Things are so busy here now that there is rarely a time to blog. However, I just want to take a moment to congradulate the growing contingent of adult musicians. These students are dedicated. They work, take care of their family, and practice faithfully. It’s never too late to learn that instrument you’ve always wanted to play.
Mark the Date
Fall lessons will begin on Sept. 9, 2014. There are still a few time slot available for students of all ages. Contact Brunner Studios soon to reserve your time.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Perfect Octave. I keep telling my students to pick songs they know to help recognize intervals.
A Different Kind of Music
Music comes in all different forms. How about a babbling brook?
Fall Music Lessons
Brunner Studios is beginning to receive calls about fall lessons. We will start scheduling new students Aug. 15 and lessons will begin September 9. If you would like to get your name on the list for lessons please see the contact page.
Middle School Mania
Congratulations on finishing elementary school! Middle school is awful. There is a ton of homework and expectations are extremely high. You are never going to have any free time and everyone is mean.
Let me just say I am SICK of hear this. I am TIRED of adults being emotional bullies. There is nothing wrong with preparing students that life is going to change. Yes, middle school has it challenges. However, given how much elementary school has changed since the current teachers were in school; it’s probably not the big step it used to be. The kids are dealing with high stakes testing in 3rd grade! Really do you think that changing classes is going to rock their world? I seriously doubt it. The kids have been told you will fail if you can’t read War and Peace by Christmas of 5th grade. Seriously people times have changed. It’s time to change how we introduce the transition to middle school.
Students should not be so terrified of middle school that they feel the need to drop extracurricular activities that they enjoy. You want a child to stop music lessons because you scared them to death with tales of middle school woe? Young musicians begin dropping out of lessons in May, June, and July, because school might be more difficult. They don’t wait to see if it really will be. Parents, I encourage you to make your child stick with lessons until at least Christmas break. A music teacher who is understanding will flex some in the requirements if necessary. We want students to continue learning music.
The same principal applies to high school only the transition doesn’t seem to be quite to extreme. Please do you students a favor and lay off the scare tactics.
Piano Outreach
Brunner Studios is looking to expand into new outlying areas. There are many towns within a 30 minute drive that get overlooked by the major search engines. If you live in Locust, Midland, Matthews, Pineville, Concord, Harrisburg, or any small town close by consider Brunner Studios for your music lesson needs. A highly qualified piano teacher can be hard to find in a small town.
If a church or community center would be interested in hosting an afternoon of lessons per week, feel free to contact us. Travel time for working adults is valuable and if the community could come together to offer high quality musical education if would benefit everyone.
Piano Recital Plans
We are trying something new for the summer recital. Students will be playing 4-5 pieces that they have learned throughout the year. I thought it would be interesting for the audience to see how the students have progressed this year in terms of level of difficulty. It is also taking pressure off the students during the last few weeks of school and the start of summer vacation. I can’t wait to see how the audience responds.
Summer Piano Lesson Ideas
Now that summer piano lessons have begun, what kind of ideas can we use to mix up the routine.
1. Pick a theme- learn patriotic music, learn Disney music, pick a theme and have everyone learn a piece of their choosing.
2. Try some new techniques- use a different ear-training book, pick songs that are catchy to work on intervals
3. Have a measure contest. Who can learn the most measures in a week.
4. Have the student’s pretend to be the teacher an coach their teacher on a piece.
5. Ignore the practice chart. Test the students and see if they can accomplish their goals without having to practice a certain amount of minutes. Are they learning to self-regulate practice time.
Summer Recital
We finally have a recital date. June 27 at 6:30 pm at Miller Piano on Independence Blvd. Students will be performing up to 5 pieces that they have learned throughout the school year.