April 3, 2024

New session of Crescendo Kids Online begins Tuesday, April 9
But new students can start any time! Join now!

This Memo includes

• Feature Article: Four Benefits For Having Your Child Participate In A Piano Recital

• Student Hall of Fame

• Practice Tip - (video included)

• Spring Recital dates

• Parents Ask Pam - Oh, dear! We were not able to sign up our child for classes during the Spring session. May they still participate in the Spring Recital?

Feature Article - Four Benefits For Having Your Child Participate In A Piano Recital

By Pamela Cornell, Director

As a student, I felt very ambivalent about recitals.  On one hand, they were nerve-wracking!  I was so afraid of making a mistake and embarrassing myself. I would practice and practice, and then prayed that my fingers would not fail me.  On the other hand, after the performance, I was so exhilarated and proud of how well I played, there was disappointment that it was all over.  

As a teacher, I have learned that recitals provide so much more than just getting over the nerves for a performance.  Since I am also a parent, I want to share these with you because when my child was younger, (She is now 29,) there were many times I just wanted to skip the seemingly endless concerts and not have to put my child through those anxiety-filled situations.  For her sake, I’m very glad to have encouraged her to participate.    

Here are four benefits your child will receive from participating in a recital.  

1. Pride. There is something amazing that happens when you accomplish something challenging, create something beautiful, or when you realize you have a skill that sets you apart from others. Playing the piano in a concert does all three of these at the same time. The sense of pride and accomplishment is definitely worth the struggles in preparation.

2. Persistence. There is great value in understanding the relationship between hard work and its result. As a child, many times you do something that you won’t see the benefit from. Even going to school can be like this.  Every day you learn a little bit, but when you are young, you don’t always notice it and sometimes the effort feels worthless.  When you prepare for a concert, it is short term effort with the benefits being acknowledged as soon as you perform.  Suddenly, all the time put into preparing becomes very valuable.  It is an instant example of the end result based on hard work.

3. Expression. Seeing others enjoy something helps build your own self-confidence and self-worth. Whether it is a song you created, or if you are interpreting someone else’s musical piece, you are still putting a bit of your own expression, and therefore yourself, into that music. 

4. Motivation. Sometimes one is so focused in their own music, that they forget others have also gone through a great amount of preparation.  Hearing others perform reminds your child that they are not alone in their efforts. When they hear someone younger or at a more beginning level than themselves, they are reminded of how much they have progressed.  When they hear someone more advanced, they can be inspired to continue playing and learning even more.  

So yes, we will continue to have recitals throughout the year and hope you will encourage your child to participate. They will certainly benefit from each one!  

Student Hall Of Fame

Our students are making great progress! These students have accomplished new goals this last month.

Welcome to our new students and welcome back to returning students - Ellis L,

100-Day - Play the piano for 100 days in a row - (*indicates first time meeting this challenge!) Iris H.

5X5 - play the piano for 5 minutes, 5 days in a week, for 5 weeks in a row - Ally S*, Jordan P, Logan G, Matias P*, Nora P*, Vivian C, Zaara T* ( * indicates first time meeting this challenge!)

Listening - Listen to an hour of classical music every week for 4 weeks in a row - Joses C.

Completed their piano lesson book - Alice P. & Shivani K.

Advanced to the next music level - Ellis L, Nora M, & Shivani K,

Practice Tip

Here is a game your child can play at home to help them with reading notes on the staff. Sometimes switching fine motor skills to large body movements enable better understanding of the concept. By moving the whole body up or down the keyboard in relation to the music, students have a better comprehension of how notes on a staff translate to playing the keys on a piano. The best part? This is fun!

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.

2024 Spring Recital - May 17, 18, & 19, 2024, Open to all children currently taking piano lessons. There are several time options over these three days. Click the link to see the choices and sign up. https://MoveOverMozart.as.me/2024SpringRecital

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 new lessons 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

Sunday, April 28, 2024, 11:00 - 11:45, ages 3 - 12 years (last piano party before our Spring Recital)

Parent Information Meetings - Have questions about our online piano class program? Want a tour of our practicing app? Click the link to schedule your free meeting with Miss Pam. Parent Info Meeting

Crescendo Kids CLASSES -

North Kirkland Community Center - Tuesdays or Thursdays - visit kirklandparks.net

Spring:
Registration is now
Tuesdays, April 16 - June 18
Thursdays, April 18 - June 20

Summer:
Registration is now
Tuesdays, June 25 - August 20
Thursdays, June 27 - August 22 (no class July 4)

Spartan Recreation Center in Shoreline - Mondays - visit shorelinewa.gov/registernow

Spring:
Registration is now
Mondays, April 8 - June 17 (no class April 22 & May 27)

Summer:
Registration is now
Mondays, June 24 - August 19

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 April 9. 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:  Oh, dear! We were not able to sign up our child for classes during the Spring session. May they still participate in the Spring Recital?

A:  All students need to be currently taking piano lessons in order to participate in the Spring Recital. Our Crescendo Kids Online is a great option for students that were unable to get into the Spring classes at one of the community centers. Enrollment is month to month, no long-term obligations. Schedule your free introductory meeting with Miss Pam to find out how this opportunity can benefit your child.

https://MoveOverMozart.as.me/ParentIntro

Your Comments And Questions

We want to hear from you!  What questions do you have? What do you like best about this memo? How has our online lessons benefitted your child? Please leave your questions and comments below or email Pam directly at misspam@moveovermozart.net