PIANO LESSON NEWS AND UPDATES
JUNE 2021
May 2021
1485 S. COLORADO BLVD. SUITE 130
720-708-3251
admin@denverama.org
MAY 2024
NEWSLETTER
It's Recital Month!
Our Spring Recital is coming up quickly! Time to put the practicing into high gear! The recital will be held at our facility on Sunday, May 19th. There will be 2 groups. The first group will start at 2pm and the second group will start at 4pm. Please click on the link to RSVP and request which group you prefer. We will do our best to accommodate your requests but we can't guarantee it.
Most students dress up for the occasion.
See "Ms. Michele's Bench" (at the end of this newsletter) to learn more about the recital and ways to prepare.
Mark your Calendar
Spring Recital
Sunday, May 19th
2pm or 4pm
Recital Rehearsal
Friday, May 17th 6pm
Saturday, May 18th 1pm
MEMORIAL DAY
May 27
Closed No lessons
Summer Session Begins
June 1 - August 18th
There are no raffles or awards until September.
Students may cancel 2 lessons at no charge.
(Please let your child's teacher know the dates as soon as possible.)
End of Summer Pizza Party/Concert
August 11
Time TBD
WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!
ANUSH ARUN
GABRIEL COBB
STUDENT OF THE MONTH
APRIL 2024
Get his autograph now ladies and gentlemen! John Domingues is his name and fame is his game(plan). John has been taking lessons at DAMA since July 2022. He had been learning piano on his own using internet apps. His parents recognized his talent and signed him up for lessons. John has a great ear for music and enjoys putting his own spin on songs. This month he decided he wanted to perform in his school's talent show and he chose a Beatles' song. Not only did he learn it on the piano, but he sang it too! It was the first time he sang in front of an audience and he nailed it! Meet John and his family and learn about what he wants to be when he grows up. Hint...hint...it has to do with music.
CONGRATULATIONS JOHN!
How to Win Student of the Month
• Focus during lessons
• Follow directions
• Have a good attitude
• Practice and come to lessons prepared
• Show initiative to learn and improve
• Attend at least 4 lessons in one month
• Be ready to perform the song you are working on
Are you doing everything right but you didn't get chosen for Student of the Month? Keep in mind there are over 60 students enrolled in DAMA and students who are chosen have worked exceptionally hard or have showed exceptional initiative. It's a difficult decision to make and sometimes it comes down to whether students who have been working on a piece are ready to perform it yet or if they had to cancel lessons during the month. It is not about who is the most talented or who has the most potential. It is about honoring the student who stood out because of their work ethic, attitude and initiative. Be sure to talk with your teacher if you have questions or concerns.
APRIL PRACTICE DERBY WINNERS:
1ST PLACE: Brandon Kwong (39 tickets)
2ND PLACE: Helen Alexander (26 tickets)
3RD PLACE TIE: Elea Grant (25 tickets
Joseph Golan
WAY TO GO!!
Congratulations to our newest member of the 20 Club!
Isla Bachman
Vocal Student
PRACTICE TICKET RAFFLE
30 minutes = 1 ticket
15 minutes = 1 ticket for kids younger than 8.
1 ticket just for attending a lesson.
1st ticket =
$25 SIMON WOODS
2nd ticket=
$15 ISLA BACHMAN
3rd ticket =
$5 MAX HOFFMAN
Thank you to Jasper for picking the raffle tickets this month.
MAY BIRTHDAYS
Emilio Eslan 5/5
Simon Woods 5/12
Connor Weinig 5/17
Gabriel Cobb 5/17
Elsa Phillips 5/26
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Students will be given a music worksheet to take home each week based on their level of understanding.
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The worksheets are designed so that students may need to research the answers or get help from parents.
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Topics include: Music Theory, Music History, Composers and Music Trivia.
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The worksheets are not mandatory but those who choose to complete them will be entered into a weekly drawing.
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Students who get more than 2 answers wrong on the worksheet will not be eligible for that week's drawing. Blank answers = an incorrect answer.) Students may correct their answers and re-submit the worksheet the following week.
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The winner will get to choose a pin of their choice to keep.
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Fun to wear on your jacket or put them on your book bag or music bag.
Win the Pin
Earn the Pin!
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Students who complete a worksheet will receive a mini-frog. Once they have collected 5 frogs, they can exchange the frogs for a pin.
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Students who end up winning the drawing for a pin must give up the frogs they have earned up to that point and they can start collecting again.
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Students who get more than 2 questions wrong, may correct their answers and re-submit the worksheet at their next lesson for a frog.
Happy May! It's recital time! aka: crunch time. I know it's a busy time of year for extracurricular activities. I remember when my boys were playing several sports and they were too young to drive. I could have added "chauffeur" to my resumé with all the time spent in the car. Drive to activity. Wait during activity. Drive. Wait. Drive. Wait. Drive home. Make dinner. Clean dishes. Veg on couch, Sleep. Do-over. Exhausting! You know what I'm talking about, right?!
What I didn't realize at the time is that it would all go away when they got their driver's license. Apparently a driver's license is also a license to not have to humor mom by answering her trivial, yet invasive, questions about school, friends or what was for lunch. When they were my captive audience in the car, they humored me. I miss my car lectures. However, I don't think that they do. I guess what I'm trying to say is to cherish your time carting your kids around from activity to activity. One day you will miss the bonding time.
Let's talk recital...It is not mandatory to perform but highly encouraged. There are many reasons why recitals are great for life lessons:
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Recitals offer a timeline for a goal.
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Students learn the importance of taking small steps to achieve their goals.
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Students learn that it takes discipline to make the time to practice.
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Students learn that the more they feel that they have prepared, the more confident they will feel when they perform.
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Students learn that they cannot cram last minute practicing in and expect to play their best.
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This list could go on and on.
Piano students will choose 2 songs to perform. Voice students will perform an abridged song. There are 2 rehearsals. PLEASE bring your child to at least one of them, especially if they have never performed in a recital. It makes a huge difference and helps relieve anxiousness by playing in front of other students before they have to play in front of a large group. We ask that parents don't attend the rehearsals (unless your child would be too uncomfortable without you there). At the rehearsals we talk about ways to calm our nerves and we play in front of each other as many times as the schedule allows.Our recitals aren't stuffy and uptight. It's more of a celebration. We are celebrating all of the hard work and progress that our students have made. We do not expect perfection. Perfection is WAY too much pressure. I say "shoot for 90%" and try to tell a story with your music.
If you ask your child what they are playing for the recital and they do not know, please alert me because that is alarming! These next couple of weeks are for polishing and tweaking. They should know their material pretty well by now.
Students who just started lessons in the last month or so may not have chosen songs yet for the recital because they go through songs quickly in the first couple of months. We will nail that down this week.
Please RSVP with the link at the top of this page. The sooner you can RSVP the more time I have to plan for the recital so I'd really appreciate it if you can do that soon. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I'm looking forward to seeing you all on the 19th because I've got some exciting news that I'm going to announce...stay tuned!
Best-
From Ms. Michele's Bench
