The LAGQ had a great (albeit brief) visit with the studio. Bill especially told me how much he enjoyed getting to see you all there! Then they raced off to get back stage before they played the beautiful Concierto Andaluz!

Find more pictures on Flickr

As a reminder, here are the remaining dates in the Winter/Spring session:
Mar. 4
Mar. 18
Apr. 1
Apr. 15
May 6
May 20
Group A meets 3:45-4:25; Group B meets 4:30-5:10

I've had a busy couple of months playing and want to give you a little update of some highlights:
*December 2011: Released a CD with The Dream Songs Project, voice and guitar duo. You can order and listen to samples here: www.thedreamsongsproject.org
*January 2012: Applied for funding for commissioning a new piece for voice and guitar and a series of performances. Awards announced in late March.
*February 18: Madison performance at Farley's House of Pianos with The Dream Songs Project. I hope you can all make it!
*February 23-26: Several performances in the Twin Cities including a CD release party on Sunday, 2/26.
*March 20: Invited to play at the American Composers Forum Tuesday Salon--a gathering of composers and performers and public to hear new works and discuss with the artists.

Be sure to check the Concerts and News page for more events. Just a little plug for my own performances!

Fall is in full swing!  Everyone's back to the school year routine and playing great.  We welcome several new students to the group; I'm really happy to see our little guitar community grow.  I've got several little posts I'll be making in the next few days, so check back often.  Here are the big announcements:
Group Classes: Due to the new students we have and a wider range of age and repertoire level, I'm going to be splitting us into two groups.  We'll have interaction between the two groups, but the bulk of the time will be in the group that you've been assigned--I'll e-mail those out.  Group class is a really important aspect of Suzuki.  It's a great time to have fun, review repertoire, learn to play music as a group, and meet and hear other students.  Because this is so important, in 2012, we are going to start meeting twice a month--first and third Sundays at 3:30 (Group A) and 4:30 (Group B).  For now, we're going to stick to once a month (Oct. 16 is next class).  I'll give more details (rates, group assignment) by e-mail. 
Parent Education class: I've been threatening this for a while, but I want to organize this to happen some weekend in November.  I've considered having a reading that we could all discuss, but instead I want to keep this very open and have the main topic be motivation.  It's a broad topic and can include practice games, routines for home practice, ideas for keeping motivation going.  This is a huge topic, but I'll plan for some specific discussions.  Please comment any ideas here.  I'll send an e-mail out about this and make a poll for narrowing down a time that will work for everyone. 
More to come soon including: listening recommendations, upcoming concerts, Suzuki Assoc. of WI retreat, and the Guitar Olympics in December!

We have a big performance coming up to celebrate the accomplishment of polishing all of the Twinkle Variations.  We will also include some of the other repertoire in this recital.  But the main focus will be Twinkle, which we will play as a group.  You should always be reviewing Twinkle (even after this recital), but to make sure they are extra polished, I made a practice sheet of the variations.  Keep up your other review as well.  During lessons, I'll decide what other pieces everyone will also contribute (as solos or as a group).  Then, after the recital, we'll have a little party.  I'm hoping to hear back soon from Ian's Pizza right next door to Overture...more later.

Download the PDF of the practice sheet below.  Decorate the sheets however you want.  Keep track of practice with stickers, drawing smiley faces (for happy practicing), or mark an 'x' or 'check'.  We now have 45 days to the recital.  Parents, please tally up the total number of variations practiced by August 26 (thoughtfully practiced...not just once through as fast as possible!).  The student with the highest number of variations practiced will get recognition at the recital for his or her hard work.  That means 45 (days) x 6 (variations)=270 possible points.  Happy practicing only!  Unhappy practicing is never as productive--and there will be plenty of recognition for all students regardless of how many times these variations were practiced!  Let me know if you have any questions.

I'm terrible about taking pictures but I would love to see some pictures that have been taken during group class and last weekend's recital.  If you have pictures, would you please send some to me? With permission, I would love to post some to the website (no names attached).  It would be great to see the pictures in any case.

We have a group class approaching.  We've been meeting on Saturdays, but I was wondering if Sunday late-afternoon (4:30 or 5:00) would be better for families?  Let me know, I think that a Sunday time wouldn't be in conflict with weekend activities that some people have had problems with in the past.  Group class is a part of taking classes in my studio, so I expect to have everyone attend.  Group class is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, March 20 at 4:30.  Let me know as soon as possible if you have a conflict.

Next big news: The American Suzuki Institute located at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has an annual summer retreat/workshop/camp.  This is designed for students of all ages and abilities to attend.  I'll be there this summer getting more teacher training.  It is a fantastic experience, one of the best Suzuki institutes in the country, and it's right in our state!  Students attend with a parent and have classes on the guitar, performance opportunities, enrichment classes, chances to meet other young guitarists, fun activities in the evenings, and faculty concerts.  The days are packed with lots of learning and fun.  The guitar teacher, Joseph Pecoraro, is a world class guitarist and teacher.  It's a very worthwhile summer activity.  Please watch the video that I've posted below and read about the Institute on their website.  I'm happy to answer any questions that you have.   
http://www.uwsp.edu/cofac/suzuki/asi/index.aspx

I got some responses that 10am would not work, so I'm moving us to the afternoon: 2 pm.  I realize that weekends are not idea for somel, so I will work to fix that and find a weeknight time.  For now, we have to compromise a little on our ideal circumstances.  Again, let me know any thoughts about best times to meet.  If I do find a weeknight it will likely need to be for a 7:30 or 8:00 class.  Does that suit people's schedules?