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Congrats to Performers and Friday Movie Night


Congratulations to all the performers who played in the recital tonight. Your teachers are all very proud of you!

Also, a reminder of Musical Chairs Movie night this Friday Nov 19th.  6:30 - 9:00pm.  Parents, drop off your children for $20 and have a date night!   We'll give them dinner, watch a music oriented movie and have lots of fun.  Music Man and Singing in the Rain are the movie finalists.  We'll see which one I can get my hands on.  Please RSVP by Thursday to play@musicalchairsstudio.com   Children 5+ are welcome and need not be current students of Musical Chairs Studio. 

October Newsletter now online!

Musical Chairs online October Newsletter . Articles in this edition include: 

  • Our Approach to Early Childhood Music Education.
  • November Family Concert and Retirement Center Recital.
  • Musical Theater coming in January.
  • Caitlyn Bodine instructor profile.

Fall Newsletter: "hot off the press!"

Musical Chairs has been busy!  Check out our Fall Newsletter for the latest updates, programs, new instructor information and our full FALL CALENDAR OF EVENTS so you can plan ahead and reserve your spot now!

Questions?  Contact us at play@musicalchairsstudio.com

Reminder: A Day in the Baroque Period Master Class this Saturday!

We will take your children back in time to the 1600’s where they will experience the Baroque period of music, "meet" composers from the era as well as be immersed in the culture, art, politics and lifestyle of that time in history.  A fun filled class - not to be missed!

Saturday, August 14th from 9:30 - 11:30
2136 W Wilson studio
Cost: $25 per child Ages 5-12
RSVP by August 12 th
play@musicalchairsstudio.com

New Music for Moms and Dads class offered this Fall

Help your children with practice at home!    Musical Chairs will host monthly classes for parents of music students to give you just enough information to be dangerous.  It is well known that when parents become actively involved in children's practice routines, the time is far more productive.  Children make faster progress and get more from their music lessons.  We would like to help you learn some basic music concepts that will enable you to help with practice at home. 

$20.00 per session.  RSVP required.  Email play@musicalchairsstudio.com  or register online at Musical Chairs Studio

Fall sessions will be held from 7-8 pm on:

Thursday, September 23
Tuesday, October 19
Wednesday, November 10
Monday, December 6

August Special Events and Fall Group Classes Schedule are now posted

In August, we are offering:
 
"Master the Masters" movie night on August 6th from 6:30 - 9:00

Live a day in the Baroque Period master class on August 14th from 9:30 - 11:30

Intro to Brass Instruments Master Class on August 16th from 6:00 - 7:30

New schedules for Step the Beat and Create the Beat Music Fundamentals classes are now posted for the Fall semester beginning September 13th.  Space will be limited in these classes so register now!

Visit our Website at Musical Chairs Studio under Current Programs for complete listings and to register online.  

Proud of my reluctant performer!

Today I told a reluctant performer that when she plays at the recital on Monday, I will be the proudest person in the house....and I meant it!  Her drive and focus continually amaze me.  When she openly admitted to severe stage fright a few months ago, we decided to take the recital one step at a time.  On Monday, she will perform with her father right beside her accompanying on guitar.  What a better way to experience stage freight - next to your rock solid foundation!  Kudos to you my dear student and all the rest of you who are working so hard and preparing for great performances! 

Musical Chairs welcomes 3 new instructors!


In our continual effort to provide the highest quality of music education for all ages, Musical Chairs is proud to annouce the addition of three key teaching resources.  Visit our website for complete instructor bios, classes and program offerings!
 
Colin Scott was born and raised in the Chicago area, Colin began playing bass and guitar at the age of 14 and has been an active musician ever since. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music business from Southern Illinois University, as well as a master’s degree in jazz studies from DePaul University. Colin has been teaching bass and guitar for 10 years. In addition, he has performed and /or shared the stage with notable musicians including bassist Victor Wooten, SNL bandleader Lenny Picket, and hip-hop superstar Snoop Dogg to name a few. He is the current bassist for the longtime Chicago band Underwater People. Colin can also be seen performing on a weekly basis with his band Spare Parts, which has performed across the country as well as internationally.
Christopher Narloch graduated from Bowling Green State University in May of 2010, receiving a MM in Music Performance with a specialization in Piano Pedagogy.  He also taught class piano at BGSU as a teaching assistant.  He graduated from Viterbo University, earning a BM in Music Performance with a double-emphasis in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy, as well as a minor in Church Music.  He maintained a studio of 20 private piano students at the Perrysburg Music Center.  In addition to teaching, he accompanies musicians, plays for events, and gives solo recitals. He is a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and was president of Bowling Green Ohio Music Teachers Association, a student branch of OMTA.
Daniel Williams obtained both a Bachelors and Masters degrees in performance for clarinet and saxophone and has been teaching both instruments for ten years. He attended Cleveland Institude of Music and then went on to University of Southern California in LA.  His students have been as young as 7 and as old as 60+.   He currently teaches both beginner group and private lessons at the Merit School of Music in Chicago.  He also teaches in Oak Park at the high school and Fenwick High as well as Kagan and Gaines Music in Forest Park.

Summertime Blues ! ?


As the voice of a parent, I want to share that you're not alone in having children who push back about music lessons this time of the year.  Hang in there.  My own children are resisting lessons and practice!  

My advice?  Keep it light - resist pushing too hard.  Children are tired of structure right now and are feeling generally burned out.   I choose this time to switch up the music lesson routine a bit.  The goal is not to stop lessons entirely over the summer. Parents, you'll hate me for saying this...but if you are committed to music being part of your child's life - its a year round activity.  Music is like a foreign language.  When you cease the weekly exposure over an extended time, children take enormous steps backwards.  Many of them never get back into it because its too discouraging to relearn what they know they learned before.  I encourage you to resist this approach.  Rather, work with your instructor to create a less routine program in the summer..one with flexibility....that is less rigid and just keeps your child interested in music.  We all need a change now and then. 

Don't get me wrong, breaks are important and every student should take a break periodically.  I am encouraging 3 weeks off over the summer whether all at once or one week at a time.  The other weeks, we'll be playing music and having fun at it.  No Summertime "blues" allowed around here!

Recitals coming up!


Musical Chairs is hosting their annual "spring" recitals June 21, 22, 28 and 29th at Queen of Angels Church from 7:00 - 8:00 pm.  If you'd like to inspire your child to learn an instrument, this is a great venue.  Each day will host a different line up of students.  We will have a fabulous mix of music including piano, trumpet, guitar, violin, drums, voice and instrument ensembles.  All are welcome. Admission is free.