th.

Spooktacular Sharing Times will be Oct. 26 - 31st.

QUOTES ON PRACTICING

"If you can dream it, you can do it."
~ Walt Disney


"The most valuable practice aid is patience."
~ Howard Snell,
The Art of Practice, Pen Press, 2006, p.75


"If you have played six times wrong, one time right, the problem is not quite corrected."
~ William Westney,
The Perfect Wrong Note
Amadeus Press, 2003 p. 92


"Every day you don't practice, you're one day further from being good." ~ Ben Hogan


"The best way for a student to get out of difficulty is to go through it." ~ Aristotle


"There will never come a time when you don't have to practice." ~ JJ Johnson






SEPTEMBER

NO CLASSES on the 5th, 7th and 29th

Monday students will miss Sept. 7th due to Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend and see you back Sept. 14 REALLY WELL PREPARED with 2 weeks to practice a very small start-up assignment!

Saturday students will miss Sept 5 due to the Labor Day weekend. See you back Sept. 12 with a REALLY WELL PREPARED lesson. You will have had two weeks to practice a small assignment too!

Tuesday students will miss Sept. 29 for observance of Yom Kippur celebrations. Tuesday students will return the following week on Oct. 6th.

SEPTEMBER SHARING TIMES:
Monday Students - 28th
Tuesday Students - 22nd
Wed. Students - 30
Thurs. Students - 24
Fri. Students - 25
Sat. Students - 26
Continuing students are perfecting a Disney tune from summer to play. New students can choose any song they've recently learned.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit."
~Aristotle

AUGUST

Aug. 1 - Tuition and Fee Statements will be emailed.

Aug. 11- Final day of Summer Piano

Aug. 25 - 1st Payment is due

Get excited for your first day of piano!!!!!
Aug. 24 - First day for Monday students
Aug. 28 - First day for Friday students
Aug. 29 - First day for Saturday students
Sept. 1 - First day for Tuesday students
Sept. 2 - First day for Wednesday students
Sept. 3 - First day for Thursday students
"Music is a higher revelation than
all wisdom and philosphy.
Music is the electrical soil in which
the spirit lives, thinks and invents."
__Ludwig van Beethoven


Teaching Experience...

I am celebrating my 33rd year of teaching! It brings a smile to my face when I think of the thousands of students I've nurtured, families I've met, friends I've made, accomplishments of students and new songs I've created. It's been my good fortune to be an award-winning composer always encouraged by my wonderful husband and children to share my talents through teaching, performing and composing.

Research...

The benefits of music study over the last 20 years cannot be ignored. Research shows that learning to read music and play an instrument improves reading and math ability, physical coordination and eye functions, improves thought processes, logical thinking skills, organization and memory skills. It bolsters self esteem, improves social skills, ability to achieve a goal as a group through indiviual efforts.
Therea Villec, President MusicMakers...for Life, Inc.

Students who can perform complex rhythms can also make faster and more precise corrections in many academic and physical situations.
Center for Timing, Coordination and Motor Skills 2000.

Students who are rhythmically skilled also tend to better plan, sequence and coordinate actions in their daily lives.
TCAMS Professional Resource Center 2000

Rhythm students learn fractions better.
Neurological Research Mar. 15, 1999

In a 2000 survey, 73 percent of respondents agree that teens who play an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems.
American Music Conference 2000

College Admissions officers continue to cite participation in music as an important factor in making admission decisions. They claim that music participation demonstrates time management and creativity, expression and open-mindedness.
Carl Hartman, Associated Press, Oct. 1999

Music Students score higher on SAT's.
Profiles of SAT Achievement, College Board 2001


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