What a great year it has been so far! Now that we're approaching the busy holiday season, I'd like to remind you of a few things as far as my policies go.
I know that in December lots of events come up and make it so you can't make it to your scheduled lesson time. Please call me as soon as you know you can't make it so we can try to schedule a make-up lesson. If there is no time to make it up, I will take the missed lesson off of January's payment. However, if I don't receive a phone call (or text message) before lesson time, I don't give a refund. Also, if you are running late but still planning on coming to your lesson, please call or text. If it's 15 minutes into a scheduled lesson and nobody is there, I may leave for the day.
December also means it's time to start getting things ready for music festival! Southern Utah String Festival this year is on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012. I encourage all my students up to age 18 to participate in this festival. You get to memorize two songs and perform them for a panel of judges (who are teachers like me) with an accompanist. The judges will give you comments about things you do well in your performance, and offer some pointers on how to improve you playing. They also give you a rating (superior, excellent, very good, or good). You earn points for these ratings, and once you earn enough points you receive a gold cup. College scholarships are offered to students who earn at least one gold cup before graduating high school.
Forms for this festival are due on Friday, December 17. It does cost $10 per student to enter. If you are interested in participating, you may include the $10 in your December payment and I will write one check for all my students. It is important that you find an accompanist- students whose forms don't have an accompanist's name written down will not be scheduled. For more information about this festival, go to http://southernutahstringfestival.org/
The Orchestra of Southern Utah will be performing Handel's "The Messiah" on Sunday, December 11 and Monday, December 12 at 7:30 PM at the Heritage Theatre. Admission to this concert is FREE thanks to State Bank of Southern Utah and The Leavitt Group. I would highly recommend attending this concert. I perform in several concerts every year, but this one is always my favorite. The music is truly amazing!
That's all for this post. If you ever have questions, feel free to call, text or e-mail me.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Recital Tonight!
Tonight's recital features 10 of my students, and I will be performing a piece too. Refreshments will be provided by students and their families after the recital. Everyone has worked hard to polish and memorize their pieces, and it's sure to be a great recital!
The recital will be held at the Cross Hollows Stake Center at 2830 Cody Drive. It's close to the rodeo grounds. Here's a map of where it's at (hopefully).
Students who have not yet practiced with their accompanist and will be accompanied by Mrs. Grafelman should arrive at least 15 minutes in so they can rehearse before the recital begins.
See you there!
The recital will be held at the Cross Hollows Stake Center at 2830 Cody Drive. It's close to the rodeo grounds. Here's a map of where it's at (hopefully).
Students who have not yet practiced with their accompanist and will be accompanied by Mrs. Grafelman should arrive at least 15 minutes in so they can rehearse before the recital begins.
See you there!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Fall News
There has been a change in lesson fees since last year. Here is a list of the new rates:
Half-hour lessons at Whittlesticks- $50/month, $12.50/lesson,
45-minute lessons at Whittlesticks- $75/month, $18.75/lesson,
1 hour slot for families at Whittlesticks (1/2 hour per student)- $90/month, $22.50/lesson
Half-hour lessons in Beaver- $60/month, $15/lesson.
I expect full payment for the month to be made at the first lesson of each month. Payments made after the first week of the month will accrue a $5 late fee, unless prior arrangements have been made. In case we miss a lesson during the month (after payment has been made) and are unable to reschedule it, students may subtract the cost of one lesson from the next month's payment, as long as I was notified about the absence beforehand.
The first recital of the year has been scheduled for Friday, September 30 at 7:30 PM. Please put this date on your calendars, and begin thinking of a song that can be performed memorized by then. More details to come soon.
Thanks for being patient with me as I've been getting things together. I appreciate all your help and support, and I love being able to teach all my great students.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Summer Information
Hello!
As a lot of you know, I am leaving for China on May 30. I will be back on June 20, and then I will be off to a family reunion until the beginning of July. This means that there will be no lessons for the entire month of June. I will be back teaching on Wednesday, July 6.
For the months of July and August (until school begins), I have decided to teach everyone in the middle of the week. This way, I will be able to teach all my students and still go on a couple other weekend trips. I will begin teach from 11 AM to 2 PM, then 3 PM to 5:30 PM. If there is a specific time you would like to have a lesson, please let me know as soon as possible to I can set it aside for you. I will call everyone when I'm back to confirm or set up lesson times.
In other news, today I attended a great class for violin teachers. I picked up a few fantastic ideas that I plan to implement into my own teaching. I am excited about some of these things, and I think my students will find them to be very helpful and fun.
One thing I would like to do is to bow at the beginning and end of every lesson. A bow is a sign of humility and gratitude, and is also a good way to officially begin and end each lesson. I think this will help my students and myself to be more focused and productive. And, of course, it's also quite fun!
If you're looking for some summer reading, I recommend picking up Nurtured By Love by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. This book teaches about the philosophy and principles of Suzuki's teaching methods. It is a recommended read for every Suzuki method teacher, and Suzuki students and their parents. I am sure you won't be disappointed by reading it.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the learning process. I enjoy teaching each student and enjoy the things I learn as a result of teaching them.
As a lot of you know, I am leaving for China on May 30. I will be back on June 20, and then I will be off to a family reunion until the beginning of July. This means that there will be no lessons for the entire month of June. I will be back teaching on Wednesday, July 6.
For the months of July and August (until school begins), I have decided to teach everyone in the middle of the week. This way, I will be able to teach all my students and still go on a couple other weekend trips. I will begin teach from 11 AM to 2 PM, then 3 PM to 5:30 PM. If there is a specific time you would like to have a lesson, please let me know as soon as possible to I can set it aside for you. I will call everyone when I'm back to confirm or set up lesson times.
In other news, today I attended a great class for violin teachers. I picked up a few fantastic ideas that I plan to implement into my own teaching. I am excited about some of these things, and I think my students will find them to be very helpful and fun.
One thing I would like to do is to bow at the beginning and end of every lesson. A bow is a sign of humility and gratitude, and is also a good way to officially begin and end each lesson. I think this will help my students and myself to be more focused and productive. And, of course, it's also quite fun!
If you're looking for some summer reading, I recommend picking up Nurtured By Love by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. This book teaches about the philosophy and principles of Suzuki's teaching methods. It is a recommended read for every Suzuki method teacher, and Suzuki students and their parents. I am sure you won't be disappointed by reading it.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the learning process. I enjoy teaching each student and enjoy the things I learn as a result of teaching them.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Megumi Gass
Hello!
The last Orchestra of Southern Utah concert featured several incredible young soloists. I was very impressed with violinist Megumi Gass, and one of my students who saw the concert said she couldn't even describe how impressed she was. I just found out that the video of her performance is on Youtube, so I thought I would share it with you! Enjoy!
The last Orchestra of Southern Utah concert featured several incredible young soloists. I was very impressed with violinist Megumi Gass, and one of my students who saw the concert said she couldn't even describe how impressed she was. I just found out that the video of her performance is on Youtube, so I thought I would share it with you! Enjoy!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Music Festival
Today was the 26th annual Southern Utah String Festival. I had four of my students play at this festival. I was, unfortunately, only able to listen to two of them, but I was very proud of them! All four students worked very hard and sounded great at their lessons. Good job!
I am hoping to double the number of students I have participating in Festival next year. It is a great learning opportunity for the students and myself. They have the opportunity to polish and memorize two pieces and perform them for a small audience and three judges. They are given a rating based on how well they perform, Superior being the highest rating a student can earn. Once a student earns 15 points (which is the equivalent of 3 superior ratings) they student receive a gold cup. They also get to review the judges' comments with me and we both learn what we can do to improve their playing.
One of the teachers that is in charge of festival told me that in the fall a great Suzuki teacher will be coming to Cedar to and teaching a workshop. I have attended some of these workshops both as a student and as a teacher and I have learned a lot from them and had a lot of fun! I would encourage all my students to make it a point to attend this workshop. Students learn and memorize pieces that are within their playing level, and they spend two days playing them with other students under the guidance of the guest clinician and other great teachers. I highly recommend being there! I will give more information as I learn it.
Just a reminder: I will be having my wisdom teeth taken out on Friday, March 11, so I will be taking the following week (through Thursday, March 17) off to recover.
Thanks for all your hard work!
I am hoping to double the number of students I have participating in Festival next year. It is a great learning opportunity for the students and myself. They have the opportunity to polish and memorize two pieces and perform them for a small audience and three judges. They are given a rating based on how well they perform, Superior being the highest rating a student can earn. Once a student earns 15 points (which is the equivalent of 3 superior ratings) they student receive a gold cup. They also get to review the judges' comments with me and we both learn what we can do to improve their playing.
One of the teachers that is in charge of festival told me that in the fall a great Suzuki teacher will be coming to Cedar to and teaching a workshop. I have attended some of these workshops both as a student and as a teacher and I have learned a lot from them and had a lot of fun! I would encourage all my students to make it a point to attend this workshop. Students learn and memorize pieces that are within their playing level, and they spend two days playing them with other students under the guidance of the guest clinician and other great teachers. I highly recommend being there! I will give more information as I learn it.
Just a reminder: I will be having my wisdom teeth taken out on Friday, March 11, so I will be taking the following week (through Thursday, March 17) off to recover.
Thanks for all your hard work!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Congratulations!
Thanks to everyone for a great recital! I thought each student was well prepared and gave a great performance. Several people who attended said they enjoyed it and that the performances sounded nice. It takes a lot of work to get ready for a performance and my students, with the help of their families, did it admirably. Well done!
I want to especially thank those who brought refreshments, helped me change rooms at the last minute, and helped me get into the building. It was a hectic but rewarding day.
My friend Tyson Vance took photos of my students performing their pieces. If you are interested in seeing more or obtaining a copy, let me know. Here are some he took last night.
Performance is a skill that takes a lot of practice, which is why I hold these recitals. I know they are stressful for parents and nerve racking for students, but I hope some felt the sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that I have felt post-performance. The next recital will be held in August before school starts.
Here are a couple things to put on your calendars regarding violin lessons. I am having my wisdom teeth removed on March 11, so I won't be teaching lessons from that day through Thursday, March 17. I will resume normal lessons beginning on Friday, March 18, assuming all goes well. This means that students who have lessons on Monday and Thursday only need to pay for 3 lessons in March.
I am also not teaching lessons Wednesday, April 20 through Friday, April 22. Students who have lessons on Wednesday and Thursday only need to pay for three lessons that month.
The next time I will be gone will be June 1 through roughly June 17. I am going to China with The Orchestra of Southern Utah then. I will plan on starting lessons again on Monday, June 20, but the schedule isn't finalized yet, so mark that one in pencil.
Thanks again for all your support and hard work.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Recital Date Change, OSU concert thursday
I had planned to hold a recital for my students on February 19. As I was out getting some last minute things together for it, the snow started coming down hard. It was foggy and slick and I thought it would be best to postpone the recital. By the time I had called to inform everyone of my decision, the weather had cleared and I didn't feel it was best to call everyone back and change cancel the postponement. I sincerely apologize to any who didn't get the message, prepared refreshments, made schedule changes to make it to the recital, and all the other inconveniences this change brought about. The recital will now be held on Saturday, February 26 at 6:30 PM at the Canyon View Stake Center.
On the bright side, this change will enable me to include some of my students in Beaver as well as catch some who were out of town for President's Day weekend. It also means that everyone gets a few precious days to prepare their recital pieces. I hope this helps my students to feel more confident with the thought of their upcoming performance.
I have a great group of students who are eager to learn and wonderful families who support them. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of the learning and growing process. If there are anything you would like to see me do better, please let me know as I am learning right along with my students.
In other news, the Orchestra of Southern Utah is putting on a great concert on Thursday February 24 at 7:30 PM at the Heritage Theatre (behind Lin's). The first half features talented young artists performing solos with the orchestra. One of these is a very talented young violinist from St. George. She is playing a virtuosic piece by the composer Sarasate called Zigeunerweisen. It is a brilliant gypsy piece that I am sure my students will enjoy.
The second half of the concert features music about dinosaurs. Most of these pieces are brand new works composed by Dr. Keith Bradshaw, the music department chair at Southern Utah University, and his brother Daniel Bradshaw. These short pieces are very clever and entertaining and certainly worth hearing. For more information about this concert and the pieces that will be performed, click here.
Thanks for your support!
On the bright side, this change will enable me to include some of my students in Beaver as well as catch some who were out of town for President's Day weekend. It also means that everyone gets a few precious days to prepare their recital pieces. I hope this helps my students to feel more confident with the thought of their upcoming performance.
I have a great group of students who are eager to learn and wonderful families who support them. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of the learning and growing process. If there are anything you would like to see me do better, please let me know as I am learning right along with my students.
In other news, the Orchestra of Southern Utah is putting on a great concert on Thursday February 24 at 7:30 PM at the Heritage Theatre (behind Lin's). The first half features talented young artists performing solos with the orchestra. One of these is a very talented young violinist from St. George. She is playing a virtuosic piece by the composer Sarasate called Zigeunerweisen. It is a brilliant gypsy piece that I am sure my students will enjoy.
The second half of the concert features music about dinosaurs. Most of these pieces are brand new works composed by Dr. Keith Bradshaw, the music department chair at Southern Utah University, and his brother Daniel Bradshaw. These short pieces are very clever and entertaining and certainly worth hearing. For more information about this concert and the pieces that will be performed, click here.
Thanks for your support!
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