UPDATE: The studio will continue to provide 100% remote instruction through at least May 31st, per WA state mandate. I am really impressed with how students have stepped up to this new mode of learning and hardly missed a beat (sorry, music pun!). The Music Haven teachers all met this week to discuss how to reopen safely when it is legal to do so. We are concerned about the health and safety of our students and families and will do all we can to limit the spread of germs. We will meet again before reopening to make sure we have everything in place and that we are all on the same page as far as what precautions we need to abide by. I know some students will be willing and ready to return to the studio as soon as we re-open, while others will prefer to continue with online instruction. I leave that choice up to each family. I trust that you know what's best for you and your family and will work to provide the best instruction I can, whether it be face-to-face or remotely.
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Just catching up on updating this: Since we've gotten the stay-at-home order in Washington state, the studio has moved to 100% online instruction. I've been teaching online for a month now, and it's going surprisingly well! Because we're not as restricted by school hours or conflicting activities, many teachers (including myself) have openings. Though online instruction is not the same as in-person lessons, I have quite a few students who are putting in a lot of practice, and showing amazing progress! I don't know yet when we'll be back in the studio. It depends both on the guidance from our governor and what families are comfortable with as restrictions are eased. Even when we are back in the studio (hopefully not too long from now), families will always have the option of online instruction. So for now, stay at home, clean your home, do your passion projects, and get in some music practice! This weekend the studio is going to have its first online performances! These "Flute Fiestas" and "Piano Parties" are performances with only a few weeks to prepare. They are more informal than recitals, and I've given kids (almost) free reign to play what they are most excited about sharing with others. Kids will be in small groups, by approximate age/grade. I hope these will be a fun chance to connect and remember that music-making doesn't always have to be a solo enterprise!
We are going to do some games, and then the kids will talk a bit about what they have chosen to play, then play their pieces. I'm encouraging each family to make a treat to share afterward. It's looking likely that we won't have a traditional Spring Recital this year, but we'll still have performances of some sort! Since my physical studio is located near the current epicenter of the coronavirus, I have gotten more requests than usual lately for remote (online) music lessons. Yes, I offer remote lessons, and have for a couple of years now, for both local and international students. Here is what you need to know:
I will continue to teach in-studio until further notice, although some students, especially those from Kirkland, have opted to do online lessons for now. I respect your decision as a parent to do what is best for your child and family, whether that means coming to the studio or opting to stay home and have your music lessons online. And lastly, yes, I do have openings for remote lessons! If you know of parents who are searching for online instruction (or the kids are just getting bored at home all day long), please pass along my information. We can make the best of this situation of more hours at home by learning a new skill, and dedicating extra time to music. As always, the initial meet-and-greet is free and no obligation, and in this case is held online as well. The recital programs are being finalized and kids are (mostly!) working hard to prepare their pieces well. As always, there will be quite a wide variety of music presented. I am looking forward to seeing this dedication showcased on February 9th.
Just a short note that our Winter Recital will be at the Bellevue Library on Sunday, February 9th. There will be two recitals, in the late afternoon-early evening.
This year the recital is a little later than usual due to several brand new beginner students. It takes a few months to learn enough to get ready to perform! Now everyone has a solid start and I am looking forward to hearing the performances in February! If you missed the first post on practice ideas, start here. Here are some further ideas to keep your practice steady, consistent, and fresh:
Do you have practice tips that have helped you out? Let me know! I am very excited to finally be caught up with the times and using...online scheduling! For several years I've been searching for a solution that would be easy to use for both parents, students, and me. It's been surprisingly hard to find!
This year I decided I was determined to find a solution and gave several providers a trial run over the summer. The winner is...Fons! I will confess to knowing the founder personally and I can attest to his work ethic and dedication to providing a quality service that fills the needs of subscribers. But what won me over was (no surprise) Fons itself. It's been simple and easy to use, and offers all the features students and I need, with the ability to turn off those we don't. Now students will be able to schedule their own lessons and move them if necessary, all on their own. The login and account creation is super-simple and takes under one minute. Really! Current students, look for emails from me in the next couple of weeks as I open up the online schedule. If you're not on the email list and would like to be, just let me know! I hope that this method of scheduling will make it simpler for everyone by avoiding the back and forth of email and making it easier to change a time when there is a conflict. Longtime students are scheduling their times, and the feedback has been positive. This morning a parent let me know her child hadn't been getting in much home practice and asked for ideas on how to make that happen. We brainstormed some ideas, which I will share here, in addition to many strategies that have worked with students over the years. Practice Ideas:
These ideas should get you started. I'll be back with more ideas soon! Remember, learning music is always a partnership. For children it's a partnership between student, teacher, and parents. If practice isn't where it should be, leverage the partnership and start a conversation between all three parties. Decide on a strategy that the student is invested in, the parent can support, and the teacher can check in on. Set things up to give the strategy its best shot, and if it's not working after a couple of weeks, try a new strategy! During July and August, times are available on the following days:
OFF: July 2nd-7th, and August 25-September 2nd |
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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