New rates for piano lessons - update

Hi Piano People!

Due to my upcoming move to Salem, I feel it is necessary
to raise my rates a bit to cover traveling by train and visiting
students in their homes.

I will be teaching every other week (2 lessons a month) until
I see how this new system works.

So effective, 1/1/2014, my new rates will be:

1/2 hour $25

Prepay for the month:  (2 lessons) $45 - One Student
                                                         $90 - Two Students

Prepay for the term:  (6 lessons) $140 - One Student
                                                      $275 - Two Students

Winter Term goes from January 6 to March 22, 2014.

If this is a hardship for anyone, please let me know!

Thank you!

Teacher Zita :)

Life Changes!

Dear Piano Students:

I have decided to make some life changes that will go into effect January 1, 2014 that will affect some of you. I am going to be moving to Salem at the end of December to live near my daughter, Taylor who will be graduating from OSU in December! Taylor lives and works in Salem. The rent much cheaper in Salem and I really miss Taylor!

In addition, I will be enrolling in the Music Thanatology program at Lane Community College! Lots of changes! :)

I will still be teaching at CMC on Thursdays and Fridays, and I will still be accompanying the Francis Street Singers Tuesday evenings.

In keeping with my walking and busing lifestyle, I will be taking Amtrack up to Portland Tuesday through Saturday to teach. (Less expensive than driving!) 

The biggest change for you is that I will only be able to do house calls! And since I will be walking and busing, I will need time to get from house to house, so I may have to reduce the amount of students I am teaching.

I am hoping to group my students in similar neighborhoods.

I will be available the following days and times beginning the 2nd week in January:

(Please note that my lessons are 30 minutes, but I am allowing 30 minutes travel in between. The time may be adjusted if there are more than 1 student taking lessons in a household, or the distance between houses is very small for these short legs to travel!)

Tuesday (CMC neighborhood)

1. 2:00
2. 3:00
3. 4:00
4. 5:00
5. 6:00 (Filled)

Wednesday (Belmont/Sunnyside neighborhood)

1. 2:00
2. 3:00
3. 4:00
4. 5:00
5. 6:00
6. 7:00

Thursday

1. 1:00
2. 2:45 to 6:45 (Filled – CMC)
3. 7:30 to 8:30 (Filled)

Friday

1. 1:00
2. 2:45 to 6:45 (Filled – CMC)

Saturday (Hawthorne/Mt Tabor Neighborhood)

1. 10:00 a.m.
2. 11:00 a.m.
3. 12:00 p.m.
4. 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. (filled)
5. 3:00 p.m.
6. 4:00 p.m.
7. 5:00 p.m.
8. 6:00 p.m.
9. 7:00 p.m. (filled)

I will give priority to students who have been with me the longest and are on my route. If you are outside of my route, we can talk. I might be purchasing a vehicle in the spring, but I am hoping the train/bus mode of travel works out. I enjoy the freedom of bus travel. :)

So, if you are interested in winter piano lessons, please reserve a spot ASAP! Otherwise, I can suggest a few teachers or you can be on my waiting list for late winter/early spring. I will continue to hold recitals at the end of fall term and the

end of spring term.

I have loved bringing music to all of you and I hope that you continue musically with me or with another teacher!

Please email or call if you have any questions.

Peace,

Teacher Zita

P.S. I am giving a concert on December 15, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at CMC.  My friend and student Margaret Butler has organized this as a fundraising event to help offset the cost of moving and hopefully getting a digital keyboard for my apartment in Salem.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds and every little bit helps! :)

Keith Snell Piano Repertoire Books

I mentioned these books in a previous posts. I like the fact that these pieces are in their original form, not arranged.  Here are all the levels:

For students who have finished a primer method book and are reading notes in a Level 1 book, I recommend the Preparatory Level.  The Piano Repertoire books are graded on a higher level than lesson books.

For students that have been reading music for about a year, know most of their major scales, and are finishing the Level 1 lesson book, I recommend Level One in the Repertoire Series:

For students who have been playing the piano for about two years and/or desire more challenge, I would recommend Level 2 in the Repertoire Series.  The pieces in the Baroque and Classical include many of the Bach Minuets that are often played in piano recitals, many from Anna Magdalena's Little Notebook. Students should be proficient in most scales and be comfortable moving out of 5-finger positions.

Students also benefit from theory books, particularly after the first year of study. I will recommend some theory books in a later post.  

Back to practicing! :)

Teacher Zita

Keith Snell Repetoire Series

I highly recommend these books for students beyond the 1st year lesson books.  Keith Snell has a graded Repetoire Series that keeps the original music intact (not arranged).

See me if you are unsure which level:

Teacher Zita Plays Waltz in D flat major by Chopin! (This is comedy!) :)

This is also called the "Minute Waltz", but Chopin did not really mean for it to be played in 1 minute! Good thing, because I could barely do it in 1 minute and 25 seconds! I think I prefer 2 minutes played more cleanly. But here is a video for your amusement. 

End of Fall term Recital

 

Hello Piano People!

I love the fall. My favorite time of year! :)

Fall term is underway and we are having a blast learning about the piano, how to read music and new pieces to play!

If you like to plan ahead, please put the following date on your calendar:

End of Fall Term Recital:

Sunday, December 15, 2013.

4:30 p.m. Beginners and continuing beginners (1st and 2nd year), or students younger than 12 years old

6:00 p.m. Intermediate/Advanced/Teens/Adults

If you are not sure which category you fit into, just ask! :)

Also, if you would like to see your teacher in concert, I am playing that same day at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Music Center! 

Back to practicing!

Teacher Zita :)