April 2022 Piano Studio News

Greetings Studio Family!

We are finally in to the “Spring” of things! My family and I have been having tons of fun outside, splashing in puddles, discovering bugs again, playing on the swings and biking all the places…we, like you all I assume, have just been aching for the warm wind and the sun! Spring break was great as well - we had some friends visit from out of town, spent time time at Sylvan Lake…. and purged more stuff from our home that we don’t need anymore! (It’s a good feeling to gain some physical and mental space back!)

More to come in April…

• Easter composing

• Easter/Spring themed games and activities

• “Pysanka/Easter Egg” Practice challenge 🐣

• Easy chord progressions as Warm Ups

• COMPOSING with “Muttzart and Ratmaninoff” 😆

March Review:

• 4-week Practice Challenge!

• Composing (all levels)

• Chording and improvising

• St. Patrick’s Day themed games, theory activities.

• St. Patrick’s Day Composing!

📌Save the Date📌

• RECITAL/SHOWCASE/PARTY!!!!!! I’d love to have a chance to share our music in the spring! Put the evening of Tuesday, May 31 on your calendars….More information to come!

- Spring Lesson term ends May 24/25

March Studio Spotlights

• Scale Karate - my students are FLYING through this!!! Excellent work all! Many new belts achieved this week and more students moving on to the next level! Congrats to Averie, Everett, Finley and Delainey….please let me know if I missed your name!

• Liz, Ashlyn and Sophia finished books this month!

• I also just wanted to mention that I’ve really noticed a willingness is SO MANY of my students to try new and tricky challenges this month…jazz pieces…lead sheets…chording…minor pieces….two hands at once…I’m so proud of you all for having growth mindsets and for being so brave and persistent when it comes to your music growth!

Pysanka/Easter Egg” Practice challenge 🐣

Starting April 5 I have a studio practice challenge for you! Colour in one section of the egg every day you practice. Bring it back to me at the end of April for participation prizes! (challenge idea credit - Chelsie N.)

(more next page…)

Practice FOCUS & Implementation “hacks”

You need to cut out distractions so that you can focus on your priority of becoming a better piano player.

Here are “3 Focus Hacks” according to jazz musician Jonny May…

1. Put your phone on airplane mode/minimize distractions

2. Set up your keyboard up in a quiet space

3. Remind yourself that your to-do list can wait

2. Use "Implementation Intentions" to decide WHEN and WHERE to practice to become consistent. Studies show that we can more than double our chances of following through with goals by using Implementation Intentions.

3 Implementation Hacks:

1. Make a commitment to practice 20 minutes a day

2. Schedule practice alongside another daily routine

3. Post a blank practice calendar in your room. You'll fill this in with your practice time (and be reminded when you don't!)

“Starve your distractions, feed your focus.”

This month in music….

1. April 3, 1956: Elvis Presley appeared on ABC-TV's 'The Milton Berle Show' live from the flight deck of the USS Hancock in San Diego, California. He performed 'Heartbreak Hotel' 'Shake Rattle And Roll' and 'Blue Suede Shoes.' It was estimated that one out of every four Americans saw the show.

2. April 3, 2011: Adele broke the record for the longest time at No.1 in the UK album chart by a female solo artist after her second album, 21 spent 10 consecutive weeks at the top of the chart. The previous record was held by Madonna with her first greatest hits record, The Immaculate Collection, in 1990.

3. April 5, 1998: The Spice Girls performed their first ever-live UK concert when they appeared in front of a 9,000 strong audience in Glasgow, Scotland.

(thisdayinmusic.com)

Bits and Pieces:

THANK YOU for continuing to wear masks while in studio!

THANK YOU for continuing to do the daily health checklist before you come for your lesson and for staying home if you are sick!

Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or comments :) In addition, I'd love it if you would share my contact info with anyone you know that is interested in taking lessons. Thanks again for all of your support!!

- 😍 Andrea Elzinga 🎹