Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours!

Berlin

Today we said goodbye to our official Note-worthy Experiences mascot and greeter, Berlin.  We will miss him dearly.  RIP Berlin, 2/13/07 - 12/21/12.

Winter Holiday Recitals

Hello!  

I just discovered that this post never posted last Friday.  Sorry!  Here it is just a little delay...

For the past 6 years this is the Friday night that I have gone to bed anxious, excited & nervous for my sweet piano students who are preparing for our Annual Winter Holiday Recital. I am usually checking certificates, counting gifts, checking my family's outfits & giving directions to Tom & my dad about what they are to pick up at the florist & bakery. Oh I do miss it all! Never fear - I have big plans for the 2013 production! ;)

Bach

Why did Bach teach extra piano lessons?

Because he was Baroque!

Happy Friday!

Free Sheet Music Site

Hello!

Thank you to McKenna - I found another terrific free sheet music website!  Be sure to check it out!

http://www.kerbymusic.org/

Welcome to Miss Rachel!

Note-worthy Experiences Piano Studio would like to welcome Miss Rachel to our piano family this week!  I am looking forward to working with you at the piano!

Happy Hanukah!

Note-worthy Experiences would like to wish all of our friends and families a wonderful Hanukah season!

Music as a mind trainer

"Proof that music is the best mind trainer comes from Oxford University. Only ten percent of the students there study music, yet this ten percent takes 75 percent of all the school prizes and scholarships. That not being the record of a single year, but the average over a period of 30 successive years."

http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/musicfacts.html

Holiday Photos

Many of you have been asking for photos of our new home.  We have been decking the halls and this is what we have put together.  If you look carefully, there are many gifts from many of you in these photos!  Please be sure to check out the new window coverings, piano bench cushion & seat cushion in the piano practice room that I had created!  I LOVE the chenille seat cushion - it is so cozy!  Photos of the outside decor to follow.  I am hoping to take some photos when it is a little darker outside so the lights are a little more visible!

                                     Imagine this plan in the sun room when it is warmer in there!

                                    Imagine a lot more live plants!  I am not a photographer - sorry!

 

Our 5 year old German Short Haired Pointer, Berlin, is very ill with terminal cancer.  I could not  resist taking a photo of him taking a nap near my Ohio State Wreath!  Our pool table is quickly becoming a train table - so the dog does not know anything over!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Welcome to Roxanne

Note-worthy Experiences is excited to welcome Roxanne to our piano family this week as a new student!  I am looking forward to working with you at the piano!

Elf on the Shelf

We have an Elf on the Shelf named Jingle Bells!  He has a very important job to do.  He reports to The North Pole every night on our piano student's AND my own children!  He lets Mr. Santa Claus know if the students practice and if they work hard during their lessons!  So be sure to look for Jingle Bell when you are here next.  ;)

Merry Christmas!

Commission of Disabilities

I have officially become a member of the Town of Sudbury Commission of Disabilities!  I was invited to serve on the commission early this fall, and have enjoyed it ever since!

Christmas Dreams

When I was a little girl, I used to dream of me playing Christmas carols on a grand piano near a warm fire in a fireplace and the glow of a Christmas tree while my family sang along...

That sounds lovely, right?  Well, our house is not decorated for Christmas.  In fact, I am in the process of un-decorating from Thanksgiving.  See below for my excuse.

(We just returned from a fabulous long weekend in NYC where we took in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the balloons being inflated the night before the parade.  My family and I saw "The Christmas Story" on Broadway in addition to shopping, dining and touring the Museum of Natural History and the Central Park Zoo.)

But with that said, I had a glimpse of that dream coming true.  I sat at the grand piano and played Christmas carols while our Ellie sang along.  She was simply having a great time.  I was thrilled.

Later in the day, Grant decided to practice his songs at the grand piano.  Ah, I was thrilled that he was practicing without me begging or pleading with him.  While he played, my family came into the piano room.  Soon after everyone was singing while Grant played Christmas carols!  Even our dog sat near the piano bench and watched!  I was an emotional mess inside but continued to sing along!  It was simply a priceless moment!  My dream was always for me to be playing - it had not occurred to me how beautiful and even better it would be if my own children played!  WOW!  I like this new concept better than my old dream!  ;)

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Welcome to our newest piano family members!

Our Note-worthy Experiences Piano Family would like to extend a warm welcome to Stacie, Katelyn, and Spyros to our studio!  I am looking forward to working with all of you at the piano!

Holiday Music

As a child and an adult my FAVORITE music to play has been Christmas music. I have been known to play Christmas music in the summer. I enjoy Thanksgiving and what the holiday means, but I can't wait each year to start playing my Christmas music. I used to wait to play holiday music with my students until after Halloween. Then as our recitals grew into larger productions, I started earlier. This year I started in mid November and that feels about right. I want my students to be able to play several Hanukah or Christmas songs before the holiday with their families. Now that the beautiful holiday of Thanksgiving is over & my favorite season of the year, autumn... Bring on the holiday music!!!!

Trivia

Did you know that President's Nixon and Truman played the piano??

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Week!  My family and I have so much to be thankful for every year!  This year has been a year of emotional highs and lows for all of us.  However, at the of it all we still have a lot to be thankful for!  I am thankful everyday for my Note-worthy Experiences piano family!  I am thankful that my students and families welcome me into their families to help them with their music.  It is truly an honor and privilege for me!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Sudbury Community Center

Sudbury Residents - check your mailbox!  Look for the Sudbury Parks & Recreation Book, especially pages 15 & 17!  I am thrilled to be teaching a parent / child interactive sensory music making class for preschoolers with special needs!  I am also thrilled to offer piano lessons in my studio through too!

Music humor

Why did Mozart get rid of his chickens???

They kept saying, "Bach, Bach, Bach!"

Come on you know you giggled a little!

Did you know??

That the average medium size piano has about 230 strings,
each string having about 165 pounds of tension,
with the combined pull of all strings equaling approximately eighteen tons!

Thought for the day...

“To compose music, all you have to do is remember a tune that nobody else has thought of” – Robert Schumann

Miss Bridget

Note-worthy Experiences is excited to welcome Miss Bridget to our piano family this week!  Please stop back to read about Bridget's future accomplishments!

Miss Paige

Please join me in congratulating Miss Paige!  Paige completed her Level 1 Red Books recently!  Paige has her weekly piano lessons via Skype with me.  Luckily we were able to have a lesson in her home recently right before she celebrated her birthday!  Paige is the absolute biggest Taylor Swift Fan on the planet.  She has recently started playing "Love Story" on the piano.  Hooray for Paige!

Miss McKenna

Congratulations to Miss McKenna!  McKenna completed her Level 2A Blue Books earlier this month!  She is a piano student who has her weekly lessons with me via Skype!  When she is not playing the piano, she enjoys soccer and spending time with her family!  Please join me in a huge round of applause for McKenna!

A trip down memory lane

Happy fall!

I added 51 photos to the Note-worthy Experiences Facebook Page!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  I have to admit I did shed a few tears!  I truly miss all of our terrific students and families!  The photos that really made me misty were the ones that are from the "early years" of Note-worthy Experiences because it is amazing to see how much the kids have grown.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Note-worthy-Experiences/

Updated piano studio photos

Hello all!
Above are the most current photos of the Piano Rooms.  The last photo was taken yesterday just before my 2nd & 5th graders went off to their first day at their new school.
I will post photos again after the piano practice room wall paper is removed, and both rooms are painted.  (I am currently gathering estimates.)  Both rooms will receive area rugs and new window coverings.  Now that my children are in school - hopefully I will have a chance to do a little more shopping for the house without the "help" of my kids!  :)
I hope that your family has a terrific back to school season!

Photos of the new piano studio

Front of our new home, the piano rooms are on the left side as you enter the front door!

 Piano practice / lesson / parent waiting room

 Another view of practice room

 Grand piano / performance preparation room

Another view of the performance preparation room which is next to the lesson room.  Yes, that is Berlin who is behind the french door!  He is not allowed in these room!  OOPS!

Photos with pianos & furniture in them to follow.

Photos of the rest of our home on are on my personal Facebook Page.

I post more frequently on my personal Facebook Page & the Note-worthy Experiences Facebook Page - feel free to check them out!

Where have you been?

Hello!

This post is long overdue.

I could use the excuse that I have been "busy", but then again "busy" is a bit overused and everyone is busy these days!

I won't bore you with the details of my "busy" life the past few months.  However, I will give you a quick update and will follow with photos within the next 2 weeks -I PROMISE!

My husband's career has taken our family's adventure down a new path.  A bittersweet path...
          - We sold our home in Pennsylvania in just a few days. 
          - We had many going away parties that were a ton of fun and we received many generous gifts that we are VERY grateful for.
          - My husband traveled for business while our kids, pets and myself spent 6 weeks in Ohio with our families.  Our days were filled with many day trips with our family.
          - We moved into our new home in Massachusetts 2 1/2 weeks ago.
          - We purchased a gently used Yamaha 6'5 C-3 Conservatory Grand Piano which will be delivered next week.
          - My Grandmother, Mary Ellen passed away and we returned to Ohio to be with my family.
          - I intend to start teaching lessons this week in person and via Skype.
          - My e-mail and cell phone are the same as before.  If you would like to contact me via my home telephone number and or mailing address, please contact me.  I will be sending out change of address cards within the next few weeks.
          - You may follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Note-worthy-Experiences/128747953883094

I have enjoyed the updates from all of you!  I vow to do a better job updating all of you on Note-worthy Experiences now that there are less boxes in my path!

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!

From a "Piano Mom"

Please read this blog post below from a "Piano Mom".  Thank you Kathleen!

http://thesejoyfulmysteries.blogspot.com/2012/06/ms-renee.html

Master Isaac

Congratulations to Master Isaac for being accepted into the local Performing Arts Middle School for the 2012 - 2013 School Year!  Way to go!  I am very proud of you!

Miss Jessalyn

Please join me in a huge round of applause for Miss Jessalyn who played the "Star Spangled Banner" for her class as a part of a presentation!  Congratulations Jessalyn!

Miss Vibha

Best wishes to Miss Vibha who is performing "Edelweiss" on the piano tonight at her School Talent Show!  Good luck!

Miss Jamieson

Please join me in a huge round of applause for our Miss Jaimeson!  Jaime recently performed "Dragon Hunt" during her music class.  Jaime stated, "They REALLY liked it!".  Hooray Miss Jaime!  Keep up the excellent work!

Miss Ericka

Please join me in a huge round of applause for Miss Ericka!  Ericka completed her Level 1 Piano Adventures "Red" Books yesterday!  Ericka has already started to work from her Blue Books.  Miss Ericka has performed in Winter Holiday Recitals, a nursing home recital, and a National Piano Guild Performance.  When Ericka is not playing the piano, she can be found at her dance studio!  Congratulations Miss Ericka!

Miss Jackie

Congratulations to Miss Jackie!  Jackie just completed her Level 1 "Red" Piano Adventures Series!  She has already started to work out of the "Blue Books".  Miss Jackie recently performed at the Annual Play A Thon and the local nursing home.  Jackie is also preparing for her 2nd year of National Piano Guild Auditions.  Jackie spends her free time doing anything that is musically related, from composing her own music to playing pop music she hears on the radio!  Hooray for Jackie!

Miss Kendall

Please join me in congratulating Miss Kendall!  Miss Kendall successfully auditioned  for her school Songfest!  HOORAY Kendall!

Annual Play A Thon

Please join me in a huge round of applause for our students who performed at the Annual Play A Thon at our local mall today!  Congratulations to Jaimeson, Trevor, Mary, Thomas, Billy, April, Alex, Claire, Grace, Jackie, Jaime, Vibha, Elizabeth, Sydney and Sophia!  All of these students did a terrific job!  Thank you to Jillian and Lauren for coming to watch their fellow piano friends perform (I am certain that both of you will be performing next year along with many of our other students).  Thank you to all of our friends and families who came to support the performers!  Thank you to all of our friends & families who donated to the Play A Thon.  We are looking forward to seeing all of you again at the 2013 Play A Thon!

Thank you!

Our piano families are simply fabulous!  They are very kind and generous too! 
Thank you to Tyler for the donation of notebooks!
Thank you to Billy, Mary & Thomas for the donation of candy!
Thank you to Jesenia for the cookies!
I guess my secret about me having a sweet tooth is no longer a secret! 
Thank you again everyone!

Miss Emma

Congratulations to Miss Emma!  Emma completed her Level A My First Piano Adventures Series yesterday!  She has already started to work out of her Level B books!  Emma also performed in her 1st nursing home recital this week also.  When Emma is not practicing the piano, she enjoys spending time with her big brother & her cat.  HOORAY for Emma!

Miss Kendall

Hooray for Miss Kendall!  Kendall completed her Level 1 Piano Adventures Series (aka The Red Books) this evening.  She has already started working out of her Blue Books!  Kendall is planning to perform before the National Piano Guild Judge this spring.  When Kendall is not playing the piano, she enjoys her dance classes, cheer leading and Girl Scouts.  Congratulations Kendall!

Nursing Home Recital

Please join me in congratulating our students on a terrific piano recital at a local nursing home last evening.  Cole, Madison, Emma, Sydney, Jackie, Paige, Emily, Abigail, Elizabeth, Thomas, Mary Kate, and Billy entertained the residents.  The residents loved the performances and chatting with our students.  Our students enjoyed working on their performance skills and sharing their talents.  Everyone loved the cupcakes and punch that the staff served after the recital.  Thank you to all of the students & parents for making last night another terrific success!

Miss Sophia

Congratulations to Miss Sophia for performing "Boogie On Broadway" for her 3rd grade music class at school.  Her teacher played the the teacher duet part with her.  Sophia's friends said, "It was great!".  Hooray Sophia!  She is currently preparing to perform at the annual Play A Thon later this month.  Sophia will also perform in before a National Piano Guild Judge this spring.  This will be her 2nd Piano Guild Performance!

Miss Paige

Please join me in a huge round of applause for Miss Paige!  Miss Paige completed her Primer Level Piano Adventures Books, aka the "Purple Books" today!  She has already started working from her Level 1 Books.  When Paige is not playing the piano, she enjoys playing softball and collecting American Girl Dolls.  Hooray for Paige!

Miss Jamieson

Congratulations to Miss Jaimeson for completing her Level 1 "Red" Piano Adventures Series yesterday!  Miss Jaime has already started working on her Level 2A Books!  Jaime has recently performed in the Winter Holiday Recital and is preparing to perform at the local Play A Thon in a few weeks.  Jaime will be performing in front of a National Piano Guild Judge this spring for the 3rd year in a row!  Jaime will soon be sporting a collection of 3 National Piano Guild Pins!  When she is not busy playing the piano, she can be found playing with her very own new kitten.   Hooray for Jaime!

Master Thomas

Please join me in a huge round of applause for Master Thomas!  Thomas is a brand new piano student who is studying in our studio, (although he has watched his older brother & sister from the "sidelines" for several years now).  Thomas performed "In The Jungle" for his 2nd grade music class without any prompting or encouragement from me!  I found out after the big performance was over!  Congratulations Thomas!  I am certain it will be the first of many piano performances in front of an audience!

Thank you!

Thank you to Serena, Sydney, Abigail, Emily and Emma for the recent donations of stickers, candy and K-Cups!  All of our students and families will enjoy your treats when they are here for lessons!  Thank you very much!

Master Gabriel

Please join me in a huge round of applause for Master Gabriel!  Gabe completed his Level 2A Piano Adventures (also know as the Blue) Series of Books.  He has already started working his level 2B books!  Gabe recently performed in our Winter Holiday Recital.  He will be performing before the National Piano Guild Judge for his third year in a row this May.  When Gabe he is not playing the piano, he enjoys playing football, basketball, and baseball.  Gabriel enjoys playing music by the Beatles the most.  He also is studying the guitar.  Congratulations Gabe!

Miss Natalie

Congratulations to Miss Natalie!  Natalie recently completed her Level 1 Piano Adventures Series.  She has already started working on her Level 2 books.  Natalie recently performed in her 2nd Winter Holiday Recital.  She is planning to perform before the National Piano Guild Judge, and in her school musical this spring.  Miss Natalie is the biggest Harry Potter Fan in the world. Please join me in a huge round of applause for Miss Natalie!

Miss Arden

Congratulations to Miss Arden!  Miss Arden performed her two Christmas Recital Songs for her music class at school just before Christmas.  Miss Arden really enjoyed playing the songs for her friends.  She did a terrific job performing them at our Winter Holiday Recital.  When Miss Arden is not busy playing the piano, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her little brothers.  Hooray for Arden!