I'm Simplifying!!

Updating this blog is a time consuming job and takes time away from other important things I need to accomplish. Therefore, in order to simplify and expand my time for other pursuits, I've determined  I will not be using this site for regular posts for the time being. Pertinent information to Piano Parents will be emailed. Thank you for your understanding.
~Mrs. Adams

Feel the LOVE!

It's Valentine's Month! So.......

I've asked students to jot a note each day during the month stating something they LOVE about piano! By the end of the month, they should have a little journal indicating the things they love about it. I had to laugh at their initial reactions upon my request. Some students smiled, obviously have the love bug. Others, well....I wondered if they'd ever thought about piano being something to love! I hope they'll catch the love bug sooner than later!

I've started each lesson this week with the question, "What song did you LOVE practicing the most?". After they play their favorite for me, we discuss what they loved about it. I've mostly heard "it was fast". I know kids like to play fast songs. I'm hoping we can go deeper and fall in love with a melody, a scale, fun fingering passage, how playing accurately makes them feel, etc. etc. Maybe students will even find joy in practicing! Imagine that! Fall in love with practicing! We'll get there! As for me, I do LOVE Piano and your kids!

Valentine Stickers with endearing messages help to encourage the warm fuzzies!

Answers for the Christmas Carol Picture Game

Need a little help? Here you go....

1. It Came upon a Midnight Clear
2. Away in a Manger
3. O Holy Night
4. Up on the Housetop
5. All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth
6. Susie Snowflake
7. Silent Night
8. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
9. O Come All Ye Faithful
10. O Christmas Tree
11. I Saw Three Ships
12. Let It Snow
13. The 12 Days of Christmas
14. The First Noel (No - "L")
15. Angels We Have Heard On High
16. Joy to the World
17. We Three Kings of Orient Are
18. What Child Is This?
19. Walking in a Winter Wonderland
20 Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Making Music Together!

First opportunity to play ensemble, each on a different part. Students are sight reading through their parts before playing together.

Playing different parts with CD accompaniment takes super focus and counting skills! Be proud kids! You did it!

Holiday Months are Here!

Students are counting down the number of  piano lessons until Christmas. Don't be shocked when I tell you we have 4 lessons and counting! I'm starting all students on Christmas music this week along with a small regular assignment. The weeks we do not meet for lessons, practicing should continue, practice calendars marked as usual. After students have mastered their assigned Christmas music, I encourage them to move on and learn another and another Christmas tune. This is the best music of the year. The more songs they learn, the merrier their holiday season! There is nothing like filling it with music!

Here's your countdown calendar:

For November:

Mondays - 4, 25

Tuesdays - 5, 12

Wed. - 6, 13

Thus. - 7, 14

For December:

Mondays - 2, 9 16

Tuesdays - 3, 10

Wed. - 4, 11

Thurs. - 5, 12

Our first Master Class is Fri., Dec. 6 at 4:30 - 5:15 for the following students:

Davy B.

Anna B.

Sohom D.

Adam S.

Brooke S.

If your name is on this list and you cannot attend, please let me know asap. A Master Class is an opportunity to attend a group lesson in place of an excused absence. I offer two Master Classes per piano-school year. Please be advised I do not reschedule Master Classes.

  
"Carols from My Heart to Yours" CD 

My Christmas CD is for sale at www.rebeccasmusicroom.com. You can purchase it there using Paypal. For piano families, you can also purchase it directly from me with a check to save on S&H. I will send your order home with your student. These make a great gift that can be enjoyed the whole season!

Happy Halloweenie!

Halloween bookmarks and cookies and stickers Oh MY! These are the treats your students have received each lesson during October. But there's one more treat! Students are excused from practicing Oct. 30 and Oct 31! Young minds aren't on practicing with all the Halloween hoopla going on in communities, neighborhoods and schools. Enjoy a fun and safe Halloween!

Reminders:
No lessons Oct. 29, 30, 31 this week.

If you haven't sent your Christmas music in for my evaluation, need it next week for sure!!! Thanks to everyone who remembered last week. I have your book(s) in my file.

Nov. Tuition is Due beginning Nov. 1st for everyone.

If your child has missed a lesson, I hope you're holding Dec. 6 open. More to 

Amanda Lane Inc. will be supporting Warren Band Booster Holiday Boutique Fundraiser this Sat. at Warren High School, Almond Rd. campus. I've attended this Christmas Boutique for years and now taking my Mother/Daughter business there. I'll be emailing a list of shows we're doing in the area.. This one is close-by and music a worthy cause. Come shop! We have items starting at .99 for teacher gifts and stocking stuffers. Am I busy?  Oh ya!!!!

This Board is decorated with black netting cobwebs and spooky sparkling magnet accents. Sparkle Boards are available in red, black, gold, blue and silver as shown. They come in two sizes 10x10 and 16x16. Deck your halls, walls, tables, counters, desks with a special message for any holiday!

Halloween Fun at Piano!

Students are SPOOK'n up some great sounds this October! Good practicers like Sam are being rewarded this week with a very special Halloween bookmark for playing BOO-tiful music.

These bookmarks were a surprise for me, created by my exceptionally talented and thoughtful sister. These are ORIGINALS just for my students! Have fun choosing your bookmark. I hope you feel very special when you open up a book and know Mrs. Adams and her sister are thinking of YOU!

BOO!

Sparkle Board courtesy of Amanda Lane Designs

Bookmarks by Katie Gauger, Graphic Artist and Author

EARLY DISMISSAL WEDNESDAYS

Parents, this post is for you....

Your kids have extra time to practice on Early Dismissal days. There is no excuse for not practicing on half days! Schedule it in!

Also, take advantage of days when your child has minimal homework. These days provide excellent practice time.

Seize control of after school time. Too much TV, Internet, friend, playing time?

Put Post-its labeled PRACTICE around your house to help remind your child to practice when you're not there to direct.

For all you Chicago Bears Fans....

Next time you watch a Bears game, see if you can spot the player whose last name is a musical term. Be sure to tell Mrs. Adams what the term is. I'm positive you know what it means! HINT: You see it on your music all the time!

Yeah!!!! 3 Cheers for YOU!!!!

Students,

So happy you've found the Piano Blog and are doing your piano homework to find your next Practice Tip! I'll be posting lots of practice helps here for you so check back often. Just click on Practice Tips Tab on the top of the page. You can find photos of your piano friends by clicking the Pics Tab. Have fun!

Love this quote!

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.  ~Plato

My You Tube Video

Today someone asked me for the link to my video of "America the Beautiful". Thought I'd post the easy link:

youtube.rebeccasmusicroom.com

Enjoy!

Congrats to some fantastic summer practicers!

YES! YES! YES! YOU are the BEST!

Summer Practicing Rewarded!

Mrs. Adams' Candy Bar!

Is your practicing in need of CPR?

Concentration
Planning
Rewards

I'll be posting survival tips to revive your practicing and help you survive the busy elementary, busier middle school and busiest high school years. When you're feeling out-of-control and busy-out-of-your-mind, take a minute to learn and review my CPR Lifesaver Tips. If you'll follow my directions, you'll have a happy, healthy and productive piano year. Click on the tab that says Practice Tips and be sure to check back next week for a new tip.

Welcome Back!

I hope students are enjoying their first days of the new school year.  I'm trying to convince myself it is indeed fall with these 95 degree days!

I  hope students are looking forward to continuing their music education. Piano begins after Labor Day on Tuesday Sept. 3rd. You should have received our Calendar and Tuition Statement in Aug. If you missed it, let me know and I'll re-send.

Your first Tuition and Fees are due your first lesson back. Please pay the amount listed on your statement. In Sept. and Jan. there are Music and Material Fees in addition to Tuition.

While I tried to produce a calendar with all dates listed correctly, I see I've made an error in November. I will email a revised calendar. Note the red "revised" in the left corner.  Basically, I'm deleting a lesson in Nov. and adding it on in April or May. Please make this adjustment now to avoid later confusion. Sorry about my mess-up.

Here's a list of what students needs to prepare to be organized for their first day.

1. Remove old piano things from piano bag or back pack and white binder pockets. Old white binder music and fun sheets can be removed too with the exception of any 5 Finger Patterns and One or Two Octave Scale Sheets. These need to remain. New beginners should leave everything in their white binder except miscellaneous flashcards, games.

2. Find your Music Clips. These are your assignment markers. I am not giving out new ones this year. If they've disappeared, you'll need to provide your own bookmarks to help you stay organized.

3. I'll need to see your completed Bubble Gum Practice Chart to receive your surprise. If you completed it over the summer, it's here, displayed on my piano board. Congratulations to all the great practicers!!!!

4. Bring your summer "Notes to Self" notepad. If you've lost it, bring a notepad to be used just for piano. New beginners don't need this.

5. Bring last year's Practice Calendars, small pocket-size. We'll finish these up in Dec. If you've lost yours, bring a calendar to keep track of your practicing. Does not apply to new beginners.

6. Bring ALL books you think you'll need including summer books, Dozen A Day, Pianimals, Piano Adventures etc. If in doubt, bring it!

7. If you have any questions, please email before your first day!

Can't wait to see you!

America the Beautiful Video

In case you missed seeing the America the Beautiful video I created for the 4th of July, here is the link to it on YouTube. America is a beautiful country any day of the year. I hope you enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV6RE5dQ4Fg&feature=youtu.be

Music written and performed by Rebecca S. Adams.

2013 Summer Piano Theme Announced!

Summer Fun begins with Bubble Gum!!!

What does this picture have to do with piano? You'll be hearing more soon!   

I hope you'll decide to "stick" with piano over the summer! We're going to have a "ball" all the way to fall!!!!

Summer Session begins June 17th.

Love this quote!

"Life without playing music is inconceivable for me," he declared. "I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. I get most joy in life out of music."  ~Albert Einstein

It's Spring!!!!!

I love spring rain! Any practicing going on at your house today?

Where is all that music coming from? It must be Mrs. Adams' Piano Students! Look for your name! More birdies added each week!

We're Cook'n in February!!!!!

This week students began decorating their pan of cupcakes but without the traditional frosting and sprinkles. We are decorating these cupcakes with note values and rhythms. Once we complete this review of time signatures and counting, everyone will receive a sweet Valentine. You guessed....a cupcake!!!!

The New Year....

The first lesson in January, students set a goal for improving their talents. Some students decided to work on establishing a more consistent practice week or perhaps balancing their practice time better while others went to work trying to improve their rhythm, notes or expression. Each week, students gave me a report on their progress toward or away from their goal. Over all, this was a productive exercise. I've been pleased with the newly acquired habits, work ethic and positive attitudes I've observed. Be proud! All students deserve a pat on the back for trying to make a change toward improvement.

Happy Holiday!

To encourage practicing into the new year, students have been given a December Bingo chart with the challenge of earning as many Bingos as possible until we meet again in January. The instructions are on the bottom of the sheet. If you have questions email me. Since earning a square requires your signature and holiday time is a busy time of year, I hope you'll be able to squeeze in some listening time.

Merry Christmas to all! See you in the new year!

The Preview Season for my new CD has been very well received. Marketing plans are already in process for the 2013 Christmas Season! Copies of this CD are available for purchase at $10 ea. Current piano families can email orders directly to rapsnotes@yahoo.com. For all other orders, please visit www.rebeccasmusicroom.com.

NEW CD!!! GET READY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!