October 2024 Newsletter

Invoices

I will be emailing October invoices the first of October. This invoice will be for October lessons and will include any credits or balance due from the previous months. The auto pay functions (both Credit Cards and ACH bank transfers) are initiated the day the invoices are sent.

Parents can now set up the ACH bank transfer on My Music Staff without sending me any information. There is no courtesy fee when you use the ACH bank transfer for auto-pay.

Winter Recitals

Private students: We will be having our Winter Recitals at the Lawrence Arts Center on the main stage in December. These recitals are scheduled for December 16-18, 2024.

I will send a recital sign-up email in November that will have information about how to sign up for practice recitals and the Winter Recital on My Music Staff.

Group Recitals: Hour-long group classes will have studio recitals the week of December 9th. These recitals will be at the piano studio during regular class time.

Practice Time

Please encourage all students to practice 5 days a week. (They are always welcome to play more!) I recommend the following:

1. Set a regular time to practice every day before or after school, before or after dinner.
2. Very productive times to practice are the same day of the lesson and the next day. Everything is still fresh in their mind and practicing comes easier.
3. Try to let students participate in decisions about which days they want to practice and at what time. I encourage them to become involved in planning their own schedule.
4. Please remember to total and sign the Practice Charts for your student each week. Students record practice time each week on a large practice chart at the studio. When they reach the end of a line, they receive a candy bar of their choice.

Practice Time (an alternative)

Some students and parents have found that having the student play their pieces throughout the day works well. Each time the student passes by the keyboard he/she will play a piece 2 or 3 times. This can happen at different times during the day in 3-5-minute sessions. They record all the time spent at the keyboard that day. Try it out; this may work better than a set schedule.

Practice Time (the effects)

Here is a great link by Ted-Ed that explains some of the brain building benefits from practicing: http://ow.ly/SDkts

Keep in touch

If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s lessons or progress, please feel free to contact me at lawrencepiano@sbcglobal.net.

Note Rush

Note Rush is an app we are recommending for students to improve their note finding skills. This is a flash card app that will work with any piano or keyboard. Note Rush listens to the notes played on the keyboard — there are no wires or connections necessary. Note Rush is available for both iPhone and android phones. The cost is $3.99 for the program. Please let me know if you have any questions on how to use the app.

Piano: More than just music

Here are a couple links about the benefits of studying piano above and beyond learning to play pieces.

• http://mic.com/articles/110628/13-scientific-studies-prove-music-lessons-were-the-best-thing-your-parents-did-for-you
• http://shar.es/Ubu1y

— Eric