April News and Student Day Performance Plans

Dear Parents and Students,

I hope this finds you continuing to feel well and adjusting to the confines of sheltering in place. 

It is such a joy for me to be able to see your sweet faces each week at our regularly scheduled time and gives me renewed hope that this COVID situation isn't all hopeless and life can and does go on. I am so proud of all of you and your enthusiastic participation in these online lessons. 

Please read through to the end and take note of important info and calendar changes.

Our Spring break was scheduled for April 12. However, I am moving the Spring Break week up to April 6-9. (NEXT WEEK NO LESSONS!) Also, I have not used two of the extra weeks that were built into the calendar. Just a heads up; our daughter, Tori, is due to give birth to her first child on April 27. Depending upon when and how the delivery goes, I may be taking off one of those two weeks around that time with short notice.

1. Lessons will continue online until we are given an all clear on the virus threat declaration by the authorities

2. April tuition will be due at the first lesson of the month of April. My mailing address is 720 NE 12 Ave, Pompano Beach, Fl 33060.

3. The FSMTA Student Day Performance Exam has not been cancelled! It is postponed until (see number 1 above). Levels 7, 10 and 12 will do an online audition the weekend of April 24.

4. We will schedule Guild Auditions for Memorial Day Weekend, per usual. I doubt they will be cancelled, perhaps postponed, but not cancelled.

5. Our end of year recital may be pushed back into June, but that is fine! This will keep students engaged and practicing.

We have several health professionals and first responders among our studio families for whom I know we are all so grateful for their selfless service at this challenging time.Please join me in remembering them in your thoughts and prayers throughout this health event.

My love always,

Mrs. Purchase

A Musicthon Letter from Mrs. Purchase

Dear Students and Parents,

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your enthusiastic participation last evening in our annual BCMTA Musicthon. The students were joyful and all families supportively stayed throughout everyone's first performance, which is very thoughtful and respectful.  As many of you know, Musicthon and the Music Teachers National Association is very important to me. As a young teacher, I was lovingly mentored by talented pedagogues who loved their students as much as I love mine. I went on to become the President of Broward County Music Teachers Association (BCMTA) as well as District 6 and then the President of the FLorida State Music Teachers Association.

 

Musicthon is the only fundraising event that BCMTA holds to support their many programs for students and teachers. In addition, BCMTA gives 20% of donations received to another non-profit charitable entity that we choose to partner with. For several years now, that partner is 4Kids of South Florida. There were once four children that due to circumstances beyond their control, were placed into foster care. Through 4Kids, the two separate sets of siblings were kept together in the foster home and were adopted by their foster family three years ago.They are now my grandchildren! We have seen first hand, the effects of a broken system that is drowning under the weight of the epidemic of drug abuse, family tragedy, domestic violence and neglect. 4Kids is a beacon of hope and help for those who unfortunately find themselves in such a situation. It is very near and dear to my heart, as it brought four precious children into our family. 

As I witnessed your fellowship and performances unfold last night for this event that is so special to me, you all just blessed me more than I can express.

Thank you again for helping our studio give back to our community.

With my love,

Mrs. Purchase

November Announcements

Dear Families,

As we head into the month of November, just a few reminders and announcements:

*

1. No Lessons the week of Thanksgiving, except for Thursday students who will be making up their

November 14 Lesson on Monday, November 25, same time as their Thursday lesson.

*

2. November Tuition is due the FIRST lesson of the month

*

3. Our Christmas Recital is December 16th at 7 PM. The recital information is up online at www.klassicallycool.com, under the Recitals tab. Please read the information carefully. Festive, dressy recital attire is required. 

*

4. Students should be diligently preparing for their December 14 Student Day Written and Aural Theory Exams, which will be held at North Broward Prep. Parents, this means they should be completing the work in their theory packets and listening to the CD's/flash drives for the Aural theory portion. We will not be able to have anymore theory classes before the exam, so I will be having students come early to their lessons to take a practice exam, or staying later to take it, the week before Thanksgiving. If your child is in the Conservatory Track or Competitive track, that is you. If you are registered for the Educational Track, this is not mandatory.

*

5.HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

*

Love,

Mrs. Purchase

Happy Fall!!!

Here are just a few reminders for the month of October:

1. Tuition #2 of 10 is due at the first lesson of the month in October

2. We will be having group Master/Performance Classes in lieu of regularly scheduled lessons the week of October 14-18. I ask that you park at the church parking lot across the street  to the north and walk your child over and do the same as you pick them up. Please drop them and pick them up promptly. We will bet having refreshments, so if there are any dietary restrictions, please let me know before Friday, October 11, so that I can prepare accordingly.

Please take note that the studio calendar on the website lists the classes from 4-5:30. THIS HAS CHANGED. Please see below.

Boys will be meeting on Monday, October 14: 4:30 -6:00 pm

Girls will be meeting Tuesday, October 15: 4:30 - 6:00 pm.

3. Please place October 26 on your calendar for the next Theory class.  Please RSVP!

Primary: 9:30- 10:00 AM

Level 1-2: 10:15 - 10:45 AM

Level 3-4: 11:00 -11:45 AM

Level 5: 12:00- 12:45 PM

Level 7-8: 1:00 - 2:00 PM

April News and Student Day Performance Results

We are so proud to announce that every Klassically Cool Music School student who participated in the FSMTA District 6 Performance Exams received high Honors. Thank you,  students for your preparation and to your parents for their dedication.

We are now gearing up for Guild Auditions the week of May 26-30. We will not have regular lessons this week, due to auditions. If you are not participaing in Guild, we will reschedule your lesson that week. For those participating in Guild, this will take the place of your regular lesson for the week.

May 31 is our Spring Recital. Please click on the Recital Tab on the lower right side of this page for more info.

I am pleased to announce that our studio raised the most money in our BCMTA Annual Musicthon. The cause is very near and dear to my heart and I am so proud of each participating family! We have students in our studio who will be utilizing the summer camp scholarships to attend music and arts related summer camps around the country.

Student Day Written and Aural Theory evaluations took place on March 2nd.  I am very proud of all of our students. All but two received Highest Honors on both Written and Aural Exams. All passed!

I am happy to announce that Jeffrey Drew received the hightest score in Broward County on his Level 12 Written and Aural Theory Exams, scoring 100 and 100. He will be awarded a monetary prize for this achievement. Both Jeffrey Drew and Audrey Coldwell, who also received High Honors, will each receive $100 for completing Level 12 Theory and Performance Exams. Our students took exams from Primary through Level 12. The only Level our studio didn't take an exam in was Level 11! WAY TO GO!

Michael Drew has been selected, through audtition, to perform in the Chopin Foundation's Young Artists performance which will be held at Broward County Main Library Auditorium in April.  Congratulations, Michael!

We are so proud of Nicole Mayo, Cailinh Bui, Emma Segota, and Michael Drew for representing our studio in their respective school's talent shows. Well Done!!!

Student Day Performance Evaluations are April 13-14, 2019 at North Broward Preparatory in Coconut Creek, Fl

I want to inform you of a few things related to these evaluations that you can share with your child:

1. Please dress nicely, as though it were a recital - this demonstrates respect for the event and for the adjudicator.

2. Please bring your exam with you, along with your original music, measures numbered.

3. Sight-reading is also a component of the exam but does not count against your score. It is an opportunity to gain an extra point.

4. Always choose to play your keyboard skills, ie. scales, arpeggios, etc. before your pieces. This will help to warm you up and will give you a feel for the instrument.

5. Please remember to thank the adjudicator for their time when you are finished. You may leave the school as soon as your evaluation is over.

6. Primary Level Students (Zachery Baker, Sam Harms and Rowan Purchase should go to the Student Day office to take the Primary Level Written exam as soon as they have completed their Performance evaluations.

Additional Dates to remember:

*Guild Auditions will take place on March 29 and 30th. Please put these dates on your calendar and plan for morning and afternoon times.

*Studio Recital date: March 31, 2019 at New Presbyterian Church in Wilton Manors, more info to follow...