Tuesday, August 9, 2016 by Debra B Heald | Uncategorized

Hello Piano Families!

A few announcements for the fall session:

• Fall lessons will start the week of August 21 unless other arrangements are made
• Scheduling is happening NOW. I scheduled my classes first, followed by my more senior students, etc. If you have not received an email about scheduling, it's coming SOON!
• Some students will need to be with Miss Maryn or Mr. Anson - they are AWESOME and your students will love lessons with them!
• Rescheduling lessons: for the coming 2016-17 year: although rescheduled lessons with me will be limited to spots canceled by other students, ANY student will be able to reschedule a missed lesson with Miss Maryn or Mr. Anson. Reschedules will need to be done within 2 weeks (and preferably in the same week) and must have 24 hour notice for non-illness. You will need to go online and cancel your lesson (*important* so that spot will be available for someone else!) and then choose your reschedule time from the available spots. If you cannot schedule in the available spots, you will forfeit that lesson.
• Please remain flexible - even scheduled times may need to adjust 15 or 30 minutes as the schedule is finalized.
• If you have questions, send me a text (402-499-0400) or email. If you'd like to speak to me on the phone, leave a message with the best time for me to call back.

Thanks!

Debra Bolte Heald, NCTM

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Monday, May 18, 2015 by Debra B Heald | Uncategorized

Hello Everyone! Here's info for summer and fall:

THIRD TERM/SUMMER
This week will be the last week of school for most students - however, this is NOT the last week of piano. We are on the last trimester of 13 weeks, and this is week 10. This leaves 3 remaining lessons to be held throughout the summer on a flexible schedule. I do have a fun summer vacation piano book (in 5 levels) that I'm going to have most students work in!

For next week, I'm going to keep everyone on their regular schedule, UNLESS YOU CONTACT ME TO ARRANGE A DIFFERENT TIME/DAY. After that, you will need to sign up for your remaining lessons on the calendar. Summer lessons will generally be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If you need a different day, it may be available upon request. There are a couple of weeks when I won't be available.

ADDITIONAL SUMMER LESSONS:
I always like to offer summer lessons at a substantial discount, to encourage students to do some summer study.

3 lessons = $40
6 lessons = $70
9 lessons = $90

Please read further information at: Summer Lessons

FALL SIGNUP:
It is absolutely imperative that you sign up and pay for your first month of 2015-16 by July 1. I now have a waiting list of over 10 students, and if you are not signed up by July 1, I will offer spots to waiting list students.

Please read more at: 2015-2016 Piano

If you have any questions, just let me know via email, text, or calls. Thanks!

Debra Heald

402-499-0400 (text or call)

debencore@encore-studio.com

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Tuesday, February 10, 2015 by Debra B Heald | Festival

Saturday March 28, at Fellowship Community Church, 8601 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, NE 68505.

It's time to sign up for Festival! Most students are already working on at least one Festival piece - since I do not know who will commit ahead of time, I usually give everyone who is in their second year (or higher) of lessons Festival music over Christmas break. So almost everyone is prepared to participate! I recommend participation for as many as possible - Festival is meant to be a fun and motivating event for students.

The cost is $22 for a solo and a theory test. A student can take just the theory test for $9. If this is your first year of lessons and/or not quite ready to perform, I recommend that you take the theory test on site. This will give the student a chance to participate and see how things work without the stress of performing.

Performance times will be available throughout the day. If you have a specific need, please indicate that when you commit (send me a text or email or inform me at lessons). You will need to allow approximately 45 minutes for performance (15 minute early arrival + 30 minute performance) and 30 - 60 minutes for test taking. Most students would use 30 minutes or less for the test, but there is not a time limit. Students perform in small groups of approximately 4-6 students, and an audience is welcome. (Invite your friends and relatives.)

I have already signed you up! I put my best guess/recommendation on my website "sign up". Please check your sign up on my website: www.encore-studio.com    Go to the calendar page (after signing in) and then go to February 21 on the calendar. If you do not go online and check, you will get an email from the website "reminding" you of your registration. If a student is signed up, the website will automatically put a Festival charge on your account, which you can pay with your regular payment or by the first lesson in March. If you are signed up and you don't want to be, remove yourself, or if you are not signed up and you want to be, sign up! Reminder: if you have a legitimate conflict on March 28 (or become suddenly ill) a makeup judging can be done. Please don't abuse this privilege, it is meant for truly unavoidable circumstances.

From the Nebraska Federation of Music Site:

Junior Festival is the National Federation of Music Clubs' annual performance event for students of all levels of talent and advancement.  It is administered at the local level by each local club, under the auspices of the State and National organizations.

Junior Festival is not a competition, but rather an opportunity for the students to perform two memorized pieces of music for an adjudicator and an audience.  The student's performance is judged individually and is not compared to the performance of other students.

By participating in Junior Festival each year students earn points towards receiving a National Gold Cup, or trophy.  Each successive Gold Cup is a little bigger than the previous one.  It takes a minimum of three years to earn each Gold Cup.

Junior Festival performance covers all instrument families, both solo and ensemble, as well as vocal performance.  It also includes Hymn Playing, Theory, Composition, and Improvisation.  Rules set by National must be adhered to.  Registration fees are set by the local club, a portion of which must be sent to the State organization.

In Nebraska, students who receive four or more consecutive Superior ratings in one event may participate in the Nebraska Federation of Music Clubs Junior Division State Honors Recital.

There is also a category for physically or mentally challenged students.  Exceptions to some of the National guidelines are made for these students.

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