The Studio Blog

Hello students & parents,

I am looking forward to starting the first full week of fall violin lessons on Tuesday, for all but my Monday students!

I am standardizing my weekly assignment sheet for all students (including beginners) and I would like to ask that this year, each student bring a ring binder to lessons (1/2″ or 1″ size is sufficient). Most of my continuing students have one already; if you’ve been using a small notebook for lesson notes, I would like to switch to a binder. I picked up several inexpensive binders during back-to-school shopping and if you want to claim one, it’s yours for $1.00.

During the first few lessons we will be talking together about practice goals for each student. Practice times will be recorded right on the assignment sheet (instead of a separate sheet like last year) and points for prizes will be awarded based on the percent of your practice goal completed. Year-end recognition and awards will be based on percentages, not raw minutes, to make comparisons fair between beginning and more advanced players.

Continuing students will also receive information about their new P.A.R. goals for the year. I am looking forward to preparing many students for KMTA String Adjudications again; we will likely identify the pieces we’ll be working on in the first month or so of lessons so they’ll be well-prepared by March.

See you soon!

After-school lesson times are filling up fast. To see what remains available, view my studio Google calendar; jump forward to the week of September 13 (the first full week of lessons) and select the Week view tab (upper right) to see what times are already reserved. New and returning students should contact me as soon as possible to register and reserve their lesson time.

Missed a couple performers but here are most of them!

Willow   Curtis  Grace T.  Karis  Grace M. Kelli  Maren  Marley

• Year-end progress reports are coming home with students this month. Since most parents don’t attend their student’s lessons, I think it’s important to let them know what we’ve been working on and how their student is doing. I also like to take time to think about each student’s achievements over the course of the year and reflect on successes and challenges. It helps set the tone for the year-end recital and prepare us for the coming year of study.
• Remember to invite your friends and family to the studio recital on June 5! I’ve been assembling the tassels for the PAR Achievement Awards and can’t wait to hand them out!
• Registration forms for the 2010-2011 instructional year will be sent home soon. I will be arranging a summer lesson schedule with each interested family by the end of May.
• I love technology! I’ve purchased a Flip videocamera for studio use so I can capture student performances for critique or sharing with students’ family and friends on YouTube. Parents will need to provide permission for their students’ videos or photos to be posted online. If you’re on Facebook, become a “Fan” of my studio page, Jane Melin Violin Studio, where event notices and photos will be posted.

This year was the first that I have had students participate in KMTA’s annual Ribbon Festival, a “track-and-field” day for young musicians. Students earned ribbons in Solo Performance, Ensemble Performance, Sightreading, Rhythm, Technique, Original Composition and Projects (written and artistic). While the vast majority of participating students were pianists, I am working with another string teacher to add more events that non-pianists can participate in, so hopefully we’ll have lots more string players enter next year. The ribbons are so colorful and fun to collect. If you missed out this year, you’ll have another chance to earn them next April!

Six students participated in KMTA String Adjudications in early March and two were chosen to play in the chapter’s Honors Recital! Congratulations to all students for your hard work and rising to the occasion.

Next we’ll be focusing on establishing and meeting goals for each student’s PAR achievement award, to be completed by the end of May.

The KMTA Ribbon Festival is coming up on April 17! Another low-key performance opportunity and a chance to earn ribbons for your musical knowledge in several different areas. Information will be given out at upcoming lessons.

Spring is in the air! Keep up your practicing anyway and finish strong!

It’s a whole new year! Back-to-school time means back-to-lessons and weekly routines. New for all students are practice goals and incentives to meet your goals. I’m expecting great things from everyone as we challenge ourselves to reach new milestones.

See the TIPS tab (above right) for How To Practice. Have fun!

• Remember that tuition payments are due at the first lesson each month for the planned number of lessons that month.
• Summer lessons are being scheduled for July-August.
• Registration materials for the 2009-10 lesson year that begins September 1 will be provided at your next lesson or mailed by July 1.
• Follow me on Twitter!

Here are a couple photos from the recital. Please send me your pix!