Classical Music Conservatory

CMC Notes – December 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – December 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. CMC Winter Recitals 3. Parkdale Community Food Bank Donations 4. Give the Gift of Music! 5. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher Important Upcoming Dates Sunday, December 1st: CMC winter recitals day 1 of 2   Sunday, December 8th: CMC winter recitals days 2 of 2   Saturday, December 14th: Last day of Musical Preludes classes before the winter break! Saturday, December 21st: Last day of private lessons before the winter break! December 22nd to January 5th: Winter Break – Happy Holidays! Monday, January 6th: First day back of private lessons after the winter break Tuesday, January 7th: First day back of Suzuki Cello Group class after the winter break Saturday, January 11th: First day back of Musical Preludes after the winter break   Click HERE for our private lesson 2024-2024 CMC School Year Calendar! Click HERE for our Musical Preludes Schedule! Click HERE for our Suzuki Cello Group Class Schedule! CMC Winter Recitals Our winter recital sign up is now closed! Students who signed up will have received an email with recital details. If you signed up and did not receive an email, please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 IN-PERSON at Roncesvalles United Church: 12:30pm: cello recital (students of all cello teachers & our Suzuki cello group class) 2pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers; choose from 2pm or 3pm) 3pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers; choose from 2pm or 3pm) 4pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 5pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass/drums recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass/drum teachers; choose from 6pm or 7pm) 7pm: guitar/ukulele/bass/drums recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass/drum teachers; choose from 6pm or 7pm)   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 ONLINE via Zoom 10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher IN-PERSON at Roncesvalles United Church: 1pm: piano recital (students of Alida & Josh) 2pm: piano recital (students of Cheng-Feng, Chris & Erik) 3pm: piano recital (students of Neal, Michele & Aimi) 4pm: piano recital (students of Luan & Mark) 5pm: piano recital (students of Hiro & James) 6pm: piano recital (students of Louise & Emmett) Parkdale Community Food Bank Donations   During the month of December, CMC collects food and essential items to donate to the Parkdale Community Food Bank.   “Since 2007, we have been ensuring access to barrier-free food for all. Embracing the belief that joy is fundamental to nourishment, our mission is to create a hunger-free community. Through barrier-free access to diverse food options, every person who walks through our doors has a place at our table. We believe that access to high quality, healthy food is a human right. We are able to feed over 10,000 families every month thanks to the generous support of our partners and friends in the Parkdale community.”   Please consider bringing items to CMC to donate (for our in-person students) or, if you can, donate directly to the Parkdale Community Food Bank by clicking below. Find out more! Give the Gift of Music! Give the gift of music this holiday season by sending your loved ones a CMC egift card!    A CMC egift card can go towards music books or music lessons and makes a great birthday or holiday gift!    Click below to purchase a CMC egift card! PURCHASE NOW! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Arie CMC teacher Arie is playing electracoustic improvised music with Harpist Grace Scheele at the Tranzac’s Southern Cross Lounge on December 11, 9:30PM, as part of their Residency there. See the poster for more information. Max CMC teacher Max played drums on the new Huxlii song “so this is it”. For more information: https://huxlii.lnk.to/sothisisit Alida CMC teacher Alida will be performing with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale on Saturday, December 14th at 8:00pm for their concert “An Indigo Christmas… The Work of Christmas.” Information found here:  For more information: http://nathanieldettchorale.org/the-work-of-christmas/ Enjoy! Featured Student! Albert (Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music? 6 years old.   2. Why did you choose the instrument you currently play? Originally the instrument was chosen for me, but I soon came to enjoy it and never thought about switching. I choose the piano now because of the vast solo repertoire and it allows a huge range of expression.   3. What do you like most about your music teacher? I like the collaborative approach that Erik takes when determining how to approach and interpret a piece. It always feels like my ideas are valid and can be explored, even if it isn’t what we end up deciding to do. I like that Louise had so much knowledge about the history courses, and took a very pragmatic approach to helping me complete this portion of my studies.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Right now, I think my favourite piece to play is Beethoven’ Second Sonata (Op. 2 No. 2). It has everything!   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? Probably the clarinet, because it has a unique tone and it can be used across a variety of genres. 6. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to play piano! But also, I like to ride my bike with my cycling club, read, and watch movies.   7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? For composition, I always gravitate towards French composers, especially Messiaen, Poulenc, Ravel, and Debussy. The outlier there would be Schubert, who I have a special place for. For performance, I am inspired by Glenn Gould – though I am not a fan of all his interpretations, his anachronistic approach and conviction in his musical opinions are inspiring. Also, he is connected with Toronto 🙂   8. What do you like most about CMC? The support. Every member of the staff, from teachers

CMC Notes – December 2024 Read More »

CMC Notes – November 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – November 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information 3. Winter Recitals: Schedule 4. Winter Recitals: FAQs 5. RCM Exams 6. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 7. Featured Teacher 8. Give the Gift of Music! 9. ShopLocal2Win 10. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates November 1st: Winter recital sign-up starts today! Please refer to our email with subject heading ‘Winter Recital Sign-Up is now OPEN’ and click on the link in the body of the email to sign up!   November 5th: Deadline for RCM exam registration for Dec/Jan session   November 16th: Musical Preludes Parent / Caregiver Observation Day – parents/caregivers are invited to stay and observe your child’s MP class!   December 1st & 8th: CMC winter recitals – see below for more info!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2024-2024 CMC School Year Calendar! Click HERE for our Musical Preludes Schedule! Click HERE for our Suzuki Cello Group Class Schedule! Winter Recitals: Information! CMC hosts 2 days of winter recitals for our private lesson students. We encourage all our students to perform, but participation is optional! We want this to be a positive experience for our students with a supportive, low-pressure atmosphere. Our recitals are FREE, and are divided into short one hour sessions for your convenience.   Our recital sign up form will be emailed out on Friday, November 1st.   WHY PARTICIPATE: It’s an opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment 🙂 Develop a musical goal to work toward and achieve! Show your friends and family what you have learned so far! PIANO ACCOMPANIMENTFor our ONLINE recital strings, voice and wind students, if piano accompaniment is required, you will need to use a track.   For our IN-PERSON recital strings, voice and wind students, CMC pays for a piano accompanist to be at our recitals, but if you would like rehearsal time beforehand (which we highly recommend), you are responsible to pay for a minimum increment of 15 minutes of rehearsal time. Unsure if you or your child will need piano accompaniment? Speak with their teacher who will be happy to discuss with you! Winter Recitals: Schedule! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 IN-PERSON at Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Avenue:   12:30pm: cello recital (students of all cello teachers & our Suzuki cello group class) 2pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers; choose from 2pm or 3pm) 3pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers; choose from 2pm or 3pm) 4pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 5pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass/drums recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass/drum teachers; choose from 6pm or 7pm) 7pm: guitar/ukulele/bass/drums recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass/drum teachers; choose from 6pm or 7pm)   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 ONLINE via Zoom:   10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher   IN-PERSON at Roncesvalles United Church, 240 Roncesvalles Avenue:   1pm: piano recital (students of Alida & Josh) 2pm: piano recital (students of Cheng-Feng, Chris & Erik) 3pm: piano recital (students of Neal, Michele & Aimi) 4pm: piano recital (students of Luan & Mark) 5pm: piano recital (students of Hiro & James) 6pm: piano recital (students of Louise & Emmett)   NOTE: Students taking more than one lesson, or siblings, can sign up for the same time slot. All non-piano instruments must be on December 1st (for example, if one sibling takes piano and one takes guitar, please sign them both up for a guitar recital, since there will only be a piano set up on Dec. 8th, with no mics or amps…etc, and no guitar teacher to tune your instrument! Winter Recitals: FAQs Can my child sign up for one recital time slot even though they take 2 instruments? YES – we accommodate our students so that it’s convenient for you! Similarly, siblings can sign up for the same time slot. Please sign up for the non-piano time slot if applicable.   My child’s pieces are short since they’re a beginner- can they perform 2 pieces? NO – sorry! We limit it to one piece per student regardless of the length of the piece, to make it fair across the board. We simply don’t have time for all of our students to perform 2 pieces, so we need to enforce the 1 piece per instrument, otherwise our recitals will be endless. Thank you for your understanding.   My child takes / I take online lessons. Can they / I sign up to perform at the in-person recital? YES – for online students wanting to perform in-person, please simply sign up for your instrument / piano teacher’s time slot for our in-person recitals on December 1st.   My child takes / I take in-person lessons. Can they / I sign up to perform at the online recital? YES – sign up for our online recital on December 8th at 10am   Will there be a recital programme? YES – to be more environmentally friendly, we will have a digital programme with a QR code to scan to see the programme on your cell phone. We will have a limited number of printed programmes for those who need one. The PDF of the programme will be emailed the day prior.   How much does the recital cost? Our recitals are FREE.   Can my family and friends come to the recital? YES – since our winter recitals will now be held at Roncesvalles United church, we have plenty of space for family and friends to come and hear you, so there is no limit to the number of people you bring!   Any questions? Please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com. RCM Exams The deadline for RCM exam registration for Dec/Jan session is Tuesday, November 5.   The written theory examinations will take place on December 13 & 14, 2024.   The in-person practical examinations will take place January 13-25, 2025.   Interested in working towards a spring 2025 RCM exam?

CMC Notes – November 2024 Read More »

CMC Notes – October 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information! 3. Winter Recitals: Schedule! 4. Make-Up Lesson Policy Change! 5. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher 8. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Saturday October 12th: Private lessons are still ON, but no Musical Preludes classes! Monday, October 14th: No lessons scheduled today – CMC is closed for Thanksgiving! Thursday, October 31st: Happy Hallowe’en! All lessons are still on as scheduled – come to your lesson dressed up in your best costume! Click HERE for our private lesson 2024-2024 CMC School Year Calendar! Click HERE for our Musical Preludes Schedule! Winter Recitals: Information! CMC hosts 2 days of winter recitals for our private lesson students. We encourage all our students to perform, but participation is optional! We want this to be a positive experience for our students with a supportive, low-pressure atmosphere.   Our recital sign up form will be emailed out on Friday, November 1st.   WHY PARTICIPATE: It’s an opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment 🙂 Develop a musical goal to work toward and achieve! Show your friends and family what you have learned so far! PIANO ACCOMPANIMENTFor our ONLINE recital strings, voice and wind students, if piano accompaniment is required, you will need to use a track.   For our IN-PERSON recital strings, voice and wind students, CMC pays for a piano accompanist to be at our recitals, but if you would like rehearsal time beforehand (which we highly recommend), you are responsible to pay for a minimum increment of 15 minutes of rehearsal time.   Unsure if you or your child will need piano accompaniment? Speak with their teacher who will be happy to discuss with you! Winter Recitals: Schedule! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1   IN-PERSON at Array Space: 10am: cello recital (students of all cello teachers) 12pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers) 1pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers) 2pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 4pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 5pm: guitar/ukulele/drum recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/drum teachers) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass teachers)   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8   ONLINE via Zoom: 10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher   IN-PERSON at Array Space: Piano recital time slots will be assigned to students of specific teachers in October. 1pm: piano recital 2pm: piano recital 3pm: piano recital 4pm: piano recital 5pm: piano recital 6pm: piano recital   NOTE: Students taking more than one lesson, or siblings, can sign up for the same time slot. All non-piano instruments must be on December 1st (for example, if one sibling takes piano and one takes guitar, please sign them both up for a guitar recital, since there will only be a piano set up on Dec. 8th, with no mics or amps…etc, and no guitar teacher to tune your instrument! Make-Up Lesson Policy Change Just a friendly reminder about our make-up lesson policy: make-up lessons will be valid until the end of the school year in June. Lessons cancelled with 24 hours notice after May 31st will not be guaranteed a make-up lesson.   Please see our Student Handbook below for our full make-up lesson policy. Student Handbook Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Chris CMC teacher Chris has an upcoming special event on Tuesday, October 15th called “Letters To God: PS. I (don’t) Believe in You”. From Chris:   “Soundstreams commissioned me to write music based on letters the public have written to a ‘higher power’. It will feature myself on piano and synth, Tara Kannangara on trumpet and voice, and Ky Brooks on voice. And it’s FREE.”   You can reserve tickets and find more information at this link:https://soundstreams.ca/events/td-encounters-letters-to-god-p-s-i-dont-believe-in-you/   Alida CMC teacher Alida has an upcoming event with the chorus of Opera Atelier’s production of Acis and Galatea.   Performances are October 24, 26, and 27 at the Elgin Theatre.   Click HERE for more information.   Enjoy! Featured Student! Aida (Violin) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 3 years old.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? I wanted to play something with strings  3. What do you like most about your teacher? That she is a very good teacher.  4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? See the pretty flowers.  5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? Piano. 6. What else do you do in your spare time? Draw, read books.  7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? ABBA, Katy Perry.  8. What do you like most about CMC? The rainbow carpet in Ms. Kenin’s room! If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! Sonya Harper Nyby (Voice, Violin, Musical Preludes) 1. How old were you when you first started music? My elementary school had a great music program which included general music classes and the option to learn string or band instruments. I started learning to play violin in grade 3.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? I had a lot of really moving musical experiences growing up, especially in my high school orchestra. When I started my undergrad, I majored in biology, planning to go to med school eventually. I found I missed music too much, so I auditioned into the music education at my university and never looked back. Music is endlessly interesting because there is always something new to find in even the most familiar pieces. I find this especially true when I’m exploring the text of the pieces I sing.   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? I sing with Oakville Choral, The Hedgerow Singers, and I have a weekly church job.   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? I love helping people explore how they can achieve their

CMC Notes – October 2024 Read More »

CMC Notes – September 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – September 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Make-Up Lesson Policy Change 3. Musical Preludes 4. Suzuki Cello Group Class 5. Winter Recitals: Mark Your Calendars! 6. Private Lessons – Info! 7. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 8. Featured Teacher 9. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Monday, September 2nd: No lessons scheduled – CMC is CLOSED for Labour Day!   Tuesday, September 3rd: First day of lessons!   Saturday, September 14th: Roncesvalles Polish Festival from 11am to 11pm. Please note that Roncesvalles will be closed to traffic that day, so please allow more time for travelling to CMC for your lessons. Come visit our table outside CMC!   Saturday, September 21st: First day of Musical Preludes classes!   Tuesday, September 24th: First day of Suzuki Cello Group class!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2024-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Make-Up Lesson Policy Change Just a friendly reminder that our make-up lesson policy has changed: make-up lessons will be valid until the end of the school year in June. Lessons cancelled with 24 hours notice after May 31st will not be guaranteed a make-up lesson.   This policy is in alignment with other music schools across Toronto. Please see our Student Handbook below for our full make-up lesson policy. Student Handbook Musical Preludes What is Musical Preludes?   Musical Preludes is a course designed to introduce your young child to the wonderful world of music, where they learn basic musical concepts and explore various instruments such as the violin, cello, clarinet, piano and more!   Musical Preludes classes are drop-off classes, with the teacher and students only. The course has a parent observation day where parents or caregivers come to class to observe what the children have been learning. We limit the number of students to a max of 8 children per class.   The ultimate goal is for our students to experience the joy of music.   CLASS SCHEDULE FOR 2024-2025:   Musical Preludes has 2 terms with 15 classes each: Sept to Jan, and Feb to May.MP Intro (3-4 year olds): Saturdays 10:00-10:45am   MP Junior (4-6 year olds): Saturdays 11:00-11:45am   COST: $420 per term ($800 total if you register for the 2 terms at the same time) Find out more! Suzuki Cello Group Class We are hoping to offer our year long Suzuki Cello Group Class once again this fall on Tuesdays from 6:15-7:00pm.   We need at least 4 students to run the class, so if you are planning on registering your child but haven’t yet, please do so as soon as possible! Find out more! Winter Recitals: Mark Your Calendars! More information will come later on our winter recitals, but below are the dates to mark in your calendars. Our recitals are optional but highly recommended; it’s an opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment, and to develop a musical goal to work towards and achieve.   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1   IN-PERSON at Array Space: 10am: cello recital (students of all cello teachers) 12pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers) 1pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers) 2pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 4pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 5pm: guitar/ukulele/drum recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/drum teachers) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass teachers)   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8   ONLINE via Zoom 10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher   IN-PERSON at Array Space: Piano recital time slots will be assigned to students of specific teachers in October. 1pm: piano recital 2pm: piano recital 3pm: piano recital 4pm: piano recital 5pm: piano recital 6pm: piano recital   NOTE: Students taking more than one lesson, or siblings, can sign up for the same time slot. All non-piano instruments must be on December 1st (for example, if one sibling takes piano and one takes guitar, please sign them both up for a guitar recital, since there will only be a piano set up on Dec. 8th, with no mics or amps…etc, and no guitar teacher to tune your instrument! Private Lessons – Info! What happens if I need to miss a lesson? If you need to miss a lesson during the school year, simply cancel your lesson online by logging into your account (see below). A minimum of 24 hours notice, regardless of the reason for cancellation, is required for the lesson not to be forfeited. Lessons cancelled with 24 hours notice are never credited, but can be scheduled as make-up lessons. We do realize that 24 hours notice is sometimes not possible with illness, however, CMC has this policy in place out of consideration for our teachers. They are scheduled to come and teach at CMC or online, and are unable to make any alternative plans with less than 24 hours notice. This includes any technical or equipment failure for online lessons as well. Out of respect for the livelihood of our teachers, this policy stands. If you / your child can’t make your lesson with less than 24 hours notice, you do however have the option of having another family member take that lesson instead so it’s not forfeited. How do I cancel my lesson online? Please log into your WellnessLiving account to self-cancel your lesson – click HERE to view a video on how to do so NOTE: A minimum of 24 hours notice is required in order to receive a make-up lesson There is a maximum of 4 make-up lessons during the school year (one per 10 lessons for those who register after the first week of September) Make-up lessons are required to be completed prior to the end of the school year (end of June) Any lesson cancellations after the month of May are not guaranteed a make-up lesson Tuition is never prorated for missed lessons How is a make-up lesson arranged? You are responsible for scheduling your make-up lessons through the office. Please

CMC Notes – September 2024 Read More »

CMC Notes – August 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – August 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. Suzuki Cello Group Class 4. Make-Up Lesson Policy Change 5. RCM Exams 6. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 7. Featured Teacher 8. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Monday, September 2nd: No lessons scheduled – Labour Day!   Tuesday, September 3rd: First day of fall lessons – WELCOME BACK!   Tuesday, September 24th: First day of Suzuki Cello Group class!   Saturday, September 21st: First day of Musical Preludes classes (Intro for 3-4 year olds and Junior for 4-6 year olds)   Click below for our private lesson 2024-2025 CMC School Year Calendar: 2024-2025 CMC Calendar Musical Preludes What is Musical Preludes?   Musical Preludes is a course designed to introduce your young child to the wonderful world of music, where they learn basic musical concepts and explore various instruments such as the violin, cello, clarinet, piano and more!   Musical Preludes classes are drop-off classes, with the teacher and students only. The course has a parent observation day where parents or caregivers come to class to observe what the children have been learning. We limit the number of students to a max of 8 children per class.   The ultimate goal is for our students to experience the joy of music.   CLASS SCHEDULE FOR 2024-2025:   Musical Preludes has 2 terms with 15 classes each: Sept to Jan, and Feb to May.MP Intro (3-4 year olds): Saturdays 10:00-10:45am   MP Junior (4-6 year olds): Saturdays 11:00-11:45am   COST: $420 per term ($800 total if you register for the 2 terms at the same time) Find out more! Suzuki Cello Group Class We are hoping to offer our year long Suzuki Cello Group Class once again this fall on Tuesdays from 6:15-7:00pm.   We need at least 4 students to run the class, so if you are planning on registering your child but haven’t yet, please do so as soon as possible! Find out more! Make-Up Lesson Policy Change Just a friendly reminder that our make-up lesson policy has changed: make-up lessons will be valid until the end of the school year in June. Lessons cancelled with 24 hours notice after May 31st will not be guaranteed a make-up lesson.   This policy is in alignment with other music schools across Toronto. Please see our Student Handbook below for our full make-up lesson policy. Student Handbook RCM Exams DID YOU KNOW…   If you earn a Level 7 RCM Certificate (Level 7 practical exam in your instrument + Level 7 Theory) – it counts as a Grade 11 high school credit!   If you earn a Level 8 RCM Certificate (Level 8 practical exam in your instrument + Level 8 Theory) – it counts as a Grade 12 high school credit!   Curious to know more about the RCM exam process? Contact Lusiana at LL@cmccanada.com to arrange a time to chat with her about it! Learn more about RCM exams! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Alex CMC teacher Alex has lots of upcoming events!   Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 7-10pm – Tak Arikushi Trio @ La Rev   Aug. 25, 10pm – Dan Pitt Trio @ the Tranzac   Enjoy! Featured Teacher! Erik Ross (Piano, Theory, Harmony) 1. How old were you when you first started music? 4 – and apparently I slicked back my hair after my first tune and jumped right off the middle of the stage.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? Nothing in the world made my mind and body explode more with emotion.   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? I play in a couple contemporary rock groups Arkose and REK, but mostly I write difficult contemporary classical music with a mix of intensity and heart (or so I believe!).   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? Seeing eyes open with a sense of wonder when mysteries are solved and levels are attained, and finding the best way to connect and develop from each student’s unique style of learning. 5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? Scheduling is good. Mix difficult tech with beautiful music practice. Most of all, set reasonable goals and knock out one thing at a time. Becoming grand at music takes thousands of hours, so it can become daunting. So, make it easy and day by day. Today, learn 8 bars and, say, a formula pattern. Just that. Then tomorrow, do something like that again. Days become weeks become years and you’ll be awesome. But just know it takes time, so don’t worry about it and avoid all frustration by doing one thing – today. Get those 8 bars and that f.p… In the end, a single goal a day will make you magnificent.   6. What do you like to do in your spare time? Play complicated board and card games with my daughter Cecily, watch concerts, watch hockey, and play Texas Hold’em with friends.   7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? I still haven’t done Italy!   8. Anything else you want to add? I just want to say congratulations to all of my wonderful students who progressed in leaps and bounds this year!! If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Facebook Instagram ©2024 Music Lessons Toronto, In-Person at our school or online Lessons Toronto, Music School Toronto, ON, Canada | 314 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, ON M6R 2M7, CA All Posts Blog Posts CMC Notes Newsletters CMC Notes – November 2024 2024-11-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – November 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – October 2024 2024-10-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information! 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes

CMC Notes – August 2024 Read More »

CMC Notes – July 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – July 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Thank You for Another Wonderful Year! 3. RCM Exams – Congratulations! 4. Summer Camp! 5. Teachers’ Upcoming Gigs & Releases 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher 8. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Monday, July 1st: HAPPY CANADA DAY! CMC is closed!   Tuesday, July 2nd: Summer lessons begin! Email our office to sign up!   Monday, July 8th – Friday, July 12th: Music and Arts Creations Summer Camp WEEK 1! STILL A COUPLE OF SPOTS LEFT! Theme: Birds, Bugs, Faeries & Wings   Monday, July 15th – Friday, July 19th: Music and Arts Creations Summer Camp WEEK 2! STILL A COUPLE OF SPOTS LEFT! Theme: Oh, How My Garden Grows!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Thank You for Another Wonderful Year! Lessons for the 2023-2024 school year are now complete!   CONGRATULATIONS to all of our students for your hard work throughout the year!   We were grateful to hear many of you share your music at our Spring recitals in June – thank you for doing so!   Keep playing / singing this summer, and we look forward to a fabulous upcoming school year this fall! RCM Exams – Congratulations! Congratulations to all CMC students who completed an RCM exam in June! We’re so proud to see all of your hard work and dedication pay off! Keep practising and above all, have FUN! Summer Camp! SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS STILL HAPPENING: A FEW SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:   A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration!   Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $295/week.   Week 1: July 8-12, 2024 (spots available!)Week 2: July 15-19, 2024 (spots available!)Week 3: August 12-16, 2024 (FULL!)   Please click HERE for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Max CMC teacher Max recently played drums with a Toronto based band, Sunday Service, on their new song “Garbage”!   Check it out on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/2xKN3YB1dsH3wi8VWGO5XF?si=68c395d710ae47bc   Enjoy! Featured Student! Luna (Guitar, Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 4 years old.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? I was inspired by the talents of Taylor Swift!  3. What do you like most about your teacher? Alida – she’s super nice and enjoyable to be around. Alex – he always finds unique ways to explain things.  4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? I enjoy playing all music, especially Taylor Swift tunes.  5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? I would like to play Piano.   6. What else do you do in your spare time? Interact with my friends online; listen to music  7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Taylor Swift of course!  8. What do you like most about CMC? The School is welcoming and comforting. 9. Anything else you want to add?I hope my sister will take up music lessons again soon. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! A concert I attended recently..finally got to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra! Cheng-Feng Lin (Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music? 10 years old.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? I love music and teaching  3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? Not with any groups.  4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? Exchanging and sharing musical ideas between me and the students  5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? Treat it like having a “play date”.. have fun!  6. What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy cooking and being near water.  7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Greek islands If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Facebook Instagram ©2023 Music Lessons Toronto, In-Person at our school or online Lessons Toronto, Music School Toronto, ON, Canada | 314 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, ON M6R 2M7, CA All Posts Blog Posts CMC Notes Newsletters CMC Notes – November 2024 2024-11-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – November 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – October 2024 2024-10-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information! 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – September 2024 2024-09-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – September 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Make-Up Lesson Policy Change 3. Musical… Read More CMC Notes – August 2024 2024-08-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – August 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. Suzuki Cello Group… Read More CMC Notes – July 2024 2024-07-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – July 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Thank You for Another Wonderful Year!… Read More The Importance of Musical Interest: Insights from Louise Hung 2024-06-15/ The Importance of Musical Interest By Louise Hung   Through my experiences so far as a music educator, I have… Read More CMC Notes – June 2024 2024-06-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – June 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. CMC Spring Recitals 3. Summer Lessons… Read More CMC Notes – May 2024 2024-05-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – May 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring Recitals – Info 3. Summer… Read More The ABCs of My Many Memorable Moments at CMC – Insights from Cheng-Feng Lin 2024-04-15/ The ABCs of My Many Memorable Moments at CMC By Cheng-Feng Lin Over the years teaching at CMC, I have… Read More Load More End of Content. View All Posts

CMC Notes – July 2024 Read More »

The Importance of Musical Interest: Insights from Louise Hung

The Importance of Musical Interest By Louise Hung   Through my experiences so far as a music educator, I have found one core aspect that needs to exist for a student to develop as a musician: the student needs to be interested in the music they are playing. Without that interest, music lessons become a chore, especially when not every student enjoys the process of practicing from the outset.   When a student is interested in a particular piece or style of music, the practicing becomes an immersive exploration guided by the desire to successfully play the music how they want it to sound.    In taking this interest as the core aspect of a successful musician, I think the question is, for many educators and parents: how do I encourage student interest in more “classical,” historical, or musically complex styles? (Especially when these styles are what make up half or more of the music styles explored in the RCM exams.)    I have found that most students naturally gravitate towards the music they are surrounded with and listen to regularly. Pop, movie soundtracks, and video game music are usually what my students choose when they get the opportunity to choose music to play completely without interference. Their connections with these styles are deep, since they identify with the stories, characters, moods and aesthetics reflected in the music. Most students are not often exposed to “classical” or historical styles of music in their daily lives. Without that exposure, it can be difficult to develop the deep interest needed to sustain the detailed and consistent dedication and practice needed to play this music well.    Interest in a musical style does not always begin with the music itself. Much of our tastes in music are largely influenced by the aesthetics and lifestyle associated with a specific subset of music or artist. Music is a product of its environment. “Classical” and historical styles of music are no different! One of my favorite kinds of classes I teach are group or one-on-one music history, listening, and theory classes. In these classes, I can introduce students to the rich social and cultural history that “classical” and historical styles of music are rooted in detail. In exploring the stories of the world these styles of music were created in through understanding the historical events, social and cultural practices and attitudes, the lives of past composers and performers, and the theoretical building blocks composers used to build their works, “classical” and historical music can be brought to life. The music no longer stays stagnant and frozen as a relic of the past, but as a living work connecting us to the people who came before us.    In understanding how the music was made, students have the agency to make educated decisions about how to interpret and personalize the music, instead of uncritically playing what is put before them. It allows them to be active participants in the creation of the music and in their own musical learning. So far, every student I have taught history and theory to have developed a stronger interest in the “classical” music they play. As I predominantly teach purely instrumental music through piano, I have found encouraging aspects of imagery and storytelling to be important to student engagement. Most of the music that is listened to are songs where the lyrics explicitly give meaning. However, purely instrumental music can often pose a challenge for emotional connection, especially when it is unfamiliar. However, with guidance and suggestions, students can use their imagination to link the music they are playing to their own lives, to stories they are reading and watching.   We already associate certain emotions with certain styles of music, and to certain harmonies and rhythms, because they are all around in the media we consume. Movies, tv shows, plays, musicals and songs all reinforce these musical cultural associations. Whereas these examples all feature visual or textual context for the music to meld with, playing a purely instrumental piece doesn’t come with that context built in. Thus, it’s important to encourage students to use their imagination to give the music meaning. Instrumental music on its own does not have innate meaning. This does not stop music from being meaningful -despite the fact that music has similar structures and aspects to language, it is certain not one, and not a universal one at that. It needs the imagination and cultural context of the composer, performer, and listener to give it meaning. Read More About Louise All Posts Blog Posts CMC Notes Newsletters The Importance of Musical Interest: Insights from Louise Hung 2024-06-15/ The Importance of Musical Interest By Louise Hung   Through my experiences so far as a music educator, I have… Read More CMC Notes – June 2024 2024-06-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – June 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. CMC Spring Recitals 3. Summer Lessons… Read More CMC Notes – May 2024 2024-05-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – May 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring Recitals – Info 3. Summer… Read More The ABCs of My Many Memorable Moments at CMC – Insights from Cheng-Feng Lin 2024-04-15/ The ABCs of My Many Memorable Moments at CMC By Cheng-Feng Lin Over the years teaching at CMC, I have… Read More CMC Notes – April 2024 2024-04-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – April 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring Recitals – Info 3. Teachers’… Read More Musical Musings: Insights from Sonya Harper-Nyby 2024-03-15/ Musical Musings: Insights from Sonya Harper-Nyby By Sonya Harper Nyby   “Let music belong to everyone.” (Zoltán Kodály)   I’m… Read More CMC Notes – March 2024 2024-03-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – March 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 3.… Read More CMC Notes – February 2024 2024-02-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – February 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Summer Camp Registration & Discount! 3.… Read More Why You Should Study Music Theory: Advice From a Professional 2024-01-15/ Why Study Music Theory? Music theory lessons

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CMC Notes – June 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – June 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. CMC Spring Recitals 3. Summer Lessons 4. Summer Camp 5. Fall Re-Registration 6. Teachers’ Upcoming Gigs & Releases 7. Lost & Found 8. Featured Student 9. Featured Teacher 10. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Sunday, June 2nd: CMC in-person recitals at Array Space   Tuesday, June 4th: Registration Deadline for RCM August exam session   Sunday, June 9th: CMC online via Zoom and in-person recitals at Array Space   Saturday, June 15th: last day of Musical Preludes classes: parents are invited!   Saturday, June 29th: Last day of lessons for the school year   Tuesday, July 2nd: first day of summer lessons   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar CMC Spring Recitals Our spring recitals are fast approaching!   SUNDAY, JUNE 2nd: In-Person recitals at Array Space, located at 155 Walnut Ave.   SUNDAY, JUNE 9th: Online recitals via Zoom, and In-Person spring recitals at Array Space, located at 155 Walnut Ave.   We are so looking forward to hearing our students perform! Those who have signed up will be receiving an email with our recital programme a few days prior to your recital day. Summer Lessons SIGN-UP FOR SUMMER LESSONS IS NOW OPEN!   We highly recommend continuing lessons during July & August, even if it’s just a few, so that our students don’t lose what they’ve worked hard for this past year!   Please complete our summer lessons form that has been emailed to you – if you didn’t receive one, please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com.   NOTE: For summer, time slots are on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your summer lesson day & time now! Summer Camp! SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS STILL HAPPENING: A FEW SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:   A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration!   Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $295/week.   Week 1: July 8-12, 2024 (spots available!)Week 2: July 15-19, 2024 (spots available!)Week 3: August 12-16, 2024 (FULL!)   Please click HERE for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week! Fall Re-Registration Every spring, students are invited to reserve their lesson day & time for the fall by re-registering. Our Re-Registration deadline was May 1st. If you didn’t re-register but would still like to continue lessons this fall, please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com and our Registrar can let you know your teacher’s fall availability.   IF you do not plan on continuing lessons this fall, please let us know by emailing our office at cmc@cmccanada.com, thank you so much! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Wanda Wanda will be singing with her choir, Singing Out, at the following event:   June 15th, 3:00pm AND 7:30pm at the Glenn Gould Theatre, 250 Front St. West: True Colours: A Pride Concert   Click HERE for details.   Alida CMC teacher Alida has 2 upcoming events with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale!   1. June 3rd, 12:00pm at Roy Thomson Hall: Choir & Organ Concert Series. Free admission!   Click HERE for details.   2. June 11th, 8:00pm at the Luminato festival at Koerner Hall: And Still We Sing…Missa Afro-Brasileira: A Syncretism of Voice and Dance   Click HERE for details. Saba CMC teacher Saba has an upcoming event:   June 29th at Array Music: “From Persian Gardens to Tango Streets” – Persian whispers meet Tango’s passion in a night of music and hope. Join us for a journey through struggles and triumphs.   Click HERE for details.   Enjoy! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com!   PLEASE NOTE: any remaining items at the end of June will be donated, so to please claim your items prior to June 29th!!! Featured Student! Egan (Guitar) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 4 years old at the RCM   2. Why did you choose your instrument? My dad’s music tastes greatly influenced mine and his love of 70’s rock impressed me. This is to the point where I wanted to recreate some of these timeless songs with one of the most iconic instruments of the era.   3. What do you like most about your teacher? Brandon is not only a teacher but a friend. After spending so many years of my life with him we’ve created a solid relationship with a comfortable learning environment. Brandon knows my learning style and what pieces will pique my interest. I feel like we truly understand each other and for that I am grateful. 4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Over the years I’ve played many classic rock songs from bands like Pink Floyd, The Eagles, The Beatles, and many more but in a way, they are all fairly similar. That is why in my last year at the CMC I am truly broadening my horizons and learning Partita in A minor by Bach and transcribed by Brandon for electric guitar. It sounds amazing and it has so much interesting theory behind it. I never knew I could play these classical songs on an electric guitar and this just shows how endless the possibilities can be on any instrument.   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? If I could play any other instrument it would be the drums. Playing and learning music changes the way you experience it in day-to-day life. By learning guitar, whenever its presented in music I focus on it and have more of an appreciation because I can notice some of the intricacies of what is being played. By playing in a band I find this theory applies as well. I understand the effort it takes to play music with others and I also have more fixation on some of the other key instruments such as bass, keys and drums.

CMC Notes – June 2024 Read More »

CMC Notes – May 2024

CMC Notes Newsletter – May 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring Recitals – Info 3. Summer Camp 4. Fall Re-Registration 5. Teachers’ Upcoming Gigs & Releases 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher 8. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Wednesday, May 1st: TODAY is the deadline for submitting your Re-Registration form for the fall! Reserve your fall lesson day and time by completing the fall Re-Registration form that was emailed out in April. Contact the office at cmc@cmccanada.com if you did not receive one. Friday, May 3rd: Spring Recital sign up starts! An email with a sign-up form will be sent to all of our students – please complete by May 15th! Wednesday, May 15th: Deadline for Spring Recital sign-up form! (will be emailed out on May 3rd) Saturday, May 18th: Lessons are still ON as scheduled, but no Musical Preludes classes scheduled today! Monday, May 20th: CMC is CLOSED for Victoria Day!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Spring Recitals – Info! SAVE THE DATE: Our CMC Spring Recitals!   Below are the dates for our CMC spring recitals – mark your calendars! PLEASE NOTE that our recital sign-up form will be emailed to you on May 3rd, with a due date of May 15th!   Recital participation is completely optional, but we encourage our students to take advantage of this opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment, to develop a musical goal to work towards and achieve, and to show your loved ones what you’ve learned so far!   For our adult students 18+, we have a separate in-person adult recital which will take place on June 2nd at 3pm.   SUNDAY, JUNE 2nd   IN-PERSON at Array Space: 10am: cello recital (students of all cello teachers & our Suzuki cello group class) 12pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers, choose from 12pm or 1pm) 1pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers, choose from 12pm or 1pm) 2pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 3pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 5pm: guitar/drum recital (students of all guitar/drum teachers) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass teachers)   SUNDAY, JUNE 9th   ONLINE via Zoom 10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher   IN-PERSON at Array Space: 1pm: piano recital (students of Alida & Josh) 2pm: piano recital (students of Cheng-Feng, Chris & Erik) 3pm: piano recital (students of Neal & Michele) 4pm: piano recital (students of Luan & Mark) 5pm: piano recital (students of Hiro, James & Iris) 6pm: piano recital (students of Louise) Summer Camp! SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS STILL HAPPENING: A FEW SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:   A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration!   Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $295/week.   Week 1: July 8-12, 2024Week 2: July 15-19, 2024Week 3: August 12-16, 2024 (FULL!)   Please click HERE for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week! Fall Re-Registration! Every spring, students are invited to reserve their lesson day & time for the fall by re-registering.   A Re-Registration form was emailed out to you last month, and you have until the May 1st DEADLINE (TODAY!) to complete it.   Please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com if you didn’t receive an email in April.   Spots will be opened to new students or students requiring a change in their schedule after the re-registration deadline, so please ensure you reserve your spot by May 1st by completing the Re-Registration form! IF you do not plan on continuing lessons this fall, please let us know by emailing our office at cmc@cmccanada.com, thank you so much! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Alex CMC teacher Alex has an upcoming event!   –May 3rd, 8:00-10:00pm at Sellers and Newell: Money House Album Release.     Alida CMC teacher Alida has an upcoming event with Echo Women’s Choir!   –Sunday, May 5th, 3:00pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity: “O, Sister!”   Details can be found HERE.     Chris CMC teacher Chris & his partner Tara recently released a new EP, check it out here:   https://tarakannangara.bandcamp.com/album/extraordinary-people     Enjoy!!! Featured Student! Sean (Violin) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 8 years old.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? Seeing a showy violin performance at one of Mooredale’s “Music and Truffles” shows.   3. What do you like most about your teacher? Elizabeth has very good analogies to explain musical concepts.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Czardas by Vittorio Monti   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? The double bass.   6. What else do you do in your spare time? I like snowboarding, biking and indoor rock climbing.   7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Jonathan Crow, Stefano Landi   8. What do you like most about CMC? It’s a tight-knit community. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! Sarah Steeves (Cello, Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music? 3 years old.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? I feel like the most like myself when I’m playing or teaching the cello, so I wanted to keep doing that.   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? The Ton Beau String Quartet and Sinfonia Toronto   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? Getting to know my students and figure out how to best help them learn   5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? Pick one thing to focus on. Maybe it’s memorizing your recital piece. Maybe it’s learning the rhythm in the B

CMC Notes – May 2024 Read More »

The ABCs of My Many Memorable Moments at CMC – Insights from Cheng-Feng Lin

The ABCs of My Many Memorable Moments at CMC By Cheng-Feng Lin Over the years teaching at CMC, I have had many memorable moments. These lessons are really special, where I get to know each student at a deep level, often for more than one decade. For that, I am grateful for the trust from the parents and the students.   Here I have compiled an alphabetical list, from A to Z, for certain qualities that have been consistent and present in the lessons I have been giving throughout these years at CMC. Click each row to expand! A—Affection and Appreciation The lessons are filled with a lot of affection and appreciation. We also explore ways to play with affection and appreciation, as the musical pieces demand them to communicate these affects from their inner states and through their fingers. B—Being present The process of music making requires the students to be present in the body and the breath so that they are available to serve this art form. With the presence and attentiveness, breakthrough and transformation may then take place. C—Choice The students enjoy making decisions alone or with me during the lessons for issues like, fingering choices, interpretive choices, phrasing shape choices, for example. This leads to many positive benefits, such as empowerment, autonomy, curiosity, awareness, and more. I often tell them that they will not always have a teacher in the future, and they need to know how to process the music at hand independently. D—Dialogue I always love to hear what the students would respond in our conversation about music. However, it is even more interesting to listen to the shift when they speak their inner thoughts out loud: “it’s difficult” or “ I can’t” gradually turns into, “let me try again”, or “Ah, I almost have it”. E—Energy My students’ eyes often light up when they experience the magic of the cause and effect between the input of their physical effort with a particular energy/intention and the outcome when the piano ‘sings’ back to them in that particular energy mirroring theirs. They hear it! F—Focus The lesson is definitely a fertile ground to develop the capacity to focus: to be as aligned as possible in what they feel, think, see, and do, wiring many senses together in one unified state while playing the piano. They are invited to do so without the excessive tension and stress. G—Generosity I often encourage the students to be generous with their time and effort for their learning and practicing. Instead of seeing the learning and practicing as a chore or obligation, I would discuss and help them to see it as a generous gift—the gift of possibility and competency. H—Honesty Oh, the honesty of these young children! They are direct when expressing their thoughts upon hearing the music, or upon certain tasks that I propose. They would often show me their preferred way of learning something. Teenagers are far more discreet. It comes with a little sigh or a hesitant look. With some encouragement, they do tell, “I will have many tests next week, and I am not sure if I could get to all these scales..” I—Intuition Here I am referring to the musical intuition. Intuition literally means the tuition or the guidance from within. I put in high priority in developing and encouraging this internal musical guiding force of the students. I see this happening when the student (apparently not reading the music sheet on the stand) got ‘lost’ in the middle of the phrase, but managed to ‘invent’ a sensible alternative ending within the measure without even realizing they had done so. Or when the student instinctually builds up the energy of a phrase while playing it, without noticing the crescendo sign on the page. Another illustration would be improvisation. When the student enjoys improvising on the piano and delights in exploring new melodic patterns. J—Juggle Juggling with many tasks in life is the reality of the students I meet at CMC. Good time management on their part for home practicing is crucial. Considering the length of the lesson time (short), frequency of the lesson (only 1x/week), and the amount of materials (a ton), I am still learning the art of time management of giving a lesson. K—Kindness Oh I only wish if some of the students would not be so hard on themselves. The road of learning music never ends and the going does get tough often. Being kind and compassionate to one’s own learning process is one of the secrets to the life-long musical practice. L—Learning to listen Listening is a phenomenon that engages our whole being. It is about giving care, attentiveness, awareness and discernment while listening. Easy said than done, as we can be so busy with playing and not really listening. At the lesson, we often exercise this sense by isolating certain musical segment in order to listen in a particular way while playing. We would share our reflection after listening/playing. “How was the E in the end of the phrase? How did you shape it?”, for example. M—Musicality I would like to broaden the contemplation of musicality in reference to the students’ personality and their self expression. To me, each one of them is like a piece of living music. Here are some examples: the sparkle of their eyes when they hear that alluring harmony; the little nods to the groovy beats of the pop song they would like me to teach them; the melancholy student who tells me that Bb minor is her favourite key; a sudden obsession to make sure that very quiet sound at the end sounds ‘just right’. The musicality that lives through them is intrinsic, visceral, and spontaneous. N—Nourishment Once, a student said to me, while playing Beethoven’s Für Elise, “the music sheet is like a post card from Beethoven. I get to know his thoughts from the music.” Yes, my dear! Beethoven passed away, but his messages remains with us. And one way

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