Author: McKenzie
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Questions to Ask Before Your Child Quits Piano
It’s that time of year where schedules change, tuition increases are implemented, and those who have been contemplating whether or not to continue lessons will make the final call as the calendar switches to summer. Sometimes those that move on are not a surprise, while others seem to quit out of nowhere. But it never…
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Looking for Easter Basket Fillers With a Longer Shelf Life?
Spring is in the air, and Easter is just around the corner! And whether or not you view Easter as a big holiday with gifts, music, and celebration, this holiday is an opportunity waiting to be taken hold of when it comes to encouraging a musical home environment 🙂 Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies are…
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Women in Music: Women’s History Month 2022
What do your students learn about composers and professional musicians in your studio? Because I desire to see my students become composers and invested musicians themselves, it is monumentally important that I introduce them to a wide array of musicians. Who can be a musician? Anyone! Color, race, gender, or any other category do not…
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Fun Fact Friday: America’s Composer
Did you know that February 8th was John Williams’ 90th birthday?! Not only has this incredible man had a lifetime of composing many of the most recognizable movie soundtracks (Star Wars, Home Alone, Jaws, Jurassic Park, among many, many others), but he continues to conduct orchestras today! By the time he was out of grade…
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Black History Month in the Music Studio
Welcome to February! The month where all things love, winter (snow seems to fall a bit extra in Cleveland), and Black History month converge! While I strive to incorporate Valentine’s Day and weather-related activities in with my student’s learning, February presents a unique opportunity to celebrate artists and music styles in a very specific and…
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Cupid’s Note Reading
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and Cupid is doing some target practice around my studio 🙂 This year I’ve committed to popping in quick and easy note reading practice every moment possible during lessons. Typically, keeping it short makes it that much more palatable for those students who typically squirm when note reading…
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Is there an advantage to music learning?
In Cleveland it has been snowy, cold, and generally the perfect weather to stay inside and curl up with a blanket, a good book, and my thoughts 🙂 Now I don’t often sit with my thoughts and ask the question as to whether or not my profession has value – both musically and in making my…
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What Are You Growing in Your Studio Garden?
This is not the time of year I typically think of growing a garden. It’s been a warm, gray winter here in Cleveland, Ohio, and even when the sun does peak through my natural gardening abilities are so lacking it doesn’t bring to my mind any desire to dig a plot in the backyard. But…
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Book of the Month: December 2021
It’s mid-December. How are your Christmas shopping and your sanity holding up? I’m currently finding myself in the frenzy but looking ahead to time I have scheduled to slow down. Because time seems extra fast and extra precious this time of year, this post will be mercifully short (both for the writer and reader). But…
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Can Santa Deliver Gifts AND Good Practice Habits?
Christmas music is in full swing, and the excitement is tangible around my studio 🙂 Now that it’s December, we’ve had a few snowflakes, and there are sparkling Christmas lights hung everywhere, I have joined my student’s excitement in hearing the carols coming out of my studio (key word being December, not November). But sometimes…