Cindy's Piano Studio Presents Twas the Night Before Christmas - a Silent Movie with Piano Accompaniment

On Saturday, December 6, 2014, Cindy's Piano Studio presented a unique experience for piano recital attendees.  The program began as usual with students playing Christmas music from the Nutcracker and familar Christmas carols.

Next came a video presentation of the Dawes sisters.  They played Fall Fun as a duet while several pictures of the girls were displayed on the big screen.

A brief intermission followed in which the audience helped themselves to flavored  popcorn and soda which was consumed during the silent movie which followed.

Students played Christmas carols as the silent movie, Twas the Night Before Christmas played on the big screen.  The movie was produced in 1905 and was fun to watch as well as listen to.

November's Student of the Month

Congratulations to Gloria for being chosen as November's Student of the Month. Gloria began piano lessons at Cindy's Piano in 2014; however, she has had two other teachers before me.  I hope to be her last. (big smile) 

Gloria plays very musically and enjoys piano lessons.  I interviewed her this week for our blog.

What do you like to do for fun?  Read.  She likes to read everything.

What’s your favorite toy? Not surprising but it's a book!  She also likes to sing and swing, even in winter.

What do you hate to do?  Get up in the morning.

What’s the best part of piano lessons? Gloria just likes to play piano.  She like playing songs at lessons and then again at home.

What's the worst part of piano lessons?  There is no bad part.  Yea!

What music are you listening to (that’s not piano lesson related)?  Christian pop artist, Jamie Grace One Song at a Time album.  "Just hand me my guitar and I'll play you a tune. One song at a time. doo doo doo doo".  Substitute piano for guitar and you've got Gloria!

So now you know a little more about Gloria, November's Student of the Month.

Private Eye Workshop #1

We had fun on Sunday! One mystery has been solved so far.  We started by listing all the Christmas songs they knew.  Then they deciphered the code to find the mystery word based on the false clue they were given during lessons.  What was the mystery word?  music.  The students then performed for each other and watched the silent movie for our upcoming Christmas program....Twas the Night Before Christmas.  We talked about what songs would be good for the movie accompaniment as we ate snacks of cookies and soda.

Student of the Month - October

Congratulations to Lillian!  She was chosen as October's Student of the Month.  She had a great chance of being picked as her name was in the hat seven times!

Here's Lillian's interview for this month's blog.

What do you like to do for fun?  Lillian likes to dress up for tea parties at her friend's house!

What is your favorite toy?  She likes to play with her Barbie and doll houses.

What do you hate to do?  Raking leaves.  Me too, Lillian!!

What's the best part of piano lessons?  Learning how to do something new.

What's the worst part of piano lessons?  Finishing a song and knowing I'll never play it again.  We explained to her that she can always go back and play her pieces just for fun.  I LOVE this answer!

What music do you listen to that is not piano music?  Taylor Swift.

Now you know a little more about Lillian. 

Student of the Month - September

STUDENT OF THE MONTH - Congratulations to Eliza D. Her name was drawn from the hat to be this month's student of the month.  Eliza came prepared each week; practiced; her theory done; great attitude!  She will get a coupon for ice cream at her next lesson!  

Who will be October's Student of the Month?

Student's Succeeding

Congratulations to Kenny and Lillian on achieving the target scores on the webgames at www.musiclearningcommunity.com!  Awesome!

Vacation

First week of my summer vacation from teaching piano. I'm weeding...ugh.  I'm still thinking about teaching piano and what the plans are for returning students this fall.  I'm thinking "mystery".  Yes, what I'm thinking is a mystery!  I'll unveil more as the weeks progress.

Moving back to Bemus Point studio looks promising too.  I'll know more next week I hope.

Sigh... back to weeding.

Chautauqua County Humane Society Thanks

It's official.  The Chautauqua County Humane Society received our check for $345 donation.  The benefit recital was a success.  Just waiting to see it in the Post Journal.

Two Students of Cindy's Piano Studio are Recorded

Congratulations to James Pirrello and Sarah Quadt on making their first End-of-Book CD.

This was my first test with making CDs instead of doing an actual End-of-Book recital for students when they finish a method book.  We video taped as well as had a live audience.  I'm still learning how to do this the best way; however, we've done it!  We had two other students finish their books but couldn't get the software to work right.  So congratulations to Harper Dawes and Liz Quadt also!

I'm looking forward to seeing who will finish their books next.

I love working with technology and am always learning how to make Cindy's Piano Studio more relevant to today's students.  Stay tuned...

Practice For Paws

Practice For Paws

Students of Cindy’s Piano Studio raised money for the Chautauqua County Humane Society by practicing the piano.  For two weeks students recorded their practice time and then collected monies from sponsors.  The students asked their family, friends, and neighbors to sponsor their practice time for a penny per minute of practice.   

The sponsors were invited to attend our benefit recital held on Saturday, June 14^th.   Mrs. Robison brought one of her piano keyboards to the pavilion at Ellery Park in Bemus Point on Saturday morning.  Even though the weather turned very cold and windy, the students were brave and entertained us with pop and movie music.  Popcorn was provided to help make the event even more fun. 

Students were awarded prizes for collecting the most money, getting the most donors, and for the most practice time during the two weeks.

A check for $345 was presented to Sandy Gulloth and Jill Patterson, volunteers for the Humane Society. Mae, a very cute stray beagle, was in attendance to give her applause.  Mae is available for adoption at the Humane Society. 

Students performing were Eliza A., Eliza and Harper D., Stephanie D., Makala N., Isac and James P., Liz and Sarah Q., Sophia and Sydney S., and Alex S.

Nutcracker

I just had two students present a short program of the Nutcracker.  They are beginning students and haven't learned to read music yet.  They played by letter names and rhythms only.  It was a fun project.

Humane Society Benefit Recital Plans Coming Together

Yea! Our benefit recital for Humane Society now has a place.  I paid the fee for the pavilion at Elery Park in Bemus Point.

Date:  Saturday, June 14, 2014
Time:  10a.m. - 11ish

Next step?  Pick the music for the students to learn.  We will be presenting a program of pop, rock, and movie music for one half and the second half is to be decided yet.

Check out Chautauqua County Humane Society's webpage here.

Humane Society Benefit Recital Update

I've got the Elery Park Shelter in Bemus Point as our place for the next benefit recital!  I'm waiting to hear from everyone as to whether the date of June 14th will work.  Such a busy time of the year and yet I don't want the students to miss out on showing everyone what they have learned this year and how they have progressed.

The Humane Society will be bringing two dogs and I'll be bringing Zack.  I wonder if my students would bring their pets too.  Could be a fun morning!

Karaoke Funny

An adult piano student went to Peak n Peak where they had Karaoke.  She had never done it before and thought it might be fun.  So she sang Crazy by Patzy Cline. When she finished she said "I received a standing ovation.....they were already standing!"  I love my student's sense of humor.  It made my day.  This student is 74 years old and a joy to teach.

Piano Helps in School Word

So pleased with Sarah!  She was the only one in her band that got 100% on a note naming test!  Congratulations, Sarah! Piano does help you in school!

Humane Society Benefit Recital

I'm thinking about our next benefit recital.  I've contacted the Humane Society and think it would be fun to support them this year.  I like the idea of pennies for paws and am thinking about pennies for piano practice to be donated to the Humane Society at our recital.  I've asked them to have a couple dogs at the recital so that should be fun too!  

I'd have 16 students participating.  It could run for two weeks, say May 26th through June 8th.  The students would ask for donations and then collect the amount the following week to be presented at the recital.  There would be a prize for the student with the most pennies.

I'm thinking the recital would be held on Saturday, June 14th, at 10a.m.  I'd like an outdoor location so I'm open for ideas on a place.

Another Student Finishes a Book

Eliza had her first end-of-book recital this week.  She said she was nervous; but I couldn't tell.  She had several people come to her recital even though it was in the middle of the afternoon. She chose ten of her favorite pieces from Alfred's Sacred All-in-One method. Her recital program:

God Gives
Jesus and the Children
Loving
Sing Unto the Lord - duet with Mrs. Robison
Trust God's Word - duet with Mrs. Robison
Play a Third
Old MacDonald
Calendar Song
Frog in Flip Flops - duet with Mrs. Robison (not in book)
Praise Him with Music - accompanied by recorded orchestra

Now she can move on to her next book.  

Jamestown Association of Piano Teachers Recital at Lutheran Home

Today was the first Association of Piano Teachers' recital at the Lutheran Home in the Chapel.  Cindy's Piano Studio had nine students participating.  That's half of the students from CPS!  They all did a great job playing their pieces.  For three of the students, this was their first recital.

Stephanie Derkovitz played Love Somebody.

Maddison March played Old MacDonald Had a Band.

Harper Dawes played Gallop, Pony and Scotland Bells.

Lizzy Quadt played Go Tell Aunt Rhodie Theme and Variation.

Sydney Segrue played Arabesque by Burgmuller.

Our mystery student played Sea (C) Song.

Sophia Segrue played Taxi Tangle.

Eliza Dawes played Japaneze Garden and Jazz Jig.

Sarah Quadt played Beach Party and Pumpkin Boogie.

It was a short program as half the pieces were less than 30 seconds in length!  It was such a pretty sunny day too.  All the students received a certificate of participation at the end.  Here's Sophie's...

Today's participating students live in Chautauqua County, mostly in the Bemus Point area, some in Lakewood and Ashville; none from Jamestown today.

Free Piano Class in Bemus Point, NY

Cindy's Piano Studio is offering a FREE piano class on January 25, 2014!

Not sure if your child will like piano lessons?  Sign up for a FREE piano class where your child will experience the fun of piano and learn to play three pieces. This two-hour class will introduce them to the very basics of piano and what is required to learn to play piano. A snack will be provided.

Date:  Saturday, January 25, 2014
Time:  10a.m. - Noon
Place:  Cindy's Piano Studio, 4957 Main Street, Bemus Point, NY
Register:  Call 716-763-1197
Website:  http://www.cindyspianostudio.com/current-classes.html

Chautauqua County's Fun Place to Learn Piano