Teacher's Notes for March

Federation is almost here!  Everyone's pieces are coming along nicely, but this is the month to perfect them, so this month, make sure your pieces are perfectly memorized, focus on dynamics (overemphasize!!), and work on perfect bowing: bows are straight, nice strong tone, and finger flexing.  Try to schedule some practice performances for family and friends.  I would also like everyone to "be your own judge" and video record yourself playing your pieces.  Then sit back with a paper and "judge" your performance!

Federation will be held at the same place as last year--Gardner Hall on the University of Utah campus.  Make sure to allow PLENTY of time for parking and finding your room.  Here are your room numbers and times:

From this point on, practice announcing your pieces with your number.  Remember that judges need ORIGINAL copies of the music, so make sure to purchase the books that you will need soon if you don't already have them.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

If Aimee Ward is going to be your accompanist for Federation, please note that she will be having a Federation Rehearsal at my house this Thursday, March 10th at 5:15 pm.  If you can't make it to this rehearsal, please let me know...we will be having another rehearsal the following week, time still TBD.  Just a reminder that Aimee is charging $20 for the performance and one practice session, and $25 if you would like two practice sessions with her, which you can bring to the rehearsal.

Group Lessons will be held on March 15 and 16 this month.  Please make an effort to be there, as we will be working on our group pieces for our final studio recital.  Speaking of our final recital, it will be held on April 1st, from 6:30-7:30 at the Piano Gallery in Orem.  Plan on playing your favorite federation piece for the recital, or if you have another piece ready that you would rather play, let me know this week at lessons.

Thanks for all of your hard work and effort.  I have the very BEST students in the whole world!!

Teacher's Notes for February

February is here!  This month, let's really buckle down and get those Federation pieces perfected.  I want everyone to focus on POSTURE, POSTURE, POSTURE, this month, especially with your Federation pieces.  Right hand posture should be: Perfect bow hands, no straight thumbs, curved pinkies, straight bows.  Left hand posture should be loose and relaxed, with a straight wrist, straight relaxed thumb, and fingers that "drop out of the sky" instead of "come up from the basement." 

Those of you in Book 3 and up, we'll work on adding finger flexing and vibrato into your Federation pieces.  I know we're going to have such a successful year this year!  Everyone buckle down and try not to miss a single day of practice.

I need to register everyone for Federation at the end of the week, so the $12 Federation fee is due at your lesson this week.  If you can't make it to lessons this week, I'd appreciate it if you could mail me the fee; my address is: 1376 Star Circle, Saratoga Springs, UT 84045.

Group lessons will be held on February 22 and 23 this month from 4:30-5:30, and we'll be playing our most ready Federation piece for everyone at group. 

Good luck with all of the practicing this month.  I do have new practice charts for February if anyone is interested! 

Teacher's Notes for January

Welcome back!  I hope you all had a nice holiday.  I'm looking forward to seeing you all this week for lessons and getting back into our great practicing routines...Federation is coming up soon!  This month I will need to register everyone for Federation.  I haven't received the forms yet, but I think they need to be turned in by the end of the month, so just be aware that the Federation fee will be due this month.

Group lessons will be held on January 18 or 19 this month from 4:30-5:30.  Please come on the day that works best for you.

Please note that I've updated the calendar on the blog up to the end of March, so check it if you have questions on any upcoming dates, and the Phone List for Exchanging Lessons has also been updated for Winter Quarter.

Thanks everyone!