Keys & Strings Music Studio

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.  

Please take a moment and watch this video of a young musician...... You might have had lots of different thoughts going through your mind as you watched.  Some pitches were off.  Her rhythm was stalled.  She herself made a face at the end of the song. That's not what I saw.  I saw a student who has struggled to read music while playing keep her eyes on the page more than her violin. I saw a student start to recognize when to use her fourth finger.  Was it in pitch all the time?  No.  But she saw when she should use it, and she tried. I saw a violin start to fall and this young lady lifted it back up without my reminder. I corrected her once.  Later in the song she made a mistake and self corrected, without my reminder. I saw a musician.  I am quite proud of this young lady. Taking lessons does not a musician make.  Following and retaining directions does. Ms. Sandie

A great big thank you to Carrie S Moore, home-schooling parent of 5 children plus the caregiver to darling husband Nate, a favorite dog and dozens of chickens. When our daughter showed interest in learning to play the violin we realized that seeking outside lessons was about putting our faith and trust in an expert of that instrument.  Though my husband has a substantial background in music, he isn't knowledgable in this particular instrument, so we put our trust in Ms. Sandie. We went in realizing that our  daughter wasn't going to be an expert of the instrume nt over night, but that it would take time for her to be proficient at the instrument. As a homeschooling mother of five, I know that practice makes perfect. Just as you need to practice your math facts to master them, so you need to practice your instrument to master it. Allowing our child to struggle in its challenges,

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

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

Today was an exciting morning! Four of our students entered the music competition at the 49th annual Irish Feis held in North Haven. Competitors came from all over the state of Connecticut and areas of NY State. The music instruments featured were fiddle, tin whistle, flute and accordion as well as voice. David Caldarella, in his first ever music competition took 1st place in his category of studying less than 3 years. What's exciting is he made a last minute change this morning to play a different piece than planned. His enthusiasm paid off! Also in her first competition, Rita Sherban put alot of effort into her Reel. Look at the smile on her face! She placed first in her category of studying over three years. Bridget Ruiz entered the music feis for her second year of competition (she took 1st place in her age category last year) This year she placed 2nd, in a more advanced category, and playing two contrasting dances in the key of D Major. Great job! Here she is, holding her trop

Today's the big day. I never sleep well on 'Recital Eve'. Where'd the stands go, who took the pedal? We forgot to get the programs done? (Promise, they are done, and they are bigger than ever!) Recital to me is so many different things. I always have flashbacks to four years ago when I was so afraid it was my last recital with my 'kids'. Or the triumph of three years ago (I'm still here!). I remember Jay M's first recital, with his crouch like bow and huge smile. Jillian's realization that she did a GREAT job and then how it was even better for me when she invited me to her Christmas Pagent and she played the organ just a few short months later. Or the time Rachel stopped half way through....the entire time I was thinking that has the phrasing but doesn't sound exactly right............and she FLIPPED THE PAPER from top to bottom. Oh how we all laughed on that one. In my mind, there are 130 different stories just like this one. I have been blesse

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.

** Featured Team ** Keys & Strings We are so pleased that we were able to sponsor a team this year. Please give them a round of applause this season!

It's spring! Time for baseball, softball, easter egg hunts, dance recitals, prepping for music recitals, graduations and family trips. I thought I would share with you an economists view about music lessons, particularly missed lessons. She herself is a Suzuki parent, whose children took private instruction when she wrote this article. Thank you Vicky, for allowing us to share this. Make-up Music Lessons from an Economist's Point of View By Vicky Barham, Ph. D. I'm a parent of children enrolled in Suzuki music lessons. I'd like to explain to other parents why I feel - quite strongly, actually - that it is unreasonable of we parents to expect our teachers to make up lessons we miss, even if I know as well as they do just how expensive lessons are, and, equally importantly, how important that weekly contact is with the teacher to keeping practising ticking along smoothly. I think that it is natural for we parents to share the point of view that students should have their

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!

Another snow storm is a brewing! Please call the studio to see if Ms. Sandie has closed the studio. 203-265-1500

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

This event was a blast!

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'

If you would prefer to register online, just visit http://kindermusikwithsandieseptember2010.eventbrite.com/

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