NOVEMBER PIANO SCHEDULE

Piano lessons will continue on the regular schedule for the first three weeks in November.  The only change will be Mr. Kenny’s classes on Tuesday, November 8.  Tuesday classes will meet on Monday, November 7, that week because of Election Day.   Please let us know if anyone in those Tuesday classes will need to schedule on Thursday of that week instead.

NOVEMBER FOURTH LESSON/PARTY

Our fourth lesson of the month will be on Friday, November 18, 4:00-5:00 p.m.  We will meet at the DeQuincy Memorial Hospital and take turns playing the keyboards for patients and the hospital staff.  We will use the hospital cafeteria for refreshments afterwards.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS

We will not have classes during Thanksgiving week.  Classes will resume on Tuesday, November 29.

PLAY AND PLAY!

Beginners’ piano book

I have been working on this piano book for over a year.  It is unique in that it is focused on small group piano classes and uses American folk songs and game songs.  Some of the music teachers that I taught the past two summers at the University of Houston have looked at our worksheets and are ready to implement it in their classes.  It’s fun to know that our small town is leading the way using this approach to piano class! 

CAN MUSIC HELP MAKE YOU A GENIUS?

The method that we use for teaching beginners in piano is the Kodaly Method, pronounced "code eye." It is also what I have taught the past two summers in Houston at the university level.  I would like you to click on the link below and watch this short 3 minute clip from the Science Channel that aired last week.  Decades of research and study have shown that the strongest predictor of academic success is whether or not a student received music education at an early age.  The researcher in the clip says that the Kodaly Method is the one method that hits on all neurological notes.  The games songs and activities shown in the clip are those we do in piano class!

 >Link<

CHRISTMAS PARADE

Mark your calendar now for Friday, December 2.  The piano studio will have a float in the DeQuincy Christmas parade.  We will be sending out more information about this next month. 

THANKS!

Thanks to all our younger students who helped us video some of the game songs we use in piano class.  Toby Leger, our technical support person, is working on a YouTube video presentation.  We will let you know when it is available to view.

MEET TOBY LEGER, TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Toby Leger is the technical support for the piano studio.  He is helping with the studio’s website, producing the upcoming YouTube video, helping with the newsletter, etc.

Toby is a very talented person with a wide range of interests and experience.  He began as a music major at McNeese and was an officer in Kappa Kappa Psi, national honor band fraternity.  He is the former COO of InfoTech Solutions.  He now works for American Income Life. 

Toby is the coordinator for the Beauregard Parish 4H Shooting Sports.  He is tireless in his work with children, including his and Paige’s five children of their own!

Toby was awarded the Chamber Southwest Louisiana 2011 Volunteer Service Award and Southwest Louisiana Development Alliance 2011 Most Valuable Professional Award.

Toby has sung in church choirs and played hand bells.

I am happy to have Toby assisting me in the technical aspects of the piano studio.  He is such a help!