Studio Sign

Studio Sign

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Music Camps and Summer Lessons

Music Camp – 2014

            Music Camp dates are set for this year.  You can download a camp brochure here or pick one up at the Studio Festival Workshop or at the Studio.  Applications are due by June 15th(the Recital basically).  I have added a new camp this year.  Forte Camp is the same as the Fortissimo Camp, but is packed into a three hour morning. 
If you have friends or neighbours that take lessons from someone else, they may be interested in attending one of the camps.  This is fine as long as they continue on with their own teacher in the fall.  Your word of mouth endorsement of the camps is the only way these camps will continue to be offered.  So feel free to take some extra brochures to pass out, or refer your friends to the website where they can see pictures of past camps and download their own copy of the brochure. There are also 2 camps available for those who have no piano lesson experience – the Adventure Camp for 6 – 9 year olds in August is a general music camp, and the Piano Discovery Camp for 4 and 5 year olds is just that – where young ones can get some exposure to the piano… great fun! (Just so everyone is aware, schools are not keen on passing out information like this because I am considered a private business person - neither will the library allow me to place my information there, and community bulletin boards are very limited.  This is why I rely on you to pass the word around... with a big thank you!)


A half dozen Summer Lessons

            This year I am offering a set of 6 summer lessons.  Current students can take advantage of these lessons if they wish to keep going for a time over the summer months.  Those who would like to “try out” the piano can also do so for this limited time with no obligation to continue lessons in the fall.  Cost and details are below. If you know of someone who is thinking they might like to take lessons, but is concerned about whether they will like it, this is a perfect way to give it a try.

30 min lessons - $100
45 min lessons - $150
60 min lessons - $200

Terms and conditions:  
These six lessons are sold as a block of lessons that must be used between June 16 and August 15, 2014.  Lesson times must be booked in advance but can be flexible in that there may be 2 lessons one week and none the next, for example.  Lesson times that are booked and missed without notice will not be made-up. Lessons not used by the end of the day, August 15, 2014 will not be reimbursed or made up.   Books and downloaded music are not included in this offer and will be billed separately.


Violin lessons and String Camps:

Stay tuned for more information coming soon on violin lessons and String Camps. My daughter, Pamela is arriving home from Boston at the end of April and will be available to teach violin to those who are interested in lessons.  As well, she is planning some String Camps for the summer! Will update with more information as I have it available. For those of you who do not know Pamela, you can view her website at www.pamelacumming.com

Sunday, 30 March 2014

Congratulations!


Congratulations go out to:

Harmony Grant - Gold performance at Kinsmen Festival - piano

Evelyn Cumming - Gold performance at Kinsmen Festival - piano and violin

Well done, girls!






Bead Update!

Quite the difference since the last time I posted a picture!  And we still have 2 1/2 months to go!  Getting excited!  Great job, everyone!



Sunday, 23 March 2014

One Proud Teacher!

So very proud of each and every one of my students today!  You all did such a great job at our Studio Festival....


Monday, 17 March 2014

March 2014 Newsletter

Cedar Grove Piano Studio
March 2014 Newsletter



Studio Festival Workshop – Sunday, March 23, 2014

            The Festival Workshop at the Abbey for the Arts is coming up this week!  So soon!  Practice up this week – I know it’s been March Break – so some of you have been away, and busy with other things.  Let’s make great performances at the Workshop.  Check the last Newsletter for your performance time.
1.      Bring your music with you in case you need it.
2.      Dress for a performance… since we’re not doing rock band music – no jeans please.  Casual dressy would be great!
3.      Please arrive about 10 – 15 minutes early – you know me, I will be trying my best to stay on time.
4.      Bring your smiles and great bows!  Be a good sport and congratulate others on their performances.

Composition Project

            This year we are going to work on compositions for the last lessons from now until the recital in June.  EVERYONE is going to compose a piece of music.  YIKES!  Not really – it will be fun to see what each of you can come up with.  I will be giving you direction on how to go about doing this.  You might already have an idea of what you would like to do.  That’s great!  But if you don’t, don’t worry – I have lots of ideas and ways to get your creative juices flowing.  At first you will be writing your compositions on staff paper that I will provide.   Later, when most of the changes are done, we will be writing it into a music notation program.  Parents – if you have access to the internet (I know most of you do) – please allow the students to download a program called Musescore.  It is a free download available at http://musescore.com/  Students will need a thumb drive to save their project on and bring to lessons. For those of you who do not have access to the internet, we will work on writing the student’s composition on Musescore here at the studio. 

If you need more staff paper to work on, just click here  and you will find a pdf of various sized paper you can choose from that I got from another site (Joy Morin)  Just print the size you need. I will also put some staff paper under the "free music" listing at the side.

End of Year Recital
            I cannot believe how quickly this year is going!  Mark your calendars for the end of year Recital – Friday, June 13, 2014

Music Camp – 2014

            Music Camp dates are set for this year.  You can download a camp brochure here or pick one up at the Studio Festival Workshop or at the Studio.  Applications are due by June 15th (the Recital basically).  I have added a new camp this year.  Forte Camp is the same as the Fortissimo Camp, but is packed into a three hour morning. 
If you have friends or neighbours that take lessons from someone else, they may be interested in attending one of the camps.  This is fine as long as they continue on with their own teacher in the fall.  Your word of mouth endorsement of the camps is the only way these camps will continue to be offered.  So feel free to take some extra brochures to pass out, or refer your friends to the website where they can see pictures of past camps and download their own copy of the brochure. There are also 2 camps available for those who have no piano lesson experience – the Adventure Camp for 6 – 9 year olds in August is a general music camp, and the Piano Discovery Camp for 4 and 5 year olds is just that – where young ones can get some exposure to the piano… great fun! (Just so everyone is aware, schools are not keen on passing out information like this because I am considered a private business person - neither will the library allow me to place my information there, and community bulletin boards are very limited.  This is why I rely on you to pass the word around... with a big thank you!)


A half dozen Summer Lessons

            This year I am offering a set of 6 summer lessons.  Current students can take advantage of these lessons if they wish to keep going for a time over the summer months.  Those who would like to “try out” the piano can also do so for this limited time with no obligation to continue lessons in the fall.  Cost and details are below. If you know of someone who is thinking they might like to take lessons, but is concerned about whether they will like it, this is a perfect way to give it a try.

30 min lessons - $100
45 min lessons - $150
60 min lessons - $200

Terms and conditions:  
These six lessons are sold as a block of lessons that must be used between June 16 and August 15, 2014.  Lesson times must be booked in advance but can be flexible in that there may be 2 lessons one week and none the next, for example.  Lesson times that are booked and missed without notice will not be made-up. Lessons not used by the end of the day, August 15, 2014 will not be reimbursed or made up.   Books and downloaded music are not included in this offer and will be billed separately.


Thought you might get a kick out of this cartoon!  :)


It is my pleasure to teach your children! 
Blessings, Mary

Sunday, 23 February 2014

February Newsletter



Cedar Grove Piano Studio

February 2014 Newsletter


Thought I would start out the newsletter with this little poster I found on pinterest.  Yup - for sure this is why I teach - why I love to teach your children.


Yes!!!  Each one of my students is so special to me. Recently I was asked what I would do if I had all the money in the world... and I could not think of anything more than what I am doing right now... nothing makes me happier than teaching piano.... well, my family of course (better not leave them out!)

Sunday, March 23 - Studio Festival Workshop


I hope everyone has their calendars marked for this special event for our studio. Click on the link above for directions to The Abbey. Below you will find the schedule. Please plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and dress for performance. :)  When you arrive, please be sensitive to the fact that others may be performing, or the adjudicator may be speaking.  A quiet entrance will be much appreciated.  I will be there, of course, but will likely be busy helping the adjudicator.   Although I may not greet you personally, I will definitely be speaking to each student just before their group plays.

We only have 3 lessons left to prepare for this event.  (Yikes!)  I hope everyone will put their best foot forward to practice in the next few weeks... March Break occurs only 2 weeks before this event, then we have one lesson - then the festival.  That may pose a bit of a problem for practicing... so plan ahead and be prepared... To encourage good preparation, beads are being awarded for memory and performance.  So take advantage!  There will also be prizes at this Festival Workshop... sponsored by the studio (Yay!)

1 pm - Beginner one - Group A:

Kyle Gaucher
Quinn MacDonald
Avery MacDonald
Hayden Mader

130 pm - Beginner One - Group B:

Drew Anderson
Andrew Frei
Danika Mader
Sam Maes
James Vanderveen

2:00 pm - Beginner Two:

Kieren McLeod
Ryan Vanderveen
Phillip Frei
Hunter Mader
Ashley Morris

2:45 pm - Introductory:

Ethan Vanderveen
Harmony Grant
Monica Grewar
Chris Everett

Break

3:45 pm - Grade 1 and 2:

Alexis Gilmour
Fiona MacDonald
Melody Morris
Jorja McLeod

4:30 pm - Grade 4, 5 and 6

Nick Galley
Ethan Gilmour
Evelyn Cumming
Lauren Roberts


Note:  You do not need to stay for the entire event. If you come for your time slot and that is all - that's fine. Of course, you may find it interesting to hear some of the other students play.

Bead It Up!

This practice incentive is going very well.  I think everyone is enjoying collecting their beads each week and watching the strings grow longer and longer.  Keep up the great work!  Parents - you are always welcome to peak in the studio and see the growing lengths of beads on the wall.

Other Festivals

The end of March is the Kinsmen Festival, and the beginning of April is the MCM Festival.  If you have registered for either of these events, I will let you know the time and day that you play as soon as the organizers tell me.  This year, I cannot promise to be there to hear you play as I will be continuing to teach those weeks.  If I can, I will be there.  

Hoping that spring is soon on its way!
Blessings to all
Mary

Wednesday, 12 February 2014

The Beads are growing!

Just thought I would show a few pictures of all our beads mounting up!  Great job, everyone!