Focused Practice is Better than LONG Practice!

It's not HOW LONG you practice----it's HOW you practice...
http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/how-many-hours-a-day-should-you-practice/

All Ages Benefit from the Study of Music!


http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/music-training-improves-the-aging-process-researchers-say/article_f8bb56ac-988b-11e1-90d9-001a4bcf6878.html#.T65igseV8QM.pinterest

Comping Chords (improv)

Piano With Willie

Fooling Around at the Piano

Sometimes you just need to "fool around" at the piano!

http://meganhughesmusic.com/2012/02/26/a-piano-teachers-guide-to-fooling-around-at-the-piano/

Great Sightreading Advice

Sightreading

Piano / Keyboard Lessons

Beginning in September, 2011, I will be teaching in my home on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.  Now that I am back in the classroom full-time, my piano student slots will be limited.  Contact me if you are interested.  I will also be scheduling "drop-in" lessons for those who want to work on specific music for a competition or performance.  Send me an email and I'll get back with you.

Popular song-writing cadences~

http://informalflick.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/how-to-write-a-popular-song-and-make-millions-5-songwriting-tricks/

The studio is quiet until after Labor Day.  Keep those fingers in shape!

Web Practice--Week Three

Keep your temperature rising!

Go to musiclearningcommunity.com and choose 3 activities from Rhythm Visual.
Record your scores and bring them to your next lesson.

Web Practice--Week Two

Go to musiclearningcommunity.com

Choose three games in the section "Rhythm--Aural"  from your level.  Practice and take the quizzes.  Tell me which ones you played at your next lesson, and I will check your scores for more "degrees".  If you're not sure about your level, email me at
 
crossmusic@suddenlink.net

Web Practice--Week One

Play the following games and print out the results to bring to your next lesson.


http://www.musictechteacher.com/musicquizzes.htm

How is Your Timing?
Rhythm Sound Match
Rhythms--Fill-in the Measure
Rhythm Terms Scramble

SUMMER LESSONS

My house will be filled with music again beginning Tuesday---July lessons!
Get ready to make your thermometer rise!

SUMMER LESSONS

Summer lessons will begin July 6. Check your email for your schedule.

The Next Generation...

The love of music has been passed down to our offspring!  Alyssa performed as Chava in Fiddler on the Roof @ LA Tech last month.  She will be transferring to ULM this fall to work on a concentration in Musical Theater.

                            

                                 

                  

SUMMER LESSONS

I will begin scheduling summer lessons this week.  Send me an email if you are interested in brushing up your skills or would like to learn the basics.  You may choose traditional lessons or improvisational technique.

I am now teaching in a first grade classroom, so the piano studio is "taking a break". As my schedule allows, I will begin teaching lessons again in January, 2010.

Elementary Group Lesson

The girls are studying their clues.

(Haylee, Anna-McKenzi, Sarah, Emily)

Elementary Group Lesson

...Gary leading his scavenger hunt team...

(Ashley, Gary, Molly, Greta)

Elementary Group Lesson

This was the "serious" pose??

(Emily, Haylee, Sarah, Gary, Molly, Ashley, Molly, Anna-McKenzi)

Middle School-High School Group Lesson

...nothing like an exciting game of musical spoons... (Ellen, Sarah, Caroline, Abby, Faith, Catherine and Sara

Another Published Composer...

Caroline Hubbard is now published!
Check out her new tune at:

https://www.finalemusic.com/showcase/myshowcase.aspx?t=showcase%2fmyshowcase.aspx

New Published Tune from Crossmusic Students

"The Girls" (Ellen Bennett, Sara Burkhalter & Hannah Hagerhjelm) collaborated to write The Most Solemn Song Ever....


Here is the link to their composition:

https://www.finalemusic.com/showcase/myshowcase.aspx?t=showcase%2fmyshowcase.aspx

New Venture

I will be teaching first grade at Summer Grove Baptist Academy starting fall of 2009. For the fall semester, Crossmusic Studio will be closed, but I hope to start teaching piano again next January.

10 BONUS POINTS

Bring a picture of a classical composer to your next lesson for
10 bonus points!

It can be drawn, printed or in a book.

Reasons Everybody Should Learn to Play Piano

Follow the link to my published article:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1559560/everyone_should_learn_to_play_piano.html?cat=33

WELCOME!

Crossmusic Studio has 4 new additions to the family:


Anna-McKenzi Fleming
Haylee Bridewell
Caroline Hubbard
Leah Mazog

Congratulations to our new published songwriters!

Catherine Shaw and Gary Wilson are now published composers! Check out the link to see their original songs:

https://www.finalemusic.com/showcase/myshowcase.aspx?t=showcase%2fmyshowcase.aspx

Ellen has joined our group of published composers!

Check out her Bumbleboogie.

Hurrah!!

Handclaps to all of you who participated in Keyboard Festival. You did a great job!
Your certificates should be arriving any day.

COUNTDOWN...

ONLY ONE MORE LESSON BEFORE KEYBOARD FESTIVAL...

Keep working to do your best EVERY time you practice!

5 BONUS MILES ACROSS THE MAP TO ANYBODY WHO COMMENTS ON MY BLOG THIS WEEK!

Only 3 lessons until KEYBOARD FESTIVAL on
MARCH 7.
Keep practicing to make your song (s) the best they can be!!

We are now flying around the world! Keep practicing and memorizing to get your balloon moving!

PILGRIM MANOR CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

.

December 13, 2008

The Great Race is Over!

Congratulations to the GREEN TEAM! You are the overall winners in the GREAT RACE!

~~ELEMENTARY WINNERS~~

GREEN TEAM--Emily Sharp

BLUE TEAM--Sarah Ramsey

RED TEAM--Gary Wilson / Ashley Hollis

___________________________________________________

~~MIDDLE SCHOOL / HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS~~

GREEN TEAM--Ellen Bennett

BLUE TEAM--Faith Watson

RED TEAM--Sara Burkhalter

A new contest will begin in January! Get your binder organized and ready to add some new music!

KEYBOARD FESTIVAL

KEYBOARD FESTIVAL

MARCH 7

Watch for your registration form to come home in the student binder.

I will send the entry form with all students' names, so do not worry about filling out the online form.

To view all the information, go to:

http://lbc.org/Music/Default.aspx?id=6056

~~A big handclap to all my students who played their Christmas music at Pilgrim Manor~~
I have heard many wonderful compliments on how well you played!

One of the best ways to use your musical talent is to share it with others!

I am proud of all of you!! :)

Crossmusic Studio Students

Gary Wilson

Abigail Hagerhjelm

Ethan Bolton

Sara Burkhalter and Ellen Bennett

Molly Mize

Ashley Hollis

Sarah Ramsey

Julie Hough

Joe Mazur

Faith Watson

Catherine Shaw

Emily Sharp

Mary Claire Shaw

Sarah McGee

Molly as Sarah Palin

Happy Halloween!

Here is my tribute to Sarah. (This gives you an idea of what she may look like 10 years from now!)

I'm Back from the Mountains!

I am ready to hear all that beautiful Christmas music all my students have been working on while I have been gone!

The day I was driving back to the Albequerque airport, I got to watch a hot air balloon festival! I will show you more pictures when you come to your lesson.

I will be playing piano at a conference in Glorieta, New Mexico next week (October 6-9).
Lessons will resume October 13.

Keep practicing so you can have as much fun as I do!

MARY CLAIRE FILLING UP HER POND

MOLLY AND GRETA AT MUSIC CAMP

ALYSSA DID IT!!

We now have a high school graduate in the house! The time really does fly by. Alyssa will be going to Ruston in the fall to attend Louisiana Tech with a major in speech/theater and a minor in music. We are very proud of Lyssie! (If she seems a little sad, it's because she's afraid her room is going to become a sewing sanctuary after she leaves. I don't know where that idea came from.....)

GROUP LESSON MAY 23,2008

We had fun, as always, getting together to share songs and games. Gary and Greta came early and played for the older kids. (Greta was camera-shy!)

The gold medal winners:
Gary Wilson, Abby Hagerhjelm, Caroline Francis, Ellen Bennett, Ethan Bolton, Catherine Shaw, Sarah Burkhalter--part of my extended "music family" :)

STUDENT OF THE WEEK

YEAH for Sara Burkhalter!!!!

She memorized Fur Elise and completed her Lesson Book!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Several of you have earned your gold medals for 2008. Two students have made it all the way to Beijing, and there are several more almost there! Don't stop working on your music--a program is "in the works"! (Check back for more information.)

LOUISIANA BAPTIST KEYBOARD FESTIVAL --MARCH 1,2008

Eleven of my students participated and, despite some nervous moments, played beautifully.
I am proud of all of you:
Ethan Stalder
Ethan Bolton
Sara Burkhalter
Ellen Bennett
Catherine Shaw
Gary Wilson
Greta Simolke
Caroline Francis
Joe Mazur
Abigail Hagerhjelm
Evie Andersen