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
Sunday, September 30, 2012
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!
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