Piano Enthusiasts

The Piano Enthusiasts Play for Piano Lovers first performance was held on February 28, 2016 at the Heritage Green Nursing Home.

Chris Forbes, Julie Johnston, Jeff Park, and Cindy Robison performed a 40-minute program for the residents on their beautiful Steinway grand.  The pieces performed were:

Mozart's Sonata in C Major, Cindy Robison

Vangellis Hymne, Julie Johnston

Just A Closer Walk With Thee, Chris Forbes

Majesty, I Will Enter His Gates, This is the Day, Rock of Ages, and Angels We Have Heard on High, Jeff Park

Heart and Soul Duet, Julie Johnston and Cindy Robison

My Chains Are Gone, Amazing Grace, Blue Danube, and Bach's Minuet, Jeff Park

Shall We Gather at the River, Chris Forbes

Key of Sea, Julie Johnston

Peterson's Jazz Exercise #2 and Disco-Visit, Cindy Robison

The residents had a good time and the performers had another opportunity to practice performing, some for the first time and some for the first time in a long while.

APT Duet Recital - My Duet With Kerry

March 5, 2016 was the first APT (Association of Piano Teachers) duet recital.  Kerry and I started the program with Clementi's Sonata IV allegro.  It was fast and fun.  Of course, someone got too close to the outside door which made the alarm go off just as we started playing.  It eventually stopped so we could hear an elderly woman tapping her finger nails on her tray top.  It would have been alright if she was in the same tempo as we were!  They eventually found a towel for her to tap on so it wasn't so loud.  Even with all the distractions, we played well for our first time together.

I'm so thankful for a great teacher who encourages me to keep learning more about making music at the piano so I can pass it on to my students.

February Students of the Month

Congratulations, Bryan and Mallory, you are February's Students of the Month at Cindy's Piano Studio!

Mallory is a student of the Lakewood piano studio.  She has just recently re-started piano after a break to pursue her dancing dreams.  Her piano learning tip is to play one line at a time after playing song through once.  That's great practice directions, Mallory.  Learning to practice in small chunks makes learning a piece easy and more fun to play.  Other students who were in the Lakewood hat are Dani and Sam.

Bryan was Student of the Month in October of last year.  He had just recently started with Cindy's Piano Studio in Bemus Point after moving here from Ohio.  His piano learning tip is think of the beat in your head and play the notes with your hands and look at notes while doing that.  In other words, to keep your eyes on the music while you are counting the rhythm.  Good tip, Bryan.  Keeping a steady beat is always important as are knowing how to move your fingers without looking at them.  Other students in the Bemus Point hat were:  Eliza A and Eliza D, Harper, Kenny, Lillian, and Taj, 

Both Bryan and Mallory received a gift certificate for ice cream at Tim Horton's this month.  Yea!

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...

Happy Valentine's Day from Cindy's Piano Studio

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?