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Showing posts from 2010

Blizzard Adrienne visits Connecticut

Hello families! Let it Snow! Please call the studio at 203-265-1500 on Monday December 27th to confirm lessons for the day. You can also watch WTNH for Keys & Strings Music Studio being listed and what we plan to do, but the voicemail is the best bet. Stay safe and warm and enjoy making those snowmen...as long as they don't blow away. Sing (Play or Bow) with you Soon! Sandie & Jay

Merry Christmas from Sandie, Jay, Joanna & Bree!

May love ♥ & music ♫ fill your hearts this Christmas or any holiday or precious time you spend & share with your family & friends. ♥ ♫ …………(¯`O´¯)………… *./ \ .* ……………………..*♫*.…………..………, • ‘*♥* ‘ • , ………...……. ‘*• ♫♫♫•*’…….... ….. ‘ *, • ‘♫ ‘ • , * ‘…..….’ * • ♫*♥*♫• * ‘….… * , • Merry’ • , * ‘….* ‘ •♫♫*♥*♫♫ • ‘ * ‘.…’ ‘ • Christmas . • ‘ ‘ ‘…‘ ‘ • ♫♫♫*♥*♫♫♫• * ‘ ‘…………..x♥x………….. ………….♥…………….

How long before my child (or myself) sounds like you?

I have been asked this question many times over the years. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I get a bit sad. It's not encouraging for a child who has had less than 6 months worth of lessons to hear their parent ask the teacher when will my child stop squeaking/banging/playing off pitch and sound like you? I've been playing for over 40 years. It's not fair to the child to be compared to me. It's not fair for an adult student who has just started who has a family, full time job, other responsibilities to ask me this question either. Then there is the time spent playing outside of the lesson. I know that in this day and age, the word 'practice' sometimes has a negative connotation . I tend to use the phrase 'music making at home'. I assign exercises, etudes, learning pieces and solo pieces with sections marked with numbers of play. I give them the tools for good practice without them knowing it's practice. However........how much time is really applied at

Lots of News to Share

Congratulations to Rebecca Spadacenta, Heather Kent and Liam McCafferty for getting accepted into CMEA Southern Regionals Festival. Your hard work paid off! The winners of the large snowman dolls at our Holiday Party were Alyssa C and Siohban R. I'm sure they are going to be happy with you. Congratulations to Rachel S. for making the jazz ensemble at her school.

More shots from our holiday party

Some stills from today's holiday party

Dylan and Family, and Miss Megan B below. Watch for more good times!

Gingerbread Workshop two age classes offered

A great day to help YOU get ready for the holidays. Our Gingerbread workshop is always a fun event. Have Mom, Dad or even Grandma or Grandpa come with your younger child or children to our toddler/preschooler event from 10 - Noon. In those two hours they will enjoy one on one time in a Kindermusik type holiday class with instruments, singing and dance. Make a simple holiday craft and decorate a gingerbread cookie that Ms. Sandie baked herself! Enjoy some cider and sweets too. For your older child ages 5 and up you can do the drop off class from 12:30 to 2:30. Finish up your shopping, wrapping or take some time for yourself! All of the same activities but designed for the older child. Holiday Songs, instrument play and dancing. Let's turn into a snowman! Do a holiday craft and decorate a gingerbread cookie that Miss Sandie baked herself! Enjoy some cider and sweets too. Each event just $21.49 and includes all that is in description. To register onlinehttp://www.eventbrit

The fiddler at work!

Donna Hebert talks to workshop participants at Keys & Strings Music Studio on October 17, 2010

We are a proud member

But do you know "Happy Clown"?

On a recent visit to see his Grandma, Noah S (a new piano enounters student) was excited to notice that she had a piano. Grandma even found one of her old lesson books with her name and Age 7 written in the cover. She played him several songs................and then he asked............but do you know Happy Clown? That's my favorite. When she said that she was sorry but no, she didn't know that song, he quipped, I do! I'll play it for YOU! And he did. Great job Noah!

Our First Day of Piano Encounters School year

Today we had our first Piano Encounters School Year class! And we all wore green stripes! Even Miss Sandie had on green! We learned about slow and fast beats. High and Low pitches. Quarter Notes, Half Notes and Dotted Half Notes. We danced to fast and slow steady beats. And it was fun! We liked having our pictures taken too!

Don't Call it Practice................

Don't think of it as "practicing." Think of it as "spending time with the instrument." There are sort of two ways of "practicing": the wrong way and the right way. The wrong way is sort of watching the clock and sawing away for a certain number of minutes. The right way is to forget the clock and actually PLAY the instrument with intense focus. You should never "practice" for more than 20 minutes at a stretch. If you can do two, three, or more such "practice" sessions a day, you will get good at playing the instrument. But never underestimate the value of "practicing" even just for 10 minutes. If you're really listening, your muscles and musicianship will benefit. Having even a general idea of both short-term and long-term goals is helpful. Keep track of what you're doing, and certainly what is required from the teacher every week (if you have a teacher). One of the best books you can get on this is Barry Green'

Keys & Strings Kids Chorus!

Children's Choir Fridays 730 - 815 pm Kindergarten - 5th Grade October 8th - June 10 Keys & Strings Student reduced rate Less than $11.00 a week! A first vocal ensemble for students in grades K-5. Beginning singers will learn what it means to be a member of a choir and will establish a repertoire of literature including unison, rounds and partner songs. Games and movement will also be a part of the experience. K & S Singers will have performance opportunities through the year including recitals in June. No audition necessary. 45 minutes per class. Includes music. 30 classes per school year.

Keys & Strings Sponsored Racer Takes the Checkered Flag!

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)