A Rewarding Moment!

Earlier this spring, I received a phone call from a lady who would like to learn to play piano and eventually accompany herself when she's singing for fun.

Not long after, I started teaching her the Simply Music Accompaniment 1 program, and for the past few weeks, she has been playing popular songs that she likes while singing!

At our last lesson, we just realized that it took her less than four months to accomplish this.

It was a wonderful moment for the both of us when we realized that, and I felt very proud of her and happy that her hard work of practicing so much every week paid off so quickly!

Orchestrating Some Fun on the Web

from http://mindsonmusic.kindermusik.com/orchestrating-some-fun-on-the-web/

The earlier you can expose your child to classical music and the magic of the symphony orchestras, the better. Music appreciation is something you want to instill early in a child’s life. (Shameless self-promotion: music appreciation is one of the skills children develop in Kindermusik classes. Find a Kindermusik class near you to learn more.)

Summer is one of the best times to take in a symphony. Many cities have outdoor venues and band shells where orchestras perform regularly. If there is a lawn area, is there any better way to take in a picnic? Kids of almost any age will love this. Let them dance and sway to the music. If you can talk quietly during the performance, introduce them to the various instruments on stage or other musical concepts. Some orchestras even have performances specifically designed for kids.

if you can’t get to a performance any time soon (or even if you can!), a number of symphony orchestras have wonderful kid-focused websites. Here are a few to check out.

The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Kids has an energetic home-page at www.sfskids.org. You’ll find a quirky variety of musical games and activities. Compose your own music, learn about the instruments of the orchestra, and more.

Or check out these other musical sites:

• Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: www.dsokids.com
• New York Philharmonic Kids Zone: www.nyphilkids.org
• Austin Symphony Orchestra Kids: www.austinsymphonykids.org

Music Advocacy Presentation

A Sweet Story

Summer classes have started, and a new student from one of my classes told me that he wanted to learn piano not just for himself, but to give his wife a birthday surprise! They've been married for 52 years, and I just thought that he's so sweet for planning something like this.

Seeing the joy in his eyes when he starts to play the "Five Steps of Sound" and "Night Storm" is one of the many reasons why I enjoy teaching so much!