Moments...

Sitting in church on Sunday and watching my student sitting in front of me with his family coloring, and spelling the word baseball "bassball." It's moments like these that make me love teaching.

Federation 2010

Addy and me

It was my second year participating in the popular music festival Federation. Four of my students participated this year and all four scored in the top two categories. Good job girls! They all worked so hard! Congratulations to Addy and Sophia on receiving Excellent, and Mia and Alex for receiving Superior. I handed out their awards at the Spring Recital. Unfortunately two of them left before I could get pictures with them.

Alex and me

Spring Recital 2010

I decided to have my studio recital at Piano Gallery this year, since I had recently purchased a piano from them. It turned out so nicely! They recorded the performance, and gave me a DVD of the recital that I could copy and distribute to my students. Not only were they very accommodating, but the pianos were fantastic! Although I couldn't set up a refreshment table, I prepared goodie bags for my students with cookies, and piano pencils. My students did a fabulous job! Not one of them used their music! I was so proud of how hard each of my students worked, and was delighted with their performances! Unfortunately, my camera battery died and so I was not able to capture pictures of all of my students, but here are some of the pictures that I did get.

Avery Greenberg

Lauren Shields

Jarron Frey

Cole Mabey

Isabella Boyce

Adeline and me

Bella and me

Ty and me

Ty surprised me by wearing a cape for his Star Wars performance! It was such a treat! Thank you again to those of you who emailed me pictures, and to all of my students for their hard work. Congratulations!

My First Master's Recital

I gave my First Master's Recital on April 17th 2010. It was such a treat to have some of my students come to support me!

Backwards Day

One of my darling students came to her lesson with all of her clothes on backwards. Apparently it was backwards day at her school. I just had to capture how cute she looked!

And this is what should be the front.....

Holiday Recital 2009

I can't believe another year has come and gone! To end a wonderful year, my students played in the second annual joint Holiday Recital. It has become a fun tradition that my friend Lindsey and I started. Lindsey and I first became friends when we took piano together as children, reconnected when we were undergraduates, and have been best friends ever since.

Lindsey and Me

Alexandra Cannon

Isabella Boyce

Lauren Shields

Eric Stricklett

Avery Greenberg

Carly Shields

Brin Stricklett

Sage Olson

Addy Gesteland

Mia Vinding

Addy and I

Eric and I

Brin and I

Avery and I

Sage and I

Isabella, me, and Mia. They are going to play a duet next Christmas.

I am so proud of all of my students. They have accomplished so much in the past year. They are such a joy to teach, and are so talented.

I look forward to their progress in 2010.

Thank you again to all of the parents for your support!

Piano Socks

I just had to post this cute picture of the piano socks that I gave my student Alex for her birthday. I used to have piano socks that I wore to recitals for good luck :-)

Federation

Last year was my first year participating in the popular music festival Federation. I only entered two of my students that were transfer students because I just wanted to get my feet wet the first year and see how I liked it. I was a little nervous when preparing my students for the festival since they had received superior ratings the previous two years (the highest rating). If they received a superior rating for a third year, they would receive a gold cup. Needless to say, I felt a little pressure when choosing their pieces and helping them learn them. I also had them skip four levels since I felt that they had surpassed the material from those levels. However, they are both wonderful students and are very artistic and musical. They not only impressed me, but the judges as well. Good job girls! And good luck to all of my students participating this upcoming year.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

One of my cute students lost her second front tooth at school before she came to her lesson. I just had to capture the moment! Hope the tooth fairy brought her something good!

November Announcements

Hi all,

Hope you are doing well! I just have a few updates.

First of all I received my new business cards, and I am sending them home with your children this week (it has my new address and home phone number).

Second, the recital date is set for Saturday December 19th at 11AM at the University of Utah's West Institute (it is the same building as last years holiday recital) There is a $5 charge per student participating in the recital to offset costs such as printing the programs etc, please include it in your December tuition. Also for those of you participating in Federation, the participation fee is $15. You may include it in December's tuition.

Third the University of Utah has some wonderful concerts coming up if any of you are interested. They would be a great opportunity to expose your child to classical music.

All of the following Concerts are held in David Gardner Hall (the music building), which is the building just west of Kingsbury Hall in President's Circle. Call me if you need directions.

Sunday November 22nd 7pm (free admission)

Libby Gardner Hall in David Gardner Hall

Pianists Dr. Heather Conner and Dr. Vedrana Subotic performing the music of Ravel and Rachmaninoff

Sunday November 29th 7pm (free admission)

Libby Gardner Hall in David Gardner Hall

Pianists Dr. Ning Lu and his wife Dr. Jie Lu will be performing a duo-recital.

Wednesday December 2nd 7:30pm (free admission)

Dumke Recital Hall in David Gardner Hall

A colleague of mine Lisa Amundsen will be performing her first Master's Recital.

Friday December 4th 7:30pm (tickets available through KingTix)

Libby Gardner Hall in David Gardner Hall

Well renowned pianist Emanuel Ax

Sunday December 20th 7:00pm (free admission)

Libby Gardner Hall in David Gardner Hall

Dr. Susan Duehlmeier and Dr. Bonnie Gritton will be performing a holiday concert.

Fourth, I have implemented a reward program for my students in which they will be earning "Beethoven bucks." They may earn up to five Beethoven bucks each lesson, and after fifteen Beethoven bucks they may purchase a prize. Ways in which they can earn Beethoven bucks are the following: recording their practice time in the practice chart on their lesson sheet, finishing their theory at home, working on their technique chart, and completing other assignments. Please help encourage your child, especially for those in the yellow books, which have challenging pieces.

Last of all, it is very important that each child have a metronome to use when practicing. If you have not purchased a metronome, please do so. Any kind is fine.

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog of Foster Fingers Piano Studio. I am creating this blog, to notify parents and students of upcoming recitals and events, as well as other important information.

First of all I have created an new email account, from which I will be sending all of my studio information. Please take note of the change and save that address in your address book. It is fosterfingers@gmail.com.

Second tuition is due the first week of November.

Third The tentative date of the Christmas/Holiday Recital is Saturday December 19th 2009 at 11AM. Please put this down on your calendars. The recital will last approximately an hour and a half, followed by a short reception.

Fourth The University has a concert series called Sundays at Seven, that occurs sunday evenings at 7pm. This is a great opportunity to have your child hear University faculty pianists and other musicians. The concerts are free of charge, and take place in Libby Gardner Hall, which is located in Gardner Hall (the building just west of Kingsbury Hall in Presidents Circle) The concerts last approximately and hour and a half.

Sunday November 1st is piano faculty Jie Lu playing with clarinetist Robert Walzel.

Finally... I am participating in the NFMC (National Federation of Music Clubs) again this year. The solo event takes place on Saturday March 6th and 13th (your child would only play on one of these days.) It is not a competition, but is a festival that is designed to give students a performing opportunity and feedback from judges. Two of my students last year received gold cups or trophies. I feel that this is a wonderful opportunity. Please let me know if you would like your child to participate. I need to know by the week of November 1st, so that I can choose their solo pieces. (Your child and I choose one, and then pick a second piece from a list of required pieces) The official applications which I have to mail in are due December 15th. Enrollment in the festival is approximately $15.

Thank you again for all you do! Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you have questions.