The Year of the Pandemic

So I started teaching all online lessons during March through June this year. What an experience. I really missed my in-person lessons but was grateful to maintain all of my students and have meaning ways to do it. It did Facetime lessons and Zoom lessons.

In May I had a virtual recital. All students uploaded their pieces to YouTube and I posted several each night to the families to watch.

In June I taught in person Monday through Wednesday and still did Online lessons Thursday and Friday. When school resumed in August, I started teaching in person fulltime.

I am looking forward to a distanced recital on the 23rd of October. I’ll have six smaller groups coming to the Bountiful Davis Arts Center, where they will sanitize hands coming and going and everyone will wear a mask. Families will sit in groups of chairs away from each other and after the program, I ‘ll excuse one family at a time and give favors as they leave. I’ll report how this went.

We are all doing our best and can’t wait to get a vaccine! I love my students!

It’s a New Year!

2020 is here!  Our studio had a great duet recital on February 7th.  We have been learning about women composers.  In January, we learned about Cecile Chaminade.  In February, we learned about Clara Schumann.  (Below are Emma and Sydney playing their duet together)

Festival season is upon us.  I’ve been administering AIM theory and ear-training tests every Saturday in February.  Federation will be held on March 14th and AIM day is on April 18th.  More to follow.

Group Classes and Recital a Success!

Thanks to all of the students who came to group class this week.  We learned about Tchaikovsky and “The Nutcracker”.  We did lots of listening, coloring, watched parts of Walt Disney’s Fantasia segments, did theory activities and some of the younger classes played “Nutcracker Bingo.”  We had a good rehearsal and everyone took home a Nutcracker and some of my famous “Honey Popcorn.”

The recital was awesome last night with another record crowd.  Great job to everyone.  I was so busy that I only got one photo of Piper.  Be sure to send in your photos for the blog.  Thanks for doing so well.  We have lessons next week and then are off until school starts in January.

Tchaikovsky

Piper J in her festive skirt playing “Winter Waltz”

Monster Concert Photos

This gallery contains 13 photos.

Monster Concert a Huge Success!

My students performed in the 7:30 program.  They were amazing.  I performed in both programs with the other teachers.  My students performed “Brightwood Barn” by the late Robert Vandall.  I played the “Avengers.”  We raised enough money to buy four new Boston pianos for CenterPoint Legacy Theatre.  What a great experience.

Monster Concert on November 2, 2019

I have 24 students participating in this awesome fund-raiser concert.  Be sure to come!

Group Classes and Recitals: Halloween

Don’t forget group classes this week:  Tues, Wed, Thursday.  Recitals are on Friday, October 25th at 5:45 and 7:00 p.m.  Held at the Bountiful Davis Art Center.  Be sure to wear your costume!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Graduating Seniors

I want to thank the following remarkable people for taking lessons with me and/or for working for me this past year(s). Jessy Allen, Ally Mills, Hannah Chamberlain, Jacie Parr and Kaedon Apezteguia. Also, thanks to Ethan Mills, who graduated a year ago and has faithfully worked the 6:15 a.m shift all year long. He is moving to Draper or Provo for work and school as well. Kaedon is headed to BYU/Idaho, Jessy to University of Utah, Jacie Parr to Snow College, Hannah Chamberlain to BYU and Ally Mills to Utah State University. These are amazing people, folks! They have not only taught theory and helped with the computer, but have made so many favors for recitals, helped with group classes and any thing I asked of them. I will miss them all terribly!!!!

Kaeson Apezteguia

Ally Mills and Jill

Jacie Parr

Hannah Chamberlain

Jessy Allen

Cool Treat that I made: Ha!

Senior Recital for Ally Mills

It was great to have Ally and her family and a few friends come over to hear her play a little “Senior Recital” in June.  Ally talked about her favorite pieces and why she played them.  We had refreshments afterwards.  Even though we were in the middle of remodeling, everyone was very understanding of our disarray!  Ally is an amazing young woman.  She worked for me many hours each week, while still taking lessons, being a Young Women Leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and a leader in her Boy Scout troop.  She had high grades and has lofty goals.  I will really miss her and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

Fun Recital Friday, May 10, 2019

These darling sisters shared this photo with me. I was so proud of them for participating in my recital. They both played a memorized solo and have only taken lessons for two months! I’m impressed! Everyone did well and I hope they will send in their photos. I added a few photos that I took before the first program. Such darling kids. Everyone played very well.