Winter Recital Saturday December 14, 3:30pm

The Winter Recital is fast approaching!  I hope all of my students are preparing for the recital by practicing their recital piece(s) each day.  The recital is this Saturday Dember 14 at 3:30pm at Dow Rummel Village in the chapel.  The chapel at Dow Rummel has 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. 

November Updates:

There will be no lessons Friday November  8 and Saturday November 9.  I am attending the South Dakota Music Teachers Association state conference in Brookings.  On Friday I will attend professional development workshops and Saturday I will be assisting with competitions.  

There will be no lessons for Thanksgiving Break November 26 – 30. 

Our end of the year recital will be Saturday December 14 in the Chapel at Dow Rummel.  Look for more details soon!

Our spring semester begins January 6 and spring events include the Sioux Falls Area Music Teacher Association (SFAMTA) All-Boy Recital in February.  The SFAMTA piano festival in mid-March, and the Grant Piano Competition for cash prizes in mid-March as well.  Let me know if your child is interested in participating in any of these events.

I am also considering hosting a piano game day or piano party over the February break.  I would like to get small groups of students together who are of the same level and about the same age for an hour to two hours of piano and music games.  Please let me know if your child(ren) would be interested.

Spring Recital Time!

Our Spring 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 recitals will be May 11 and May 18 at 3:30pm at Dow Rummel Village in the chapel.  If you are unsure, please check with me as to the date of your child's recital.  The chapel at Dow Rummel has 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 30 to 45 minutes.  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! 

Thursday April 11

We normally follow the policy of the Sioux Falls School District, but if your lesson is normally on Thursdays I would be happy to teach lessons tonight (as long as the weather holds and we have power). Please email me at christinaspianoprogram@gmail.com concerning your decision.  If you decide not to attend piano tonight, the lesson will be made up at a later date or credited to your summer or fall tuition.

No Lessons Wednesday April 10 due to weather

Because there is no school today in Sioux Falls (Wednesday April 10, 2013), piano lessons are cancelled this evening. Stay warm and stay safe out there!

Sping and Summer!

Greetings!

I hope this newsletter finds you well and looking forward to Spring.  Our Easter Break will soon be here and we have a scheduled break Tuesday March 26 through April 1.  If your child has recently missed a lesson, or you anticipate missing a lesson in the remaining weeks of the semester, this would be a great time to make up a lesson.  Please contact me if your child needs to make up a lesson that week.  

We will have 2 recitals this semester on May 11 and May 18 in the Chapel at Dow Rummel at 3:30 PM.  If your family has a scheduling conflict with one of these dates, please let me know soon so that I may schedule the recitals accordingly.  Students will be performing solo pieces, and may also play a duet.

Summer is a great time to review music theory, technique, learn fun popular pieces, or continue with regular piano repertoire.  Summer lessons will run May 20 through August 29.  Families may choose their summer schedule for piano lessons.  In the past, some students have continued to take lessons every week, while others choose to study every other week.  I recommend that students take a minimum of 6 lessons through the summer so that they may retain and improve upon what they have learned throughout the school year.  It is especially important for beginning students to continue to study piano lessons in the summer.  For scheduling, I have reserved each student’s regular lesson time throughout the summer.  Please let me know which lesson dates will work best for your family.  Each student’s regular lesson time will remain reserved for summer lessons until May 1^st.  If you would like lessons on a different day/time please let me know what days and times will work best and I will reserve time slots as they become available.   After May 1^st, any time slot that has not been confirmed will be available on a first come first served basis.

Upcoming Events

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

All Boy Recital:  The All Boy Recital is a recital for only boys, held by the Sioux Falls Area Music Teachers’ Association.  The recital will take place on February 24^th , the registration fee for this event is $5.00 and should be included with the first tuition payment if you would like your son to participate.

Theory Test: The theory test is held on the same day as the piano festival, Saturday March 16, 2013.  Students are tested on all aspects of music theory applicable to their level of study.  This test is suitable for students who have taken at least 3 years of piano lessons.  The registration fee is $5.00 and if the student achieves a passing score they will be receive a special award.

Piano Festival: The upcoming Piano Festival through the local Music Teachers’ Association will be held on a Saturday March 16, 2013.  Students who have taken at least a full year of piano and have taken lessons from me at least 6 months 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.  If you would like your child to participate in piano festival, please include the $15 registration fee with the first tuition payment.