The spring recital is finally scheduled! It will be May 19 at 3:30. Miller Piano on Independence Blvd is the location.
More details to follow.
Category: Charlotte Piano Students
Spring Break
It is spring break here in Charlotte, NC for the CMS school district. Yes, we are having lessons this week.
In fact, this week would be a great time to schedule a trial lesson for piano, voice, or oboe. As a teacher, I find it very important to meet and evaluate potential students. It isn’t an audition but a chance for me to see what methods might work best for the student and what a student might already know.
As always, trial lessons are free at Brunner Studios.
Give Brunner Studios a call to see about scheduling your trial lesson. Even if you don’t want to begin lessons until school lets out for the summer, now is a great time to meet. Students of all ages are welcome.
Contact information is: 704-787-4644 or heather@brunnerstudios.com
The Little Engine That Could
You know what is great? When you get a student who just works at a steady pace. The child isn’t doing anything spectacular or anything out of the ordinary, but is just doing the work. The next thing you know, the student has zipped through 3 levels of books in less than a year.
Keeping working!
Summer Piano, Oboe and Voice Lessons
It’s not summer yet! However, I am starting to get questions about how summer lessons will work and if Brunner Studios offers summer lessons. The answer is yes, Brunner Studios will be offering lessons this summer.
Here’s how it works. I will pick 2 or 3 days to begin with to offer lessons. Those days will need to be semi-full before I expand the schedule. Lessons can be scheduled starting at 10:00 in the morning. In fact, I highly encourage students to take an early lesson if possible.
How many lessons do I need to take or what if I go out of town? If the student is in town, I expect them to be at lessons. If you are out of town, there isn’t much that can be done about that. Tuition will be figured on a monthly basis and will be due at the first lesson of the month. No refunds will be given for scheduled lessons that are missed.
If you need to change a lesson to a different day, during the same week, on which lessons are offered, then if there is time this accommodation will be made. If a student misses a lesson without contacting me first, the lesson will not be made up at all.
Summer scheduling will begin May 1 and summer lessons will begin June 11. Students who take at least 8 lessons will be given first choice of fall lesson times. After that scheduling will be open to all students on an even basis.
Summer is a great time to try out lessons before committing to a regular schedule in the fall. Establish good practice habits and be ready to continue them when school starts back in the fall.
A Funny Student Story
A few years ago, I had this cute little boy as a student. He was about 4 years old and totally not interested in playing the piano. Every week he would come into his lesson and sigh. Then he would look at me and say “I miss my Daddy.” Of course I would ask where his dad was and the little boy would say “Working.” So for months, I just assumed that the dad worked up town and that he and the little boy were just really close.
In the spring, the little boy bounced into the studio one day. “My daddy is coming home, My daddy is coming home.” A few weeks later he came back in to his lesson and said “My daddy had to go back to work.” I finally decided to ask where his dad worked. The student replied “Utah.” Really? OK that’s a little odd, but sure. I figured the kid was pulling my leg.
A few more weeks go by and the little boy comes to another lesson and says “My mommy and daddy are both in Utah. It’s important at work.” My curiosity got the better of me and I asked the student “Well, what does your daddy do for work?” His answer-
“My daddy plays basketball.”
Yep, the student’s dad played for the Utah Jazz. He was so excited when the season was over and his dad could bring him to lessons. He didn’t like piano any better, but it was just better all around because “My daddy’s bringing me to my lessons now. He doesn’t have to work until later.”
Wednesday Is Now a Wait List Day
If you have been looking for lessons at Brunner Studios, there is good and bad news. The good news is that Tuesdays are now open for lessons. The bad new is that Wednesdays are now a wait list day. Wednesday is officially full. If you are looking for a Wednesday time slot as a new student or to change your regularly scheduled time, please contact me.
It is so exciting to see the studio growing and adding students of all ages!
NCMTA Festival Charlotte
Congrats to all the students who participated yesterday in the NCMTA Festival for the Charlotte area.
A big thank you to all the teachers who ‘volunteered’ and helped the day run smoothly. Is it really volunteering if participation is mandatory?
See everyone again next year.
NFMC Success
Congratulations to the Brunner Studios students who participated in the NFMC Festival at Queens University on February 25, 2012.
A special round of applause for the following students who received the highest ranking of Superior:
Savannah Horne
Abbey Koenig
Bradey Shirley
Rohan Muthukumar
Max Granger
Support a Music Festival and Volunteer
This year I am chairing 2 different piano festivals. Honestly, the amount of work doesn’t bother me. The hours of paperwork, a whole lot of email, phone calls, it really isn’t that big of a deal. The hardest part is getting volunteers.
Now for both of these festivals it is mandatory, according to the festival rules, that participating teachers volunteer on the day of the festival. The option is given to send a student or parent representative from your studio. Some teachers are really great about being ready to volunteer and even sending students. Many kids can get community service credit. Other teachers really drag their feet. There are very few legitimate excuses for not helping in some fashion, but you know from the paperwork that you submitted that volunteering is required. So if you just had surgery or have been sick, please find someone to take your place. If you are out of town, find someone to take your place.
Teachers who are only entering 1 or 2 students do have a little bit of a harder time, but it is right there on the paperwork. Those one or two students still have to be checked in just like those students from the teacher who entered 25.
It takes team work to make these festivals work. Students don’t need to be harried because there aren’t enough grownups to keep things running smoothly.
So call up your local music festival and see if they need some help. I promise that they will probably be happy to see you.
Following Up on Adele
Earlier this week, I posted about Adele and her vocal issues. Last night I watch the clip of her 2012 performance at the Brit Awards. All things considered, she sounds 100% improved. There seems to be some technical improvement as far as how she is approaching the higher notes. More of a head voice instead of a a belting approach goes a long way to alleviating strain. There also was a restraint to the overall performance. It could be that she is just taking it easier and letting the mic do more of the work or she could be really working on learning better technique. Which ever it is I completely applaud her efforts.