It's the end of the piano teaching year!

Just because it's the end of the piano lesson year doesn't mean that you should stop playing. Please don't! You might not practise so much but keep playing!

Here are a few ideas to keep you- and me- going over the summer:
Summer Piano Ideas.

·        Play a concert; choose an easy piece, a well-known piece and a fun piece. Practise and then invite family and friends then design and print a programme for it.

·        Find out about one of your favourite composers. Write a potted biography of them.

·        Learn a piece you haven’t played before- surprise me! There are lots of free pieces on www.susanparadis.com or in the Petrucci library.

·        Compose your own simple piece, base it on one of your favourites, it can be long or short, you can write it down or memorise it. Give it a name and play it at our next lesson.

·        Find a piano playing friend or family member and play some easy peasy duets with them.

·        Choose a composer to focus on and explore some of his pieces: Bach, Chopin, Amy Beach, Einaudi, Mozart, Yiruma etc.

·        Take my job from me:Teach your parents or your younger brothers and sisters an easy tune from one of your first books.

·        Go to a concert- maybe a BBC Prom or a Prom in the Park.

·        Find some new piano apps, try them out and come back and tell me all about them.

·        Teach yourself to play a favourite TV or film theme tune by ear, or learn Happy Birthday!

·        Explore a new style of piano music: pop, jazz, rock.

·        Watch the Piano Guys on YouTube with your parents.

·        Play the piano every time you are wearing your pyjamas!

·        Visit Handel House, Brook Street, London, it’s very child (and adult) friendly.

Enjoy your summer!

Retirement thanks.

I retired from my two school teaching jobs at Moulsham High School and The Cathedral Primary School this term. After 21 years it was quite a wrench to leave!

Thank you very much for the lovely cards, letters, presents and flowers that I received. I will miss you all but hope that you will continue with your piano lessons with my replacements.

Certificate photos!

Amelia and Oliver are delighted with their ABRSM grade 1 and 2 results. Well done!

Retirement from Essex Music Services Piano Teaching.

Dear Piano Parents, 

Time stands still for no one and as this year is my 60^th birthday, I have decided to retire from Essex Music Services and therefore from my teaching at Moulsham High School and The Cathedral School. This is a sad occasion for me as I have been teaching at MHS  for 21 years ( I even taught the current Head of Music) and at The Cathedral School for 20 years ( my association with CS spans 31 years...).

I have loved teaching your children and watching them progress from beginners to confident pianists over the years. I officially retire on Sat May 20^th so my last days of teaching will be on Tuesday 16^th at MHS and Wednesday 17th May at The Cathedral School.

I will continue my free-lance work for ABRSM, Music Teacher magazine and my private teaching- do contact me if you want to have lessons.  Meanwhile can I say a huge thank you for all your support and friendliness; I will miss you all,

 

Very best wishes,

 

Fiona Lau

Summer term commencement dates.

Piano lessons start again on the following dates:

Private piano lessons start the week of Tuesday 18th April.

Cathedral School piano lessons begin on Wednesday 19th April.

Moulsham High School piano lessons begin on Tuesday 25th April.

Get your fingers out, bring your music and get ready to play!

Grade exam congratulations!

Congratulations to the following pupils who have passed their ABRSM piano grade exams:

George Cairns and Oliver Wilson gained a pass at grade 1.
Joely Lee and Anna Howell passed with a merit at grade 1.
Oliver Rodriguez Payne passed his grade 1 with a distinction.
Isobel Coombe gained a pass at grade 2.
Amelia Wilson passed with a merit at grade 2.
Alexia Deighton passed her grade 3 with a merit.

Well done to all of them. It has taken a lot of hard work and practising to achieve these marks and I am delighted with all the results.

Easter music, printable and games.

If you want something seasonal to play over the Easter break, Susan Paradis has many great materials available here:

http://www.susanparadis.com/tag/free-easter-music-printables/

Enjoy!