Top 10 Ways: How Volo Academy of Music Shapes Musicians

At Volo Academy of Music, we’re dedicated to helping our students thrive in life through their musical talents and guiding them on their artistic journey. In this blog post, we'll dive into how Volo Academy of Music supports them at every step of their musical path. We provide a friendly environment and expert advice that sparks creativity, builds both music and life skills, and fosters a love for music.

Kimberly Wong, Owner of Volo Academy of Music

1. Personalized Learning Paths

At Volo Academy of Music, we tailor lessons to fit each student's unique needs and goals. Whether you're just starting out or you're an advanced musician perfecting your skills, our instructors create personalized learning paths to match your musical dreams. We work closely with our students and families to ensure that goals are being met, and revise the path whenever needed.

2. Expert Instruction

Our instructors are not only top-notch musicians but also passionate educators. They connect with our students to know them as humans, and offer expert guidance in technique, theory, performance, and musical interpretation as they apply to each person and situation, helping students reach their full potential.

3. Focus on Your Favourite Style

At Volo Academy of Music, you can dive deep into the music style you love. Whether it's classical, jazz, rock, pop, or any other genre, our instructors will help you master the nuances and techniques specific to your favorite style. Many new students get to learn their favourite songs in a matter of weeks!

4. Complete Music Education

Our tailored programs also cover classical, jazz, contemporary, and world music traditions, providing a comprehensive music education. We ensure students gain a well-rounded foundation and appreciation for diverse musical genres. We have educational pillars of Repertoire (songs), Technique, Sight Reading (sheet music), Ear Training (playing by ear), Memorization, and Theory. We also provide Improvisation and Composition for interested students, offering an enriching experience at every stage of their musical journey!

5. Performance Mastery

Performance is a key part of the Volo Academy of Music experience. From recitals to competitions, exams, and community events, students of all ages get the chance to showcase their talents and build confidence as performers, which can benefit students throughout their lives.

6. Exam Preparation

For students preparing for music exams, Volo Academy of Music provides comprehensive support to ensure success. Our instructors are experienced in guiding students through the requirements of various music examination boards such as the Royal Conservatory of Music, Conservatory Canada, and ABRSM, helping them build the confidence and skills needed to excel.

7. Comprehensive Support and Flexibility for Each Student

At Volo Academy of Music, our teachers and admins work as a unified team to support each student, and you benefit from input of different ideas, materials, availabilities, and personalities. Unlike one-teacher studios, our academy has the resources to better accommodate schedule and personality differences. If a teacher is on vacation, we often have alternative teachers available for a seamless experience for our students. Our teachers and admin team stay in regular communication about each student, ensuring we’re always updated on their progress and assist with new ideas or if someone else needs to step in to cover an absence. Our extensive resources and collaborative approach allow us to offer flexible solutions for students of all ages and needs. Even when changes occur, each student receives continuous support with tailored instruction, accommodating their unique needs and maintaining a seamless educational journey.

8. Preparation for Career Paths

We prepare students for various career paths in the music industry. Whether you're aiming for higher education in music, becoming a professional musician, or exploring music-related careers, our training equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to succeed.

9. Adult Learning and Parental Involvement

We offer a myriad of resources and support for our adult learners, encouraging a collaborative partnership between students and instructors, regardless of age. Additionally, we recognize the important role that parents play in supporting their child's musical journey, and help them navigate involvement. We check in every so often to make sure it’s going well at home, listening to any of your concerns, and coach you through how to be the most supportive family to get the most out of your music lessons with us!

10. Benefits of Online Music Education

We also offer online music education, making learning more flexible and accessible. Students can take lessons from the comfort of their homes, fitting music education seamlessly into their busy schedules without compromising on quality. They also get a recording of each lesson, a valuable resource that they can check back on throughout their practice during the week in case they forget what was taught during a lesson!

At Volo Academy of Music, we believe in the power of music to transform lives. With personalized instruction, expert guidance, performance opportunities, and a supportive academy, we're here to help our students achieve their musical goals, gain skills that benefit their life, while developing a love for music.

Join us at Volo Academy of Music and see the difference in your musical journey and in your life. Together, we'll inspire creativity and foster excellence through the joy of making music.

10 Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Musical Journey Over the Summer

Summer is the perfect time to explore new and creative ways to enjoy your musical journey. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting out, these ten innovative ideas will help you make the most of your summer. From participating in music camps and workshops to collaborating with other musicians, there’s something for everyone to enhance their skills, have fun, and make lasting memories. Let’s dive into these exciting opportunities and keep your music thriving all summer long!

1. Play Outside!

Bring your instrument to the yard, park, or campground, or play a public piano! Playing in a new environment can be refreshing and inspiring. Find a quiet spot in your backyard, a park, or even at the beach. The change of scenery can help you stay motivated and enjoy your practice (or showcase) time more!

2. Attend Summer Music Camps, Workshops, Local Festivals, and Competitions

Summer music camps and workshops are a fantastic way to dive into music! With intensive training, ensemble playing, and masterclasses from experienced instructors, these programs create an exciting environment to develop your skills, meet fellow musicians, and gain fresh perspectives. Plus, many communities host lively music festivals, competitions, and events during the summer. Participating in these gives you fun goals to work towards, thrilling opportunities to perform in front of an audience, and the chance to receive valuable feedback and appreciation for your music!

3. Learn a Fun Cover Song

Challenge yourself by learning to play a favourite song that isn’t typically associated with your instrument. Arranging a cover version of a popular tune can be fun, to put your spin on any melodies, harmonies, and rhythms!

4. Explore Music-Related Travel

If you’re traveling during the summer, look for music-related activities at your destination. Attend shows and concerts, visit music-related museums, or explore the history of the area, which often includes arts and music. Experiencing different musical and artistic cultures can be both educational and inspiring.

5. Explore New Genres!

Use the summer as an opportunity to explore new music. Choose songs that you find enjoyable and challenging. This can reignite your passion for playing and provide fresh material to work on. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try different genres or styles. Let your teacher know of any new and exciting discoveries you’d like to explore further in lessons!

6. Play with Others!

Play a duet with another musician, whether they play the same instrument as you or something different, like a singer or violinist if you're a pianist. It's a rewarding experience that fosters teamwork and mutual musical expression, to be on the same wavelength as someone. Music can be solitary or social! Many communities also form temporary ensembles or bands for the summer, providing a fun way to continue playing, make new friends, and improve your ensemble skills. Look for musical neighbours, local community bands, musical theater groups, open mics, orchestras, or choirs that welcome new members. Playing music with others is enjoyable, social, and can significantly enhance your skills. Seek opportunities to collaborate on music in local groups, ensembles, or online communities where you can celebrate your music together and work on projects.

8. Record Outdoor Performances!

Take advantage of summer’s beautiful weather by recording outdoor performances. Whether it's a solo piece in a park or a jam session with friends, creating videos of your performances can be both fun and motivating. Share them with friends and family or on social media to get feedback and encouragement.

9. Music-Related Hobbies

Summer is a great time to explore hobbies that complement your musical skills. For example, learning to play a different instrument, studying music production, or even dancing can broaden your musical abilities and keep your interest alive. There are a myriad of Youtube tutorials on the beginning stages of any instrument, or let us know if you’d like to try lessons in a different instrument!

10. Focus on Improvisation and Composition

Summer’s relaxed schedule is perfect for exploring improvisation and composition. Without the pressure of progress, you can experiment with creating your own music. Try composing a piece, improvising over your favourite songs, or even collaborating with friends to write music together.

Most Importantly:

Take time to reflect on your musical journey so far. Celebrate your achievements and identify areas where you'd like to improve. Setting new goals based on this reflection can keep you motivated and focused. Remember, music is a lifelong journey, and every bit of practice helps you grow as a musician. Have a wonderful summer and happy practicing!

If you’d like to schedule a lesson anytime, let us know! It can make a huge difference in giving you a boost where you need it, to keep up your regular progress, or give you direction to explore new things!

What are the Benefits of Musical Study?

Musical study offers a multitude of benefits for individuals of all ages. Along with the benefit of knowing how to play your favourite songs, here are some key advantages!

1. Cognitive Development: Engaging in musical activities stimulates various areas of the brain, promoting cognitive development and enhancing memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. It’s also seen to strengthen mathematical, language, and spatial reasoning abilities.

2. Emotional Expression: Music has the power to express and relieve emotions in a healthy way. Learning to play an instrument or sing enables individuals to channel their emotions, providing an outlet for self-expression, creativity, and stress relief.

3. Coordination and Motor Skills: Playing an instrument requires precise movements and coordination between hands, fingers, and sometimes feet. Regular practice enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and overall dexterity.

4. Discipline and Time Management: Mastering an instrument requires dedication and consistent practice. Musical study cultivates discipline, patience, perseverance, and effective time management skills, which benefit all areas and stages of life.

5. Social Connection: Jamming with friends and family and participating in music ensembles, bands, or choirs fosters social connections and teamwork. It provides opportunities to collaborate, communicate, and build relationships with fellow musicians, creating a sense of belonging and community.

6. Confidence and Self-Esteem: As individuals progress in their musical abilities and achieve milestones, their confidence and self-esteem grow. Performing in front of others and receiving positive feedback further boosts self-assurance.

7. Cultural Appreciation: Musical study exposes individuals to a wide range of musical genres, styles, and traditions, promoting cultural appreciation and understanding.

8. Lifelong Enjoyment: Musical study instills a lifelong love and appreciation for music. It opens doors to exploring different genres, attending concerts, and enjoying the beauty and emotional impact of music.

At Volo Academy of Music, we're passionate about sharing the incredible benefits of music. From boosting cognitive abilities to fostering creativity and confidence, our lessons offer endless advantages. It’s a honour to witness the transformative power of music in our students. With a wide range of instrument lessons available, including piano, guitar, voice, bass guitar, violin, saxophone, clarinet, and African Drums, we provide you and your loved ones the opportunity to explore the world of music, and experience its enriching impact. Discover for yourself how it can enhance your life.

Contact us now to start or continue your musical journeys!

Cheers,

Kimberly Wong
Owner
Volo Academy of Music

Top 5 Growth Opportunities with Instructor Change

I wanted to take a moment to discuss the benefits of what happens you continue your lessons after your current instructor retires from teaching. While it may be disappointing to see your instructor move on, there are numerous advantages of carrying on with your musical study with us. We care about your musical journey, and have records of your progress. Your teacher took lesson notes weekly, and I, as the owner of Volo Academy of Music, have been in regular contact with them about the twists and turns of your musical journey. Just like any other journey, it will have people entering and exiting along the way. But even though your instructor might change, we are fully committed guiding you towards success with your longterm goals, and will have hired an instructor who will level you up! Embrace the ebb and flow as you navigate the path of music (with good guidance). Here are the Top 5 Growth Opportunities to look forward to:

Student Katie with her first piano instructor, Kim (me)! We started in-person, and then moved online.

1. Reap the Benefits of Musical Study: Musical study has numerous cognitive benefits. It enhances memory, math and language skills, focus, problem-solving abilities, and creativity. It's like a brain gym! Plus, it develops discipline and mastery that applies to all areas of life. So, by sticking with your lessons, you're acquiring valuable life skills. Keep giving your brain this chance to thrive!

2. Build On Your Foundation: Your previous instructor has provided you with a solid foundation to develop new skills. By continuing your lessons, you strengthen the important techniques, theory, and musical knowledge you have acquired, allowing you to continue your progress and discovery in the world of music.

3. Explore New Perspectives, Topics, and Styles: A new instructor brings fresh insights and approaches to learning. Embracing this allows you to discover different techniques, genres, and musical concepts, and expand your musical horizons to become a well-rounded musician. In fact, the best artists seek guidance from multiple teachers as each one brings a unique perspective. Their fresh perspective can reignite your passion for music in a different way and help you reach new levels. Moreover, our next instructor will pick up where your previous instructor left off, and the integration will be seamless.

4. Stay on Track and Progress: Consistency and accountability are important for progress. By continuing lessons, you continue a regular practice routine and maintain motivation to achieve your musical goals. If you decide to stop, you will lose the live feedback on your playing to ensure you’re on the right track. Even though you may have the intention to keep practicing, it becomes more challenging to be accountable, stay committed to your progress, and reap the numerous benefits of musical study.

5. Personal Growth and Self-Expression: Learning an instrument is more than continuing to learn more technical skills. It boosts confidence and helps you discover your unique musical voice (which is an extension of you). So guess what? It also brings you closer to unleashing your authentic voice in all aspects of life. Embrace music's power to unlock your potential and express your true self.

Student Katie (who stayed online) with her new instructor, Celina!

We understand that starting with a new instructor may feel unfamiliar, but it also brings exciting possibilities. The departure of your instructor doesn't have to mark the end of your musical journey. Imagine if your math teacher decided to stop teaching. Would that mean you should give up on math altogether? Your instructor already reaps the benefits of musical study (from multiple other instructors, no less)! Now, it's your turn to embrace this wealth of knowledge and experience, and make it your own. Rest assured, we are here to provide guidance and support as you embark on the next phase of your musical development. If you loved your old instructor, look forward to loving your new one just as much! Throughout my own 13 years of piano lessons, I have had the privilege of learning from four different instructors, and each experience has been incredibly enriching. I wouldn’t do it any differently. Embrace this opportunity to keep learning and unlock your full potential as a musician and beyond.

If you or your child’s instructor is leaving, and you were considering ending their musical journey, please strongly reconsider. We are fully committed to each of our students’ progress and success. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. We're here to support you on your transition to your amazing new instructor. I handpick each of them according to their qualifications, experience, and personality, so you don’t have to worry about any of that!

Keep learning, and let the love of making music guide your path!

Warm regards,

Kimberly Wong

Owner
Volo Academy of Music

How to Take A Performance Video

Not sure how to take a performance video?

1. Make sure the video is steady - Secure your recording device on a solid surface like above (or tripod).

2. Landscape (wider left to right, like on a tv) is preferred, rather than portrait (long up and down).

3. Adequate light on the performer’s face and hands / instrument, which should be clearly visible throughout the recording (instead of having their back to the camera). Do not take the video in the dark, or have a brightly lit window behind the student.

4. Perform the song memorized and, if playing an instrument, with curved fingers! 😊

5. Ensure that the first few notes aren’t cut off (remember, the recording starts a couple of seconds after pressing “record”), and that your video is free of background noise / interruptions.

6. The performer should have a welcome smile at the camera before and after their performance. They may optionally intro themselves and their piece if they’d like.

7. Dress code: Many performers like to (optionally) dress semi-formal/formal for their recital performance!

You can do as many takes as you need to make a video you’re proud of! This also helps prepare for live performances, as it puts you in the spotlight and creates a feeling of “nerves.” For tips on how to practice leading up to your performance, see 5 Steps for Performance Practice and for 6 week timeline leading up to your special date, see this!

Cheers,

Kimberly Wong

Owner

Volo Academy of Music

6 Week Performance Prep Timeline

A recital is coming up, or you’ve just signed up for a competition. Here is a Performance Prep Timeline for the 6 weeks leading up to a performance! Your teacher will help you with these!

6 weeks away from live performance or video submission date: Start thinking about what you've mastered and memorized these past few months! Pick up the song again this week.

 5 weeks away: Put the finishing touches to the song and make artistic decisions (finalize dynamics, phrasing, articulation, interpretation, etc.). Also start memorizing while you're at it!

4 weeks away: Memorize your song this week. It will likely already be mostly memorized due to the polishing stage. But deliberately memorize this week! Your teacher will coach you through it - recognizing patterns, dividing the song into small sections, etc. By the end of this week, you should be playing this song without the sheet music in front of you. Only refer to it when you need to (if there’s something your teacher wants to point out). The reason why we need to memorize so early is because in order to perform it comfortably, you need to have it securely in your memory, which takes a few weeks to seep in, to be sure to have a good experience performing, and that's ultimately what we want to cultivate!

 3 - 2 weeks away: Performance Practice. In-Person performers - practice bowing as part of bowing performance prep (your teacher will show you). Build this into your performance routine!

2 weeks away: Shoot your video (online events). At least start shooting it! You will probably do many takes in order to get a video that you’re proud of! This is great practice even for live performers!

 1 week away: Recital videos due (for our online recitals; submission due dates vary by event). Live performers - keep it up!

Event Date! You’re more than prepared for this date! Congrats!!!

Live performances - enjoy your time on stage!

Online recitals - get your popcorn out, chill out on the couch, and tune in online, commenting on your fave parts of performances, encouraging others on their awesome job and answering trivia questions as desired!  

Kimberly Wong

Owner

Volo Academy of Music

5 Steps for Performance Practice

As we have recitals coming up, I want to talk about Performance Practice!

Usually, when we do normal focussed practice, we stop when we make a mistake and correct it (repeating the rough part over and over, in order to smooth it out).

When we’re practicing to perform a song, we focus on playing through any mistakes and not revisiting them until after the whole song! This is a performance mindset. Although it can be tempting to revisit the mistakes as they happen, we won’t be doing that while we’re performing, so we have to practice not doing it! Please note that this is meant to be done after memorizing.

During performance, we will achieve about 70% of the highest level that we achieve during practice (both video performance and in-person). The more we perform, the closer to our best we achieve (so it’s possible for seasoned performers to achieve over 90% of the standard that they practice at!) The more we do it, the more we can stop focusing on the technicalities and more on enjoying our time in the spotlight!

Practicing for video performances can be expedited because we can simulate that environment (recording ourselves) repeatedly, leading to an easier time “getting used to” the performing feeling, whereas we don’t have a live audience to watch us practice getting better at this. The process of recording a video recording that we’re proud of for an online recital often results in a ton of practicing! It’s also a wonderful way to do Performance Practice for an in-person event because of the simulation of being in the spotlight - that all eyes are on you. And at the end, you have a video that you’re proud of!

I credit Instructor Isaac Hernando for the inspo for these tips!

5 Steps to Performance Practice (FPRPR)

1. Focus → have a small routine that you do before every time you play your song (eg. Bow, take some deep breaths, put your hands on the instrument, think about the first 5 - 10 seconds of the song).

2. Perform once → play through your mistakes (without going back to fix anything). To add stakes and a feeling of nerves, record yourself on video.

3. Reflect → Think about, write down or talk to a parent or friend what you feel went well and what didn’t. Watch the video (if you took one). Confirm these points. You can give yourself a mark out of 100 if you wish!

4. Polish → “regular practice” – polish your mistakes (fix them).

5. Repeat → Perform again! And record again. Repeat these steps as many times as desired. Watch your mark (from Step 3) improve as you do!

A wonderful example of Performance Practice!

There you have it! It’s best to have a song memorized 4 weeks before you need to perform it live or record your video. And you can start working on Performance Practice as soon as you do!

Cheers,

Kimberly Wong

Owner

Volo Academy of Music

Is My Child Ready for Piano Lessons? →

We get this question so often that we created this quiz for you to find out!

Music Exposure Mode

“Should I keep my child in lessons?”

You’ve enrolled your child in lessons, and they’re loving it. However, there’s one problem: They’re not willing to practice throughout the week. While practicing is super important for steady progression (such that I wrote a post on how to get an unmotivated student to practice), it can be easy to default to the idea that they may be too young for lessons. However, not every child who starts lessons is ready for steady progression. That’s completely fine.

That’s when we go into Music Exposure Mode, which can be just as valuable at your child’s stage of development. The goal of these lessons is not steady progression, but getting them to love making music, develop early skills along the way, and have fun! They definitely experience the benefits of music lessons like early math and language skills, memory, early cognition, split concentration, fine motor skills, confidence, performance skills, and much more, which will last them a lifetime (often leading to a competitive edge over peers). All these reasons why you likely thought lessons were a good idea in the first place. By keeping them in, you’re giving them this opportunity to develop all of these essential skills early, in 1 weekly half hour. You’re sneaking in learning through fun!

In Music Exposure mode, your child will have FUN making music, and will learn important concepts along the way. Without the pressure to practice at this stage, they will associate making music with enjoyment, which will always be the first and foremost thing even after they enter the age where they’re ready to practice regularly (with your guidance).

Eventually, they will get to the stage where they’re ready for steady progression: Taking lesson concepts and practicing them throughout the week to master them in preparation for the next challenge! At this point, they’ll need your guidance to keep them on a schedule of regular practice. It’s time to start the journey to develop discipline. But you don’t have to worry about that yet! Your instructor will let you know when it’s time.

Right now, you just think about the decision in front of you: Whether to withdraw them from lessons, or to keep them in. If they don’t like their lessons, and it’s a struggle to get them to do one, then it can be a good idea to give it a break, maybe try again at a later date (especially if they’ve taken lessons for the past 9 months or longer). As long as they’re loving lessons, though, if you keep them in, they WILL reap the benefits.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your instructor or to me, and we’ll be happy to help you figure it out!

Kim Harwood
Owner
North Peace Piano

Is Your Child Ready for Piano Lessons?

This is one of the top questions we get asked! Take THIS QUIZ to find out what kind of lessons would benefit your child the most at their stage of development.

Piano Lessons have incredible benefits to children, including enhanced early development of motor skills and cognitive skills (such as memorization, math, and split concentration), as well as benefits that last a lifetime, such as an emotional outlet, building confidence, discipline, perseverance, and learning what it takes to master something.

While it's an amazing journey, it's important to identify what kind of lessons the child is truly ready for, in order to set expectations on lesson outcomes. Maybe your child shows a great interest and aptitude for music! That's a great sign! Take this quiz and find out whether your child is ready for the next step, instruction in exposure and/or progression!

Winter Recital 2021

Our 6th Annual Winter Recital was streamed over our Facebook page last Saturday Dec 4, hosted live by Kim Harwood (Owner and Instructor). We featured our students from across 5 time zones! Over the past year or so, we’ve grown by a third! Come check out some of our students’ (and teachers’) best work! Here is each Act! There are teacher performances in Act 1 and 3 and a Blooper reel (in Act 2)! Mixed in are cameos and real footage from lessons!

This is the hardest that our students practice (when they make their video for an online recital), so enjoy the fruits of our labour! For the actual livestream recordings from Facebook, tap the “Act 1, Act 2, Act 3” in the caption above the Youtube video.

Act 1 (Mostly our beginners and some intermediates)

Plus:
21:29 - Instructor Gary's collab project with his students, Zombie by The Cranberries
39:45 - Instructor Joshua's performance of Suggestion Diabolique by Prokofiev

Act 2 (A mix of our beginners with students taking music lessons purely for fun)

Plus a blooper reel at 25:09!

Act 3 (Mostly our students in Conservatory Programs who are taking exams)

Plus:
42:45 - Music video by Kim Harwood (x Paul Comartin) "The Prayer"

Creative Project by North Peace Piano students and Teacher Gary!

Check out this cover of Zombie (by The Cranberries), featuring a dozen of our talented young student musicians from North Peace Piano taking online lessons! It was arranged, directed, and edited by our bright new instructor, Gary Lin! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent! Students, we love being such a big a part of your journey! Keep up the great work!

In a Practicing Rut? Here are 4 ways to get an unmotivated student to practice!

Most students go through periods of motivation and un-motivation in their musical journey. When they practice through these periods again and again, they can gain Discipline, which they can apply in all other areas in their lives. Here are ways we can do to get students going through an un-motivated phase to practice. #1, this is paramount:

Schedule a time that works every day (or week days) for them to practice so that it becomes routine.

If they’re older, they can come up with the time to commit to.

If a routine isn’t set, while the student goes through a period of un-motivation, it creates a lot more friction in the household to get them to practice! Even though they may still resist, a routine sets the expectation.

2) The teacher may give them Page Points. When the student earns 30 points, they get a prize from their parents! The instructor will keep track of their points in their lesson notes.

At their lesson, they get 1 point for 1 page they complete. This includes:

• Songs - 1 point for each page, so a 2 page song = 2 points. In order to earn a point, there needs to be improvement - evidence that they practiced what & how they were directed to practice last week (and in their lesson notes). If it sounds the exact same as last week before working on it with the teacher and it’s clear that they didn’t practice it, then no points are awarded for that song during that lesson.

• Theory & Note Speller homework - 1 point for each page completed

• Sight Reading – 1 page for each page completed, but they need to get their parent to sign off on each, and be prepared to show this to the teacher at the lesson.

• Ear Training – for RCM kids, their parent can sign off on each daily exercise of Ear Training online that they do. They can use the chart inside the back cover of their 4 Star SR book to keep track of that. They get 1 point for each exercise they do!

To help a student be accountable for their practice, they can use a:

3) Practice Calendar: The parent gets them a calendar, for which they earn a sticker for each day that they practice. The amount of time isn’t necessarily specified, but they need to practice the things in their lesson notes. If you use a Practice Calendar combined with the Page Points System, they can get a point for every day that they practice that week!

Also, some parents have had success with:

4) Earning Screen Time: The student earns their screen time based on the amount that they practice. Eg. If they practice for 20 minutes, they get 20 minutes of screen time that day (or they can earn screen time at 2x the amount of practice time, or whatever the parent decides).

I find that the Page Points system works better in the long run, whereas Earning Screen Time and the Practice Calendar (by itself) gets students through brief periods of un-motivation (eg. A few weeks). Have a discussion with your teacher about which you want to try!

Let’s work as a team to help the student continue benefiting from your (and their) investment!

It will be well worth it.

Kim

North Peace Piano

Young Beginners in Virtual Lessons - A Guide For Parents

Congrats! You’ve made the decision to enroll your young child into piano lessons so that they can start enjoying the benefits of music from a young age! What should you expect? Here are 6 ways to optimize lessons.

1. Provide a quiet room for lessons to take place.

2. Set up your device to allow a camera angle of the full length of the keyboard from the side (like the picture below).

3. When we start a young beginner (age 7 or under) in lessons, it’s important for the parent to be with the child for the duration of the lesson for several reasons, mainly: To help the student follow instructions, and to keep their attention on the lesson.

For the first few months, the concepts taught are straightforward for an adult to understand, but the child is still developing their motor control. When a parent is there to physically maneuver the student’s hands / fingers, or posture to match the teacher’s demo, it moves the lesson along much quicker as the child immediately understands what it feels like kinesthetically.

Although we make lessons engaging and fun, the student is still subject to distractions, so it’s extremely helpful for the parent to be there to keep them paying attention! Otherwise, the teacher needs to do that with valuable lesson time.

A mistake is to treat the lesson like screen time (ie. It’s entertaining, so they will be ok on their own). While we do entertain them with stories and music games, they are still subject to outside distractions. We will also teach them concepts that help them make new connections in their brain, and sometimes, they will need your guidance to keep on it, no matter how good their attention span is for their age.

Some concepts take longer to cover. We will keep working on these, repeating or using different methods over several weeks, even months, to help the student eventually grasp it, then master it. This doesn’t mean that the student’s progress is stunted or that lesson time is wasted covering the same thing that they already know. Sometimes, it takes more time to master it to the extent that we would like them to, before moving onto the next level in that topic, but it is always our intent to keep them feeling challenged.

4. Schedule regular practice sessions into your child’s schedule, and build it into their routine. You may choose to do it in a single block of 20 - 30 minutes per day, 5 - 6 days per week, or break it up into two or three 10 minute sessions per day. A young student cannot be responsible to schedule their own practice sessions. The same practice time daily helps with building the routine so that one day, the student may be used to it, and do it on their own!

5. Guide the student during practice sessions. This can be great bonding time with your child as you sit with them to help practice the things that the teacher wrote in their lesson notes, and review the lesson recording in places where you and the student forget how to do something.

6. Use the lesson recording to prime your memory when you and your child forget how to do something. Each week, there is a recording of your last lesson. If your teacher uses Zoom, the recording will be on their G Drive, and each week, it will be replaced by the most recent one. If they use Skype, the recording is right in the Skype chat, available for 30 days. Either way, if you want to keep it, just download it. Students / parents who use their lesson recordings as a memory aid optimize lessons because time is used to learn new concepts instead of relearn old ones. Take advantage of our awesome feature of virtual lessons!

Practicing is as important as the lesson itself, and progress is exponential. It is especially beneficial to briefly review the concepts immediately after the lesson (if their attention span allows). Your patience, time, and energy investment in their musical journey is a gift that you give your child as they learn skills that will help them in all aspects of their life!

We look forward to starting this wonderful journey with you!

~ Kim
Owner
North Peace Piano

Joining a Conservatory Program (RCM or CC)

After the beginning foundational lessons (getting oriented with the piano and gaining some dexterity), the teacher may suggest that the student join a Conservatory program. In Canada, there are two main ones: 

Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and Conservatory Canada (CC)<— specifically, the Contemporary Idioms program.

Here are the benefits of joining a program:

1. It gives the student clear goals in each level to work towards, and a certificate at the end, showing all the great work they’ve done! This is incentivizing to some students.

2. Preparing for an exam helps the student gain skills to become a well-rounded musician as the student needs to be at a certain level in:

   • Technique

   • Repertoire

   • Etudes (piano studies)

   • Sight Reading

   • Ear Training

3. Passing the Level 8 Practical and Theory co-requisite exams earns the student school credits.

RCM has been hailed for many years as the Gold Standard in piano study, boasting mastery of the foundational skills technically and classically, leading to virtuosity. Recently, CC has emerged as a progressive alternative with their philosophy based on the idea that the great composers of the past were never expected to study or play music that is hundreds of years old. It’s the piano equivalent to learning classical ballet vs hip hop dance.

If you’d like the student to join a Conservatory program, but want to be spared the specific details and to figure out what the student should do, here’s the Short Answer: We generally choose RCM unless we find that they don’t like playing classical music. We add “fun songs” and improvisational skills as desired by the student. We find that this way, they learn what they need technically to pick up any piano song they want (and have a leg-up when learning other instruments). We start with that base, and may add a CC book for improvisation if they’re really into that, or if they have a practical need, like they joined a band or church music team.

If you want the Long Answer, read on! Here are all the details to make a decision on which program, including a chart I made, outlining the main differences between the two.

A student may switch to the other program at any time. Any exam may be challenged (ie. There’s no pre-requisite for any exam in either program). As long as co-requisites are from the same program (eg. RCM Piano Level 5 exam requires the RCM Theory 5 exam for the RCM Level 5 Certificate; the student may not combine an RCM Piano exam with a CC Theory exam to get a certificate.

It is not necessary to take an exam for every level. Sometimes, we skip exams, and just go onto the next level that year. It depends on how much time the student has to prepare (weighing it with the other extra-curriculars), and what else is going on in the student / family’s lives that impact the student’s practice time and energy. When this is the case, we still go through all the material in the level to learn all lessons thoroughly before starting on the next.

If the student’s goal is to play purely for leisure, or if they have no interest in seeing how their skills would be evaluated, then joining a Conservatory program may not be for them. However, it is also possible to do the material, but not take the exams. That way, they get the benefit of learning the skills without the pressure of an exam. We like to suggest to most students that join a program that they do take an exam at some point to get feedback from a different established musician (the examiner) on how their skills stand. It is a valuable experience, and they get a certificate to show the great work that they’ve done!

A concern we’ve heard is that when the student joins RCM, the pressure builds as the student becomes consumed with exam prep, taking the enjoyment out of making music. While the 4 - 8 weeks before an exam we are in “exam mode,” the rest of the time, we teach our students “fun songs” of their choice in addition to their conservatory pieces to keep them engaged in making music. Also, we use these “fun songs” as fantastic learning opportunities! We often find sheet music that is 1 - 4 levels above their level, and they’re happy to do it! :D

If you have any questions about RCM or CC, or whether the student should start, please let us know, and we will figure it out!

Kim
Owner
North Peace Piano

Merry Christmas!

Here is Evan shredding it with one of his favourite songs of all time - Carol of the Bells! Enjoy! And Happy Holidays to you and your’s!

Happy Holidays!

This is a collab that instructor Kim was in recently! With her friends Paul and Ivan and sister, Hazel!

Winter Recital Mashup Cover!

This was Kim’s song for the North Peace Piano Winter Recital 2020. She usually prepares a classical piece, but this time, she did a cover mashup of a few “fun songs” that she taught her students this year. When you can make music, you can collab with your friends! In this project, Kim included her sister, Hazel, and her friend, Paul (who also mastered this track)! Kim started out with piano, and everything else followed! Enjoy!

Virtual Recital

We just had our very first virtual recital just over a week ago! I collected performance videos from our students and I hosted the recital live from my living room. All the viewers were encouraged to type in comments to the students DURING performances (without worrying about distracting the student!) I was apprehensive at first, but after having gone through this, I realize that there are certain perks to having a virtual recital, namely:

• Through making the “perfect video,” students end up practicing A LOT for this… Even more than they do for an in-person recital, where they’d practice, hope for the best, and it turns out however it turns out (and there’s little incentive to practice more to perfect it afterwards)... For a virtual recital, they have control over how it goes, and could do it over as many times as they want (which they all took advantage of)

• Students / parents invite their relatives from all over the world, who can tune in on the live feed and enjoy it with them!

• Remote students (our's as far away as Iqaluit, NU) are able to participate without travelling.

• Most students who will not perform in front of a live audience are willing to participate in a virtual recital, which is huge.

• They can participate even if they can’t be present during the live stream. After the fact, they can also watch it.

• I am able to really use this media and make little videos about our journey, which is an extra entertaining perk

There are several ways to do a virtual recital, and I chose to MC it live with pre-recorded performances. I don’t consider myself very tech savvy, and this option seemed to present the fewest number of variables (eg. Students’ internet connection / tech issues). It was worth all my research into software and pre-recital prep (2 nights of which I stayed up til 4am making sure everything scripting, editing video, and making sure things are ready to go). 

Our first virtual recital went basically seamlessly!!!

It’s not the same as performing live; you don't get butterflies in your stomach awaiting your turn, and there's no immediate reward of huge applause from an admiring audience afterwards (and no appie / dessert buffet!). However, video’ing yourself gives the same jitters (“on-the-spot” feeling) as doing a live performance, so it still helps prepare students for multiple situations throughout life where they need to present something; in fact, before quarantine, we used video’ing as training to prepare for live performances. Our parents and students have shared that they enjoyed the process (of making their performance videos as well as watching it on the couch in their PJ’s on Saturday morning!) Some students have shared that they enjoyed virtual better, and some prefer performing live.

Overall, I’m glad that we tried this. A virtual recital fulfills the purpose of showcasing students' hard work over the term and giving students a goal to zealously practice for, as well as preparing them for performance / presentation opportunities in the future. So it’s a new viable option. Born out of quarantine!

You can check it out here!

Reborn out of Quarantine

Reborn out of quarantine, North Peace Piano moved from a solely in-person “regular” location-bound studio limited to the Spruce Grove / Stony Plain, Alberta region to an entirely online studio, without geographical limitations. Make music where you are.

2.5 months into live online lessons (since our Spring Break here in Alberta), we're settled in. 🤗 It’s a way of life now, and we've settled into this new reality, without counting on when things will return back to "normal." Online teaching will always be at least a part of how we do things, even if we make in-person lessons available when it's safe to do so. It's been determined: There is nothing we taught in person that we can't teach online. It just takes a different way of thinking about teaching (not better or worse, just different, sometimes even more innovative).

One thing that took some getting used to that comes almost naturally now: Looking at the camera while speaking to the student, instead of at the student's face on your screen 😅(which to them looks like your gaze is just slightly off, and can be unsettling if it's for the whole lesson).

😀For your entertainment, here's Kim taking advantage of her setup of camera angles while practicing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata 3rd movement! Because why not...? 🤷‍♀️