April Students of the Month - Ethan and Gloria

Congratulations Ethan and Gloria! You are April's Student of the Month.

Ethan is a new student in Lakewood at Cindy's Piano Studio.  Here's his interview and tip for beginners.

What do you like to do for fun?  Play outside.
What’s your favorite toy? Baseball and bat.
What do you hate to do? Nothing.
What’s the best part of piano lessons? Playing the keys.
Whats the worst part of piano lessons? Nothing.
What music are you listening to (that’s not piano lesson)? Uptown Funk
What is your tip for beginning pianists?  Have a good attitude at piano lessons, do all your assignments, and look at the assignment sheet so you know what to do.  Awesome tips, Ethan!

Gloria has been taking piano lessons in Bemus Point at Cindy's Piano Studio since September 2014.  She has really grown musically at the piano this year. Gloria's tip for beginners is that it's okay if the piece is not great when you first start because you can work on it hands alone and it will get better. Yes, Gloria, when the music gets more complicated, it's a good idea to make is easier by separating the parts.

Other students who were in the hat were: Kenny, Lillian, Eliza D., Genevieve, JT, Sam, Dani, Mallory, and Jack.

January Students of the Month - Brynne and Taj!

January 2016 starts with Brynne of Lakewood and Taj of Bemus Point taking the lead as our Students of the Month at Cindy's Piano Studio.  They each have practiced every week, been ready to play their pieces, had their theory work done, brought all their books each week, and had great attitudes at the lessons.

Brynne's piano tip is to always practice what you assigned.  You know that by checking your printed assignment sheet in your binder every day.  Great tip, Brynne.

Taj's piano tip is make sure you know your right hand from your left hand.  Being a beginning students of just a few months, Taj is finding out just how important right and left are in playing piano.

Other students in the "hat" were:
Lakewood: Mallory, Sam, and Sydney
Bemus Point: Bryan, Eliza A, Kenny, Libbey, and Lillian

Who will be February's Students of the Month?  Stay tuned...

December's Students of the Month

Congratulations to Emma (Lakewood) and Harper (Bemus Point) December's Students of the Month!

How fun that Emma is December and November's Student of the Month for Lakewood.  So Emma has another tip for piano students: Check your assignment for special things you may have forgotten. Oh, I really like this one, Emma.  I spend time preparing these assignments for students and it really is frustrating to me when they aren't followed.  If students would check their assignment as Emma says, they would be able to practice better and wouldn't forget to do what has been taught or reviewed.  Wonderful suggestion, Emma!

Congratulations, Harper, on being prepared, having practiced, having all your books at the lessons, having your theory done, and having a great attitude at lessons!  You are a piano star!

Harper's tip for piano students is that learning music is like learning any other school work.  Treat practicing piano as if it is homework but on the piano.  Great tip, Harper!  

November Students of the Month - Emma and Gloria

November Students of the Month - Emma and Gloria

Did you notice in the title that we have two Students of the Month for November?  That's because I've separated the Lakewood and Bemus Point piano studios.  Congratulations, Emma M. of Lakewood and Gloria M. of Bemus Point.  You were each chosen from the hat.  Your name got in the hat because you practiced all month, were prepared at your lessons (could play your pieces), did your theory/games, and had a great attitude at the lessons.

Last year I interviewed each student about their likes and dislikes.  You can view Emma's interview here and Gloria's here.  If a student was not Student of the Month last year, I'll interview them about their likes and dislikes.  However, both Emma and Gloria were Student of the Month last year and so I'm asking them one question:  What advice would you give to a beginning piano student on how to be successful at learning piano?  Here are their answers:

Emma said to look at assignment to know what you are to practice.  Good advice, Emma.  Checking your assignment sheet every time you practice will help you stay on track for the week. 

Gloria said to start playing hands alone, slowly, and don't rush, Play your pieces a couple times a day. More great advice, Gloria.  Playing hands alone when you have a two-handed piece is an excellent way to learn the motions and notes of the piece.  Practicing slowly will help you with coordinating the hands, playing the correct notes the first time, and keeping a steady beat.

Awesome advice.  I wonder who will be December's Students of the Month?

Student of the Month - June

I picked Kenny for June's Student of the Month because he was consistently prepared for each lesson.  He accomplished what I asked of him and did it with a great attitude.  He has progressed a lot this first year of piano lessons.  I look forward to working with him next year and seeing what he will do!

Student of the Month - May

Congratulations, Harper! You are May's Student of the Month at Cindy's Piano Studio.  Harper is fun to teach and makes me smile! 
Here's more about who Harper is:

What do you like to do for fun? Play outside and climb our tree in the backyard.
What do you hate to do? Come inside when I'm playing outside.
What’s the best part of piano lessons? Learning recital pieces..
Whats the worst part of piano lessons? Waiting for my sister's lesson to end.
What music are you listening to (that’s not piano lesson)? MoTown Superstition

So now you now a little more about Harper.

March Student of the Month - Yea! Emma

Congratulations to Emma for being picked as March's Student of the Month.

Emma started piano lessons in 2014.  She is currently in the Hal Leonard Piano Method book 1. 


Emma moved to the United States from Sweden.  She speaks Swedish and French.  Here's her interview:

What do you like to do for fun?  She likes to play on the trampoline and swim.
What is your favorite toy?  Glynn, my stuffed tiger.  I like to hug him.
What do you hate to do?  Stop playing and having fun so I can practice piano.  BUT, I like playing piano!
What's the best part of piano lessons? Learning how to play.
What's the worst part of piano lessons?  She couldn't think of anything.  Yea!
What music are listening to that isn't piano related?  Her wake-up music.

So that's Emma, our March Student of the Month!

Student of the Month - December

Congratulations Alex! You have been chosen as Student of the Month for December.  Alex has been taking piano lessons since October 2013.  Here's her interview:

What do you like to do for fun?  Play with friends, especially tag.

What's your favorite toy?  Frozen dolls, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Cristoff in castle.

What do you hate to do? be interupted by my brother, Ben.

What’s the best part of piano lessons? playing games and doing races.

What's the worst part of piano lessons? Nothing!

What music are you listening to (that’s not piano lesson)? Let It Go, all Frozen music.

Now you know a little bit about Alex, our December Student of the Month.

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.

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.