Where Do you Fit?

What kind of student are you?
Level 1.) You show up. You do the job exactly as you're told to do it; nothing more, nothing less. You get a little better.

Level 2.) You show up. You do the job, and you target certain tasks that will help you toward your goal. You work the workout, push yourself, think about technique. You get a lot better. You are prepared most of the time.
Level 3.) You show up, having thought about how today's session fits into the larger goal. You work very hard, pushing yourself into the discomfort zone over and over, with full commitment. Later, you reflect/analyze/critique your performance with a cool, objective eye. You get a LOT better, creating what might be called "the quantum leap." You are a mature student.  For piano students, it is about mental discomfort, like taking apart a small passage and counting aloud, and getting it all right regardless of how long it takes.

Last week, I asked a student how long he practiced.  Without hesitating, he said about 15 minutes.  I am surprised because it didn't sound like 15 minutes, of course, that might have been for the whole week.  We are 2 weeks for the Pastorale festival.  If both your songs are memorized this week at lessons, you will be invited to come for a quick recital and spending time next Saturday.  If you are not memorized, you should stay home and work very hard. This is going to be a tough week.  Are you up for the challenge?
Bonus this week will be extra money based on your performances on your material.  No gain means no pay at all.

Freaky February or Fabulous February

For years I have had issues with the month of February.  it always seems to be the month when problems come up.  This year hasn't changed my feelings so far.  I decided that maybe it was my attitude that needed to change.  Tomorrow is President's day and many of you are out of school.  I know you like that idea.  George Washington and Abraham Lincoln probably liked February just fine.  I began to notice something interesting about my piano students too.  There are many February birthdays in this month : Kaleigh, Kaitlynn, Sharayah, Josh, Ria, Bryson, Daniella,Robert and maybe others that I do not have records on.  Birthdays are reasons to celebrate so Happy birthday to  the eight of you I listed. 

This Saturday and Sunday will be the Whitlock theory test.  I think we are prepared and will do well.
Please help me with schedule changes during the rest of this month.  There have been illnesses that have required quite a few changes.

Trivia:  I am a composer. My birthday is February 29.  I lived 76 years, but had only 20 actual birthdays. I went bald and was so cold I wore 2 or more wigs to keep my head warm. I wrote 39 operas and you probably know them.
Give my name and one opera for  $2

Happy Valentine's Day

I really do appreciate the understanding from all of you last week as I was off the regular schedule  due to my mother's accident.  Things happened so quickly that I left my house with no phone numbers>  I had to rely on my daughter to email you or sometimes call.  Everything is slowly getting back to normal.   When you have an unexpected occurrence, it is nice to have people who care.

On Saturday, the Sonatina Festival was at Texas Tech.  Jonathan, Arjun, and Bethany all received superior ratings and Tara received a  superior plus.  Next will be the World of music quiz and the Whitlock theory test..  Continue to work on the music you are learning for the Pastorale Festival in March.

This week's trivia for Valentine's Day
I have 6 "Love" songs partially titled below.  Finish each one for $2.  This time I will only pay for the complete list.  The word "love" will be in each title.
1.  Saving ____    ____love ____you
2. Can ___  ____ the love _______?
3.  Can't _____   ____ love
4. Love is a _____   __________ thing
5.  Love me ______
6.  I will _____love _____

Delightful Deadlines

Rocketing into February with all the contest deadlines get my heart racing.
This week bring the following deadlines:  Jan 31  Pastorale deadline
Feb 6 Ensemble deadline, Feb 11 SONATINA FESTIVAL
Feb 8 World of Music Deadline,
Feb 22 Wee Folk recital deadline  Feb 25 WHITLOCK THEORY TEST

You know that February is longer this year, but I think we are going to be busy and make it fly by.
Trivia Question: 
Which composer was born January 27?
How many of his 600 works were published?
Name 2 of his operas.
Worth $2 for all correct

Clever Blog Titles Have Eluded Me

At an early hour this morning, I was awakened by the wind.I certainly didn't plan to get up at that hour, so I began to plan my week. Among all the other things I do, I think about specific piano students and the problems or successes they are having. Every day there are students who show me how really smart they are. Many of you are involved in a vast number of interesting activities that I can only imagine. One student has been in Cambodia for several weeks helping in an orphanage. Many opportunities arise each day that give you experiences that broaden your education. When you sit down to concentrate on your musical education, I hope you will realize that it is a privilege you should not ignore. Music can touch your heart and soul like no other activity. In the past two weeks, my blog has mentioned Elvis and Dolly. It amused me when students had never heard of these two people who seemed common to me. I guess that is why I write to you. I want you to experience music and musicians you normally might overlook. I grew up with experiences that might surprise you. I have traveled very little and live vicariously through books and people who do travel. Maybe you can travel along in my musical world occasionally.




Please see that you bring all your assignments and practice them too. Try to amaze me with your abilities this week. If you never answer the blog questions, you need to do it. You might get a converation going with your parents or grandparents about the answers. It might surprise you.

Questions about "windy"songs to earn $1 for each correct answer.

1. Who wrote "Blowin' in the Wind"?

2. The song "Seminole Wind" refers to what state? http://www.metrolyrics.com/seminole-wind-lyrics-james-taylor.html

3. Who recorded the song "Windy" in 1967?

4. What song about wind won a Grammy in 1990?

January is speeding by

We do have lessons on Monday, January 16th as usual. If you haven't made plans for 2012, it may go by so quickly, you will miss it. It is amazing that it has been three weeks since Christmas. Almost everyone who plans to participate in the Pastorale Festival has one of their songs assigned. A few have both of them. The songs are fun and challenging to learn. The classical selections will be fun because many of the tunes are familiar. Deadlines are very important to me and I try to be sure not to miss anything. I gave you a list of dates at the beginning of the school year, but if you have lost the list, you can check the blog for dates or just email me for a new one. Remember to always bring your assignment book with you to piano. I am not able to remember every single assignment you have in every book, so help me by bringing all your materials. Last week, I enjoyed the comments and answers to the Elvis trivia. Several students are Elvis fans too. This time our trivia is also a well-known musician and singer. Her birthday is January 19. She is the most honored country female artist of all time. She is one of 12 children. Answer these questions about her for $3. 1. What is her name? 2. What significant accomplishment has she made for children and what nickname has she received because of it? 3. What is her current movie and co-star?

Happy Birthday to Guess Who?

When I listen to truly great musicians, I realize how much they actually practice. I also realize that we all have different opinions about who is a great musician. Since I grew up in the time when a certain musician was heard on the radio, seen in movies, presented in concert, and basically idolized, I know that today is his birthday. He would be 77 years old today. More than anything, he enjoyed performing and having a good time singing and playing with his friends. One quote attributed to him is: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' Now, that may not be grammically correct, but I believe it too. This musician was nicknamed the "King". I saw him in person here in Lubbock. I wasn't the kind of fan my aunt, Nadine, was or even my cousin, Sherry, however, I admired him for his talent and the way he loved his mother. Some of talked about how horrible his life ended and that is true, but he did so much for the popular music in the 1950's. His influence has never been matched and probably never will be. If you haven't guessed, his name was Elvis Presley. Here are 5 questions about Elvis. Answer all for $4 in music money. 1. How many weeks did he have a #1 song? 2. How many Grammy awards did he win? 3. Who was Jesse Presley? 4. How old was he when he sang on stage for the first time? what did he sing? 5. Finish these song titles: -----Hotel, -------Rock, -----Rain, ----- --Up. Whether you like him or not, he practiced and became a world class musician. Even classical musicians have been influenced by the music of Elvis.