Ribbon Festival Deadlines

I am excited to have a total of 8 students participating in the Ribbon Festival this year!

I have received everyone's registration form, and will be collecting the last of the TShirt designs Thursday evening, as they will be judged on Friday morning at the next OMTA meeting.

I also have two students participating in the composition competition, Leo and Henry.  Great job!

Art work may be turned in as late as Friday March 16.

Keep practicing your solos and duet parts! 

Also, look over your musical terminology for the activity session this year.


I'm looking forward to a fun-filled day!

About the OMTA Ribbon Festival

The 24th Annual Oregon Music Teachers Assoc. Ribbon Festival is fast approaching on Saturday, March 17th.  I love this recital.  It was organized by Sarah Barker Ball, who is still overseeing it tirelessly year after year.  It is an opportunity for students of OMTA members to share their favorite music, playing solos, duets, and even orginal compositions, with well over 100 students who participate each year.  The format is fun-filled and exciting. Recitals happen concurrently in three different areas of our local performing arts center.   A Ribbon is awarded for each piece performed.  There is also a TShirt design contest and a display for art work.  This year a new activity session featuring a game about musical terminology will be added. If my students participated in nothing else, this I would strongly recommend them to be in, as it's a time of encouragement and an opportunity to meet others in the "lonely" world of being a pianist.  And it's a wonderful way to inspire the student to continue on learning, giving them something to look forward next year.  It has been a relatively small group of teachers who have been responsible for this event, and I thank them for having the opportunity for my children to participate in them the past years, and now my own students can be a part of the festivities!

Welcome Bell Ringers!

Many of my piano students are now members of the Central Coast Chorale's Beginning Hand Bell Choir, which I am directing for the first time.  (Which reminds me, we need to come up with some ideas for a name of our new group!)  It's great to get a new choir going again.  Many new faces joined also, so I look forward to getting to know the new members, and to seeing each one grow as a bell player and musician.  The group will cover beginning bell technique, as well as introduce reading music to the student.  Our goal is to perform along side the advanced choir at a concert this spring.  They all did an incredible job at our first practice, can't wait to hear what they're able to accomplish!

Spotlight Concert Time Change

The Spotlight on the Teachers concert will now be at 2:00 pm (not 3:00 pm).

Goals Update January 26

Two more students are enrolled in the practice goals this week.  Kathleen M. has only had two lessons so far, so we set her goal for 50 minutes per week.  Hannah K. has her goal set at 120 minutes per week.

Students who met (or exceeded) their goals this week:
Henry G.
Sebastian G.
Joseph G.
Jeremiah G.

Way to go guys!

Practice Goals

I've had a great response to the new practice goals each student set individually, and I hear that students are trying hard to keep their goals!  Good job everyone, stay with it.  You'll be proud you made your goal, and you will see results in your progress playing piano as well. 

Each week I would like to publish the names of students who have met their goals. Here is a list of students who are participating so far:

Henry G. (75 min/week)
Sebastian G. (75 min/week)
Joseph G. (75 min/week)
Jeremiah G. (75 min/week)
David G. (3.5 hours/week)

Up & Coming!

Lots of events to mark on your calendars this spring, from concerts to recitals to evaluations!  Students are working hard on duets, compositions, and memorizing solos.  Please check out the calendar for more details.