Our "new beginnings" will include a new folder, music theory, and exercise books. Our Christmas Recital went so well! If you took any pictures you could share, I would certainly appreciate it. I was too busy, myself…. Our students bravely performed in their Christmas groups on several instruments, and our soloists were outstanding, too. A special note of thanks goes to our student teachers - who helped with violin, cello, horns, flutes, and piano.

I hope you've made a new year's resolution that includes more practice. Our brains develop like our muscles...when you keep doing something over and over, it gets easier and easier to do. In December, we learned to practice 2 or 3 Christmas songs, and then 4 and 5, and maybe even the whole book! The more you play, the more you will enjoy it. If it's hard, it won't be fun until you have worked out all the boo-boos. If your teacher says that some music is too hard for you right now, hang in there. You will learn to play one step at a time, until you CAN play at any level you want. It does take time...and I have been playing the piano for over 60 years!

Our little red assignment books need to have a Parent's Signature each week, so that I know all assignments, notes and suggestions, and the amount of practice are being seen. We will be concentrating on Scales, Chords, and Key Signatures with every instrument, in preparation for our Scale Olympics in April. We will be giving a Trophy to everyone - according to their level of achievement. Each student will also be working on music we have chosen for our March 23rd Spring Recital "Back to Bach and the Classics". Please make sure your students keep all their lesson materials together in an appropriate music bag, and help THEM be responsible for bringing it each week. It is NOT acceptable for a child to say, "My mother didn't bring it"!

January - We are celebrating Epiphany at our house and school, the entire first week of January. Everyone will be encouraged to play or sing We 3 Kings (etc.) or dress up as a king or wise man - queens and wise women will be celebrated too. There's gift giving, star cookies, and Christmas Music games to play. Epiphany is observed on the 12^th day of Christmas, and seeking, finding, and giving our gifts is a good theme for the New Year. "Wise men still seek Him…."

February - begins our Scale Olympics, to prepare us for a whole new adventure in Music Theory and Technique. Each student will be given a list of appropriate level challenges for their instrument, to earn a certificate of achievement, gold, silver, or bronze medals, or trophies for outstanding performance. We will be learning scales, chords, arpeggios, and Dozen a Day Ensembles. All music is based on a system of "keys"; and the scales and chords of each key "unlock" the music!

March - "Back to Bach and the Classics" will be our Spring Recital theme.

April -The "best in each level of performance" Scale Olympic Champions will be featured in a unique setting. Our keyboard ensembles will perform their Dozen a Day exercises in concert, and the trophy winners may choose to perform solos of their choice.

May - will be our last month of lessons for the semester, and then…Summer Camps!