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?

Congratulations, Bryan! You Are October's Student of the Month

Yea for Bryan!  Bryan is a new student at Cindy's Piano Studio Bemus Point.  He moved here from Ohio where he took some piano lessons for about a year.  Here's his interview:

What do you like to do for fun?  Bryan likes to play with his new friends on the playground at recess.

What is your favorite toy?  He likes his baby jaguar stuffed animal.

What is the best part of piano lessons?  Being the Student of the Month!

What music are you listening to that's not piano related?  TV songs like Wild Krats where they explore the world. You can click on the link to see their website.

I look forward to hearing more from Bryan.

Emma's First End-of-Book Recital

Congratulations, Emma! You've finished your first End-of-Book recital! Emma played ten pieces from Hal Leonard's Piano Method Book One this past weekend.  Here is her program:

Skateboard Doodle (from memory)
My Best Friend (from memory)
Nobody Know the Trouble I'm In
Let Me Fly!
Pirates of the Sea
Trumpet Man (from memory)
Star Quest
Go for the Gold
Long, Long Ago (from memory)
Scottish Air (from memory)

We arranged her keyboard in her living room so it was just right. Mom had little lights decorating the piano and snacks for afterwards.  Emma's sister, Ida, her mom and dad, joined me in the living room as I introduced Emma.  She played her ten pieces and then I gave her her certificate of accomplishment and her new books.

It was an exciting evening for Emma and I!

Student Wall Completed

Student wall art has been added to the Bemus Point piano studio.  Pictures of current students will go on this wall.  The Student of the Month will go on the left.

It was really easy to put up the wall art.  I had Molly Brown's Signs design it for me.  It was inexpensive and looks great.

Other walls will be featured here later.