Happy New Year

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. Here is a reminder of my scheduled teaching weeks for the semester.

January

4, 6

11, 13

18, 20

25, 27

February

1, 3

15, 17

22, 24

March

8, 10

22, 24

29, 31

April

12, 14

19, 21

May

3, 5

10, 12

24, 26

No Lessons this Week

As indicated on my yearly teaching schedule, there are no lessons this week. Keep up the practicing and I look forward to hearing your progress next week! : )

Please check your records, and make sure you are up to date with payments. You should have paid for September and October lessons.

October Payment Now Due

October payment is due at next week's lessons. Thank you.

Walsh Students

There will be no Walsh lessons today.

Lesson Schedule

TUESDAYS

GRISHAM

9:16-9:46 Kate Nettles

9:46-10:06 Lynette Ban

11:04-11:34 Claudia Shaleesh

HOME

12:30-1:00

Caitlyn Cross

1:00-1:30

Erin Cross

1:30-2:00

Ashley Cross

2:00-2:30

Debbie Anderson

5:00-6:00 Adam Gill & Hillary Harris

THURSDAYS

GRISHAM

9:16-9:46 Yuli Lim

9:46-10:06 Lynette Ban

10:10-10:40 Joseph McDonagh

11:04-11:34 Ana Menchaca

1:22-1:42 Harry Patel

1:42-2:12

Christine Kwon

WALSH

3:35-4:00 Elizabeth Z.

4:00-4:25 Caroline C.

4:25-4:50 Megan S.

4:50-5:15 Emily G.

5:15-5:40 Michelle N.

5:40-6:05 Emily F.

2010-2011 Teaching Weeks

Teaching Dates: 2010-2011

I will be teaching on the following Tuesdays and Thursdays this year. I have taken out weeks of TAKS, finals, and holidays. I will give more details on times soon.

September

7, 9

14, 16

21, 23

28, 30

October

5, 7

12, 14

26, 28

November

2, 4

9, 11

16, 18

30

December

2

7, 9

January

4, 6

11, 13

18, 20

25, 27

February

1, 3

15, 17

22, 24

March

8, 10

22, 24

29, 31

April

12, 14

19, 21

May

3, 5

10, 12

24, 26

Back to School and Reeds!

I hope everyone has a great first week of school! I plan to start lessons the week of Labor Day. I am currently working on my availability around my family's schedule and waiting to get info from the band directors on students.

I will be posting new info as I know it. The first change for the year is that I will not be making and selling reeds. Please do not panic.

The added time and stress of trying to keep enough reeds for over 20 students and myself just about did me in last year! I worked hard to accommodate everyone because of the lack of a good reed source. I spent the year and summer ordering reeds from several places and testing them as well. This was an expensive and frustrating endeavor as the reeds were all unsuitable and cost $25-$35 ea!

I am happy to announce I have found what seems to be a suitable source!!! Cue the angels from heaven! : ) Singin' Dog Double Reed Supply

Remember no reeds are perfect. The 6 I ordered had some minor issues but they very good quality overall and seem well adapted to our climate. They are made in Sugar Land, TX.

I just got mine in and tried them yesterday so I was not able to give more of a head start for your ordering. It will take a little time to get them so here is the website so you can order them right away. :

http://www.singindog.com/

Reeds are $16 each (very reasonable, trust me!) Shipping & tax for me was about $14. This will be a good chunk of money, however it is imperative that your student has good and plentiful reeds to get started.

Beginners and 7th graders, please order at least 3 medium hard reeds as soon as possible. - DO NOT order the ones labelled beginner!

8th graders and up, please order at least 2-3 medium hard reeds & 1 hard reed.

You might also consider purchasing a reed case that holds 6-10 reeds. If your student has a 3 reed case that will do, but having room for more is ideal.

Here is one source:http://www.forrestsmusic.com/oboe_reed_cases.htm

They have a 6 reed case for $25. Some of the music stores might have some options as well. You will just have to call or visit to check.

Summer 2010 Info

What You Need To Know...

Summer lessons are kicking into high gear this week! I am looking forward to starting beginners, working with new students & continuing with my current kiddos! Here are some important things you need to be aware of as we begin.

Payment Policy:

• Your first payment for the summer is due at the first June

lesson. If you have more due, it will be collected at the first July

lesson. There will be no payment due in August unless special

arrangements have been made with me prior to starting.

• Reeds are $15 each, and they are to be paid for at the time of

purchase. Please try to give a week's notice when reeds are

needed.

• If you are involved in reed making classes, your reed kit is

included in the June/July total already. However, reed classes

will be paid for at the time of the class. Reed classes are $30

each.

• Now that the schedule is set, there are no make up lessons.

Lesson Protocol:

• Please make every effort to be early to lessons. As you can see

it is a tight schedule so I will be starting each lesson at the

scheduled time. If you are late, you will miss some of your time.

• Please have your reed soaked & your instrument ready to go

when it is your time. That way we can get more accomplished

during your lesson.

• ALWAYS have a pencil, metronome/tuner, necessary music, &

assignment notebook at each lesson.

• Parents are always welcome to come in and enjoy the cool ac &

the comfy couch!

Communication:

• I love teaching music & hope it shows! I want to help each

student improve and enjoy their musicality. Please feel free to

contact me with questions about anything! Good teacher-

parent-student communication is an important key to success.

If there is ever anything I should know to better teach you (or your child), please let me know & I will be sure to reciprocate. I

will give feedback on how things are going whether good or

whether there is need for improvement.

Materials:

• I will occasionally request you to purchase a specific book

or piece. Please make every effort to do so. I will be advising

you on what level of material you are ready for. You may also

bring in outside materials & we will work on them if you are

prepared on your assigned materials. I love when students

have music they are excited about!

• I will be requiring you to purchase a notebook of your choosing

(it can be a little spiral or a journal type book) to write down

assignments at each lesson. Often students come to lessons &

have neglected to practice their assigned material. This is not a

good behavior so it is my hope that their added responsibility of

keeping up with their assignments will help them practice.

Practice:

• Speaking of practice.... Most people have heard the cliche,

"Practice makes perfect," but that is not true! Only PERFECT

practice makes perfect!!! Good practice makes better!

• There is such a thing as "bad practicing." If you only play the

parts you can already play & like to hear you are not really

practicing... you are just playing.

• Use your time wisely. Attack small sections that need work &

practice SLOWLY! It doesn't have to be a really long practice

session to make progress. As long as mistakes aren't being

practiced, you will improve.

• Be sure good practicing is occurring. I will have many tips on

good practicing on the blog as we go, so be sure to check in

often!

End of May Notes

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching your student(s) this year! I count it a privilege to help, advise and enrich their musical journey. This week is our last scheduled school lesson as next week is finals. I ask that you send any money due, including May lessons and any reeds for which you may owe. Please disregard if you are current on payments.

I hope you have a great summer. Encourage as much practice as possible and please plan to take advantage of my summer instruction. I am listing the dates again below. If you have already indicated which days your student will participate, please double check the list below for accuracy and let me know of any changes. If you have not confirmed, please do so at your earliest convenience so I can plan accordingly.

A note of clarification... it is ideal to come twice in one week if possible. That way the topics/material will be introduced on the Tuesday session, can be practiced over Wednesday, and then be polished on Thursday. If only one day works however, that is fine as well.

Mrs. Schneider’s Sizzling Summer Sessions

Mrs. Schneider’s Sizzling Summer Sessions

I am offering summer instruction on the following dates:

June 15th & 17th

June 29th & July 1st

July 13th & 15th

July 27th & 29th

August 10th & 12th

Each day will follow the schedule below:

(grade level is the grade they are entering)

10:00-11:00 Beginners

11:00-12:30 7th graders

1:30-3:00 8th-10th graders

3:00-5:00 Reed Class

Sessions will take place at my home in Leander.

In leui of private lessons that tend to be very sporadic due to vacation and camp conflicts, I will be offering group instructional sessions. They are divided by age and will have a specific skill focus each week. My aim is to work on specific pieces as well with the goal of another retirement home performance on Friday, August 13th.

In addition to the musical instruction, I will be offering reed making classes for students that started with me last summer. It will not be open to new students this year, but I plan to offer beginner classes next summer.

It is a great idea to have some instruction time built in to your child’s summer to combat regression of skills. Please let me know if your student will be participating in the summer sessions, and please specify which sessions or all sessions.

Regular Rate ($40/60 min)

Summer session rates:

$20 for 60 minute session

$30 for 90 minute session

$40 for 120 minute session

I enjoy teaching your student and am thankful for the continued opportunity. Music is a lifelong skill and if properly cultivated, can be enjoyed for years to come!

Musically,

Maegan Schneider

NO lessons 4/26- 4/30

There will be no lessons this week because of the TAKS testing schedule. Losing a week due to TAKS testing was accounted for in the lessons scheduled for the year.

Very Entertaining!

This is amazing! A crazy difficult piece and stunt all while circular breathing! WOW! Kids: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! : )

Summer Oboe Fun

Summer is a great time to keep your playing skills sharp. One great way to do so is to attend a great summer camp.

Two I recommend are:

Longhorn Music Camp

www.longhornmusiccamp.org

Operation Oboe Camp

http://bocalmajority.com/Bocal_Majority/Home.html

D.Cimarosa - Concerto for oboe C-dur

I love this Cimarosa Concerto for Oboe... I came across this performance that I thought you would enjoy. You can tell this young man is a very serious musician! Keep practicing! : )

New Spring Teaching Scedule

I am condensing my teaching schedule to Tuesdays and Wednesday only. This will eliminate Thursdays altogether. Thank you for the continued opportunity to teach your musician(s).

Tuesdays

Grisham: 7:15-12:25

before school (Ana, Yuli)

During classes (Kate, Lynette, Suraj, Claudia, & Maanasa)

Chisolm: 12:45-2:15

During class (Noah, Devin, Morgan)

Deerpark: 3:30-5:45

after school (Michael, Rachel, Cristina, Jade, Adam)

Wednesdays

Deerpark: 9:00-11:00

during class (Melissa, Hillary, Delaney, Alan)

Chisolm: 12:00-12:40

during lunch (Haylee)

Home: 1:00-4:45

(Debbie, Caitlyn, Erin, Ashley)

No lessons 2/1- 2/5

Next week is a Leander ISD holiday and my son will be home from school so I will not be teaching lessons. This was factored into the lesson payment total with the other winter and spring break holidays.

LHB | Cartoon/Videogame Show | 2004

This Longhorn Band marching show is lots of fun... enjoy!