Earn Your Books!! With Our Candle Fundraiser

I would like to encourage all students to participate, but it is not required. Each candle sold will earn the student $1 toward the purchase price of a brand new book OR toward the same sale prices already offered for in-stock items. These books need not be only for recital songs – but any book or sheet music that the student would like to have. The rest of the money will go toward defraying the cost of our Annual Piano Recital this January.

We plan to start the fund-raiser the week of October 1/2/3 and collect orders and money two weeks later – October 15/16/17. The Candles should be in a few weeks after that and can be picked up during the normal lesson time that week.

Remember: Our in-stock sale items are available now until the close of our Candle Fund Raiser, as shown below. WISH LIST book order forms will be send home with the Fund Raiser Forms at the end of the month. The $1 per candle can be applied to either/both.

It’s Music Time!


At Piano Guild Auditions many years back, the adjudicator was miffed by the fact that, at the time, most of our students played songs merely from their method (lesson) books.
“Books! Books! They need more BOOKS!!!”, she said.

With that little story being told: Recital season is upon us!
Every mid-January we hold our annual recital and it is our hope that we will have something particularly special to play. Each student chooses their own piece(s) and I have an abundant supply.

In Stock Music Book & Sheet Special*

  • $4 – 2 Sheets or 1 Book
  • $5 – 1 Sheet + 1 Book
  • $6 – 3 Sheets or 2 Books

Please seriously consider allowing your child to expand their musical repertoire.

* Regular Prices: Ave $3-4 Sheet; $6-10 Book
If you prefer to order something not in stock, regular prices will apply. But order SOON – Recital wil be here before you know it!

Summer Makeup Class

Summer Makeup Class
Summer Makeup Class
At tonight’s class we worked on sight reading and duet performance. We also looked at how to find sheet music for our favorite popular or country songs, such as at the following websites:

  • www.sheetmusicdirect.us
  • www.musicnotes.com

Next Class: Thursday, August 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Robert M Sides Celebration Recitals

We have been invited to a new recital program that is being held at the Arnot Mall in 2014. It sounds as if it will be a performance opportunity similar to our own recitals here in Elkland, but with a mix of students from all around the Twin Tiers. Please mark your calendars and we’ll provide more information as it becomes available.

  • February 15
  • April 12
  • June 21

As for our own recital, the date will likely be Saturday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m. More information forthcoming . . .

Makeup Classes for Summer Students

There will be two makeup classes that our summer students can attend if they wish. You need not have missed a lesson recently to attend – the only prerequisite is that you are have taken lessons in June, July or August.

  • Monday, August 12 – 4:00 p.m. – one hour
  • Thursday, August 22 – 4:00 p.m. – one hour

Our September students will begin the week of September 3/4/5. I will be sending a semi-completed schedule around in the next few weeks. For the summer students, though – please be advised that your new “Back-to-School” September schedule will begin the week of August 27/28/29. This means that if your time is changing – THAT is when it will change. I will confirm that schedule at some point before school actually starts here on August 26.

Scheduling questions? Please feel free to contact me anytime. Looking forward to seeing as many as possible at our Summer Makeup Classes! Please contact me if you plan to attend.

2013 Piano Guild Auditions

All the students who attended Piano Guild Auditions this afternoon did very well – in fact, they all got a SUPERIOR, or Superior Minus rating. THAT’S AWESOME! Some really nice things were written about all the students. They all hit what Guild calls the “Citywide Circle” rating, which means that their preparation shows that her/his playing is sufficiently polished or outstanding to make them a possible selectee to represent their school in a citywide or countywide concert (sort of like our annual piano recital!)

Congratulations to Bobby, who had our HIGH SCORE – 26. For all scores, please visit our 2013 Piano Guild page.

Bobby and his sister, Hannah
Bobby and his sister, Hannah

All the students who attended were AMAZING (as are the rest of you)!

Parents of participation students – please come inside at the beginning of lessons next week so I can present the certificates, report cards and pins and explain the scoring.

Thanks, everyone – for such awesome support. It’s going to be a FUN SUMMER!!

2013 Showcase – Sarah earns a Medal!

Sarah & Mara
Sarah & Mara
Two of our students braved the competition held by Robert M. Sides at the Arnot Mall today. Both were very well prepared. Scores are still pending, but we did learn (after the fact) that Sarah’s sheet was miscalculated and she later received a medal. Mara did great, too -but one of those things that you think will never happen, happened to her today- her left hand started one note off on her second song and that was it. She held her head high, though! EXCELLENT JOB, both of you. There’s always next year . . .

Please Mark Your Calendars

  • Robert M Sides PIANO SHOWCASE: Saturday, March 23
    9:00am (Lev 1-3), 11:00am (Lev 4-6), 1:00pm (Lev 7-10)
  • MAKEUP CLASS: Monday, April 8 @ 4:00 p.m.
  • MAKEUP CLASS: Monday, May 6 @ 4:00 p.m.
  • Piano GUILD AUDITIONS: Friday, June 7 in Corning <<< UPDATE !
  • STUDIO CLOSED: June 25/26/27 (2 of 4 for 2013)