Category: Newsletter

Welcome back students! Hope your summer fun project is going well. We will end August 12th with ice cream rewards at your lesson August 15-18. Ice cream if you have completed 25 out of your 30 projects!

Our fall piano program will be entertainment for the residents of Aspire Nursing and Rehab (formerly Excelsior Nursing) on Saturday, October 29th at 10:30 a.m. We are working on ideas this month.

We will observe September 5th, Labor Day, as a holiday with NO PIANO LESSONS.

Summer break for all of July. Students: work on”Summer Piano Fun Challenge”, call 816-637-3507 if you need a copy. Challenge ends August 1st. There are 30 activities; ice cream for those who complete at least 25 of them.

Our next program is October 29th 10:30 a.m. at Excelsior Nursing and Rehab. We will feature fall music which will include Halloween numbers. Wear a costume to entertain them!

See you August first through fourth. Happy summer!!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Spring Piano Recital and to everyone who participated. A special thank-you to Courtney Cole for her unforgettable pictures illustrating winners this past year (that was everyone!)

We are looking forward to entertaining the residents of Excelsior Nursing and Rehab on June 11th beginning at 10:30 a.m. This is at 1003 Meadowlark Lane which is east across 69 highway from ES Hospital. Wear casual clothes and use your music. There are piano duets, ukulele, two saxophone solos, tin whistle, along with the solos.

Summer piano fun activities challenge will be available starting Monday. Try to complete everything before school starts!

Summer break will be July 1st thru 31st. Please let me know if you are not planning to return August 1st. Tuition will be $65 a month for 30 minute lessons.

Presenting achievements of our piano students at the Piano Recital, Friday, May 27 at First United Methodist Church, 1630 Rainbow Blvd. at 7:00 p.m. Invitations available.

June 11th at 10:30 Program for residents of ES Nursing & Rehab.

Fifteen students participated in Keyboard Merit exams. Students earning top honors will be featured this week and next. Congratulations to them for an outstanding performance for judging.

No piano lessons Monday, May 30th for Memorial Day holiday. Summer break will be the entire month of July.

Tuition beginning August 1st will be $65 monthly for 30 minute weekly lessons.

April 29th 2:15 – 7:00 p.m. Virtual piano exams with Dr. Helen Brown. Only the student is allowed in the room during exams. Times are scheduled and will be sent home this week on blue paper and written in their assignment book. Dr. Brown requests no breaks between students so come at least 5 minutes ahead of your scheduled time.

May 27th 7:00 p.m. Spring Recital at First Methodist Church

May 30th Memorial Day – no piano lessons

June 11th 10:30 a.m. Program for residents of Excelsior Nursing and Rehab.

July 1-July 18 Summer break

Enroll in Keyboard Merits before March 15th. You will perform technic and pieces for an adjudicator; you receive a ribbon, her critique and points towards a trophy. Fees are due by March 15th, fifteen minutes with the judge is $16. You may pay with your tuition.

Spring break is April 22nd thru April 24th.

Exams will be virtual on Friday, April 29th with Dr. Helen Brown of William Jewell College.

Spring recital may be Friday, May 27th but that isn’t a confirmed date yet.

Excelsior Nursing is very excited to welcome you back in person for a program. Be looking for a fun song to entertain them on a Saturday in June, possibly the 11th.

Your scheduled lesson time continues through summer unless you make other arrangements with me.

Lessons available on President’s Day and Valentine Day; please let me know if you choose not to come.

We are proud of the students who entered the Essay Contest and the Poetry Contest and their writing skills about music. Hope you win money!

When there is inclement weather, lessons will be made up on Friday or earlier in the week if I have a cancellation. Call or email.

Keyboard Merit instructions are coming this month. Every participant gets a ribbon and a professional evaluation of their performance with trophies presented at the May recital. Can I help you if you are still undecided? Call me.

The music essay with the theme Music . . . is Inspiration is due online January 10th. Open to students in grades 7-12; prize is $75. Instructions in studio.

FREE acoustic Everett spinet piano and bench. Located in ES; I have a picture on my phone. Appears in perfect condition; you move it. Owner passed.

Piano exams will be late April or early May and will probably be virtual. Students perform 2-4 pieces and the required technic for the judge in a private audition. Everyone gets a critique and ribbon; usually takes 2 years to get a trophy. Let me know if you plan to participate.

Anyone under age 19 can write a musical-themed poem; there are five winners of $100 each. Deadline online is February. Instructions in studio.

No holidays from piano this month or next. If my street is untreated, I will notify you so that we can reschedule or set up a virtual lesson.

Thank you to all who participated in the Christmas program for Excelsior Nursing and Valley Manor and was videoed by Jason Cole.

Our Christmas program will be Saturday, December 11th at 10:00 at the First United Methodist Church, 1650 Rainbow Blvd. Dress Christmasy for the video! Every one is invited. All will play on the left piano.

Winning worksheets in November were done by Della Andreasen, Jason Harness and Madelyn Maney. Second place winners are Gianna Maney, Evelynn Stewart and Champion Tribble. During December we will focus on sight reading.

Winter break is December 27 – 31. No lessons except by special request.

Our preparation for Keyboard Merits will begin the middle of December. This is when a judge observes your technic and performance of chosen pieces. You will earn ribbons and trophies for this. I urge all students to participate in this.

Happy Fall Y’All program is on YouTube! Here’s the link: https://bit.lyDPSFall2021

Thanks to students, parents, Jason, Courtney and Mackenzie Cole and the Methodist Church where we put this program together for Excelsior Springs Nursing and Valley Manor.

We are working towards a Christmas Concert which could be December 11th. I will send hard copy messages (by request) with the students with new info.

Our worldwide challenge for November is a practice challenge to play 50,000 pieces in November. I will offer it to students if they want to participate. Its like the summer memorize challenge we did. No pressure.

Here are the winners for perfect worksheets for Halloween! First place: Madelyn Maney; tied for 2nd place: Bridie Chapman and Gianna Maney; tied for 3rd place: Champion Tribble, Della Andreasen, Evelynn Steward and Jason Harness. Great job students.