Keys & Strings Music Studio

To be a good teacher the focus should be on the word TEACHER.     100% of their efforts and energies should be focused on the student.   Improving their own skills, to better demonstrate what they want their students to accomplish. Having a good connection with their students.  Find out how each student 'clicks' and get through to them in the way that works best.  Be positive, yet firm when needed.  Be encouraging.  Be a good communicator with student and parents. Be open to working on any music.  Explore all different styles and genres. Offer performance opportunities, group ensembles, music history and music theory. I believe (and this is truly my own opinion) that I cannot be a performer and be a good teacher.  If I am only focused on my own goals as a musician, then I should only be focusing on those goals.   I never saw my teaching as a way to 'make a quick buck'. Here at Keys & Strings, our main focus is on TEACHING....

Sure, it's fun to figure out songs by ear.    It's a gift, not everyone can do it.   But reading music...…….that's the gift that keeps on giving.  When I look at music I see a key signature, time signature, I see note values, rhythms.   What does that mean in a language a non musician can understand? I see an accent (New England/Southern/Italian) in the key signature.  It tells me which pitches I will most consistently be playing in a piece.  Whether it will sound happy or sad.  Where the 'twang' will come from so to speak.  The time signature tells me which note equals one beat in a measure, and how many beats are contained in each measure.  Do I need to count 3, 4, 6, 12? Building strong match skills.  In the photos above I see pitches broken down into rhythms that equal 1.5 beats, 1 beat, 3 beats.  Lengths of notes tied together to make longer notes.  Rests that are worth 1/2 a beat....

I am asked this question at least twice a week, sometimes more! It's actually a very easy question to answer.....The answer is, every child is different. Parents need to ask themselves, is my child requesting to learn this instrument, or do I think they should do it?  Wanting to learn an instrument is a big part on the readiness radar. We certainly don't expect our students to sit or stand like statues for 30 minutes, but can they do so for 10 minutes at a time? Good listening skills.  We build on listening skills in lessons, but we need our students to be prepared to listen and follow direction.  When at home and you ask your child to 'get your shoes on' or 'go brush your teeth' do they HEAR and LISTEN? Music readiness is also a team effort.  Not only does the teacher need to be prepared but so does the musician AND his parents.     Everyone needs reminders now and again.  Young children will need to be nudged to go make music at home...

The Webster definition of perception is Definition of  perception 1 a   :  a result of  perceiving   :  observation b   :  a mental image  :  concept 2 obsolete   :  consciousness 3 a   :  awareness of the elements of environment through physical  sensation   color  perception b   :  physical sensation interpreted in the light of experience 4 a   :  quick, acute, and intuitive  cognition   :  appreciation b   :  a capacity for comprehension — perceptional   play   \ pər-ˈsep-shnəl ,   -shə-nᵊl \ It is funny how our perceptions of a situation can be so different from another's .   I had an aspiring student many years ago.   He started with me as a toddler and based on my perception of the situation I dismissed his family when he was 10-years old .  He started...

Time.  Not just starting on time (though punctuality is a priority!) but time to learn, to grow, to practice and improve.  Time to put your best work out there.   But also time to arrange the date (a year in advance) make sure the insurance is paid up, design and order the passes, get all the students names, pieces and length of piece from the educators. Do the math of the solos and ensemble length of songs to make sure we don't go over our allotted time.   Combine in an attractive and not overwhelming order.  Change who is in what recital because of conflicts of events (dance recitals!, softball finals!) Change more because now we have duplicates.  Get program to the printers.  (Forget half the programs at the studio) Make sure we have all the wires, plugs, strings, rosin, music stands, music, instruments.  Set up the ensemble chairs, the keyboard, move the piano.  Don't forget to put everything back where we got it!  All in al...

      Hello all! I'm Paige! In fourth grade, I took up the violin in the public school systems, more than a year ago I started taking private violin lessons at this fine establishment of Keys and Strings, and now I am a part time employee here. Being a junior in high school, it is not easy for me to be juggling not only school work, but also my job hours and violin practices, lessons, and ensembles. For many instrument players, this is a common situation, some even have sports added to the list. So how do you manage all these activities without hindering your instrument practice? Well for starters, PUT DOWN THE PHONE. Easy right? Nope. This is the new struggle of people living the 21st century generation. We are the first to actually grow up and live around all these high tech gadgets. These gadgets effect people of all ages, but the same technologies that make you glued to them can actually help you un-glue from them. Many apps from Apple and Android let yo...