New Studio Policies!

After much agonizing and debating with myself and my family, I have come up with a system that I think will work well for me and my students! Please read my new studio policies for more information.

One of the biggest motivating factors that brought me to this conclusion was my desire to have my students experience a broader range of vocal education. I feel that ear training, sight-singing, and performing are essential in developing as a vocalist. I am really excited about trying out these group classes. One of my strong characteristics as a teacher is coaching performances. I have a great deal of theatrical training, as well as a gift for singing with my soul! I definitely want to pass these qualities on to my students, but it doesn't seem possible to do so in the 1/2 hour private lessons I have been teaching thus far. If this plan doesn't work out, we can always go back to the way things were!

Another reason I have made such significant changes was the fact that I am too nice and I often give away time by taking longer than the time alotted or take the easy way out and cancel rather than reschedule a lesson. This is not good for either me or the student. The student must value and respect the teacher's time, as well as be consistent with his/her practicing and lesson times to maintain steady progress. My hopes this year is that I will be more consistent in my business practices to be fair to both myself and my students!

I look forward to seeing the progress of each and every one of my students and hope that I will make progress as well in my own journey as a teacher!

Friendship Village Performance

Location: 

Friendship Village--Nunnenkamp Center 

Take the 101 north to the Baseline/Southern Exit. Go straight through the light and keep going on the frontage road until you hit Southern Ave. Turn right and go past the first light (Evergreen). On your right you will see the gate for the Friendship Village Community. The guard may want to ask you where you are going--you will be performing at the Nunnenkamp Center. Once you are past the gate, turn left at the third driveway. Nunnenkamp is just past the fitness center on your right. The front desk will be able to direct you where to go. 

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=Friendship%20Village%20Nunnenkamp&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl

When: 

Private students please arrive at the Friendship Village no later than 1:45 pm. 

Group Class Students: We will have a dress rehearsal at my home at 12:45. You are welcome to bring any guests to my home to view the dress rehearsal--just let me know how many people you would like to come. We can also carpool to the event so that we limit the number of guests (If you would like to carpool/chaperone, let me know--no siblings, please).

Who May Come: 

Please limit your guests at Nunnenkamp to one parent/guest only, since there is a limited amount of space in the facility. If you were planning on more, please let me know and I'll see if I can arrange something.  

What to wear:

This is your chance to wear that old Christmas sweater that's been hiding in the closet all year! Please dress up a little--very nice casual or Sunday dress (skirt, dressy pants, holiday dress, Christmas tie, etc.). 

Behavior:

Please remember there should be no talking during any performances--this is especially important as there may be some audience members who don't hear very well. All of the performers are encouraged to stay and hear the entire performance, but keep in mind there may not be seating for everyone, so if you are uncomfortable, feel free to step out or leave. The audience depends on the number of patients who are well enough to attend the event (they don't allow patients to come who are sick with viruses of any kind).

Volunteers:

I would love someone to bring their digital video camera to record this event. If there is someone who is willing to record it, I will burn everyone a copy. 

Program:

I will hand you the program on Saturday before we begin, but here is a tentative order:

Glory To God: Group Class

Up On The Housetop: Group Class

Somewhere In My Memory: Group Class

Christmas Bells: Savannah, Hunter and Alicia Morgan

Silver Bells: The Whites

Christmas Is Coming: Kaitlin, Megan R., Anna

Merry Christmas Darling: Megan

I'll Be Home For Christmas: Anna, Megan C.

Still A Bach Lullaby: Katlin and Alicia

Maria Weigenlied: Alicia

Angels' Carol: Alicia and Jennifer

Voices One--TBA

Larsen Family--TBA

Thanks for all of your hard work and participation! I'm so excited to hear the beautiful music on Saturday!

Schedule Change

Private lessons will be held final week of November. In order to prepare for the upcoming performance, I would like to have lessons the last week of November, which originally we were going to have off for Thanksgiving. That makes a total of four private lessons, totaling $80 for those of you who have no credits.  

In addition, I've added one more group class in December so that we can watch and evaluate our performance as well as look at new material and play music games!

Thanks!

Upcoming Performance at Friendship Village

Our performance is coming swiftly upon us. I will have a pianist come to my studio to record all of the accompaniment tracks for the performance. On the upside, this will mean you will be able to have your accompaniment to practice with and use after the performance. On the downside, I am asking everyone to contribute $5 towards hiring the pianist. Please bring me your money at your next lesson/class.