Sunday
Oct182015

Christmas Recital Location and Date

Our Annual Christmas Recital will be held on Monday evening, December 14, 2015

We will be at First Christian Church of Ft. Lauderdale.

The recital will begin at 7:00 PM

More details will follow closer to the event!

Sunday
Oct182015

REMINDERS for October

Group Master Classes in lieu of regular weekly lesson October 19-23, 2015

Boys: Monday, October 19 from 4:30 - 6:00 PM

Girls: Tuesday, October 20 from 4:30 - 6:00 PM

Parents, please park in the church parking lot, across the street to the North and walk your child to the door. Please do the same to pick them up.

Please do not block the road or the driveway!!!!!!

Monday
Sep072015

Announcements September 7-13, 2015

 

HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!!
1.Congratulations to Benjamin Griswold, who won the Piano Maestro Challenge this summer. He placed first in 6 of the 8 weeks in time spent practicing, using this amazing app. Benjamin received his prize in class. I am posting a picture of Ben and his prize on the website. Way to go, Benjamin!!!!!!!!!!
2. GOOD NEWS! The Summer Challenge will be a do-over this week and Monday of next, because I lost my TALLY sheet (actually, true to form, I gave it to a student when I handed them their books and have not been able to locate it!)  So, please practice your summer challenge and I will hear you this week and next.
3. The Activities Fees are past due, so if you have not sent them in and would like your child to participate in any activities within the studio this year, please send them with your child this week to their lesson. Please check your check book and make sure.
4. Theory Classes begin.* Our first class will be on Saturday, September 19th. The schedule will follow, but just to let you know, early levels (P-5) will be in the morning, between 9-12:30pm and later levels (6-10) will be in the afternoon. A complete schedule of classes will be coming in the next week. PLEASE MAKE NOTE: Classes for levels that contain less than 2 students, Levels 2, 3 and 6,  will not be on the schedule and you will need to do the work in your lesson and at home. You may, however, attend the classes that are just below your level, for refresher, or just above your level. 

Please remember, Theory Classes are offered free as a bonus to lesson time. They are offered to support the work that is being done at your lesson and at home. Please honor this gift by ensuring all assigned work is completed prior to attending. Students will need to come to class with their theory materials, prepared to work- and have fun! 
*Rowdy and /or disrespectful  students, while they are entertaining,  will be calling their parents to come and pick them up immediately. Please have that conversation with your child  BEFORE  coming to the first theory class :-)
*I will have a sign up sheet for theory classes each week, please take the time to come in and sign up for your child's class. If there are less than 2 students signed up for a level, that class will be cancelled for the week.
Finally, please see below for a wonderful opportunity to hear absolutely amazing playing. Rachel Naomi Kudo placed 2nd in the National Chopin Competition this past March. She advanced to the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, where she advanced to the finals and will be competing in October (all rounds of which can be watched online in October) This is a free concert that you and your family can attend. Please get there EARLY as it will be packed! As of now, I am planning to attend, as well. I hope to see you there!

Musically yours,

Mrs. Purchase




FREE CHOPIN CONCERT
Piano Lovers
Presents
Rachel
Naomi
Kudo
piano
3 P.M. Sunday
September 20, 2015
Bet Shira Congregation
7500 SW 120 Street, Miami
_____________________________________
In March, as a result of her award-winning performances at the National Chopin Competition presented by the Chopin Foundation, Rachel Naomi Kudo won an automatic admission to compete in the world's greatest Chopin Competition - in Warsaw, Poland.  Here is your opportunity to hear her program just days before she flies across the Atlantic to compete. 
ALL CHOPIN PROGRAM
____________________________________________________ 
FREE ADMISSION
__________________________________________________
To help us print programs, please RSVP to 
 
For More Information:  (561) 573-0644
 

 

 

Sunday
Aug302015

SEPTEMBER REMINDERS

Dear Parents,

There are a few changes to the schedule that will be reflected in a new Schedule and Swap List that
will be coming out sometime next week. Regarding the Studio Calendar of Events, as location and dates for the Christmas and Spring Recital and Guild Auditions become set, the Calendar will be updated to reflect the dates. I encourage you to check the Announcement page of the website frequently. I will post news about upcoming events and reminders on this page.
Just a few reminders as we begin our year together:
1. Lessons begin this week!
2. Tuition is due the first lesson of each month, September through June. For your convenience, I am
     accepting debit and credit cards
3. Students who have paid their Activities Fee will receive their Student Day Theory materials at their     
    first lesson- 
4. The Theory Class schedule will be coming out next week.
5. Please remember the Studio Policy concerning younger siblings. There are neighboring parks and
     libraries nearby where you can wait for your child's lesson to finish.
6. Students who are participating in the Summer Challenge will be heard this week at their lesson 
     and I will announce the winner in an email and on the website by Friday.
7. I will also announce the Piano Maestro Summer Award for the student logging the most practice
    on the Piano Maestro App. 
I can't wait to see all that has been accomplished this summer!!!!

 

 

 

Sunday
Aug302015

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR!!!!!

Dear Students and Parents,
I am looking forward to seeing each of you next week! 
Mr. Purchase and I just came back from a two week, 35th Anniversary trip to Brussels, Bruges and Ghent in Belgium, Prague, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria. We saw amazing architecture, heard beautiful chamber concerts in a castle, visited breath taking art museums and even visited Mozart's home in Vienna! It was very inspiring to see how music and art are such an integral part of the culture in Europe. The dedication to exquisite craftsmanship and detail 3-4 centuries ago resulted in a timeless beauty that has transended the ages. I attached a few photos to illustrate- please forgive the bad photography!!!!
This striving for excellence is something we can all benefit from incorporating into our own lives and I have listed below some steps that will help students to be successful in their musical studies this year.
1. Please make note of important dates that are up on the website Calendar of Events, so that students know what is coming up and can prepare and plan accordingly
2. Come to lessons prepared, having practiced, bringing all materials you will need.
3. Set aside regular practice time as a daily appointment that you do not miss for any reason
4. When you sit down to practice, please look at your notebook, where I will write suggestions and assignments for your practice time.
5. Practice your existing repertoire at least twice a week, first with the music and then without. 
6. Listen to really good music and attend the many free and low cost, high quality concerts that are made available to us through the Miami International Piano Festival and the National Chopin Foundation, to name a few. I will always forward the information regarding these concerts to you when I receive them.