March/April 2023 Studio Newsletter

Hello Studio Family!

The spring melt has come and I’m so grateful to be able to get outside more. I had a great time the other day floating “boats” down the gutters with my girls and two of my fabulous piano students, Jillian and Sophie! While the weather may still fluctuate, I’m excited for the world to become green again!

February Review:

• Composing & Improv

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

• “PianoBookOfTheMonth” access for all students!

• Practice Tracker

• FLASHCARDS: Note recognition

To come in March and April…

• CONTINUE that flashcard work!

• Composing (all levels)

• Chording, Lead Sheets and Vocals!

• SPRING PRACTICE TRACKER

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

• Easter/Spring themed games (eggggggssss) and theory

Make a Note: 🎶

• *****NO LESSONS = MARCH 28/29, April 4/5

• Saturday students = April 6th (Thurs)

• Tues/Wed students = April 11/12

• There are only 3 weeks of lessons in APRIL for those that take weekly lessons.
  

So much to be GRATEFUL for!!!

• Almost all of my students completed the entire FEB/MAR Practice challenge, receiving the GRAND PRIZE! Practice makes…PROGRESS!! Keep it up!

• ***SPRING practice tracker due APRIL 18/19/22 (depending on your lesson day)

• my preschool students are ROCKING their ten frame activities! Kudos to Linden for much improved dexterity and to Penny for moving on to book 3!

• Congrats to Gibson for completing RCM Gr.6 Technique!

• ⭐️SHINING STARS - I lost track a little this month but want to shout out to ALL the students who completed a book or earned a Scale Karate belt this Feb/March!

• My Students are loving the mic 🎤

Studio Perk - Meeting new friends and making quick Pokemon trades between lessons! 😄

WHY IS GOOD PIANO POSTURE IMPORTANT?

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 :)

THANK YOU for recommending me as a piano teacher!! Your support means the world to me. I am already starting to have inquiries for spots next September! ALLLL the love to you!!!!!!

- 😍 Andrea Elzinga 🎹