Check frequently for updates. 

Please note: 1) The next recital is April 26. Pieces must be ready by the FIRST lesson in April in order to make the registration deadlines. (There were some concerns regarding recital notification for Jan. Before Christmas break, I gave all students specific instructions that recital pieces had to be ready the first lesson in Jan. to make the registration deadlines.) Unprepared students are likely to have an unpleasant performance experience. Please note the deadlines and help your child prepare well in advance. 2) There were concerns about Jan. lessons.  Despite holidays/snow days, ALL students had at least 3 lessons in Jan.--this is the usual number for Jan. due to the Christmas break. 3) Group lessons dates are clearly posted and are EXTREMELY valuable; we have 4/year. The next one is April 17/18. 4) Syllabus is May, but registration forms are due the first week in April. Those participating must be ready by the registration date, not the syllabus date.

For those participating in the Bach festival (Jan. 28, Presbyterian church Pendleton), your initials and time are listed below.  (Persons whose pieces weren't ready will not be listed.)

Jan 28 District Bach Festival. Presbyterian Church, Pendleton (across diagonal from post office.)

2:15 MAd - Invention #14, J.S. Bach, BM – Minuet in D, Clarke, LY – Allemande in Am, Handel, KL – Menuet en Rondeau, Rameau

3:00 JA – French Suite 5, 1^st Mvt., J.S. Bach

4:30 WH – Prelude in Cm, WTC 1, J.S. Bach

Feb. 12 Regional Bach Festival. BMCC, Pendleton. All are welcome to observe District winners compete.  Winners--recital times will be posted here.

April 26, Spring Recital/Composition Festival. Presbyterian Church, Pendleton (across diagonal from post office.)  Time, check with your teacher for your specific evening recital time.

Private Lesson Schedule by student initial. 

Mon:  2:00 JA 2:30 MAd  3:00 JH 3:30 EH 4:00 CW 4:30 LY 5:00 ED 5:30 DC

Tues:  3:00 AZ 3:30 BB 4:00 KL 4:30 IC 5:00 LW 5:30 KM 6:00 BM

Wed:  2:15 JL 3:00 HL 3:30 WH 4:00 MD 4:30 MAy 5:00 ZB 5:30 EC

Group Lesson Groups--Day and Time. Group lessons scheduled before a recital to help prepare, but they are for all students, regardless of recital participation to give all students practice performing for an audience in a friendly situation. All students should be prepared to play a piece/part of a piece. Groups have students of similar levels and ages.   Group lessons these weeks: Jan. 24, 25     April 17, 18.      May 8, 9.

Group A Wed.  4:00-5:00: AZ, KM, LW, KL, TW      Group B Wed. 3:00-4:00: CW, ED, LY, DC, MAy, (JL)  

Group C Tues. 5:00-6:00   IC, BM,  RM, BB, MD, EH, JH   Group D Wed. 5:00-6:00 WH HL ZB EC, JA, MA

Lesson Policies:

1) A flat monthly fee will include the cost of lessons,  ALL materials, and ALL events except syllabus. (Syllabus fees are excluded because they vary significantly due to level, and cannot be averaged fairly, sight reading books no charge unless book is lost or severely damaged.) Studio 1 Lessons: $50/mo + all events & music $8/mo =  $58/mo.  If students win competitions and there is a fee at the regional or state level, student will pay that fee. Some have no fee. (This simplifies fees for you and me and is based on 4 events/yr. avg. $8-15/event, two music books/yr avg. $10-15/book)

2)  One hour group lesson prior to syllabus/recitals/competitions, 4 in a year. (No regular lessons on group lesson week.  Dates on the web site--mark calendars now! :) Students will play for each other and do theory together. Other teachers have found these extremely beneficial--positive peer pressure, extra motivation, and low-stress performance preparation.

3) All syllabus participation will be full evaluations. All music and theory must be completely memorized/mastered when  applications are due, 5 weeks in advance.  In preparation, there is a new theory schedule and new lesson rhythm mastery to help students master material more deeply prior to moving on, in an effort to make the actual syllabus easier.

4) All students participating in recitals and competitions, must have music prepared, including memorization, when program information is due, 2 weeks before the event. (See events calendar for event dates.)

5) Composition Festival participants must have their computer printout and piece memorized when applications are due, 5 weeks in advance. (See events calendar for event dates.)

6) Students MUST complete current level by Aug. 30 to be allowed to go to next level. One level/year, Levels I-VI, unless special fast track arranged with teacher. Fast track students must stay on schedule, or they will be placed back on regular track. Fast track usually requires double practice time.

7) Any passed off syllabus levels must complete requirements in one session, specially scheduled, unless teacher approved otherwise.

8)  Strong encouragement to participate/attend all events (even if not playing) and stay the whole recital. Much is learned while watching. The students who progress fastest are the ones with role models, and it is common courtesy to stay. (Required attendance, participation and additional reports for optional high school credit--see teacher if interested.)

Any questions regarding these new policies, please talk to me.

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Service Opportunity:  Sunridge Retirement Center requests volunteers to come occasionally on Sat. afternoons to play piano for residents.  Call Jackie Baney 541 377-4278.  We will tentatively consider doing this the Sat. just following Group Lessons. This will give students one more low-stress opportunity to prepare for performance events.  I will need parent volunteers to help coordinate. Please let me know if you would like to help.  Students welcome to volunteer at other times. 

Free Composers Workshops in Portland participants compose for a chamber group of professional musicians, monthly workshops.  See  fearnomusic.org/ycp/  Jeffrey Payne, director

Last modified: 01/09/12   Copyright M. Adams, 2008.