April 2020 Newsletter
- aelzinga
- Mar 30, 2020
- 3 min read
Hello Spring! I hope that your “extended” Spring Break has been a time for fun and family times…and music!
This past month in the studio:
St. Patrick’s themed IMPROV, THEORY games and COMPOSITION!
ONLINE LESSONS BEGAN!
March Punch Practice Challenge! (extended - see below…)
Out-Of-Position Flashcard game
More to come in April….
********PUNCH PASS PRACTICE CHALLENGE EXTENDED! The last day is April 14/15 - student with the highest total of practices will receive the Top Prize! If you are 25+ practices you will also receive a prize!
IMPROV and COMPOSING with “Penny Petticrew” and “Improv Allister”
GAMES!
VIRTUAL CONCERT!
STUDIO SPOTLIGHTS!
My Preschool and Beginner students Everett, Parker, Finley and Elyse (and their parents) are my shining stars this month! What is more wiggly than a worm? A preschool/elementary student! I say this with so so much love as I am SO PROUD of these kids for being so focused and still during their first online lessons this month!! They listened to instruction so well and tried everything I asked of them. A special thank you to their parents for being right there at their sides to guide and encourage them! Rock Stars!
CELEBRATION OF LEARNING! Usually March ends with a RECORDING SESSION at my house but instead I’d like to invite all my students and parents to an VIRTUAL CONCERT on the evening of April 16 - starting at 6:30pm! Dress your best, set up your webcams and practice those songs! I’ll be sending out an invite for all and then a ZOOM link so please RSVP! Each student will choose one piece to play for the zoom audience. I’m so excited! This will be a first for my studio and I’m so excited for my students to be able to share the songs they have been working so hard on since January!
PIANO PARTY TBA
Due to the current “social distancing” measures our annual May Piano Party date will be temporarily on hold.
“LANDMARK” NOTES - What are they?
Landmark notes are notes that act as a reference points to help give a “clue” as to what other more unfamiliar notes may be. Students who learn their landmark notes will be more successful sight readers as they will not be using so much time reciting a mnemonic device over and over. Please watch the following short video (4 min) for more information - better yet, watch it with your piano student child(ren)!
APP Highlight: “Dust Buster” (a few versions)
A great app for kids even if they don’t know how to play the piano! In this game students help granny dust off her piano while collecting points and bonuses. Piano Dust Buster is a great tool to get your students excited about playing and practicing their piano.
Practicing Tip of the Month:
Play Little and Often for Best Results!
It’s tempting to skip practice for five days, and put in a mammoth session the day before your next lesson. Even 15 minutes per day is far more beneficial to muscle and mental memory than two hours once a week. Make it a habit and you’ll be surprised at the difference it makes.
Advanced tips: - Goal-based practising can give a much stronger sense of achievement and direction than playing for an allotted time. - Set achievable goals, no matter how small! ex: master one bar hands separately, then play the whole piece hands separately, slowly yet relaxed. Then work towards larger goals in future sessions.
http://www.roland.co.uk/blog/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-piano-practice-time/
GIGGLE OF THE DAY:
Q: What do you call a fish musician? A: A piano tuna.
Q: Why was the piano player arrested?
A: Because he got into treble.
- Andrea Elzinga
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