Are you prepared to be the parent of a piano student?

• Make sure friends and family respect the student's practice time.
• Make sure your student follows up on their assignments.
• Read your student's practice records.
• Keep music and materials in a special place.
• Let your student know you are proud of their achievements.
• Encourage your student by listening to them play and commenting on their performance.
• Ask questions about what they are doing.
• Record their practice so they can hear themselves objectively.
• Attend all recitals and programs open to parents.
• Go to other concerts and programs as a family.
• There will be times your student resists practicing. This is normal. Stress regularity.
• Make sure your student never misses a lesson except for illness or emergency.
• Don't allow your student to skip a lesson because s/he hasn't practiced. The one who hasn't practiced is most in need of a lesson!
• Let your student "doodle" at the piano. Just make a clear distinction between doodling and practicing.
• Emphasize how much is accomplished during practice.
• Always contact me if you have questions or concerns.

New games, 'n stuff

I just found a new website students can use to practice music theory. www.flashmusicgames.com/index_piano.html

The last 2 weeks have been very eventful - my daughter was accepted at Crown College in St. Bonifacius and 3 days later moved into the dorm! It was a challenge to see that she had the essentials to start school. In case you're curious, she's majoring in Communications and English and would like to minor in history. Her PSEO credits that she did the last 2 years in distance education at Northwestern College came in handy and exempted her from Freshman Orientation. It was exciting to get her registered and on her way in this new adventure. Most of you know my son is a senior this year at Northwestern College, looking forward to finishing his degree in accounting.

Have a fun time the last days of summer vacation, go to the state fair and eat some mini-doughnuts . . . and get ready for the start of lessons on September 10.