Piano Origami

One of our piano students, Alyssa Stevens, has been learning how to do origami at her fall 4-H club. She showed up at her lesson yesterday with this amazing creation, complete with tiny sheet music! What a fun addition to the piano studio. Thanks, Alyssa!

A tiny piano, complete with a bench and sheet music!

Fall 2014

We have had a great beginning to lessons in the piano and guitar studios. It's been fun starting with some new students and picking up where we left off with the old ones. A big welcome to Patrick Cameron, a new guitar student, and to James Schuster who has joined us for piano. There are still lesson openings available for both piano and guitar. All ages and levels can be accommodated. Please help us spread the word.

Remember that next week (Sept 22-26) there will be no lessons as we will be rehearsing with our band, the Be Lyrebirds. If you are interested in coming out to hear us play, the benefit concert is on Thursday, September 25th, 7:30 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sault Ste Marie. It is unfortunate that it's on a school night, but we still hope to have a good turn out from the community. Here is a link to our blog where you can listen to our music for free: Be Lyrebirds

Have a great week off. Keep practising, and we'll see you the following week!

Fall Registration

Greetings, students, both old and new! Lessons will be starting the second week of school. If you were on our roster last year, you will be hearing from us some time this week so we can set up a time for the new year. At this point your old time is reserved for you, unless you want to make a change, which we will be happy to do.

We welcome new students of all ages and levels; adults too! It's never too late to learn an instrument, and it is an enriching, beneficial experience for the mind and body. Give us a call and register today.

705-255-5008

Summer Update

It's been a few weeks, but we're still bursting with pride about our students' fabulous performances at the Lessons in the Loft 2014 Spring Recital. Our new venue, the Laird Township Hall, worked out beautifully this year. One parent commented, "It felt like we were in an old concert hall, and this gave the event a professional vibe." Woohoo! I think we'll be booking the hall again next year. 

Congratulations to all our students. Our recital was the culmination and celebration of a year of dedicated practicing and consistent progress on your instruments. Your family and friends (and teachers) enjoyed the resulting evening immensely.

Lessons in the Loft class of 2014. Photo courtesy of Jane Karhi

I would like to just insert an update here on Alyssa Stevens, who took her RCM Grade Two examination just before the recital. Her evaluation was posted and she achieved First Class Honours yet again this year. Congratulations on a top result, Alyssa!

Happy Summer! See you in September.

This is It!

Well students, we're just a few days away from our spring recital. We're enjoying our final week of lessons with you and looking forward to some great performances this Saturday evening. See you there!

Recital details...in case you lost that second reminder notice (LOL):

Saturday, June 14th

7:00 P.M.

Laird Township Hall

Music Festival 2014

Last week, six of our piano students participated in the Sault Ste Marie Music Festival. Once again it took place at St. Luke's Cathedral, a beautiful church with fabulous acoustics. Students played their prepared pieces for adjudicator Chris Morano of Vancouver, B.C. on the rich-sounding Yamaha grand piano. 

Following their performances, the adjudicator spent one-on-one time with each student, commenting on what they did well and making suggestions for things they can do to improve. Students received certificates and detailed evaluations following their classes/workshops.

William Ambeault spends some time with the adjudicator, Chris Morano

  

This year the Lessons in the Loft participants were William Ambeault, Elizabeth Norbo, Alyssa Stevens, Ella Karhi, Kaija Karhi and Katja Karhi. We were so pleased with all of the students' performances. A special congratulations to Katja Karhi and Elizabeth Norbo, who both won $25.00 Scholarships for their fine playing. We are very proud of them for earning this honour.

Winter Recital 2014

Check out the back page of this week's Sentinel for an article on our recent winter recital. It includes several photos, though not quite all of the performers made it in. Maybe next time! 

Thanks again, students, for all your hard work to prepare your pieces, and for your excellent performances on the day.

Winter Recital News

We have finally nailed down a date and time for our winter recital.  Once again, we are going to share our music with the residents of Lighthaven Retirment Home in Bruce Mines.  We'll be playing for them on Sunday, January 26th at 2:00 PM.  This is a great opportunity to bring a little joy to the lives of some of our elderly community members while practicing our performance skills in preparation for upcoming events like the Sault Ste. Marie Music Festival in the spring.  We have just two weeks left to practice, so keep polishing those pieces and we'll see you at your lessons!