It has only been a week since I sent out a newsletter and already I have more to share! First, and foremost, is about our first session of studio-wide masterclasses coming up next week! But I will also be sharing some ideas of how to turn practicing into the most fun you could imagine and become the coolest parent EVER while doing it!
MASTERCLASSES
I hear there is a wonderful long weekend coming our way called, “Thanksgiving”. Among the things to be thankful for are: NO REGULAR LESSONS! Just kidding, I truly hope you aren’t thankful for that just yet! But we ARE going to be cancelling our regular lesson schedule next week and will be having our first studio-wide masterclass session of the year. This is for ALL the piano students from Sunbeams 1 to the most advanced private students AND it is UN-PARENTED, so all you MYC parents who attend so faithfully with your children will be able to go grab a Starbucks or Tim’s and kick back and relax for an hour! I will have several 60 minute slots to choose from for next week in lieu of your regular lesson. Feel free to sign up for the spot that fits your schedule the best. We will be mixing ages and levels for this masterclass of improvising fun. We will be playing rhythm games, ear training, improvising and each student–no matter what level–should prepare one piece to play for their fellow students. Please choose and RSVP by email for one of the following times: (there is a 12 student limit per time)
Tuesday, October 15
4:30-5:30pm
6:00-7:00pm
Wednesday, October 16
5:00-6:00pm
Thursday, October 17
4:30-5:30pm
PUMPING UP THE PRACTICE
Our studio focus for September was simply to establish a regular routine of practice…and by the stickers going up on the Practice Perks tree, I would have to say this has been pretty successful. October’s focus will be on creativity (which we will work on through improvising in our masterclasses next week) and taking that practice now to the next level. So, in addition to our practice tree, I will be sending out a Pumpkin Practice Incentive handout! The sheet should be fairly self-explanatory. This is OPTIONAL and IN ADDITION TO the practice perks tree. But it is a chance for an extra prize so….. 
FILLING THAT PRACTICE TANK
Okay, so now a little something you’ve been waiting for: how to become the coolest piano parent EVER! Am I right? If you follow the studio facebook page: www.facebook.com/mmmusicstudio you may have already seen this post that I shared, but for those of you who do not have facebook, I really have to tell you about this! Once again one of my favorite piano teachers from Beautiful British Columbia, Andrea Dow, has put together a few AMAZING ideas to re-fuel your child’s practice tank! They are a little crazy and a lot of fun and I plan on doing most, if not all, of them with my own two children this year! I think you will find here some pretty cool ways to show your children how much you value piano, understand the commitment it takes and just how proud you are of them!
“Your child has a piano practice tank. It’s usually about 3/4 full; fun pieces, enjoyable lesson activities and a love for music keep your kiddies motoring. But occasionally that Piano Practice Tank dips below half… and the indicator light comes on telling you that a fill-up is in order. But how do you fill this Piano Practice Tank? How do you avoid finding your child stranded on the side of the piano bench with an empty tank and 4 flats?
Kids who are involved in sports get a lot of “proud parent moments” to boost them as Mom shrieks encouragement from the sidelines and Dad is ready with a enthusiastic pat on the back… piano kids don’t get this as much. But let’s change this!
You’ve invested in piano lessons. You believe in the benefits of music education. You love to see your child enjoying music. Ramp up your involvement each time you notice that Piano Practice Tank running close to empty and watch his or her tank swell immediately! Try these 15 ideas…
1. Surprise with Piano Pancakes – On a Saturday morning, surprise your child with Piano Pancakes topped with chocolate chip “quarter notes”. For each pancake on the plate have your child perform a piece for your family while you all watch in your PJ’s.
2. Balloon Surprise – Fill your kitchen cupboard with balloons that will spill out as soon as it’s opened. On each balloon, write something you love about your child’s piano playing (i.e. “I love hearing your music when I’m making dinner” or “You play your piece with so much expression”.). Ask your child to help you with dinner and wait for the cupboard to open. Read each balloon message aloud together.
3. Monday Morning Mirror Message – Use a white board marker to leave a surprise message on the bathroom mirror for your child on a Monday morning before he or she wakes up. Write “It makes me so HAPPY to hear you play the piano!” or something to that effect.
4. Sneak a Practice – Leave your child a note on his or her pillow on a weekend night that says “Tonight you get to stay up late! When everyone else is sleeping you and I are going to sneak downstairs so I can listen to you play the piano.” Serve warm milk and cookies in the piano room and light it by candle light only. This will be a memory not soon forgotten.
5. Take it to the Highway – Kids who are involved in sports get a lot of glory. Piano kids.. not so much. Make your child smile by writing a message on the back window of your car that says “My Kid Rocks on the Piano! Honk if you love music!”. Roll the windows down and let your child wave to the honking fans.
6. Build Excitement – Before recitals or performances, build excitement with a countdown. Use a blackboard or white board (or a piece of paper on the fridge) that says “___ More Days Until Max’s Piano Performance!” Showing you value involvement in performances ensures participation well into the teen years.
7. Surprise Sheet Music Shopping – Pick your child up from school and head out on a surprise trip to your local music store, offering the chance to choose any music book or piece of sheet music. The key is in looking with your child… spend enjoyable time browsing the books and finding just the right thing to take home.
8. Exclaim with Pleasure – You don’t always need to be fancy. Sometimes a genuine, enthusiastic and unexpected “Holy smokes that was AMAZING!” mid-way through his or her practice is all it takes!
9. Buddy Practice! – Piano practice can be lonely, but if there’s a buddy on the bench it can be a lot of fun. Even if you don’t have an ounce of musical knowledge you and your child can easily complete the activities found in this book which are designed to make piano practice fun, motivating and unique.
10. Make Piano Practice Time “Tech Free” – Whenever your child sits down to practice, turn off the TV, the cell phones, the computer, the Nintendo… everything. Allow your home to be filled solely with the music they are creating and allow yourself to be fully present.
11. Start a Warm Fuzzies Bag – Hang a pillowcase from the top of your piano. Each time your child practices during the week, handwrite a note about something you noticed was done well, a favourite song he or she played, how it improved your day to hear music etc. At the end of the week your child can open the bag and read your notes.
12. It’s UnBEARable – Find some Teddy Bear stickers and, using post-it notes, attach a bear sticker to 10 post-its. Write “It’s UnBEARable without your piano music! Play for us!” and hide them around your house in unexpected places. Your child will delight in finding these in the oddest places.
13. Host a Piano Picnic – Invite the entire family to a Piano Picnic Dinner. Spread out a blanket on the floor beside the piano. Serve cheese and grapes, yummy crackers, and tea and cookies. Have your child provide the dinnertime music in between bites. Drink your tea with your pinkies raised and speak in a very dignified manner (“Ohhhh… that piece was simply splendid my dahling… simply splended I say.”).
14. Check In – When you’re on your way home, call your child from your car (using hands-free of course!) and make a special and heart-felt request for some driving music as you make your way home.
15. Post-Office Piano Package – Create a small package of treats and a note about how proud you are of your child’s piano accomplishments. Mail it to your child and allow it to be discovered it in the mail box.
Full Tanks = Happy Piano Kids
Do these take a little bit of effort? Yes. Does it take a whole lot of effort on the part of your child to master an instrument like the piano? Absolutely! By demonstrating just how much you care about their involvement in piano you lay a very strong foundation for years of musical enjoyment. Beyond that, you also help to strengthen self-esteem and self-image. So pick a “tank filler” and give it a try!” (by Andrea Dow)
ONE LAST THING–THE CALENDAR
If you’ve been following the calendar I emailed out, you already knew that the masterclasses were coming! Just one quick update to the calendar for this fall. The Christmas Recital has been officially confirmed for December 13, 2013 at 6:30pm. So MARK THOSE CALENDARS or highlight it on your print out and hang it on your fridge! Forgot to print off a calendar? No problem! Find it on the blog: www.mmmusicstudio.wordpress.com/check-the-schedule/