October Payment Reminder

Just a friendly reminder that payment for October lessons is now due.  

Musical Monday

Mozart Oboe Concerto (Allegro Aperto) - Nicholas Daniel / Jiří Bělohlávek / BBC Symphony Orchestra

Here's a little musical inspiration! Enjoy!

Goal Tempo Recordings

Here are the Region etudes in their entirety and at goal tempo.  Please remember to learn them slowly & accurately.  Fast & bad are not a good combo!  Slow & steady wins the race... & helps to ensure you don't learn mistakes!  Be sure to continue practicing with the slower recordings until you have them done perfectly!

Gold - Number 7 - Set A Number 1

Gold - Set A Number 2

Gold - Number 8 - Set A Number 3

Practice Tempos

Here are the recordings with the different practice tempos.  Have fun!

Bronze - Number 7 - Set A Number 1

Bronze - Set A Number 2

Bronze - Number 8 - Set A Number 3

Silver - Number 7 - Set A Number 1

Silver - Set A Number 2

Silver - Number 8 - Set A Number 3

Mr. Oboe Super Bowl Commercial

The oboe gets some major attention in this super funny Super Bowl commercial!  Enjoy!  Oh, and be sure you play your oboe with better posture!  : )

A Great Start!

I have really enjoyed starting lessons this week.  It has been nice to see returning students and to get started with new ones too!  Thank you for your help in scheduling and for sending September payments. 

I would like to use this blog to help excite my students about being musicians.  I will have featured students of the month.  This honor will go to a student that has shown great improvement or simply just played something beautiful!  I will be adding music clips & videos along the way as well.

I hope you will bookmark this site & check it often.  With so many students I will use it as my primary communication.  I am re-posting the schedule with a few changes & minor adjustments.  

There were a couple of Grisham students wanting to take 30 minute lessons.  After talking to the kids, we have worked it out to get the first student to class to start before the bell & the second one to go after the bell giving us enough time for 30 minute lessons. Passes to class will be given as needed. 

Fall 2009 Schedule

 

Tuesday:

Deerpark

7:20-8:20 Sectional 

9:14-10:04 Hillary

10:08-10:30 Delaney

10:30-10:58 Alan

3:30-3:50 Michael

3:50-4:20 Rachel

4:20-4:40 Christina

4:40-5:00 Jade

5:00-5:45 Adam

Wednesday:

Home Studio

1:15-2:15 Debbie

3:15-3:45 Caitlyn

3:45-4:15 Erin

4:15-4:45 Ashley 

Thursday:

Grisham

7:15-7:45 Ana

7:45-8:15 Maanasa

9:10-9:40 Kate

9:40-10:10 Lynette

11:02-11:32 Suraj

11:32-12:02 Claudia

12:02-12:32 Yuli

Chisolm

1:05-1:35 Noah

1:40-2:32 Morgan 

3:30-4:00 Haylee 

4:00-4:30 Devin

4:30-5:15 Lauren

5:15-6:15 Marissa

 

Sunday:

Home Studio

2:30-3:00 Michelle

Recordings of Region Etudes #1

I will be posting complete recordings soon.  There are mistakes in the music that will need to be corrected.  If you haven't already gotten the corrected versions, you will this week.

Here are recordings of the Region 26 MS Audition Etudes.  They are at the bronze tempo and are the first half of each piece.  I will add more as we go.  

Feel free to practice along with them.  The tempos are listed below:

#1 quarter = 70

#2 quarter = 40 (or eighth note = 80)

#3 quarter = 70

Set A Number 1 bronze 1.mp3

Set A Number 2 bronze 1.mp3

Set A Number 3 bronze 1.mp3

Payment & Reed Policy 2009-2010

Payment Policy - 

There is a set lesson fee per month.  This lesson fee is based on 32 lessons over the school year at the $40/hour rate, divided by 9 months.  The monthly rate is due whether your child has 1 lesson or 5 lessons in a given month.  This is both the easiest payment method to keep track of & the most fair to me to ensure a steady commitment and income.  It also simplifies payment.   Please note...  There are no make up lessons!

This amount is due on the first of each month, and my preference is that you set up an automatic payment if you pay bills on-line.  This way your child will not have to worry about handling the money, and  it ensures the payment won’t unintentionally slip your mind.   If you are unable to set up automatic on-line payments, please make sure your student delivers payment at the first lesson of each month.  Payment can be mailed to:   (Maegan Schneider, 2507 Highland Trail, Leander, Tx 78641)

$40 /hr rate x 32 lessons / 9 months = avg

($15 / 20 minutes) $52

($20 / 30 minutes) $70 

($30 / 45 minutes) $105

($40 / 60 minutes) $140

Reed Policy:

Reeds continue to be $15 each and should be paid for at the time of purchase.  I take time with each student & help with reed selection. Once a reed is purchased it cannot be exchanged.  If during the selection process a reed is broken it must still be paid for.  I have a "you break, you buy" policy also know as a "you break, I cry" policy.  Please stress to your child to take great care of reeds to ensure a long life.  Accidents do happen... I've had a few over the years but with great thought & care they can be avoided in most cases.  Please give me a week's notice when reeds are needed.  

Students should ideally have 3 usable reeds at all times but two usable reeds are a must.  If you have another source of homemade reeds that your child plays well on that is fine.  I am always looking for other sources of great quality reeds. With so many students needing reeds as well as supplying reeds for my own playing it will be a challenge to keep my supply stocked.  Store bought reeds are inferior in many ways but might be necessary on occasion.  Please never buy soft or med-soft.    IF you have to buy store bought reeds only buy med-hard or hard.  If they are too hard I  can make necessary adjustments.  If they are too soft nothing can be done.

Reed-mania

Several of you have expressed the need for reeds.  I will be making as many as I can get done for next week. If you have contacted me for reeds I will reserve some for you.  I always appreciate the week heads up so I can make necessary time for reed work.  With almost 30 students, it will be a challenge to supply reeds for all.  Reeds remain $15 each & must be paid for when received.