Keys & Strings Music Studio

I hear this question A LOT.  As educators, we all want our students to do their very best. Whether they are graphic artists, musicians, fencers or soccer players. The art of doing something well is in the doing. To master something, you must do it well repeatedly. The repetition (in the correct way) is what makes the lesson (whatever the lesson is) stick. Each of our educators has their own point of view on the "Art of Practice" and we will share them in this blog post. I sometimes ask my students or their parents if they only brush their teeth twice a year when they visit the dentist. Of course this is met with laughter, eye rolls, "of course not's".  Yet sometimes, our students think that just by attending a once a week lesson they will become a great pianist, or violinist, or vocalist. That's just not the case. Would you want a mechanic who had never looked under a hood fixing your automobile? Would you want the neurosurgeon who had

A statement I hear often from adults.... The main thing to remember is it is NEVER too late......but the learning will be different.  I always tell my adult students that they need to think of their lessons as something they do for themselves.  I compare it to a golf game, a manicure, a massage.  If an adult thinks about lessons in this way it gives them a bit of 'permission' to relax and not get stressed about time or money.  Play for the joy of it, or you will add pressure to yourself.  Your life is different from a young musicians.  You have a job to go to, children, spouse or parents to care for, bills to pay, meals to prepare, laundry to do.   Fit in a few minutes when you can, and have no guilt about not playing enough.  The most important thing to remember, is it is something you want to do for YOURSELF.  And love the music.  

MY CHILD ISN'T PROGRESSING (POST HOLIDAY SLUMP) Post holidays, I heard from a lot of parents (both of my students and other educators students) that they were thinking of 'taking a break' because the children were not progressing, or fighting them to practice at home. My reply, (questions) were always the same.  Did you maintain your usual routine during the holidays? (No)  Did you stay out late, have house guests, excitement over tree decorating, Nutcracker performances, Church Pageant rehearsals (Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes). Of course they aren't progressing.  Your teacher is hoping to just maintain during changes in home life, whatever the reason.  Please give it the rest of the month and try this routine before you 'take that break' and completely stall your child's (or your own) music progression. For young musicians, go back to playing each assigned (tabbed) piece of music their age each day.  This means if your musician is five they should p

This is Erin, the Office Manager at the studio. Recently we have been asked by some families to reschedule lessons for various reasons i.e. illness, weather, participation in other events. I feel the below article, written by a Suzuki mom who is also a economist, gives a very articulate view on our way of thinking.  The educators at Keys & Strings (especially the head teachers) rarely miss lessons, to make it a point to not inconvenience their students who have chosen a specific lesson time and day weekly on their schedules. We feel the teachers are paid to be available to each family at their designated time with the obligation of being at the studio for their assigned teaching days/times, and prepared for each individual students needs.  We appreciate that our families pay for the month in advance according to their agreement with our studio, and would like to help them understand that they are paying for a time slot with their chosen teacher, during which time they will rece

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