Hello All,

I wanted to take the time before we launch into the new year to thank you for your efforts this past year. Being a “piano parent” is a big commitment, and I feel so fortunate to be connected with families who see the immense value of music. Learning to play piano can be a life-changing experience and I’m humbled that you have chosen me to be a part of this exciting gift that you continue to give your student.

I’ve spent some of my holiday time planning studio goals for the coming year of lessons and I thought I’d give you a “sneak peek” of just some of what’s to come! This year we will be focusing on:

~ Note reading excellence: If we are excellent note readers, then we get to spend more of our time learning new music and making it sound musical and expressive 😊 The goal is 1 minute of note reading games and exercises per lesson, along with take home workbooks and activities to hone our skills.

~ The Metronome: Lately I have sought to pull out the metronome (that clicking thing that keeps the beat) in more places where it’s NOT needed. Why? Because then it is not a punishment! Being able to play with a metronome is super important, and not easy to grasp right away. But if we only pull it out when we have a problematic rhythm, it is just plain difficult. My goal is to use the metronome in every lesson this year … and to help make it easier to use in home practice! This means that EACH student will need to purchase one – we have them at the store or you can use one on your phone. Parents, it’s not usually helpful if your child has to use your phone during practice, so having one sit on the piano is best. Metronomes built into keyboards and digital pianos do not work.

~ Practice Journaling: I am so excited to introduce practice journaling this year! Each student will be receiving their own journal to help them maximize practice time and to have a resource on hand to see how small practice choices lead to a bigger picture 😊  

Never fear, whether these goals excite you or bore you, we will be working on them with lots of games, smiles, and challenges!

Seeing my students grow, improve, and learn to love music is truly the most rewarding part of my job. This past year I saw confidence, progress, creativity, pride, feelings of success and major accomplishments on a weekly basis. These are powerful memories each student is making, and these are invaluable skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Wishing you and your family a happy New Year!

See you in the studio,
~McKenzie

*for your individual yearly review and January invoice, please check your email*