Summertime. and the living is...

[Oops -- I never posted this.  So, 2 months later, here you go.]

Unbelievably, I've been in my new location for one full year.  Where did all the time go?  I visited my former home last night; the new owners were kind enough to invite me to see their improvements.  I told them, I could never envision selling my house; I would hate the new owners because they changed my house, or I would be so jealous because they changed my house!  I can't hate these new owners.  They are salt of the earth wonderful, and have made only beautiful improvements.  So, I guess I'm just jealous.  And very happy.  They are taking great care of the old homestead.  I have a much smaller place to care for, in a different town with so much going for it.  A very good situation all around.

Summer is here.  Temperatures are soaring into the mid- to high-90s.  Folks are staying behind closed doors, and it's only June 14.  As a music teacher, I find this weather promising.  My students have more time to practice, thus more time to improve their piano skills, even while on vacation!

School finished last week, and "formal" lessons as well.  Don't get me wrong.  Lessons have not stopped.  I teach 12 months a year.  The summer schedule is merely more relaxed in order to accommodate vacations and camps.  I will be travelling this summer as well.  I ask that all students continue with at least 6 lessons over the 12 week summer break.

Here's to 2017!

2017.  It's here.  Happy New Year!

2016 brought me to Frederick.  Best move.  I couldn't be happier.  One advantage that I did not anticipate was joining the Frederick County Music Teachers Association.  Through the FCMTA, my local students have performed in 2 recitals, one at Halloween, and one just last week.  My current student base is still small.  The 2 recitals exposed my students to a larger audience.  And they did so well.  I was very proud of each performance.

I have always held a 12th Night Recital in January in order to encourage piano time during the holiday season.  This may be the last year I will be able to do so.  My small house will not accommodate too many students and their families.  Even last year in the old house, much larger, it was standing room only.  I had a small turnout this year, but I rate it a success.  The girls played their pieces, I had time to remind them to bow to thank their audience for attending, and then they enjoyed un-spotlighted time at the piano, paying older pieces ("Remember I played this at Halloween" and "The first piece I ever learned!") and improvising.  One parent suggested a Twinkle Twinkle duet.  I was so impressed; these 2 girls had never met each other, let alone practiced together, and yet they nailed it.

All of these performance events teach so much more than merely playing a selection of music.  Preparing for a performance requires focus, patience and time.  In this gotta-have-it-now era, learning to take time to reach a goal is an important life lesson.  They still have a lot to learn.  Don't we all?  But they did well, accepted their mistakes in stride, and are looking forward to the next time.

Wishing all far and wide a happy and successful 2017.  May we all continue to learn, accept mistakes (ours and others') in stride, and reach our goals this year.

Growing a business

What a great day!  Lessons from 9 in the morning to 7 in the evening.  An unusual day for me anymore, and reminiscent of my full studio in Severna Park.

Don't get me wrong.  I didn't teach straight through.  I had breaks in the day.  Breaks during which I could sit at the piano and play a Chopin Etude that I had learned in high school, among other things.  It's so enjoyable to pull out an oldie and have my fingers know what to do.  No longer Presto, but I do remember it.  Feels good.

When I planned this move to a smaller home in a new town, I had not anticipated quite so much down time.  I long for a full studio, a week full of days like this.  September has always been a worrisome month.  With schools back in session, the music season begins as well, but never with gusto.  The uncertainty of homework demands and sports schedules seems to take precedence over scheduling piano lessons.  Usually by October, my roster is full again.  This year things are a little slower.  I don't know many people here, my own children are grown and no longer in school, so I don't have that link.  Now that the sports season has changed, the clocks set back to standard time, and the election is over, I am seeing an uptick in queries which will hopefully lead to more names on the daily lessons roster.

Yes, today was a great day.  Tomorrow I make the trek back to Annapolis, where I still volunteer at the food pantry, and since I'm in the area, I still have a few in-home lessons.  These 2 days together are are great reminder of what I am capable of.  Now just to fill that roster.  I love what I do, and I do it well.

Success

Just a quick check in.  I arrived at the recital location early, but not ahead of my students!  They were the first to check in.  Since I was not in charge, I had the pleasure of chatting with them and their parents and grandparents before the recital began.  I relished that opportunity -- in the past, I was always too busy setting up and confirming arrivals.  I could relax today.  Someone else was in charge.

The recital was a hit.  Twelve young pianists played their heart out.  Everyone was beaming, (except for Darth Vader, who was behind a mask, even when he performed!).  Yes, everyone was in costume too, even most of the teachers!  Two of the teachers played the role of emcee and assistant.  Armed with balloons and dressed as characters from the movie Up, they shared jokes to lighten the atmosphere for these young performers.  For many of these kids, it was there first recital, and they were a bit nervous.  The adults' corny behavior put everyone at ease.  Each child received a certificate and treats at the end of the program.  I was so very proud of my students' accomplishments today.

I have some pictures which I hope to post later next week.  Check back Friday.

Halloween Recital 2016

We've been learning spooky Halloween tunes these past few weeks, all in preparation for a multi-studio recital tomorrow afternoon.  The music is new, unknown, and because Halloween is such a treasured holiday among the younger set, they learn the music quickly.   They then have a few weeks to add the subtle nuances by which they own the music. With tempo markings like eerily and gloomy, they take those dots on the page and paint great musical pictures of ghosts and goblins lurking on a dark Halloween night.  Others might have giddy or fun to guide them to portray musically a night of trick-or-treating.

The Halloween recital has always been one of the highlights of my year. Traditionally, I have taken my students to the local assisted living residence to perform for the residents.  The kids really get into this performance.  The parents too.  I joke that there are more family members than residents.  This is always the first performance opportunity of the year, the kids want to show off, and the parents want videos to share on social media.

The multi-studio recital is new to me.  Due to my move to Frederick, my student base has dropped.  I am rebuilding, but it all takes time.  I joined the Frederick County Music Teachers Association this year to meet other private music teachers, but more importantly, to find opportunities for my students to perform.  This is our first such occasion.  It will be fun to see and hear what other young pianists play.  I know my own students are well prepared, and I am looking forward to an afternoon of Halloween fun, costumes included.

New school year. New routine.

Busy few weeks.  Shaking the sand out of the beach towels one more time. Getting the kids back to school.  Continuing to mow the lawn.  That's the one constant as we transition to a new school year and a new routine.

My day to day is anything but routine.  That's one of the joys, or not, of moving. I've gotten comfortable in my new surroundings, and very comfortable having no schedule, no calendar.  I can't say I've necessarily used all my time wisely, but I have accomplished a few things over the summer months.  I spent a lot of time at the piano.  Beethoven and Brahms mostly.  The Brahms in particular is an angry piece, lots of forte and fortissimo octaves.  I like to play at night, but I live in a row house.  I don't want to wake my neighbors, so I keep my foot firmly placed on the soft pedal.  So far, no complaints from next door.

My tomatoes came in all at once, so I've also been busy in the garden and the kitchen.  My latest kitchen project was pickles, bread and butter pickles.  Oh, how I love bread and butter pickles.  I have definitely enjoyed the summer months.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end.  I find myself creating a new routine.   I still have a few lessons in the old neighborhood, but that entails a round trip commute of 120 miles.  Fortunately, I've had some success finding students in my new home town.  I need to continue advertising, marketing.  That is not my forte.  As I continue to learn that skill, my new studio will grow.  That's what I'm counting on, anyway.  Like I tell my students, it all takes practice!

Piano is my forte, one student at a time.

And the beat goes on...

Where did the summer go?  School started a week ago.  Lessons start back this week. I have been between jobs since the end of April.  So much to do to get the old house sold, and to get moved into the new house.  I have definitely missed teaching; I set myself a goal of September 1.

Early on, I was gung-ho to get things put away, arranged to my liking.  I moved from a big house with a big yard to a tiny house with a tiny yard.  Perfect, really.  I can stay on top of things here, not get buried in the responsibilities of maintaining a large home. But I brought too much stuff from the old house.  I've got most of the boxes unpacked, and I've made more than my fair share of trips to Goodwill and the Restore.  The music books, however, are still in boxes under the piano.

Having tried to build a music room out of a dining room has been more challenging than I had anticipated.  Where I want a music room that will accommodate a dining table, I have a dining room with a piano in it.  One step at a time, I guess.

I found bookshelves last night.  Don't you love Kohl's?  I had a 30% this month, expiration date August 31.  So, I hit the website at 10, with not a moment to spare.  Finally settled on 2 black bookcases, 43" tall.  Six shelves in all, I hope it's enough to house all the music.  Great thing about Kohl's.  If I don't like them, I can return them to the store.

And here we are, September 1.  All I've wanted to do is teach, and today I get to do just that.  I've dusted and vacuumed, I've arranged and rearranged the room and rearranged it again.  I have the bookcases on order, and my enthusiasm, which admittedly had waned a bit in August, is returning with gusto.  My class roster is not too full yet, but that's okay.  Just like I don't want to overwhelm my students with lessons the first week of school, I too will get to slide slowly back into the habit of working and scheduling and routines.

Yes, summer flew by, but it dragged a bit as well.  I am looking forward to a slower-paced fall, filled with music and routine.  But mostly music.