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  BocaConcerts@gmail.com   For More Information:  (561) 573-0644

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!!!!

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.

 

 

 

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Summer Lessons and News

Summer is flying by! I hope everyone is getting the rest and relaxation that they deserve! I have been traveling quite a bit in between teaching Summer Lessons.

I am getting ready to attend the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago in late July. I am looking forward to hearing the many workshop presentations and to see the latest trends in technology and in teaching. Just the jump start needed for the fall! I can't wait to share what I learned!

I will email the summer lesson schedule to students each week. If you do not receive the schedule and know you signed up for lessons, please call me on Mondays before the Tuesday lessons just to check that you are on the schedule. 

GUILD Auditions AND YEAR END NEWS

I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by! We have been in a whirlwind of musical activities since September and are heading into the home stretch with State Junior Convention this weekend in Jacksonville, National Piano Guild Auditions beginning May 23, a nursing home performance May 29th, our Spring Recital on June 1 (see post below!) and Summer Lessons beginning on June 9th!  

Thank you, all for your commitment and support for your children and their musical endeavors. I am so proud of them all!

We just finished FSMTA District VI Student Day Performance Evaluations on April 25 and 26. 30 Students entered from Level Primary through Level 12. All Students received Honors in either Written, Aural, or Performance, and 27 of 30 received  Honors in all!!!! (scoring 90 or above in all areas) 28 received Honors in their Performance exams, qualifying to participate in the North Area Honors Recital! Needless to say, I am so proud of all of them.

Especially Alex Griswold who received the Aural Theory Prize for the District VI highest score at Level 12 and Melissa Redway, who received the District VI highest score for Written Theory!

Here are a few photos of the students who were able to attend the Honors Recital.Clara, Brett and Dylan 

Right: Esther, Jiully, Kaitlyn, Andrew, Christine and Francesca

Left: Love the tie, Dylan!!

                                                     

Left: Kaitlyn performing Spanish Romance by Mier

Right: Andrew performing Mouse Hunt by Roubos

Just a few reminders regarding the months of May and June:

1. Guild Auditions will take place the week of May 23-28th. These auditions will take the place of your regular lesson for the week.

(If you are not participating in Guild, we will set up a time for your lesson around the auditions)

2. The last week for lessons for the 2014-2015 school year is the week of June 1-5

3. Summer Lesson registration is now open. Please see me to sign up for lessons. I will be teaching 6 weeks on TUESDAYS, beginning:

June 9, June 16

July 14, July 21

August 4, August 11

Please see me to schedule these. They will be on a first come, first served basis.

4. REGISTRATION for the Fall 2015-2016 school year is now open. The deadline for re-registration is Saturday, June 27th NOT July 1, as I will be out of town and unable to receive your registration forms and fees on the usual JULY 1. There are several students on the waiting list for the fall. If you are not planning to continue study in the fall, please let me know right away, so that these spots may be opened to new students. If you have younger children you would like to begin lessons, please let me know that as they will receive priority consideration.

I think that is it for now!

Love,

Mrs. Purchase