I hope you are all well rested and ready for a fresh start. Housekeeping notes:
lessons will likely be in the big room in Jean’s basement while she repairs the flooring in the other room. Just walk straight instead of left, when you reach the basement.
I was sick over the last week and a half. I am fine now but I will try to do a little less talking this week since it triggers coughing.
Scales/Arpeggios Contest - see my website for results! Congratulations to all who participated. There were lots of impressive numbers from many of you. Let’s hope that adding a few scales and arpeggios to your daily routine will now be easier.
OSA will be holding a Listening Challenge for the month of February. Open to all OSA members. There will be two categories: Junior (through age 11) and Senior (age 12+). Six prizes! Watch for details in the Major and Minor Notes, soon.
Recitals - The winter Junior and Senior Recitals will take place on February, 26th, 2023.
Junior - 1:00 p.m. Senior - 3:00 p.m. EJ, the piano accompanist, is out of the country right now and will return on February 15th.
Festivals
Registrations for music festivals are coming up. Never performed at a festival? It is a great motivation to polish a piece and have a performance practice opportunity. None of us gets enough performance practice. It does not have to be competitive. Most festivals offer non-competitive categories, as well. If you are interested, please discuss with me during your lesson.
Peel Music Festival - March 20-April 22, 2023
Registration Deadline - Feb.18, 2023 (Online : March 10, 2023)
Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival - April 3-29, 2023
Registration Deadline - Jan. 20, 2023
Hamilton Music Festival - April 17-29
Registration Deadline - Feb. 15, 2023
Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Music Festival - April 17-28, 2024
Registration Deadline - Jan. 22, 2023
Guelph Kiwanis Music Festival - April 3-29, 2023
Registration Deadline - Feb. 17, 2023
Brant Music Festival - in May
Dates coming soon
International Music Festival (in Markham) - May 1-12, 2023
Registration Deadline - March 5, 2023
* in person OR via video recorded performance
Productive Lessons
To get the most out of your lessons, two main things stand out:
1. Come prepared - Lesson productivity is greatly diminished when a student has not practiced at least five or six days of the previous week. Well-known piano teacher and teacher trainer, Jeanne Leudke, even has an understanding in her studio. If a student hasn’t touched their instrument that week, they do not come to their lesson. They do the assignments given at the previous lesson for the next week. The point is, if a student hasn’t mastered Steps 1 and 2, they should not yet move on to Steps 3 and 4. Lessons are meant for learning, not practicing. Daily home practice is the #1 key to success. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that can make us good players, without it.
2. Pay attention during lessons. This applies just as much to parents as it does to students. If your child is elementary age, put the smart phone away during the lesson. Your understanding and lesson notes will be more clear and you will be more effective helping your child at home. Your child will also love that you are interested in what they are learning. For students, much time is lost when they are distracted during a lesson. Watching and listening when the teacher demonstrates, should be automatic. When a teacher must repeatedly ask the student to pay attention throughout a lesson, so much of the learning is lost. It will take two or three lessons to cover the same amount of material as it would have in one.
We all have bad weeks from time to time and that is okay. Aim for tiny improvements in these two areas if they are a frequent issue. It is the perfect time to set new year’s resolutions!
Special Musician :
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (pronounced MoTzart), born January 27, 1756
Violin Concert No. 5, 3rd movt. “Turkish”
I look forward to seeing you all this week!
Bethany
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