Songbird Piano Lessons

Well... here we are. Another piano year wraps up to a close.     And another recital has gone off successfully!     This year's spring recital was different than most, in a very interesting and pleasant way. It was my first three-way joint recital. I teamed up with vocal teacher Dori Whyte (one of my  PMTA colleagues ) and guitar teacher Isaac Fehr (from  The Fehr Family Band ). In case you're wondering how that happened, Dori and I share a couple of students, and Isaac teaches my younger brother. So joining forces came about very organically.     One thing that made this recital unique was the order. I've always done it the same way -- beginners to advanced (translation: just-barely-got-started beginners to have-one-or-two-years-under-their-belt), and youngest to oldest. Also I've had my students play both their songs at once. This time, since we were mixing vocals and guitar in, the order was more varied. I still did some grouping...

     In case you haven't noticed yet, I am definitely old-school when it comes to my music tastes. If the reference to hymns rather than praise and worship songs in  Church Pianist, Part 1  didn't tip you off, then my opinions expressed under the label  The Christian Musician  probably have. When it's time to turn up Spotify, hymns and classical is where I usually go. (And the occasional  movie or musical track.  But I try to listen to those sparingly.)     Anyways, to get back to the story, in my late teens, our family made the decision to step back from the church we'd called home for ten years, and try something different. There were a lot of personal reasons for that, none of which are particularly relevant here.     The point is, we wound up in a small church where the music was... different.     It had a drum set. Now, I know, that's fairly normal for most churches, but it had been ten years ...

 So, students, this is your last Word of the Week until September! Please try to remember it.... Misterioso (Guess) Mysteriously 😆

        All right, students! Last week I gave directions to your parents; now it's your turn. Even if you feel like you have done this so many times that you couldn't forget anything if you tried... please read all the way to the end anyways! (Parents, go over this with your very young students.) On Friday, flag your books! Put a sticky note on the page with the song you are playing, so you can flip to it easily and quickly at the recital! If you have loose sheet music, make sure you have it with you (preferably in a binder and flagged). If you're playing from a book, and you have a page turn and haven't memorized the second page, get your mom or dad to photocopy pages so you don't have to do a page turn. (This does not apply if you're playing from memory, though it won't hurt to bring your books along anyways even if you're not planning on using them.) Does it make you nervous to play in front of people? If so, that's OK -- most people feel this way...

 Espressivo Expressively

 As usual, and this time a few weeks before the recital (instead of a few days like I did last time!), here is everything you, the parent, need to know about preparing your child for their recital. At least, I think it's everything. It's certainly everything I could think of. ;)    Make sure you and your family arrive at the church on time (a few minutes before 4:00 P.M.). Check the address ahead of time, so you know where you're going! Onoway may be a small town, but that doesn't mean you can't waste time driving in circles looking for your destination in it.;)      Please be respectful of church property while we are there, and remind your children not to run in the sanctuary, play with things in the church, etc.      Also please sanitize your hands upon entering.       Help your child feel relaxed before the recital. Many children get very nervous before a recital, which doesn't help them play their best! All your child...

 Con Brio With vigour