Tartan Tundra Music

Cold Weather Doesn't Stop Us!

Since it has been -40° for at least a week now, let me reassure you all that lessons do go on even in these low temperatures!

A full day of lessons is scheduled today, and I'll be there. Should the weather drop to -50° I'd reconsider, and see how many of you can take your lessons at home using Skype on the computer.

Skype is an awesome option during times when you can't come to class. Should you be out of town, or home sick-but-not-that-sick (possibly contagious but not feeling awful), or if I happen to be sick (but not that sick), having lessons via Skype allows us to keep going.

Since I've been teaching via videoconference to a school out on the Yukon for many years, I'm well-prepared to teach that way.

At this point in time I am not yet able to teach from the studio via Skype, I must go home first to use the internet there. But sometime next week I'll have internet in the studio so we'lll be able to Skype from there, too.

Do you have an iPhone 4? Did you know you can use Skype with the iPhone? Once I put in the wireless network at the studio,  we can use Facetime to do lessons, too!

There are so many ways to connect these days that it's amazing! If you have friends Outside or in the Bush who would like to take lessons via Skype or Facetime, let them know I am available.

So stay warm, keep healthy, and I'll see you down at the studio today.

Fall Schedule, Recital, and Wacky Weather

Weather-Related Challenges

First of all, I'm teaching during our -40°F weather. For many businesses this is a cut-off temperature, but if we let the weather keep us from living our lives, it can be VERY boring!

What is my cut-off temperature? Oh, probably -45°. Vehicles get pretty iffy, and there are enough students who will cancel at those temps. While we are at it, another weather-related condition that would cause me to cancel classes would be a large amount of black ice.

 

Music Challenges

As you know, our Winter Recital is on December 7, 2011, at the Noel Wien Library Auditorium. Students must be there by 6:30 to get organized and tuned up.

I am in search of someone I can hire who would digitally videotape the recital for us. Please give me a call or an email if you know of anyone who can do a good job for us.

Earlier I stated that we'd be playing the Dr. Who theme for this recital, but since there is no string music available for it, it has become a real challenge to create parts for our various instruments using a piano score. Therefore, in order to be fair to the students, I've decided that we will do the Dr. Who Theme during the Spring Recital, which will give everyone a good chance to learn and practice the music. I'm sorry it didn't work out, but just wait, it will be brilliant when we do it next Spring! 

 

Schedule Challenges

The Holidays are coming, and by now you all should have received a Fall Schedule sheet. If not, here are the important bits:

1. No Thursday or Saturday classes on Thanksgiving weekend.

2. Recital December 7, at the Noel Wien Library. Students should arrive there by 6:30. Help setting up and carrying equipment is greatly appreciated!

3. Payment for December and January is due:

The last November day you have your lesson

Thursday, Nov. 17

Saturday, Nov. 19

Monday, Nov. 28

Tuesday, Nov. 29

Wednesday, Nov. 30

 

4. To facilitate figuring out how much to pay, here is a list of the teaching days in December and January

IN DECEMBER (the last lesson day in December will be the 22nd)
Monday  3 lessons
Tuesday 3 lessons
Wednesday three lessons
Thursday four lessons
Saturday three lessons

IN JANUARY, starting the 9th of January
Monday  4 lessons
Tuesday 4 lessons
Wednesday 3 lessons
Thursday 3 lessons
Saturday 3 lessons

 

5. The last day I teach in December is December 22nd. The first day I teach in January 2012 is January 9th.

 

I hope this helps everyone keep our schedule straight! I have handouts with this same information, as well as an information sheet on the recital, down at the studio, so pick one up if you haven't yet.