2009-2010 Studio Calendar
Click here for a printable version of this year's studio calendar.

Jump to: September Surprise! | B.S.E. #2 | SCKMTA Festival | Thanksgiving Break | Christmas Recital Rehearsal/B.S.E. #3 | Christmas Recital | Christmas Break | WSU Middle and High School Festival | B.S.E. # 4 | WSU Elementary Festival | Back to the Future Festival | Spring Break | B.S.E. #5 | Clavinova Festival | Music Progressions | B.S.E. #6 | Year-End Evaluations | Piano Camps

WHAT: September Surprise!/Briefing Session #1
WHEN: Thursday, September 10, 2009
WHERE: Trinity Baptist Church - 1016 East Pawnee in Wichita
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
DETAILS: An exciting kick-off for the year ahead! You can play anything you want - solo, duet, ensemble, etc. Or you can come and just join in the fun as an observer. I'll be announcing the details of our theme for this year - Exploring a Galaxy of Music. You can even get a sneak preview at the brand new Studio Splog. :-)

WHAT: Briefing Session #2
WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 2009
WHERE: Trinity Baptist Church - 1016 East Pawnee in Wichita
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
THEME: A Galaxy of Instruments! If you play another instrument, bring it to this fun gathering and share some information and music with the rest of us. If you don't play another instrument, but would like to, bring pictures and tell us a little about the instrument.

WHAT: SCKMTA Festival
WHEN: Saturday, October 31, 2009
WHERE: Madison Avenue United Methodist Church in Derby (view map here)
TIME: Afternoon
COST: Free!
DETAILS: An opportunity for students to perform in a setting that includes students and families of other teachers in the area. Students will receive a written critique sheet from an adjudicator.

WHAT: Thanksgiving Break
WHEN: November 23-27, 2009

WHAT: Christmas Recital Rehearsal/Briefing Session #3
WHEN: Thursday, December 10, 2009
WHERE: Trinity Baptist Church - 1016 East Pawnee in Wichita
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
THEME: Jesus: God of the Galaxy!
DETAILS: All students participating in the Christmas Recital must attend this rehearsal.

WHAT: Christmas Recital
WHEN: Thursday, December 17, 2009
WHERE: Trinity Baptist Church - 1016 East Pawnee in Wichita
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
DETAILS: This annual event has become a favorite in the studio! Family members and friends are invited to come and enjoy uplifting music as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A reception of scrumptious treats and fellowship will follow.

WHAT: Christmas Break
WHEN: December 21, 2009 - January 1, 2010

WHAT: WSU Middle School and High School Festival
WHEN: Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24, 2010
WHERE: Wichita State University - Duerksen Fine Arts Building
COST: $10
DEADLINE: Monday, January 3, 2010
DETAILS: Students in grades 6-12 perform one or more solo pieces (time limit: 6 minutes) and are given a written critique and a rating. Request an entry form from Natalie.

NO LESSONS: February 1-6, 2010

WHAT: WSU Elementary Festival
WHEN: Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2010 (tentative)
WHERE: Wichita State University - Duerksen Fine Arts Building
COST: $10
DEADLINE: Monday, January 10, 2010
DETAILS: Students in grades K-5 perform one or more solo pieces and are given a written critique and a rating. Request an entry form from Natalie.

WHAT: Briefing Session #4
WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 2010
WHERE: The Studio
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
THEME: A Galaxy of Composers! Come prepared to share information about your favorite composer. Make the presentation creative and fun!

WHAT: Back to the Future Festival - A Celebration of the Birthday of the Piano!
WHEN: Saturday, March 6 - Sunday, March 7, 2010
WHERE: Botanica Gardens in Wichita
COST: $7/student
DEADLINE: January 30, 2010
DETAILS: Sponsored by the Wichita Metropolitan Music Teachers Association, this festival will be a celebration of the 300th birthday of the piano. Students may play any solo or ensemble work. The Piano Technicians Guild will also be participating in the festival and will have a variety of informative and interactive displays on hand for the students and parents. This is shaping up to be a really fun event! Request an entry form from Natalie.

WHAT: Spring Break (MTNA Convention in Albuquerque)
WHEN: March 22-26, 2010

WHAT: Briefing Session #5
WHEN: Thursday, April 8, 2010
WHERE: The Studio
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
THEME: A Galaxy of Theory Concepts for Creative Minds! Each student should pick any theory-related concept and come up with a fun way to explain it to the rest of the students.

WHAT: Music Progressions
WHEN: Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17, 2010
WHERE: Mulvane Christian Church - 502 Highland Park
COST: $18 (levels 1-2) or $20 (levels 3-10)
DEADLINE: Thursday, March 11, 2009
DETAILS: Music Progressions is a worthy goal for students to work toward and prepare for. It provides valuable feedback for me, as their teacher, that reveals what areas I should focus on to ensure that each student receives a well-rounded music education. I strongly encourage all students to participate in Music Progressions. Here are some of the aspects of the event:

*Each student will receive a 30-minute time slot with an evaluator and will play two pieces for them and demonstrate their proficiency in a variety of other functional piano skills.

*The evaluator will grade the student in each area and provide a written critique of their performance.

*Each student will take a short written theory test that will be graded.

*Students in levels 3 and up will take a listening test that will be graded.

*Students in levels 3 and up may select and prepare an "option" - an additional creative area that they are interested in and would like to present to the evaluator (examples: composition, art work, composer report, etc.).

Print out your enrollment form here.

WHAT: Clavinova Festival
WHEN: May 14-15, 2010
WHERE: Senseney Music - 2300 E Lincoln
COST: $15 (includes t-shirt and entry in a drawing to win a Clavinova!)
DETAILS: Students of all ages are eligible to be a part of this fun festival! The Clavinova is one of the industry's top digital pianos with ever-expanding technical capabilities. This festival gives each participant the chance to work with the technological capabilities of the Clavinova to sequence and record their own accompaniment disk to a musical selection of their choice. Senseney Music delivers a Clavinova to my studio several weeks prior to the festival so students can complete their disk. Each student will then play the piece for an area-wide festival to demonstrate their work for others to enjoy. This has been a favorite among my students for several years now!

WHAT: Briefing Session #6
WHEN: Thursday, May 13, 2010
WHERE: Trinity Baptist Church - 1016 East Pawnee in Wichita
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
THEME: A Galaxy of Music, Stories, and Art! Students can write a story or draw a picture to go along with their piece and then share it at this recital. Invite family and friends to this final event of the year!

WHAT: Year-End Evaluations
WHEN: May 24-28, 2010
WHERE: The Studio
TIME: During the regular lesson time
DETAILS: The final week of lessons - May 24-28- will be set aside for Year-End Evaluations. Several weeks prior to this, you will receive a questionnaire to fill out. Please plan to attend your child's lesson this week with your completed questionnaires. We will discuss your child's progress over the past year and the strengths and weakness I've observed along with any ideas for improvement.

WHAT: Piano Camps 2010
WHEN: Summer 2010
WHERE: The Studio
TIME: TBD
COST: $75 (includes all supplies)
DETAILS: A fun week of games, ensemble playing, listening to music, and developing better musicianship skills!