It's been a crazy week around here. After rescheduling my Monday and Tuesday students (because I was out of town), I got a few students squeezed in Wednesday before I lost my voice completely.
Since I haven't figured out how to teach without being able to speak, all my precious Thursday and Friday students had to be rescheduled as well.
Whew... what a week!
Thought I'd post a quick update on our contest since we won't see one another until after the Thanksgiving break and the shoeboxes have been delivered.
With the points that were tallied as of Wednesday afternoon and an educated guess as to the points that my Thursday and Friday students would have earned, we topped out with a little more than 700 points!
PHENOMENAL!!!!
I will be delivering shoeboxes on Monday morning with the help of a few of the top point earners in the studio! Way to go, everyone!
Remember, we still have a few weeks left before we break for Christmas! LEt's keep earning those points so that we hit the 1,000 point mark and get that GOAT for a family in need!
Friday, November 16, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Earning Points
This week, we are eager to see how the students are practicing and earning points at home toward shoeboxes and ultimately, the GOAT! We're off to a good start already, and I'll be updating the points totals at the end of each day (see the points tally in the left hand column).
I have a stack of extra credit worksheets ready to go for students who are ambitious and ready to bring home a little extra work this week! And the best way to rack up points quickly is to complete daily practice at home! Practice is worth 2 points per day!!
I'd love to hear your ideas if you know of a great way to earn more points. Looking forward to packing some shoeboxes with you guys soon!
Love,
Mrs. Dunlap
I have a stack of extra credit worksheets ready to go for students who are ambitious and ready to bring home a little extra work this week! And the best way to rack up points quickly is to complete daily practice at home! Practice is worth 2 points per day!!
I'd love to hear your ideas if you know of a great way to earn more points. Looking forward to packing some shoeboxes with you guys soon!
Love,
Mrs. Dunlap
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Announcing the "Charity Challenge"
I am very excited to announce that we're rolling out our very first incentive program at The Key, beginning next week.
More information will go home in each student's binder, but here's your first look at what we're about to be up to for the next few months.
Talk it up with your kids at home once you receive the flyer. I'll do everything I can to encourage and support them along the way.
By the way...
The students are doing a PHENOMENAL job. I'm noticing that the practice is beginning to pay big dividends. Many students who did not know how to read music previously are reading music by this point in their lessons. Others are mastering some pretty impressive scales and chords. And every single student has practiced hard enough to master and memorize at least one piece of their introductory music. Way to go, everybody!!
So, here is your sneak peek and 2 clues for the contest:
More information will go home in each student's binder, but here's your first look at what we're about to be up to for the next few months.
Talk it up with your kids at home once you receive the flyer. I'll do everything I can to encourage and support them along the way.
By the way...
The students are doing a PHENOMENAL job. I'm noticing that the practice is beginning to pay big dividends. Many students who did not know how to read music previously are reading music by this point in their lessons. Others are mastering some pretty impressive scales and chords. And every single student has practiced hard enough to master and memorize at least one piece of their introductory music. Way to go, everybody!!
So, here is your sneak peek and 2 clues for the contest:
| There will be gifts... but for who? |
| Oh, and did I mention small farm animals? Yeah... some of that, too. |
Friday, October 5, 2012
A Sneak Peek at our Picture Party
This week, a dear friend (and student) of The Key blessed me by bringing her camera and talent over to do a photo shoot of my studio. I have an idea in my head of images I'd like to use for the blog, for upcoming newsletters, and for promotion in the future.
She just emailed me a "sneak peek" and I am giddy with excitement. I just had to share it with all of you as well.
Enjoy:
She just emailed me a "sneak peek" and I am giddy with excitement. I just had to share it with all of you as well.
Enjoy:
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Weekly Update - October 1 - 5
Thanks for stopping back by the blog! Last week was another great week at The Key. I got to see some great improvements already in students' posture and performance. Amazing!! We broke out the iPad for a few students as we began to explore rhythm and timing in a tech-y way!!
This week, some of our students will begin practicing "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater", just as the calendar rolls over to October. The studio here at my house will get a teeny pumpkin-decor makeover (courtesy of my 7- yr old son who thought we should do a little decorating. Thank you, Andrew!). Parents... if you're staying around for the lesson, please remind me to turn on the Keurig so you can try the pumpkin spice k-cups I have here for you coffee drinkers!! Gotta love Fall!!
In other news, several students have picked out their Christmas music and will be taking it home this week to begin practicing. My challenge to each student has been to find someone(s) to perform a Christmas piece in front of this holiday season. Piano performance... ah - you either love it or hate it, I know. But performing DOES help solidify so much of what we practice for at home and in our lessons. And I'd rather the students get some experience playing for a supportive audience of their own choosing the first time around. Has your student mentioned a little Christmas concert to you yet? If not, ask them about it this week!
Our first incentive will begin NEXT week, and it will be a "Practice Challenge". In short, the more you practice, the more points you score, and the greater your chance of winning a prize. Stay tuned for next week's update with all the details. Information will also go home in each student's binder.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at thekeypianostudio@gmail.com
God Bless,
Mrs. Dunlap
This week, some of our students will begin practicing "Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater", just as the calendar rolls over to October. The studio here at my house will get a teeny pumpkin-decor makeover (courtesy of my 7- yr old son who thought we should do a little decorating. Thank you, Andrew!). Parents... if you're staying around for the lesson, please remind me to turn on the Keurig so you can try the pumpkin spice k-cups I have here for you coffee drinkers!! Gotta love Fall!!
In other news, several students have picked out their Christmas music and will be taking it home this week to begin practicing. My challenge to each student has been to find someone(s) to perform a Christmas piece in front of this holiday season. Piano performance... ah - you either love it or hate it, I know. But performing DOES help solidify so much of what we practice for at home and in our lessons. And I'd rather the students get some experience playing for a supportive audience of their own choosing the first time around. Has your student mentioned a little Christmas concert to you yet? If not, ask them about it this week!
Our first incentive will begin NEXT week, and it will be a "Practice Challenge". In short, the more you practice, the more points you score, and the greater your chance of winning a prize. Stay tuned for next week's update with all the details. Information will also go home in each student's binder.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at thekeypianostudio@gmail.com
God Bless,
Mrs. Dunlap
Friday, September 21, 2012
A Look Ahead: Week of September 23-29
First of all, can I just say what an AMAZING week our first week of lessons has been!?
I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with each of my students and observing their individual gifts and abilities (Yes, I can already tell what some of those gifts and abilities are after just 30 minutes!).
The next few weeks are going to be pretty exciting as we move past the "introductory stuff" and plunge into some fun piano adventures together!
Next week, we'll break out some pumpkin music in anticipation of October's arrival. I'm going to stay away from scary, spooky themes and try my best to avoid Halloween altogether in our music. We'll be focusing on seasonal clues like Fall, Leaves, Pumpkins, Warmth, etc. Some beginner students will begin playing songs they might actually recognize, and our intermediate levels will begin playing pieces on the staff.
We've also begun talking about the Christmas pieces each student would like to play. Believe it or not, we already need to start working on Christmas music!!
Look for our monthly newsletter next week in your student's binder. It will have more information about what you can expect in the weeks and months ahead, along with some fun and entertaining music information from the community!
I'm putting together our first Incentive Program to be rolled out in October. Each month, the students will have something to work toward as a collective group. More on that to come!
Stay in touch with our latest information by signing up for email updates in the box found in the lefthand sidebar! And let me know if you have any questions!
God bless!
Mrs. Dunlap
I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with each of my students and observing their individual gifts and abilities (Yes, I can already tell what some of those gifts and abilities are after just 30 minutes!).
The next few weeks are going to be pretty exciting as we move past the "introductory stuff" and plunge into some fun piano adventures together!
Next week, we'll break out some pumpkin music in anticipation of October's arrival. I'm going to stay away from scary, spooky themes and try my best to avoid Halloween altogether in our music. We'll be focusing on seasonal clues like Fall, Leaves, Pumpkins, Warmth, etc. Some beginner students will begin playing songs they might actually recognize, and our intermediate levels will begin playing pieces on the staff.
We've also begun talking about the Christmas pieces each student would like to play. Believe it or not, we already need to start working on Christmas music!!
Look for our monthly newsletter next week in your student's binder. It will have more information about what you can expect in the weeks and months ahead, along with some fun and entertaining music information from the community!
I'm putting together our first Incentive Program to be rolled out in October. Each month, the students will have something to work toward as a collective group. More on that to come!
Stay in touch with our latest information by signing up for email updates in the box found in the lefthand sidebar! And let me know if you have any questions!
God bless!
Mrs. Dunlap
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Let's Begin!
Tomorrow marks the first official day of piano lessons here at The Key!
I say it's the first "official" day because, "unofficially", each of my children and their unsuspecting friends throughout the last few weeks have been my piano practice guinea pigs!
They have, for the most part, been delightful helpers. We've gone through games, posture practice, and basic theory together. And they've been my accompanists during my own practice time as well. I'm honestly not sure whether I'd even recognize Beethoven's Sonata in G major without a little "Baby Beluga" or "Jingle Bells" being played right alongside my notes.
I have a great sense of anticipation for this first week. I'm still trying to gain a handle on what the schedule looks like and most importantly what it will actually FEEL like once we all get started.
Most of the afternoon time slots are filled. Praise God! I still have a few spots open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. My personal goal before beginning this new venture was to secure about 10 students over the course of the first few months of my first year.
God has answered my prayers exceedingly abundantly more than I asked or imagined. It looks like we'll begin with 9 students on the schedule and a pretty serious 10th student on the way! God is good... all the time.
So, with pencils sharpened and practice binders stacked neatly, I'm headed out to make a few more photocopies before tomorrow.
Let's begin!
I say it's the first "official" day because, "unofficially", each of my children and their unsuspecting friends throughout the last few weeks have been my piano practice guinea pigs!
They have, for the most part, been delightful helpers. We've gone through games, posture practice, and basic theory together. And they've been my accompanists during my own practice time as well. I'm honestly not sure whether I'd even recognize Beethoven's Sonata in G major without a little "Baby Beluga" or "Jingle Bells" being played right alongside my notes.
I have a great sense of anticipation for this first week. I'm still trying to gain a handle on what the schedule looks like and most importantly what it will actually FEEL like once we all get started.
Most of the afternoon time slots are filled. Praise God! I still have a few spots open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. My personal goal before beginning this new venture was to secure about 10 students over the course of the first few months of my first year.
God has answered my prayers exceedingly abundantly more than I asked or imagined. It looks like we'll begin with 9 students on the schedule and a pretty serious 10th student on the way! God is good... all the time.
So, with pencils sharpened and practice binders stacked neatly, I'm headed out to make a few more photocopies before tomorrow.
Let's begin!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Piano Lessons
Please see days of the week and times below for available piano lessons (and email me at thekeypianostudio@gmail.com for pricing).
(All students commit to a weekly lesson schedule, and each lesson is 30 minutes long).
Mondays
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00
1:00-1:30
1:30-2:00
Tuesdays
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00
1:00-1:30
1:30-2:00
Thursdays:
9:00 - 9:30
9:30 - 10:00
10:00 - 10:30
10:30 - 11:00
1:00-1:30
1:30-2:00
2:00-2:30
4:30-5:00
Fridays
9:00-9:30
9:30-10:00
10:00-10:30
10:30-11:00
(No afternoon lessons available at this time on Fridays)
Saturdays
TBD
Off Wednesdays and Sundays
Calendar of Available Lessons
STAY TUNED FOR OUR INTERACTIVE (and updated) CALENDAR WITH ALL AVAILABLE LESSON TIMES!
Grand Opening - September 17
Announcing the Grand Opening of
"The Key"
piano studio.
My name is Jenny Dunlap, and I'm excited to announce the grand opening of my piano studio, "The Key", beginning September 17th!
Offering a dynamic piano curriculum that will expose students to piano theory, performance, composition, music appreciation, and some fun computer-based applications, too!
"The Key" is a private, home-based piano studio located in the Countryside area of Clearwater.
The studio offers a bright, clean environment where we will utilize the piano AND interactive apps on the iPad and computer to enhance the musical learning experience.
Stay tuned for my calendar, which will show available weekly lesson times, including some special introductory rates!
Specializing in ages 6-106!
(If you're interested in music lessons for your preschool children, I have a few excellent recommendations geared just for them, too!)
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