2009-2010 CALENDAR

 

SEPTEMBER 2009
Sep 8 (Tue)	Fall Semester Begins
OCTOBER
Oct 24 (Sat)	Parents Piano/Guitar Workshop  |  Norwood Have you ever said to yourself: "I would love to help my son or daughter out with the piano/guitar assignments, but this is way beyond me and I don't really know enough music to help them".  If so, this is the class for you!  This is a group workshop held for parents of students where we basically give you a crash course in the basics and fundamentals of music and technique so that you will be able to help your kids practice during the week to get the most out of your lessons!  We will also present tips on how to get your kids to practice!  These classes are most appropriate for parents of beginners.  The class times are as follows: 10:00am -11:00am Piano Class 11:30am -12:30pm Piano Class 3:00pm - 4:00pm Guitar Class 4:30pm - 5:30pm Guitar Class Please email Chris or Vivian to sign up for the classes.
NOVEMBER
Nov 26 to Nov 29 (Thur to Sun)	Thanksgiving Holiday  -  No Lessons
DECEMBER
Dec 4/5 (Fri/Sat)	National Music Certificate Program (Piano Only)  |  Lowell Signup deadline: Oct 20 The Practical Exams will be held on this date.  Students are encouraged to participate in these exams, as this is an internationally recognized Certificate Program that will give students a goal to work towards, while the exam itself is non-intimidating since students only have to play for one judge.  For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.nationalconservatoryofmusicofamerica.org/index.html.  Students interested in the NMCP Exams should speak to their teachers.
Dec 12/13 (Sat/Sun)	Auditions for Natick Mall Concert  |  Norwood We are having auditions for all students who are interested in playing at the Natick Mall Concert in order to ensure that students are really ready to play and more importantly, to time all performers so that we can be organized!  There is not a specific number of students that we can take, so anyone who we feel is ready to perform will be able to.  It will also give students a chance to "try out" their pieces.
Dec 20 (Sun)	Natick Mall Concert  |  12:00-6:00pm  |  Natick This will be the second year that we are playing at Natick Mall and we had a great time last year!  It will be a big stage and a chance for students to play for people outside of our music academy and be a star!  Playing at the mall can be a bit intimidating, so I would recommend this event only for veterans (those who have done recitals before), but all are welcome! Some students also find this incredibly low pressure because people are walking by and not really paying attention, and they are all strangers anyways!  If you would like to participate and play at the concert, please let your teacher and Vivian or Chris know by calling or emailing us!  Students can play holiday music or anything else that they are working on at the moment.  Pieces do not have to be memorized, but we do ask that pieces be ready to be performed.  Because we will be at the mall without a traditional sit-down audience, students can play as many pieces as they would like.  All students who would like to participate have to do the auditions on Dec. 12 or 13.  For the day of the concert, you will be able to sign up for half hour slots so that you don't have to be there for six hours!  We will confirm the times after we hear and time all the participants at the auditions.
Dec 24 to Jan 3 (Thur to Sun)	Winter Vacation  -  No Lessons
JANUARY 2010
Jan 31 (Sun)	Fall Semester Ends
FEBRUARY
Feb 1 (Mon)	Spring Semester Begins
Feb 7 (Sun)	The Falls at Cordingly Dam Assisted Living Recital  |  1:30pm | Newton This is a low pressure, fun recital for all students who would like to participate.  Students can play up to three pieces and we encourage all students who have something performance-ready to participate.  Pieces have to be memorized for piano students.  This is a great opportunity for students who have never performed to get their feet wet!  Please let your teacher and Vivian or Chris know by emailing or calling us if you are interested in playing at this concert.
Feb 27 (Sat)	MMTA Judged Festivals (Piano Only)  |  9:00am-5:00pm  |  Wellesley Free Library    The MMTA Judged Festivals is sponsored by MMTA (Massachusetts Music Teachers Association).  The purpose of the Judged Festivals are to provide students of high school age and under at varying levels of playing a chance to perform and compete in a judged recital format. The Judged Festivals will have a rotating theme annually, and the theme for this year is Sonata/Sonatina. Students will perform one required piece from a required list of repertoire according to their ages.  This festival will give students a chance to perform in a recital setting, be critiqued by judges, and compete for awards.  This Festival is for the more "serious" piano student who would like a more challenging event than the recitals.  Please let your teacher and Vivian know if you are interested in participating.
MARCH
Mar 13 (Sat)	Piano Group Lessons  |  9:30am-1:30pm  |  Norwood The lessons are held in 45 minute groups at my home in Norwood.  Group lessons gives students a chance to perform their songs for their peers, and they are welcome to perform pieces in progress (meaning that they don't have to be performance ready).  We also play music games and learn things that we don't get a chance to go over during regular weekly lessons.  All students are encouraged to come to the group lessons.  It's a fun experience and it will make piano a less lonely endeavor!  If you are interested, please sign up by emailing or calling Vivian.  You will then be assigned to groups by age and level.  Please let Vivian know if you would need to come at a certain time to avoid other time conflicts, or if you would like to be assigned to a group with your friends.  The group lessons are $5 per student.
Mar 14 (Sun)	MMTA Musical Achievement Evaluations (Piano Only)  |  M. Steinert & Sons  |  Natick Postmark deadline: Feb 14 This is a low pressure event where students play two pieces of their choice for an evaluator.  This is a good place to "try-out" programs and repertoire, and a good event to do because all it takes is the will to go out and do it!  Students interested in this event should speak with their teachers and Vivian.
APRIL
Apr 11 (Sun)	Cabot Park Village Assisted Living Recital   |   2:00pm  |  Newton This is a low pressure, fun recital for all students who would like to participate.  Students can play up to three pieces and we encourage all students who have something performance-ready to participate.  Pieces have to be memorized for piano students.  This is a great opportunity for students who have never performed to get their feet wet!  Please let your teacher and Vivian or Chris know by emailing or calling us if you are interested in playing at this concert.
Apr 25 (Sun)	Field Trip to Piano Concert of Maurizio Pollini  |  3:00pm  |  Symphony Hall, Boston We will go hear one of the best pianist alive today.  Pollini will be playing an All-Chopin Program.  This concert will be for middle school and high school students only.  We will arrange to go to the concert and have a fun day together!  Please notify Vivian if you are interested in this program.  The tickets are around $50.
MAY
May 1 (Sat)	Piano Group Lessons  |  9:30am-1:30pm  |  Norwood The lessons are held in 45 minute groups at my home in Norwood.  Group lessons gives students a chance to perform their songs for their peers, and they are welcome to perform pieces in progress (meaning that they don't have to be performance ready).  We also play music games and learn things that we don't get a chance to go over during regular weekly lessons.  All students are encouraged to come to the group lessons.  It's a fun experience and it will make piano a less lonely endeavor!  If you are interested, please sign up by emailing or calling Vivian.  You will then be assigned to groups by age and level.  Please let Vivian know if you would need to come at a certain time to avoid other time conflicts, or if you would like to be assigned to a group with your friends.  The group lessons are $5 per student.
May 15 (Sat)	MMTA Bay State Contest  (Piano Only)  |  Fitchburg State College Postmark Deadline: Apr 1 This is the statewide competition held yearly.  This is an event where students from around the state compete in their age groups.  This is a high pressure event and students who want to participate in this event must work hard and be dedicated to the piano with their practicing!  Students who would like to participate in this event should speak with their teacher and Vivian for more information.
May 14/15 (Fri/Sat)	National Music Certificate Program Theory Exams  |  Reading The Theory Exams will be held on these dates.  Theory exams are a required portion of the NMCP Program, starting from Grade 5 & up, but they are not exclusive to the students participating in the practical exams.  They do require quite a high level of understanding in music theory.  Please speak with your teacher if you would like to participate in this event.
JUNE
Jun 1 to Jun 5 (Tues to Sat)	National Music Certificate Program Practical Exams (Piano Only)  |  Lowell The Practical Exams will be held on this date.  Students are encouraged to participate in these exams, as this is an internationally recognized Certificate Program that will give students a goal to work towards, while the exam itself is non-intimidating since students only have to play for one judge.  For more information, you can visit their website at http://www.nationalconservatoryofmusicofamerica.org/index.html.   Students interested in the NMCP Exams should speak to their teachers.
Jun 12 (Sat)	End of the Year Recital | 3:00pm & 5:30pm  |  Emmanuel Luther Church, Norwood, MA This is our big event of the year!  We strongly encourage all students to participate.  It gives students a goal to work for, as well as a chance to share what they have learned throughout the year.  After the recital, we have a trophy ceremony, as well as a big party!  We have found that participating in the End of the Year Recitals is the key to building a students' interest and confidence in their playing, and we often find that students are much more excited about their instrument after the recitals! There are a total of nine separate recitals this year.  Please let us know if you prefer a specific recital day and time.  Also, please let us know if you would like to be in a recital with your friends, and we will try to accommodate that as much as we can!  We separate students into the recitals based on their teacher and their level of playing, so that we will have enjoyable recitals with a range of different instruments as well as levels of playing for variety!
Jun 12 (Sat)	Rehearsal for the End of the Year Recital  |  8:00am-2:30pm  |  Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Norwood, MA The rehearsal is not mandatory, but it will be a great chance for students to get familiar with the setting (which is important for first-timers) and the P/A equipment (which is important for the singers).  Each student can sign up for a half-hour block (e.g. 1:00 - 1:30 pm).  Also, students need to stay for that half hour to act as audience for the other students.  As slots are limited, it will be first come first serve.
Jun 19/20 (Sat/Sun)	End of the Year Recital |  June 19 - 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm & 5:30pm  |  June 20 - 1:00pm, 3:30pm & 6pm  |  Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Norwood, MA See Above
Jun 19	Spring Semester Ends
Jun 28	Summer Semester Begins