I just added a new recording under the student performances heading. Hopefully as we get ready for the recital on Nov. 12 there will be more great performances to share. I will not be using student’s names to identify the performers, just the titles of the pieces. So if you are looking for a specific recording, as the performer what their piece was.
Category: Voice Lesson Charlotte NC
Practice Pays
In October, Brunner Studios ran a practice contest. Students with perfect practice would get a gift bag. As it turns out I had 2 students with all gold practice star for the month and 5 that tied for a 3rd place prize. Since I only had 3 gift bags, I added up the total minutes of the students that were tied for 3rd place and awarded the gift bag to the student who had the most minutes.
In addition to Frank here, there was a ghost and a pumpkin. The gift bags included pencils, note pads, stickers, notebooks and Halloween socks.
Congrats students on the consistent practice!
The Gift of Music
This fall and winter Brunner Studios will be offering gift certificates for piano, voice and oboe lessons. The gift of music is a wonderful holiday gift for the aspiring musician of any age. Availability for new and existing students.
Gift certificates will be available in monthly increments and must be presented at the first lesson.
Contact Brunner Studios for more information and to purchase certificates for the holiday season.
BOO to You
Between the Gershwin and Schubert things have been hopping around here. This week Max, my mom’s dog is visiting. So I’ll just pop in for a minute.
This is the last full week of October. In the studio this month we have been having a practice contest. I made up some goodie bags that look like this:
Well, the other 2 are a ghost and a pumpkin. So the 3 students with the best practice records for the month of October will receive a prize. Currently 2 students have perfect practice with 4 students tied for 3rd place based on the sticker chart. If there is a tie on the chart, I will add of the actual minutes the students practiced so that the prize is fairly rewarded.
Looking for Space
You would be amazed at how difficult it is to find a space to have a recital. The good news is that I might have found a location for the winter and spring recitals. So stay tuned for an upcoming announcement.
It is so important for students to have a chance to perform on a regular basis. If your church, community center or social club would be interested in hosting a recital or background music for an event please contact me.
Should I Have to Commit to a Specific Amount of Lessons?
As students are headed back to school, parents begin looking for music teachers for their children. There are so many choices. Do you take at a school of music or from an independent teacher? How much should you pay for lessons? What do different teachers offer that sets them apart? Most people do not think about what kind of time commitment that a teacher or school of music is looking for.
Most schools of music run on a semester or annual basis. These settings usually want a commitment of at least one term. Is this beneficial to the student? My answer would be yes and no. The idea of being committed to a certain amount of weeks resulting in dedication does have value. We always want students to be dedicated but if a student really hates their instrument or circumstances have changed and student can’t practice, it really doesn’t do any good for the situation. It can help a student who is going through a slump in interest to hang in there until things swing back to the norm. However, it usually just results in a frustrated teacher who can’t discontinue lessons due to the school’s policy and a student with a poor attitude who is being forced through fiscal means to continue. Does that sound like fun to anyone?
On the far side of the spectrum are teachers who have no studio policy and allow students to come and go at will with no notice. Music stores that provide lessons can also fall into this category. From a parental perspective this might look like a great choice. You can take the month of December off with no repercussions. Well, you might not have a time slot when you come back but if that is a risk you are willing to take, then this set up might work for you. I’ve found that this set up lends it self to students riding off into the sunset never to be heard from again. The teacher then has to wait until the student either lets them know they aren’t returning or wait a month to be sure. No so great for a musician trying to pay their bills.
Is there a happy medium? Most independent teachers run on a month to month basis for lessons. If you decide to discontinue lessons, you are asked to give 1 month’s notice or you must pay for the following month. This gives the teacher time to find a new student or rearrange the schedule or it gives the student time to reconsider if quitting is really what they want to do. There is commitment and flexibility in this arrangement. If I was a parents looking for lessons, this is the option that I would choose.
MTNA Music Achievement Award Program
Brunner Studios will be participating in the NMTA Music Achievement Award Program for the 2011-2012 music year.
The follows goals can be selected to be set by the students for the year. Select all or a few for a customized achievement program. This is a great opportunity for those students who do not wish to participate in the traditional festival circuit in the spring.
1. Set a required practice amount per day/days per week and follow. (Time to be
approved by the teacher.)
2. Complete one lesson/methods book or comparable segment of vocal literature.
3. Complete one theory or ear training book.
4. Complete one technical exercise book (or specific assignment as set by the teacher).
5. Complete a scale or vocalise assignment as outlined by the teacher.
6. Complete a sight-reading assignment as outlined by the teacher.
7. Memorize one to four pieces (or more)—to be determined by the teacher.
8. Learn one piece from several different style periods or learn several contrasting style
pieces.
9. Learn a complete sonatina/sonata (or suite or set of songs, and so forth).
10. Learn a duet with another student (or teacher). Or play/sing a piece with an ensemble.
11. If keyboard, accompany a voice/instrumental student on one piece. If voice/instrumental,
sing/play a piece with a student accompanist.
12. Perform as a soloist on a recital.
13. Perform for a religious event, nursing home, senior citizen center or civic event.
14. Participate in an event sponsored by MTNA on the local, state or national level.
15. Participate in school choir/band/orchestra or church choir/orchestra for one school term.
16. Write a report on a composer. (Composer to be approved in advance by the teacher.)
17. Read a book on some aspect of music. (Book to be approved in advance by the
teacher.)
18. Compose a piece.
19. Learn to play/sing a pop, blues, jazz, etc. piece of the student’s choice.
20. Purchase a CD, approved by teacher, and listen to it at least once a week for _______
weeks.
24. Arrange a piece to include other instruments with piano.
25. Attend a concert/recital/musical.
26. Watch a musical concert on public television.
27. Watch a video about a musical or composer.
For more information contact Brunner Studios in Charlotte, NC.
Festivals and Evaluations for the 2011-2012 Academic Year
Charlotte, NC is a great place to run a music studio. There are so many different opportunities for students of all ages. Here are a few of the festivals and programs that students of all ages will be able to participate in during the coming year.
National Federation of Music Clubs- www.nfmc-music.org
North Carolina Music Teacher’s Association- www.ncmta.org
American College of Musicians- www.pianoguild.com
Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory- The Achievement Program- www.theachivementprogram.org
Charlotte Music Club Auditions
MTNA Music Achievement Award Program-
How To Find a Piano Teacher
If you live in a small town then finding a piano teacher is probably pretty easy. What if you live in a big city or just moved to a new area and need to find a new piano teacher?
Let’s take Charlotte, NC for an example city for finding a piano teacher for your child who wants to take lessons. Obviously the first thing would be to ask around. Do the neighbors recommend anyone or is there music business in your immediate area? If the answers to these questions are yes then you probably want to check out the reputations of those in question. If the answer is no then follow the next steps.
www.google.com Google is your friend. Type in piano lessons charlotte, nc or piano teachers charlotte, nc. This is a great place to get started. The first page is usually going to be larger studios or music businesses. Take a look at the map on the right to see what is in your area. However, keep in mind that many of the local independent teachers cannot afford to maintain space on the first page of searches. Keep looking on to the next pages for those independent teacher websites.
Another good way to find a piano teacher is to look at websites that piano teachers advertise on. Some reputable websites for Charlotte, NC are:
www.pianoteachersdirectory.com
Search these websites for teachers in your area. Cross check them to see the different teacher ratings on each site.
Make a list of the teachers that are interesting to you. We will talk on Monday about interviewing piano teachers to find the right teacher for you.
Does Your Piano Teacher Vacation?
Since summer is here. Let’s talk about the subject of vacations. As a piano teacher, my schedule has some flexibility.
My husband and I like to travel in the fall when it is cooler and crowds are lower. Also, from about mid-January to the beginning of May, most of my weekends are filled with piano related activities that relate to my students. Did I mention that all of those weekends are unpaid? Yes, that’s right folk. Your piano teacher has to volunteer time so that your student can participate in festivals. Now most of the piano teachers don’t mind working those weekends. If you add in additional weekends for recitals and then for studio class, that is a lot of time outside of lessons that your teacher is dedicating to their students.
So if you teacher lets you know well in advance and offers ample make up lessons or payment options for time that they will be away, please try to be understanding. Most families are very understanding about vacation time away from the studio. If your teacher has excessive absences on short notice, then that is a bird of a different feather.
Oh yeah, did I mention that Walt Disney World is offering free dining again in September?
