☘️March 2022 Newsletter

In like a snowy lion…

Greetings, Studio Family!

I hope that you are all doing well! In the crazy place that is this world, I pray you feel a sense of peace as we go into this next month. Celebrate the daily moments of joy and hug your family and friends close! I’m so thankful for all of you and for the ways you lift me up. It’s a blessing to be able to connect with all of these awesome beings every week and I look so forward to our lessons!

February was a great month in studio!

• FEB Practice Challenge: prizes have been awarded to some hard-working participants! Congratuations to Kassie, Sam, Everett, Elizabeth, Sophie, Liam, Avery, Ashlyn, Aveline, Maks, Finley, Delainey, and Aubree! Practice makes PROGRESS!! Keep it up!

• my preschool students were able with some cool composing with long and short notes, as well as some fun drumming/rhythm activities!

• SCALE KARATE - 5 white belts and 3 yellow belts were earned this month

• NEW STUDIO FAMILY MEMBERS!!!! A HUGE musical welcome to Brynn, Emily, Kaitlyn, Brooke and Linda!

Musical March:

• Composing (all levels)

• Chording and improvising

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

• St. Patrick’s Day Composing!

• Landmark notes
  

February Review:

• Composing (all levels)

• Lead Sheets and improvising

• Valentines/Friendship Day themed songs, activities and games.

• Practice kit games!

• “PianoBookOfTheMonth” access for all students!

• TECHNIQUE: Circle of Fifths Scale Karate

• February Practice Challenge!
  

📌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!

Make a Note: 🎶

1) There are only 4 weeks of lessons this month - the studio will be closed during the last week of March for Spring Break.

2) We are seeing an end to many COVID-19 mandates but I will still require masks in the studio for now. I will also still be following my procedures previously outlined. Thank you for staying home if you are unwell!

WHY IS GOOD PIANO POSTURE IMPORTANT?

There is something so beautiful about piano students who sit at the piano with proper posture. It helps to project an air of confidence and grace and contributes to good performances. However, piano posture isn’t only about how your students look at the piano… it’s also about how they feel at the piano.

Just as athletes spend significant amounts of time perfecting their positioning, pianists should do the same to get the most out of their instrument…

1. Good Piano Posture Eliminates Tension For one to play efficiently, you need to be tension-free. Tension creeps in when your piano students aren’t appropriately seated at the piano, or when their hand position isn’t natural. Good posture at the piano eliminates the most common causes of tension in students.

2. Good Piano Posture Prevents Fatigue Pieces: It is never nice to be uncomfortable on the bench or to experience fatigue in your arms, hands, and fingers. This makes practice less enjoyable and, therefore, less likely to happen frequently. Fatigue can lead to injury, which we all want to avoid (especially with children’s developing hands).

3. Good Piano Posture Benefits Playing Abilities You must have good postures habits to play with more accuracy, expression, fluidity, and more speed. As repertoire becomes more and more difficult, you will be able to rise to the challenge if your posture is correct.

When it comes to student progress, piano posture contributes to their advancement as much as other skills do. Taken from: https://www.teachpianotoday.com/piano-posture-and-hand-position/

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 🎹