Back To School- Volume 24
October 4, 2022
New session of Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, October 11! For $20 discount, use coupon code: FALL2022
Back To School!
This Memo includes
Feature Article: Back To School
Practice Tip
Student Showcasing
Student Hall of Fame
Parents Ask Pam - How do we use the practice app?
Feature Article - Back To School
The arrival of a new school year can usher in mixed feelings for everybody in your family. Your children may be bursting with excitement to see their friends every day, or they may dread the idea of having more homework. Either way, this is an emotional time for everybody involved- and, as time would have it, this new school year has once again rolled around. If you haven’t thoroughly prepared, you can feel lost while trying to navigate these times of turmoil.
As a parent, you want to keep your children feeling stable, especially during these rough times of transition. After all, your children aren’t the only ones facing an upheaval; your schedule is changing just as much as theirs. To make this time a little easier on yourself and your children, you can think of this new school year as similar to a new calendar year. You may have heard of a “new year’s resolution,” but try making some “school year resolutions.”
If you take the chance to treat this time as an opportunity for change and resolution, you will find it easier on everybody in your life. Between yourself and your children, everybody may have different goals for the school year; you may want your children to keep up a certain GPA, and your kids may want to make a certain amount of friends or sign up for a sports team.
While you and your family are working out what goals you want to accomplish this school year, consider giving your children the gift of music. There is no better time to enroll your children in piano lessons than the start of the school year, while they are already adjusting to a new schedule. Additionally, the start of a new school year allows your children to capitalize on one of the most significant benefits of a music education; better grades. Many studies have shown that students with some level of music participation perform better in academic situations, especially in elementary school!
We take our children to school to help prepare them for the years that lie ahead; in a way, each new school year is a start of a new life. As your child navigates their time in school, they will build the skills that they need to thrive in the adult world. As a parent, you do what you can, but sometimes the best thing you can do is to give your children the opportunity to learn from other people.
As the school year kicks into full swing, you may have just as much trouble keeping up with all of your children’s extracurricular activities as they are. Thankfully, our variety of options leaves plenty of time for schoolwork, homework, or your child’s other favorite extracurricular activities. Whether your child participates in our monthly, free piano parties or our weekly online piano lessons, your child will have plenty of time for both formal education and play alike while still gaining the significant benefits that come with a musical education.
Enrolling your children in piano classes has benefits for you, as well. With a calming activity such as piano lessons, you afford yourself a few moments of peace and a break from your hectic schedule- you deserve this just as much as your children. After all, you work hard to give them a better life!
Ultimately, a new school year can bring a hectic schedule; the most you can do, as a parent, is find ways to make things less chaotic and help your children grow as people. In many ways, piano lessons are the best way to do this; musical lessons for your child help relieve immediate stressors of the school year, while also setting up success in their academic career and beyond.
Your children need support in this time of stress, as well. By enrolling your child in piano lessons, you can help show your child the support that they may need when transitioning into a new school year, especially if they have recently changed schools. When your child is interested in learning music, enrolling them in a piano class helps show that you support their interests on both a personal and financial level. This support does not go unnoticed, especially among older children!
It doesn’t particularly matter what your goals are for this school year- any goal, schedule, and regiment is a great way to help your child adjust to major changes. However, keep in mind that this is the perfect time to enroll your student in a piano class that will help them make the most of their talent and intellect
Student Showcasing
We love showing off our students’ progress! Join us on Facebook to see the current student showcasing.
Lillian, Ms Sachie’s student, plays Dreaming and For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow.
Ira, Ms Sachie’s student, plays Purple Sunshine with accompaniment.
Student Hall Of Fame
Our students are making great progress! These students have accomplished new goals this last month.
Welcome to our new students - Aarav J, Adam Z, Richard A, Arden I, Mila I, Niko C, Hannah K, Ira S, Juniper P, Aaron T, Izabel L, Marie L, Charles H, Diya R, Rebel S, Grace H, Madeline D, Tyson Y, Abigal A, Alba C, Charlie C, Israel R, Jeffrey M, Kevin S, Brooks F, Henry A, Rylee W, Seraphine C, Caroline F, Eli M, Grant P, Olivia C, Ysabel L, Zaynab G, Angelina D, Annabelle M, Christopher J, Ian H, Kristina D, Maia L, Alexandria M, Margaret M, Maryam A, Marcelo K, Daisy L, Maya H, Aadi S, Dhruv S, Evangeline O, Leah G, Harper T, Julia Z, Ocean X, Shaurya J, Zev P, Julia M, Zac Q, Naia D, and Isabella N.
5X5 - play the piano for 5 minutes, 5 days in a week, for 5 weeks in a row - Janice L*, Maximus H*, Shane G* (2X), Siya P*, Lillian R, Adora L*, Iris H, Lillian R, Nathan H, and Sarah H*, ( * indicates first time meeting this challenge!)
Listening - Listened to classical music for 1 hour/week for 4 weeks in a row - Naoki D, Siya P, and Sarah H.
Special Song - Completed a song outside of regular lesson - Jacob S, Joses C, and Nathan H.
100-Day - played the piano for 100 consecutive days - Lillian R
Finished their current piano book - Rosalie O.
Beginning Tonara Challenge - Using the practice app at least 3 times in your first week of lessons - Richard A, Max S, Mila I, Adora L, Eve S, Hannah K, Aaron T, Chloe L, Janice L, Julian E, Siya P, Brooks F, Henry A, Seraphine C, Caroline F, Grant P, Ysabel L, Angelina D, Christopher J, Ian H, Kristina D, Maia L, Alexandria M, August M, Daisy L, Max H, Naoki D, Aadi S, Evangeline O, Oliver P, Sebastian B, Sarah H, Shane G and Stella S.
Practice Tip
Change up what you practice. So if you play measures 1-2 and then measures 3 -4, change it to measures 1-3 then 4-6. Or maybe measures 2-3 and 4-5. Don’t practice something longer than 2 minutes. If you don’t have it after 2 minutes, change what you are doing. Each time you play focus on something different, like notes, rhythm, dynamics or articulation.
Upcoming MOM Events
Want to see all upcoming events? Check out our calendar. It includes when the next Crescendo Kids class begins, school closure dates, piano parties, and recital dates.
FREE Online Piano Party! Students share their own music as well as participate in musical games, creating music and learning some music history. Each party is a little different with a theme and a special guest instrument. Come, meet our piano teachers, play some music, and have fun! All ages and musical levels are welcome. Parties are available to non-students, former students as well as current students. Click the link to sign up. Piano Party Sign Up
Saturday, October 29, at 11:00 am
Parent Information Meetings - Have questions about our online piano class program? Want a tour of our practicing app? Click the link to schedule your meeting with Miss Pam. Parent Info Meeting
Crescendo Kids CLASSES - Tuesdays or Thursdays at North Kirkland Community Center visit kirklandparks.net
There 2 openings for ages 3 - 4 years and one opening for ages 5 - 6 years
Tuesdays: September 20 - December 13, and January 17 - March 28, (no class February 21)
Thursdays: September 15 - December 15, and January 19 - March 30, (no class February 16)
Crescendo Kids CLASSES - Mondays at Spartan Recreation Center in Shoreline visit shorelinewa.gov/registernow
There are 2 openings for ages 3 -4 years and 3 openings for ages 7-9 years
Mondays: September 19 - December 12, and January 23 - March 27, (no class February 20)
30 - Minute Private Online Piano Lessons - Did you know that many of our teachers also teach privately? Now you can continue your child’s musical education, or your own, with Move Over Mozart. Click here for more information. Private Lessons
New Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, October 11. Our piano classes are fun and easy to do! Perfect for beginning students ages 3 1/2 to 12 years old. Students are put into one of 4 classes depending on their age and musical ability.
Crescendo Kids Online Sign Up
Pre-Reading - Ages 3 - 5 years, or students not yet reading,
We use a color-coded method for the students to match their five fingers to five keys on the piano. New songs using only those 5 notes are given each week.
Primary - Ages 5 -7 years or older and brand new to music,
This group is for the very basics of piano playing. Students learn to play simple rhythms, correct hand position, and the names of the white keys on the piano.
Beginning Elementary - Ages 7-12 years or younger and reading notes,
This is for students just starting to read notes on the staff. Students are taught how the staff relates to the piano and how to translate the notes to making music. Also, having the students memorize a few key notes on the staff will help greatly with their ability to read music.
Advanced Elementary - Ages 7 - 12 years with previous piano lessons
This group already reads notes on the staff and can immediately identify many of the notes by name. They will learn more advanced technique and music theory beyond the initial basics of learning to play.
Parents Ask Pam
Have a question for Miss Pam? You can email, text message, or message on Facebook your questions. She will respond immediately to you, and your question might be featured in future newsletters.
Q: How do we use the practice app?
A: We use the practice app, Tonara. Students are connected to the teacher account, so you will need to wait for log in details after you sign up for piano lessons. Once you are logged in, you can click on the open book icon at the bottom to access your assignments. Click on an assignment, read the instructions, and then click on “start practice”. You don’t need to record your practice session, unless you want to, but you are always welcome to send a recording of your song to your teacher! “Compare” assignments are unique and will give a score based on how close you play to the original recording. Send your score to your teacher for bonus points. If you have questions about an assignment, you can text your teacher in Tonara as well. The more you practice with the app, the more points and coins you get. Coins can be exchanged for in-app stickers and personalizing your app with frames and animations. It is a great place to record each week’s assignments, record practice, and have fun!
Your Comments And Questions
We want to hear from you! What questions do you have? What do you like best about this memo? How do you support your child’s musical talents? Please leave your questions and comments below or email Pam directly at misspam@moveovermozart.net