Keys & Strings Music Studio

It's been a busy summer. The new space is now complete (the missing music rug has been returned fresh and clean from Whiteway Cleaners) and the curtains are up, the plants are in the window and the music is ringing! What a pleasant space. So happy and fresh. I just found out that back in the 70's a bar called "Fiddlers Green" was here. I think that's not only appropriate.....but poetic. Though the cushy chair and couch are gone, we have new furniture in the waiting room, and full music lessons in each of the teaching rooms. Well almost full. Ms. Joanna has a few spots left, and TJ is joining us to offer guitar soon! Our birthday party schedule is starting to fill up, and our Kindermusik demos which are being held on Sunday September 11th are also filling up. Kindermusik classes will start on the 19th. Change that is hoped and prayed for is always good. I'll be posting pics this afternoon on https://www.facebook.com/#!/KeysandStringsMusicStudio I hope you will

I'm looking forward to this coming week's Performance Master Classes. I sense that alot of of parents and students alike are curious, a bit nervous even. This I hope will be a fun and educational experience for all involved. Even the most seasoned performers can learn something new. For the newer students, this is a good test run for recital coming up on the 12th. We will observe some educators playing some very...VERY interesting solos. Perhaps their clothing will be....unusual. Perhaps their posture will be way off base. Or maybe they just make a huge mistake. We're are going to have some laughs, and make some observations. And then the same instructor is going to play again. And then let the audience know if he or she made a mistake or not. Perhaps another educator will point it out...............or perhaps that performance will be picture perfect. Then the students will all get a turn to show 'their stuff' too. And we will all learn from each other. In between w

What should your smart move be this week? Sign the kids up for music lessons! A study of older adults has found that years of childhood music lessons could pay serious dividends later on my fending off age-related cognitive decline.

As I feel that many people feel the word 'practice' has a negative connotation, I like to use the phrase 'music making at home' with my students and families. Even with this positive spin, I am continually met with 'I don't have time to practice'. It's an epidemic ! Rather than make students feel more guilty or unhappy with themselves or me, I thought we'd start a dialogue among all music families to see how they fit it into their life. My suggestion is always 'grazing'. Play one or two pieces several times in little segments of time. Before the bus comes (if you are an early riser) Right when you get home from school. Again while Mom or Dad make dinner. It's easy to get 15 - 30 minutes in a day if you break it down. Please share with us how you fit it in!

Oh boy, can you believe this? Three major storms hitting us every few days. So, we aren't opening the studio. Surprise! Since I had three days already marked in the month of March for makeups only (no regularly scheduled lessons) I already have made March 9th our full makeup day. Your regular lesson time. So, stay warm, stay safe and I'll sing with you soon! Ms. Sandie

By popular demand, we are again offering Baroque Ensemble starting in February. We will be focusing on those famous composers that we all know and love, such as Bach, Handel, Purcell and Vivaldi, as well as some more obscure composers. We will also be doing some very well arranged contemporary pieces for a bit of flair. We will be meeting Sundays at 4 p.m. until 6:00 biweekly. Though designed for students from Suzuki 2 and up, Ms. Sandie will arrange parts for those in Suzuki 1 if they would like to join us. Fee is $100.00 for the session that runs through June ending with a recital. Join us today!

Our Brooke who has been racing all year took the checkered flag this weekend!

Welcome to the official First entry of our Keys & Strings Music Studio Blog dedicated to our private lesson and ensemble students. If you are still a Kindermusik member we still have our Kindermusik blog too! This Keys & Strings Blog will be specifically for our older students. Fiddle, violin, viola, piano, voice, theory, ensemble, performance and masterclass students should make it a point to visit at least once a week to be in the know! We also are maintaining a new facebook page just for you as well, please visit and like us on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wallingford-CT/Keys-and-Strings-Music-Studio/145667162121232?ref=sgm We'll be uploading videos, pics and weekly 'notes' of interest, so stay tuned! (pun intended)