the four seasons

This year I decided to do mini Christmas recitals. Mini meaning that only 8-10 students perform. I had four wonderful nights of these performances held at the Four Seasons Assisted Living Home here in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I really enjoyed these nights. They were simple, under 40 minutes, great oppourtunity to serve and the cute elderly people just as always warmed my heart. A few highlights I will always remember is Taylor (I'll miss you ! ) singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" in Latin, my piano families singing as part of an impromtu choir, all my students performing so well and a sweet lady joining us as we sang her favorite Christmas carol, "O Holy Night" She ended up doing the singing as she had this beautiful soprano voice that just cheerfully lit up the room. I think I have the best job in the world. I get to bring the joy of music into peoples lives daily. How awesome is that? Here are a few pictures from that evening:

My piano students and families singing Christmas carols for the sweet residents

A few of my amazing students, Steven & Cambrie

take ownership

I teach this very energetic determined girl who said the best thing the other day while playing a song for me. She was moving through the song with perfect tempo. All of a sudden she played an F when the note was a G. She stopped, looked at the music and just said outloud, "Wait just a second!! That's NOT MY G!!"

This put a huge smile on my face! I loved how she recognized that her many hours of practice were not matching up to her performance and she called it out. I love it when my students know their stuff !!

ode to happy

My student tonight was learning Ode to Joy by ours truly, Beethoven. In the middle of the song the melody takes to higher notes on the staff. I often amoung my students see a confusion there. When they are so often used to playing in the Middle C postion it is often such a transition for them to move their awesome hands up an octave. I showed my student the difference in the notes and then to check for comprehension asked, "so... why is it that we must move our hands when we see notes higher on the staff?" My student just energetically replied, "Because they are happy!"

Happy hands always play the piano the best (:

happy piano new year

I am really missing my students. I'm so excited to start seeing them tomorrow. I thought I would post this coupon just in case any of my piano families would like to add some music to their sheet music libraries.

The folks at Alberti Publishing are offering readers a $5 off coupon, good for any sheet music download from their site. Visit www.albertipublishing.com and enter the code APB560 at checkout.

Mission: Music is back in progress. Who will be the first to make it around the world?