2023 is a wild ride!

I’ve done it: I declared my calendar closed and have instituted a waitlist. On the one hand, I’m excited - it means I’m fully using my time at the office, my students are enjoying their playing time and staying in lessons instead of shifting to other activities, and I’ve been able to reach new students. On the other hand, I hate saying no. I always want to say yes to one more thing, but I came to the realization that I just can’t without risking burnout or compromising my work with my existing student population, so here we are. It’s possible this is my favorite teaching year ever, and it’s definitely one for the books in terms of variety with flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, violin, cello, and piano students from very tall to quite small. My youngest students are less than a quarter of my age and my oldest are double, and I’ve never enjoyed my adult students this much - they’re a truly remarkable bunch.

It’s so nice to have the privilege of saying no so that I can preserve the ability to say yes to the people that matter most, and so that I can continue approaching my work with joy rather than obligation. Speaking of joy, I’ve also been sharing a lot of time with two wee little monsters: Janet the kitten came in September, fresh from the woods in Vermont and just over a pound, and Lewis joined her in November, from Georgia via the Animal Welfare Society in Maine and tipping the scales at 2.5 pounds. They’ve been growing like weeds and turned my sleep schedule upside down… but it turns out when a cat chooses me I’m powerless, and all I can do is buckle in for the ride. If you want to check in on them, you’ll find them on Instagram at @twocattens

I hope you’re also having an excellent 2023, whatever you’re up to and wherever your adventures take you!

Fall 2019 Lessons

The Fall Term Calendar is open!

Fall Term will start the Monday following Labor Day, on the 9th, and will run for 10 weeks ending on 11/14 (which is actually a week earlier than our usual wrap up on the Friday before Thanksgiving because of the way the calendar happens to fall this year). Lessons will be available Monday-Thursday from 1-8pm. If you prefer to schedule monthly or in 4-week blocks, that's always an option too, just know that I'll be basing the weeks I'm available on the office's term calendar. Monday students should be aware that a disproportionate number of holidays fall on Mondays - on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, as well as MLK and Memorial Day later in the school year, lessons will be rescheduled on a case by case basis to an amenable time within the week (preferably the Friday before).

I have some limited availability before Fall Term starts up - if you'd like to come in, just get in touch and we'll work something out :)

Thanks so much!

The Fall schedule is open!  

Fall Term 2017 will start the Monday following Labor Day, on the 11th, and will run for 10 weeks ending on November 17th (the Friday before Thanksgiving).  Lessons will be available Monday-Thursday from 1-8pm, and I am holding Fridays to be available for office hours, any rescheduling due to sick/weather conflicts, and potential ensemble/class time.  Monday students scheduled for Columbus Day 10/9 will be rescheduled to an amenable time within the week, preferably the Friday before.

I have some limited availability before Fall Term starts up - if you'd like to come in, just get in touch and we'll work something out.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

Important upcoming dates

Fall Term: September 11 - November 17

Winter Term: November 27 - December 15 and January 8 - February 23

Spring Term: March 5 - April 20 and April 30 - May 18

Summer Lessons 2017

This week marks the end of Spring Term, and it's time to think ahead to Summer and Fall lessons!

Summer Term A runs 4 weeks, next week through the end of the school year, May 22 - June 16.

Summer Term B runs June 26 - August 18, 8 weeks.  If you take Summer A and choose 6 weeks from Summer B it makes up one 10 week Term.  Alternately, you can take A only, B only, or we can work out a customized schedule.  I will be booking Summer B for evenings only, and will begin with Tuesdays and Wednesdays (expanding my availability as needed to meet interest).

Fall Term will start the Monday after Labor Day, September 11, and run 10 weeks through November 17.

Have a wonderful summer!  

Fall Term lessons and important dates for 2016/17!

Happy August!  I hope you've had a great summer and are successfully starting to shift gears towards thinking about September.  My fall schedule is just starting to take shape and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone very soon :)

Thinking ahead, dates for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms are listed below.  As always, I have used the public school calendar as my guide in creating the studio calendar, and you'll notice that we break for Thanksgiving week and the December holidays as well as the February and April vacations.  

Fall Term: September 12 - November 18

Winter Term: November 28 - December 16,  January 9 - February 24

Spring Term: March 6 - April 21, May 1 - May 10

Summer Term A: May 22 - June 16

 

Happy Summer!

I hope you're having a fabulous summer!

If you're spending the summer away, please don't forget that you're a musician!  Have fun, go on adventures, and step away from your school year routine - but every now and again, when you're thinking of it and have some time, play!  And, get out and see something!  Summer is a great time for live music, so check out what's available where you'll be.  It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive (though summer music festivals and concert tours are certainly awesome), it can be as simple as following the sign that says "concert tonight" and hearing the Town Band in the park.

And, if you're interested in coming in for summer lessons, I have availability on Wednesdays and some Thursdays.  Drop me a line and we'll work on a schedule :)

In the fall, I'm working on a slightly different academic calendar.  Rather than rolling 10-week sessions, I'll be starting each session on a specific date - Fall term will begin after Labor Day and run until Thanksgiving (9/14-11/20), Winter term will begin after Thanksgiving and run until February break (11/30-2/19), and Spring term will be from February break through mid-May (2/29-5/13).  I'll offer a split summer term, either 4 weeks mid-May to mid-June or 10 lessons between mid-May and mid-August.  If the fixed-date terms don't work for your calendar, I'm happy to offer monthly scheduling as well.  I'll be teaching lessons Monday-Thursday, and holding office hours on Fridays.  My calendar is currently open, and lesson times can be reserved with a downpayment.

But, business aside, it's summer!  I'm going to head out and find an adventure :)

Road Construction in Dover

I've noticed a lot of road construction around the studio.  If construction is slowing you down, or you are having difficulty finding efficient secondary routes, try these...

If you're coming from the south on Rt 16 - Try Exit 9 instead of 8 or 7.  Exit to the left, towards Liberty Mutual and away from Walmart/Target/Weeks Crossing.  Follow Indian Brook Rd. to the light facing Liberty Mutual.  Take a left onto 6th St.  If it's later in the evening, follow 6th towards downtown, take a left onto Maple, and you'll find #40 on your left.  If it's during the day, there may be construction on 6th - take the first left onto Glenwood.  Follow it to the 7th right, onto Horne.  After Horne St. School, take a left onto Ash and a right onto Maple, #40 will be on the right.

If you're coming from the south on 108 or 155, you may find that getting on to Rt 16 helps you bypass some of the construction and after-school traffic.  It may or may not be faster, but I've found it less frustrating, particularly between 2-4pm.  I also sometimes use 3rd, 4th, or 5th street to bypass the intersection of Chestnut and 6th.  The first stop sign on all three streets is the intersection with Grove St.  Follow Grove to 6th (it's a wide intersection looking at ABC Lock and Key).  From there, you can cross 6th, and take a left on Hough and a right onto Maple, or take a left on 6th, and a right onto Maple.  

If you're coming from the north and running into traffic or construction problems, please let me know.  I'm not aware of any imminent issues, but it would be helpful to know if one crops up.

Happy September :)

So, it's that time again - first week of lessons for the new school year!  It has been lovely to start September in a new space with so many familiar faces, and I'm glad to be settling in so smoothly.

I had a nice chat this morning with Peter Poole from Poole Piano Service, and am glad to have a nice stack of business cards to offer families who are looking for a piano tuner.

The waiting area has been expanded to accommodate two families rather than one, and I'm glad to see that it has been in use.  The tea box has been fully stocked, and I'm hoping that the weather cools down soon so that others might also enjoy a warm cup of tea (as always, I'm drinking my share).  

Also in the waiting area are 2014-2015 calendars marking this year's vacation schedule (which closely follows the Dover public schools, and a new Student Information Form.  Please be sure to submit a new Student Information Form so that I have your most current contact information and preferences.

There is a Reserved Parking sign on order that I am hoping to have in place early next week.  Right now, while the weather is nice, parking is ample - between the drive up spaces, the lot beside the building, and the street parking there is more than enough space for everyone.  However, as winter approaches and snowbanks become an issue, I suspect it may start to feel a little more cramped.  Please share your experience as the weather changes so that I can make changes as necessary.

For High School woodwind students, All-State audition materials were announced over the summer; please see http://www.nhmea.org/29 for more information.  Now is a great time to remind yourself just exactly how high your chromatic scale needs to go, and exactly which melodic minor scales you'll be expected to play (and how quickly).  Don't forget to register for an audition through your school band director!  The deadline to request an audition is in early October, so now is the time.

That's it for now - see you soon!

Open House!

You are cordially invited to an Open House at my new office, next Thursday, June 26th, from 2-6pm.  I would like to share the happy new space I've been working on, and to offer some light refreshments.  This will also be a great opportunity to discuss any of your questions and to schedule lessons for the summer and/or fall.

 

The address is 40 Maple Street, Office #1, in Dover.  It is just off 6th Street, and close to but not directly downtown.  I will have balloons by the front door; my signs are black and white and say "Our Music Teacher".  There is parking in front of the building and to the right as well as on the street.  

 

Please let me know if your family will be able to make it, and whether you'll be coming on the earlier side or the later side.  I'd like to be sure enough snacks are available, and that we don't overwhelm either the available parking or the amount of comfortable standing space in the office and lobby area.  Also, my friend Nate from 4077 Photography will be coming by to take some pictures; please let me know if you would especially like to be included or excluded in any photos that are shared on my website or Facebook page.

 

If you can't make it but would like to keep in touch online, please drop by the new  Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ourmusicteacher).  As always, I welcome your feedback, both online and in-person.  

 

Hope you're enjoying the beautiful weather and the transition from the school year into summer!  

Summer 2014 Lessons

I've started getting questions about my schedule for this summer.  Here's my general plan:

-Opening Day for the 40 Maple Street studio will be Tuesday, June 17th :)

-I'll be teaching Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting around 1pm.

-August 25th-29th I will not be teaching, to ease the pressure on the first week of school.

The summer term will be a full 10 weeks, but I will be offering lessons singly, as a four-week package, and as a ten-week package.  I prefer students to keep their lesson time and day consistent through the summer to establish routine and keep the schedule as simple as possible.  I'm happy to offer both afternoon and evening availability, so if there is a work or camp schedule to consider there should be adequate flexibility.  For planning purposes, it would help me to know your intentions sooner rather than later, but there is not a hard registration deadline.  Summer can be a very productive time for music - I hope to see many of you this June, July, and August!

Big Milestones!

So, I bought a piano yesterday… and if all goes well, I will have it in the studio on Saturday afternoon.  I ended up going with the Kawai CE220 digital piano, which has full length wooden keys and really great action.  With all the direct sunlight (and knowing it would have to be moved up exterior stairs and around some tight corners) getting a digital seemed the responsible thing to do, for both the piano and my Mr. who would get stuck helping me move it.

Also, my first official student is on the books!  Much rejoicing!  And I'm IRS and State of NH official!  Yay!

The last piece of mail that arrived this morning was two boxes containing 20 yards of fabric for draperies and chair upholstering.  Perhaps the long weekend will allow time for all four chairs to be re-covered, and epic curtain-making and mounting?  If so, pictures to follow!  And, big thanks in advance to Mary of http://seemaryquilt.blogspot.com and Nate of http://4077photography.weebly.com for their curtain-making, ladder-having, photography skills, and general awesomeness!

Last but not least, with the help of Jill from http://jillthedesigner.com and Jon at http://www.cochecoprintworks.com, signage and business cards are on their way.  It has been a very exciting week!