the awesome music binder

Happy New Year from Jarflower Music Studio!   It was a wonderful Christmas Season!  Before I forget, I wanted to introduce to everyone to the "awesome music binder"   I make it a requirement in my studio for all my older students to have a binder.   I have them start collecting songs that they want to learn.  I love all my awesome music binders because they are filled with such great music that I can use over and over again.  This young lady made such an awesome binder that I had to show it.

bach around the christmas tree

Bach Around the Christmas Tree Piano Solo 18 Classic Christmas Carols

I love looking for new music!!  Check out this Christmas book filled with traditional carols set to the style of classical composers.  The arrangements are perfect and have pleased many of my piano students.   It is fun to see so many of them loving classical music!!   I am excited for my order to arrive!!

boo!

One of my amazing students asked if she could write a song for her monthly goal.  Of course!!!  She wrote an excellent Halloween song using everything she has been currently learning. Check it out on my you tube site:  Click Here for Boo!!!

happy musical halloween

I found great music this year for my students and it made Halloween piano playing super fun.  

play the piano in the mornings

I love how this sweet girl talks about why it is a good idea to practice piano first thing in the morning.

he's the piano man

This past month I had a very successful recital.  Let me tell you how it came about. Last spring, as I watched each of my 50 students individually perform, I couldn't help but noticed something that was happening in the audience.   Every time a boy/young man performed every single one of my other male students young or old would perk up and listen intently, very intently.  Mind you it was a long long recital.  But even with the lengthiness there were still those boys who would listen no matter what to the other boys around them.  I was fascinated by this.  I decided that it was time to have an all boy recital!!  It turned out so GOOD!!

A tradition of mine is to always invite local guest artists to perform at my recitals.  They could be someone with a beautiful singing voice, amazing piano skills, or even the talent of playing other instruments that are not often found at a piano recital.   I decided to search out a male pianist who was not only awesome and amazing but also would be perfect to talk with the young men and motivate them to always continue with the piano.

I asked a man who attends my church because I had heard him play Chopin once and was left mesmerized.  After he accepted to play and inspire my piano men he called a week later and offered to have our piano man recital in his home!  How perfect especially since he sheltered a nine foot Steinway grand!

The evening was perfect.  I loved watching all the boys listen again so intently.   They left that night all fired up and ready for a new piano piece at their next lesson. What could be better then this?

 A wonderful intimate setting that made for such a beautiful evening.

 A sign one of my amazing piano moms made.  She put names of famous composers all over the sign along with all the names of my piano men.

 They were all so excited to play on such a huge piano.

What an unforgettable evening! Don't they look so great!! I'm so proud of my piano men!!

happy day

 Introducing my new favorite thing:  THE MONTHLY VIEW PRACTICE CALENDAR!!

I have started printing out the entire month view each month and putting it in my student's piano folder.  At the bottom of the monthly calendar we make a goal together.  Most of the time it is a practice goal and so it is fun for both my student and I to see their practice progress throughout the month.

I was thrilled the other day when my little 7 year old student came into my studio with the best words hand written by her on the top of her monthly calendar.  I had to just take a picture of this.   Take a look and see if  this makes you smile.