These cheesy photos show what it's like to teach online. Gestures get exaggerated to make up for the online aspect, but we have fun with it. I've been back in the studio since summer, but still around 75% of students are opting to remain online, because it's convenient and easier for parents. With the amazing technology that exists today, it generally works well!
This week school have been cancelled due to snow and ice, but I'm hoping it will melt enough in my neighborhood to make it into the studio today.
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Congratulations are in order:
This year it looks like the ensembles will get to rehearse and perform together- an experience that is sure to be a highlight. Early fall is my absolute favorite time of year. Which means that preparing for Winter Recitals is just around the corner. I've just sent out a poll to parents asking for your preference for either an in-person or online recital for this year. So far it's split, as expected. I will offer an online option no matter what, but will also do my best to host an in-person recital for those who wish. Finding a venue may be hard, but I will try! The last recital we had in-person was in early 2020- it feels like so long ago. If you haven't let me know your preference yet, please do so and I'll get to planning!
As schools move back to fully in-person, I'm working hard to create a schedule that accommodates all my current students. For the fall I'm offering both remote and in-person options. For those who are curious, about 25% are coming back into the studio for in-person instruction, and 75% are remaining online (with option for hybrid, as outlined below). My studio is following the State guidance and we wear masks at all times. Search "flute masks" on Etsy and you'll find a few options.
In talking with parents over the last year- and more- one common theme is that it is a big time investment from both parent and child to drive to lessons every week. So I've come up with a hybrid option, which means that weekly lessons are online- this means they can be scheduled at any time and not only around parents' work schedules- and then there is an option to come in-studio once every two months, which will normally be scheduled on a weekend. This seems to be a good solution for many. I'm really grateful for the technology that we have today. Online school has been tough for kids but one thing they've learned has been how to troubleshoot. That has made a huge difference in the success of online lessons! Technology doesn't always work as it's supposed to, but kids have learned to quickly troubleshoot and almost always are able to make it work. I've had several students move out of state and continue with the lessons, and I'm also thankful to be able to make that work as well. If you're interested in getting the fall schedule, it's filling up, so contact me now! Happy summer! For many kids this has seemed like the longest school year ever, and summer break is a welcome change of pace. I will be teaching the whole summer, and the schedule is more flexible while schools are out.
For July and July, students can choose whether to remain virtual or come into the studio on a hybrid basis. I've sent the dates I'll be in-studio to all current students. Let me know if you plan to come in! For fall, my plan is to offer a few options:
Wow!! I'm very happy to say that FIVE of my flute students earned Junior All State honors this winter.
Junior All State is a statewide honor band that normally meets in person for a weekend of rehearsals and final performance. This year as that is not possible, the WMEA (Washington Music Educators Association) opted to instead hold taped auditions as usual and publish the Junior All State winners as an honors list. I am really glad they found a way to be able to continue the tradition, as it gave students something to work toward. In Washington state, 35 flutists were selected for the honor. I am humbled, but not surprised, that 5 of my own students are on the list. Congratulations to Abigail, Anusha, Liya, Matilde, and Varshini, for achieving recognition for your hard work! 2020 was rough for a lot of us. 2021 looks like it may eventually be looking up, after a bumpy and windy road. What role can music play?
For some it is a chance to escape. Or perhaps meditation would be a word with a more positive connotation. Some people use music as a creative outlet. Some enjoy the aspect of playing socially; making music for or with family members or friends. For others it is simply the habit and routine of sitting down at the piano to end the day, or as a break between brain work sessions. Do you have a New Year's Resolution to learn to play music? To get back into it? Now is possibly a great time to start. Possibly not, and it's good to be honest about that. If it will be one more thing on your overloaded plate, it can wait. If it is something that will bring joy and satisfaction, don't delay. And if you're not sure? Talk with an instructor about what taking music lessons entails, and see how you feel about it. As far as my own New Year's Resolutions go (I call them goals), one of the important ones is to give back through my work. My studio is going to start off the year doing this with a practice challenge to raise money for Feed America, which will run for a month from mid-January to mid-February. I believe that together we can make a difference. Schools are still online here. Music lessons are too. We've learned a lot since March about how to effectively teach and learn online. For some people online instruction will be a permanent solution for music lessons or other enrichment classes. When the technology is optimized with good internet and audio quality, online instruction really works well for the majority of students.
Do some students want to come back to the studio as soon as possible? Yes. But for others, online instruction removes some barriers. It makes scheduling much easier. Kids can take lessons in the after-school hours and leave the evening hours for family time or relaxing. Parents don't have to battle traffic to get home and then turn around and drive back into that same traffic to get their kids to lessons. One positive outcome I've seen is that kids are now active in their learning. Now they are the ones to note down what they need to practice during the week, or make notes in their music. Some of the struggles we first encountered last spring have largely been overcome. I've figured out what audio settings work best on a variety of platforms. Kids and I both are adept with screen share. They can easily send music they want to learn to me during the lesson and I can share video or audio too. We've done several online performances and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I keep them short and fun and kids share their favorite music with others. I had another student audition successfully into the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra this month. I'm really proud of the work she put into it! One thing I am really looking forward to in 2021 is our upcoming studio practice challenge. Each student is going to have the opportunity to earn money for the food bank, by practicing! I've done practice challenges in the past but the prizes have never felt quite right. I see so much generosity and a genuine desire to help in children, but it can be frustrating because they don't feel that they can contribute. I'm really hoping this will motivate kids to practice even more in these winter months when a lot of things are still shut down, while being able to do something positive. Stay tuned for more info coming in the New Year. Teachers and students are slowly returning to the studio, with a robust set of health protocols. I'm attaching some photos and welcome back letter below to let anyone interested in coming back to the studio know about the protocols we are following.
Here is the lengthy letter explaining all the protocols, and a few photos of our new setup (notice no more chairs in the waiting area). ------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Music Haven student: We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last several months, with every one of the teachers at The Music Haven migrating their lessons to online platforms. All of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, some things have remained the same: Our passion for teaching music and our commitment to providing a safe and professional environment for private music instruction. Infection control is a top priority as teachers gradually begin to resume in-person lessons for those students who wish to return to this mode. Given the current safety guidelines and restrictions, we all have had to make changes in our daily life to keep us safe from the spread of the disease. We want to tell you about the infection mitigating procedures we are implementing at The Music Haven to provide a safer environment for students and teachers in their lessons. The Music Haven follows infection control recommendations made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings, scientific findings, or guidance that may be issued. You will see some changes when it is time for your next in-studio lesson. We have made these changes to help protect our students and teachers:
Thank you for making music a priority in your family’s life. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back students as restrictions gradually lift. Sincerely, The Music Haven teachers This is the sunny corner I have taught music from since mid-March. It's not fancy, but it's working very well. I have been consistently impressed with how students of all ages are showing such flexibility and an overall positive attitude when their lives have changed so much, so quickly. I appreciate the technology that allows us to continue on in music despite having to go virtual since the spring.
I found out today that LWSD is going to go all online in the fall, in addition to the long list of other districts, including Seattle Schools and the Northshore School District. This means the majority of my students will continue to have more flexible schedules. While I know this will continue to be a strain for families, the upside is that most kids have more time to put into things they love, such as music. Lots of adults are taking advantage of being at home more, and practicing their instruments again, too! I miss seeing everyone in person, of course. But I've turned my home studio into a pleasant place to spend time, with natural light, wired internet, and a makeshift shelf to store all the music books I use most often. I'm enjoying adding to the studio music library, too, as I purchase the books my students are using. If you have a goal to play more music, think about your environment as well as schedule. It helps to make your practice space comfortable and pleasant! I don't know yet when we will back in the studio for in-person lessons, so for now I look forward to seeing everyone online and spending more hours here in the home studio. |
AuthorHi! My name is Mariya, and I teach flute and piano lessons in Redmond, WA and online. Here I share thoughts about learning music and helping others learn how to play an instrument. Archives
December 2023
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