Who’s excited for Christmas? Some of our classes have already began to play Christmas music.
I just wanted to post a quick note to let everyone know the format for December into January.
December 8-12:Â Treasure Box is open! Time to redeem those beans!
Dec. 15-19: Christmas Singalong and decorating cookies. ***Email me if you have any allergies! I make everything on site.***
The holidays will be from December 20th-January 4th, inclusive.
I hope Santa is good to you and everyone has a wonderful time with family over the holidays! And maybe you can even get some non-rushed, piano practice time in with the kids đŸ˜‰
The back of my head and some cute MYC kids participating.
Sunshine 1- 9am
Sunbeams 1 – 10:30am
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to show time and come sit together as a group.
Expect to be at the church for an hour. You may also stay for other performances throughout the day.
Cost: This is considered a class. There is no additional cost to you. Audience members may choose to make a donation to the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects. This event is ran exclusively by volunteers.
We will prepare for this in class whether you attend or not.Â
Why: For younger students in particular, there are not many venues to perform in. The Rhythm Festival is perfect, because it provides child friendly adjudication and interaction with peers who also take music lessons. Students will get to practice in class for the performance, so they usually don’t get nervous. Music is meant to be shared, so when I find a positive place for that first performance to happen, I am promising you that you’ll be pleased with the day!
This year, adjudicator Leo Brooks of Treefrog Percussion returns to give insight into playing various percussion instruments, and how to enhance your performance. His positive comments and zest for performance was loved by the audience last year.
Please contact me if you have any further questions about the event.
This week I have invited private students, along with Sunbeams 2 and 3 students, to attend a workshop entitled Calming the Practice Monster. And although it sounds silly, the practice monster is real. He is the anxiety you face when you have a new song to work on. He is the nerves you encounter before a performance, or an exam. He’s the resentment toward me, or your mom or dad. He’s getting in the way of one more game on the Wii, or just a little longer (please mom?!) of talking/texting to your friends.
He’s ugly. And we need to address his presence.
Paul Coates has many ideas on how to vanquish the monster. How can we create the fun in music lessons? Isn’t that why we all began playing in the first place? Can we honour an agreement with ourselves? Can we stick to a plan to avoid disappointment on lesson day?
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much I say or ask something of my students. I’ve forgiven you all before (holidays = a break from practicing, that’s pretty familiar!). It’s nice to see another teacher’s perspective. And other students. If you attend this workshop, you’ll be among peers who really understand the struggles and joy of learning music. And I promise you’ll leave inspired.
If each class of Sunbeams 2 and 3 can attend, I will consider it a lesson and refund you for the cost of the workshop (1 parent & 1 child = $30 to attend). Please register here for the Kanata workshop on February 24, 2012. 2-5pm.
Tempo Drive Music Studio 