September 2020 Studio Newsletter

Summer is not quite over yet but September is looming in the near future and thoughts are circulating around how all these new COVID changes and initiatives are going to affect the “new reality” of schooling in 2020. Some have chosen the online learning path, some homeschooling and others are looking forward (or not?), to going back to the classroom. Hopefully whatever decision you have made for your child(ren), it will be the best one that will allow them learn and grow in academics, confidence and joy. There will be plenty of learning curves ahead and possible set backs but I pray that we all will be able to handle them with a post-summer renewed sense of patience, grace and perseverance! We CAN do this!

That being said, it’s also time to get back to piano lessons!! I appreciate the patience you’ve all had with the scheduling process as things are much more in “flux” this August than in the past. I’ll be offering ONLINE lessons (via ZOOM) in September and October and then re-evaluating come mid-October to see if things in the world seem to going well so I can do in-person lessons at my home.

Though we will start online, I have plenty of NEW MUSIC, NEW MUSIC GAMES and NEW STUDIO EVENTS And INITIATIVES planned for this year! I’m so excited to begin again!

This coming month in the studio:

• ***Prizes for SUMMER POPSICLE CHALLENGE*****

• Intro lessons and review fun!

• Fun Fall Music Theory worksheets in class

• NEW GAMES!

• Weekly ear training exercises!!

More to come this term!

• Composing

• Landmark Note Review

• Games!

• Practice Initiatives!

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. When do lessons start? The THIRD week of September (15/16)….normally I start the second week of September but my sister is getting married on Sept 12 and I will be working hard that last week, prepping wedding music and helping her with final wedding things. Hopefully this will also give my students a little extra time to adjust to “school life” again. Thank you for your patience!

2. How do I access my lesson? You will get a zoom link (ID/Password) sent to you before your first September lesson. This link will work for all of September and October. Please write down or save the information for easy weekly access. More specific details regarding how to log in and how to set up your camera will be sent to you as well.

3. What should I have prepared for lesson time?

   • a pencil!!!

   • your music books (if you are a returning student)

   • a lined notebook in which you can write lesson notes and assigned "homework".

   • One ~1" binder with 4 dividers (label them: Sheet Music, Theory, Technique/Notes, and Practice.)

   • your “Practice Kit” (if you are a returning student)

4. How can I prepare for my first lesson? Summer is full of family fun and this might mean that your child(ren) may not have been practicing as much as they do during the school year. This is understandable 🙂 I can promise, however, that your children will be even more excited about returning to lessons if they feel prepared and ready to learn. Setting up a practice schedule for the weeks leading up to the return of lessons is a great idea. An idea would be to plan for at least 15 minutes of practice a day during the last few weeks before lessons and, if possible, schedule it in the morning before the day’s activities begin. …..and don’t forget to clip those nails!

Please link to my website and scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions for more information or contact me. I can’t wait to reconnect with you soon and I look forward to hearing all about your summer fun!

• Andrea Elzinga