Brian Tracy and Goals

Brian Tracy says this about goals:
“Success is goals, and all else is commentary. All successful people are intensely goal oriented. They know that they want and they are focused single mindedly on achieving it, every single day. Your ability to set goals is the master skill of success.”       [excerpt from Goals, by Brian Tracy]

Use learning the piano as a tool to teach your child how to be goal oriented! This will help your child be successful in life. Every time your child practices, take a few seconds to think about a goal together. Your participation will further increase your child’s desire to learn this master skill.

Keep Piano Fun

Sing! Since we’re learning how to accompany others, you can help! Please sing along with several of the songs. Keeping a steady beat and not going back to fix mistakes will be the two hardest things for your child. By singing along, you’ll allow him/her more practice accompanying and s/he will enjoy the one-on-one time.  

Flashcard Games  Pull out the notes your child’s learned and time how long it takes to say them. Include it as part of the practice every day, writing the times down on a chart. You and your child can decide prizes together.

Creating Goals

To reinforce the importance of setting and meeting goals, ask your child to name at least one goal s/he set and accomplished every day of practice.  

By asking for a goal each day, regardless of whether or not one was made, you will set the standard in your child that goals are important in life. Your child will learn to create goals in everything s/he does.  

The power in this is that your child will base his/her self worth on his/her own accomplishments rather than the opinion of others.  

Consistency is the key to building the successful habit of meeting goals.

Proper hand position

Fingers should be curved and strong without “breaking” at the joints. The wrist should be level with the forearm. Back is straight, shoulders relaxed. Having great form will help your child play better. Praising your child for great posture and form.

Setting Goals

Your child will learn more efficiently and effectively if s/he makes a goal every practice session.  

The goal should be small enough to be accomplished in one sitting!  

Examples of goals:New Piece: “I will clap and count the first 4 measures correctly, both hands.”“I will learn measures 9-16 with correct counting and notes, right hand.” 

Familiar Piece: “I will correctly play with the metronome starting at 72 and finishing at 88.”“I will add all the dynamics in the piece.” 

The key is to have complete awareness of the music that’s being created.  (And then to apply that awareness and exactness to all aspects of life!)

August 2007 Piano Newsletter

Back In the Swing of Things

Now that school is back in session and routines seem to be falling into place, consider adding the following strategies to help your child grow:

1. Establish and maintain a regular practice routine for your child. A daily written schedule that you and your child create together has shown to be most effective.

2. Younger children will need more supervision to be certain instructions are understood and followed.

3. Take time during the week to have your child perform for you, just for fun.

4. Have your child teach you! Concepts such as proper hand position, posture, rhythms, or the location of notes are best reinforced by teaching.

Policy & Student Info

Please read over the policy and sign the agreement. There are two copies, one for your records and one for the studio. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Please have the policy signed and the student information sheet filled out and returned by the end of August.

PO BOX 1342 Brentwood, CA

94513

2007 Calendar

Lessons will continue on a weekly basis as scheduled, with the exception of the following dates:

September 4 & 5 Group Lessons
October 1-12 Studio Closed
December 17 & 18 Group Lessons
December 24 – January 4 Studio Closed

Performances

December 2 (tentative) Winter Recital Our formal winter recital, held at the

Brentwood United

Methodist

Church December 19 or 20, TBAStudents have the opportunity to share their holiday music with the Eskaton Lodge residents. Group Lessons The schedule for the group lessons is on the back. Regular lessons will not be held during that week.

History of the Piano

When you think of the piano, you picture an instrument that can fill a room with music. However, if you’re a musician or happen to speak Italian, you know that piano has two meanings: 1. the partial name of an instrument, and, 2. a term that means to play music softly.

So why is it that we call this beautiful instrument the piano (literally, soft), and when was it invented? In the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th centuries, there were two keyboards of choice: the clavichord and the harpsichord. Both instruments were invented during the Renaissance in the 1300s.

The clavichord was shaped like a rectangular box with a keyboard set into one of its sides. Sound was created by pressing a key, which caused a brass tangent to strike a pair of string sin the box. The brass tangent would remain in contact with the string until the key was released.

The harpsichord, also know as the Clavicembalo, Clavecin, Spinet, or Virginal, as built in various shapes and sizes. To create sound on a harpsichord, you would depress a key, which activates a jack that allows a plectrum to pluck a string. The harpsichord was known for being extremely fragile and would often break when being played.

In 1698, Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) began making an arpicenbalo che fa il piano e il forte which translates to “harpsichord that can play soft and loud.” Cristofori was certainly qualified to invent such an instrument, as he held the prestigious position of keyboard instrument maker and custodian of musical instruments at the court of Ferdinand de’ Medici, in Florence.

By 1900, Cristofori had completed at least one of the new keyboard instruments whose strings were activated by hammers, not by being plucked. Because the hammer action allowed keyboardists more control in playing loud and soft, the instrument was quickly shortened to pianoforte (which means soft-loud). Over the years, the pianoforte became known simply as the piano.

You can see an actual Cristofori instrument, built in the 1720’s, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Piano Lessons

Lessons and Courses

Individual lessons with instruction designed to fit your child’s needs and interests. Piano students will work toward these goals:

1. Comprehensive Musicianship
Lessons will include theory, technique, sight-reading and performance preparation. Music literacy and independence is key to building confidence and self-assuredness.

2. Creativity
The very act of playing a piece is creative. Creativity is also explored through composing, harmonizing, and performing with one’s own personal interpretation.

3. Enjoyment
Above all, students should enjoy the music they create! Piano students should be able to derive self-satisfaction from their playing. Materials and books are chosen for each individual student to ensure the highest level of excitement possible.

4. Discipline and Poise
In order to achieve progress, regular disciplined practice must take place. Poise is developed through the frequent recitals.

5. Goal-Setting Strategies
Through Ms. Froehlich’s unique teaching strategies, students will learn the process of setting and meeting goals. This art is transferable to all other aspects in life.
Group Lessons

In addition to individual lessons, students will attend group lessons scheduled throughout the year.

In these lessons, your child will have the opportunity to perform before his/her peers in a comfortable setting, be introduced to composers’ lives and music, and review music theory taught during the lesson.

There are no private lessons the weeks that group lessons are scheduled.
Performance Opportunities

Recitals are scheduled throughout the year to provide an opportunity for students to share their music with others. This also helps build the student’s self-confidence.

In addition, there are opportunities for students to participate in the community and in local, district and state competitions, recitals, and festivals.

Parental Involvement

The amount of time and interest you show in your child’s development directly affects his/her progress. To help your child grow:

1. Establish and maintain a regular practice routine for your child. Younger children will need more supervision to be certain instructions are understood and followed.

2. Take time during the week to have your child perform for you.

3. Have your child teach you! Concepts such as proper hand position, posture, rhythms, or the location of notes are best reinforced by teaching.
Registration

Registration information and further information on lessons may be obtained by email at Alexis@PianoObession.com or phone at 925-783-4147. Students are considered on the basis of background, interest, and schedule.
About the Instructor

Alexis Froehlich graduated from the University of the Pacific in her home state of California with a Bachelor of Music Education with a Piano Emphasis and a California State Teaching Credential. From there, she moved to Greenville, North Carolina where she taught on faculty of the East Carolina Music Academy. Ms. Froehlich was also the director of the Cultural Arts program at an elementary school in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Since moving to Brentwood in 2002, Alexis has been an active teacher and musician in the area. She masterfully juggled her growing piano studio while simultaneously teaching music at Knightsen School and Krey Elementary School, and then later, Bristow Middle School. Blessed with wonderful piano families, Alexis resigned from her position as a public school music teacher and has since focused on her piano studio.

Ms. Froehlich has studied with Frank Weins of the University of the Pacific as well as Sally Drefke Wilson and Louise Savage. Alexis was chosen to perform piano works for Pulitzer Prize winner George Pearle. She also performed a world premier of Daniel Kingman’s works.

Ms. Froehlich is a certified member of the Music Teachers National Association. She is also a member of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers.

Teaching Policy for the Piano Studio of Alexis Froehlich

Dear Students and Parents,

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your music education.  Listed below are the studio policies.  Following the policies allows me to focus on giving each student the maximum time and instruction during the lesson.  Please remember I am always available for discussion of the lessons, but it is most effective during non-lesson times.

1. Lessons are once a week, 30, 45, or 60 minutes each.
2. Students are expected to be on time for their designated lesson.  If late, the lesson cannot be extended due to the next student’s lesson must start on time.
3. Please bring all books and notebooks every week.  Successful learning takes place when students come prepared with all materials.
4. Lessons are billed on a 2-month cycle.  Payment for the lessons is due one week prior to the beginning of the billed month. For example, tuition for January/February lessons is due the last week of December. Providing tuition on or before the due date guarantees that your specific time slot will be held for you.
5. Although make-up lessons are not guaranteed if the student or parent cancels, every attempt to make up the missed lesson will be made if there is an open time available during the day(s) following the missed lesson.  However, if there are no times available, missed or cancelled lessons by the student are forfeited.  Credits or refunds cannot be given for missed or cancelled lessons.
6. If the teacher cancels a lesson for any reason, a make-up or credit will be scheduled.  If there is a credit, the next month’s billing will reflect such credit.
7. Lessons can take place at the student’s home for an additional fee equivalent to a 45-minute lesson.
8. Students must give 30 day notice prior to terminating lessons.  Refunds are not given.
9. Materials and books are usually purchased by the parent at any music store.  At times, they may be purchased by the teacher and reimbursed by the parent.
10. In the case of planned vacations, if the teacher is notified 30 days prior to the vacation, a make-up or credit will be allowed.
11. Parents are invited to sit in on the lessons at any time; however, it is encouraged that the child student be allowed to have one-on-one interaction with the teacher occasionally for proper development.
12. Students are encouraged to participate in recitals and master classes when made available.
13. In addition to individual lessons, students will attend group lessons scheduled throughout the year. In these lessons, students will have the opportunity to perform before peers in a comfortable setting, be introduced to composers’ lives and music, and review music theory taught during the lesson. There are no private lessons the weeks that group lessons are scheduled.
14. Parents dropping children off for lessons are expected to be prompt in picking up their child.  Supervision cannot be provided prior to or after the lesson.  The teacher is not responsible for time other than the scheduled lesson time.

I, ___________________________________ accept and agree to follow the policy in its entirety.
Signature

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Date