Recital Time

Our Winter Recital will be here before we know it!  I hope all of my students are preparing for the recital by practicing their recital piece(s) each day.  The recital will be December 15 at 1:00pm at Dow Rummel Village in the chapel.  They have a beautiful, well maintained, Steinway grand piano.  I feel that this is one of the best pianos in Sioux Falls!   Dow Rummel is located in the northern part of Sioux Falls near Russell and West.

Whether your child has played in several piano recitals or if this will be their first piano recital please take a moment to review the following:

1.  Please arrive 15-20 minutes early.  If you are not sure where Dow Rummel is located please ask, and also leave early on Saturday so that you will not be rushed.

2.  Please bring your music!  While many students will have their music memorized, some students may be playing duets or feel more comfortable with the music on the stand.  I ask that everyone bring their music to the recital.

3.  As a matter of respect, please plan on attending the entire recital.  The recital should last 45 minutes to an hour.  All students have worked diligently this semester and this is their time to shine. Students may sit with their families during the recital.  If you have a younger child who starts crying or likes to run around please take them to the hallway outside of the chapel.  Also, remember to silence your cell phones.

4.  When it is your child's turn to play at the recital they will make their way towards the piano as the previous student has taken a bow and is leaving the piano.  Each student should adjust the piano bench so that they are not too close or too far away from the piano.  After they sit down they should take a moment to think about tempo and dynamics and the first few measures of their piece.  After their performance they will take a bow and return to their seat.  We will go through this sequence and bowing at an upcoming piano lesson.

5.  After the recital there will be an opportunity to take pictures by the piano and we will have cookies and punch in the foyer.  If you would like to bring cookies for the recital please email me at christinaspianoprogram@gmail.com and let me know how many (dozen) you would like to bring.

6.  Along with the families and friends of my piano students, the residents of Dow Rummel are also invited to attend our recital.  

If you have any questions please feel free to email, text, or call me! 

Dynamic Duo

Congratulations to Hailey Wallgren and Karl Henry!  Hailey and Karl traveled to Spearfish, South Dakota to compete in the South Dakota Music Teacher Association Senior Piano Duet Competition and placed 1st in their category!  Their program included Sonata in F Major by JC Bach, a Waltz and Polka by Dmitri Shostakovich, and Le Pas Espagnol from the Dolly Suite by Gabriel Faure.  Both students practiced diligently on their repertoire the past few months.  Hailey chose the Primo part and shone through with lyrical melodies and her amazing skill with trills!  Karl added dynamic vibrancy and momentum to the secondo part.  Karl and Hailey are looking forward to studying and performing more duets in the upcoming year.

October Update

Greetings Piano Families!

Please take a quick a moment to read this blogpost so you will be up to date on the events for Christina’s Piano Program.

October 31^st is Halloween!  This year Halloween is on a Wednesday evening.  You are more than welcome to attend your lesson at the regular time, but if your child would prefer to go trick or treating, I understand.  Please let me know what you decide as soon as possible and I will try to find a make-up lesson time that will work best for your family.  

November 2^nd and 3^rd is the South Dakota Music Teachers Association Conference and Student Competitions in Spearfish, SD.  I will attend professional development workshops, recitals, and competitions at the conference.  This year we are sending two high school students to compete in the duet competition!  If your lesson is normally on Saturday, you will find that I have subtracted a lesson from your bill so that I may attend the conference.  There will be no lessons on Saturday November 3^rd.

December 15^th is our Fall Semester Piano recital in the Chapel at Dow Rummel.  The recital was originally planned for 3:30, but I was asked to change the time because the chapel was double booked for a wedding.  The new recital time is 1:00pm on Saturday December 15^th.  

Christmas Music: Some of you may have noticed that I have begun assigning Christmas Music.  Is it too early for Christmas Music?  In my opinion, it is not.  There are approximately 7 lessons left in the Fall Semester and when I count the number of Christmas pieces in a book, there are approximately 7 or 8.  This will allow us to learn almost all the pieces in a Christmas book just in time for a mini Christmas recital for friends and family!

Piano Festival: The upcoming Piano Festival through the local Music Teachers’ Association will be held on a Saturday in mid-March.  Students who have taken at least a full year of piano are encouraged to participate.  Students memorize two pieces of contrasting time period and style to play for a judge and they receive a rating and critique.  The non-refundable registration fee is $15.  Students who have participated in the festival 3, 5, 7, and 9 years will receive a trophy.  When a student has participated in the piano festival for 10 years, they will receive a special engraved plaque.  Please consider participating in the piano festival and let me know before the end of the semester so that I may include the fee in the Spring Tuition.

Welcome Back Students!

Wow!  Can you believe summer is almost over?  Most students are already back in school this week, but for me summer is not over until Labor Day.  Our Fall Semester begins the Tuesday after Labor Day and I am looking forward returning to my full piano teaching schedule.  Returning students should have received a letter last week which included their fall lesson times.  For the most part, I prefer to keep the schedule the same, but if you need a different day or time please let me know as soon as possible.

The Fall semester presents several performance opportunities.  Sunday October 21st the Sioux Falls Area Music Teachers will present a duet recital featuring students from around the area.  Duets are a great way for students to work on keeping a steady tempo, collaborate with another student, and challenge each others musical interpretation.  I will be attending the South Dakota Music Teachers Association the first weekend of November in Spearfish, SD.  Several concerts are held at the conference as well as professional development workshops for teachers.  On Saturday, pianists and vocalists from around the state will be performing for the state competitions which are open to students age 10 and up.  Pianists can perform a solo competition program or team up for the duet competition.  If your child is interested in this opportunity please let me know soon, the registration forms are due in mid-September.  Finally, our Fall Recital will be held Saturday December 15, 3:30 pm at Dow Rummel.

I currently have a limited number of times available for new students.  I prefer to teach students who have started first grade or older.  I have lesson times open on Saturday mornings between 11am and 1:30pm.  If you would like to set up an interview, please email me at christinaspianoprogram@gmail.com

When returning for Fall lessons, please remember to bring the books used for Summer lessons as well as the books that were used in the Spring semester.  Enjoy the rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing you all after Labor Day!

Dakota Sky is here!

The 6th Annual Dakota Sky Piano Festival begins July 21st at the Washington Pavillion in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  The Dakota Sky Piano Festival features solo piano concerts, chamber music, children's concerts, and public lectures.  The children's concerts place emphasis on introducing and teaching basic and integral concepts in music. Visual cues, physical activity and question/answer sessions, along with a chance to meet and speak with the guest artists provide a hands-on, rich, and fun learning environment.  The children's concerts are designed for children in grades K-5.  The public seminars are presented by guest artists, staff, and other educators affiliated with the Festival. These seminars are tailored towards the general public, and are not exclusively for students of music.  The public seminars and children's concerts are FREE and open to the public.  You can find more information about the children's concerts here and the seminar series here.  The stars are playing at night when performers Angelina Gadeliya, Gregory DeTurck, Petronel Malan, Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung, and Adam Golka take the stage.  I have attended these concerts previous years and they are AMAZING!!  You can purchase tickets for these concerts at the Washington Pavilion Box Office, I hope to see you there!  You can print a complete calendar of all the Dakota Sky Piano Festival Events from this link. 

If you have a facebook account, take a moment to drop by and "like"  Christina's Piano Program 

Summer Lessons

It appears that the road construction has migrated away from Donegal Centre on 57th street, but I have noticed some construction along Louise and I-229.  For me, it has become a habit to take the exit at Western and travel down 57th, bypassing the terrible traffic near I-229 and Louise.

Summer Lessons are now underway and some students have taken a few lessons while others have yet to start.  Summer is a time where the curriculum is open.  Often times I ask students and families what they would like to study.  Some students opt to continue along the current curriculum, while others like to learn popular songs.  The South Dakota Music Teacher's Association will be holding its conference in Spearfish this Fall along with competitions open to ages 10 and up; summer is a great time to begin those competition pieces.  I have also had a few students request more music theory and sight reading.  The student of the month award goes to the student who not only requested more music theory, but also texted a music theory question to me on a Friday evening of a holiday weekend!  Whoa!  That is dedication! 

The question...
What is the difference between a chromatic half step and a diatonic half step? 

Answer:
A chromatic half step is a half step that does not change its key name - C to C#, B to Bb, E to E#. 
A diatonic half step is a half step that does change its key name - C to Db, B to A#, or E to F.   

If you have a preference concerning summer lesson curriculum, please let me know soon so that I may plan lessons accordingly.  Have a great summer!

Our Recital is this Saturday!!!

Recital Information

1. The Recital will be Saturday May 12 at 3:30 at in the Chapel at Dow Rummel.
2.  Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. Please be respectful to all families and performers and plan on staying for the entire recital. Students may sit with their families. Please make sure the students sit near an aisle so that they may be able to get to the piano quickly.
3. If you would like to bring cookies, please email me how many you would like to bring.

For the students: 

Try to run through your recital piece(s) everyday this week.

1. BRING YOUR MUSIC. Even though you may have had your piece memorized for weeks, a fluke in your memory may occur and you may need your music. When you are performing from memory, set the music (closed) on the side of the piano. You do not need to have your music open on the music stand if it is memorized.
2. Before performing, adjust the piano bench so that it is in the best place for you (not too close and not too far away). If your piece uses the pedal, you will want to find the pedal before you begin.
3.  Before you play take a moment to calm your nerves and think about your first few measures. If you are playing a duet check to make sure the other performer is ready to begin.
4.  Do your best!
5. End your piece gracefully. Do not stand up when you are still holding notes. Do not take your hands off the keys until the sound is done (especially when using pedal).
6. When you are finished, SMILE and acknowledge your audience’s applause with a bow. Then return to your seat.

Duet Time

A lot of the students will be playing duets for the upcoming recital.  Mr. K & Miss H this one is for you!  The best way to find the rest of these on you tube is to search for Faure Dolly Suite Piano Duet.  These twins are phenomenal!

Here is another one for Mr. K & Miss M.  I love this animation!  To watch more of these (5 total), you can find them by searching on You Tube for: Ravel Mother Goose Suite Scott Brothers Duo. 

About Me and My New Office

Christina’s Piano Program is now conveniently located near 57th and Louise. Donegal Centre is a couple blocks west of Louise on the south side 57th. Enjoy access to great shopping and dining locations while your child is at piano lessons and you are always welcome to attend your child's lesson.

I began piano lessons at the young age of 5 and continued through college. In 1997 I earned a Bachelors Degree in Music with an emphasis in Piano Performance from Emporia State University and in 2000 I earned a Masters Degree in Music with emphasis on Piano Pedagogy from Wichita State University. I have taught piano lessons to students of various ages and levels for the past 15 years. My membership at the local, state and national levels in the Music Teacher National Association enables my students to perform and compete throughout the state, while enriching my professional development. I offer at least 2 recitals per academic school year and my students have the oppurtunity to participate in local MTNA events as well.