FREE Exam!

The Music Development Program has extended a FREE music exam to one of our students in the studio.

Restrictions and Eligibility:

  • Students taking Preparatory A to Level 4 practical exams for any instrument are eligible for credit
  • A complimentary examination can only be offered to students who have not previously participated in a Royal Conservatory Music Development Program exam
  • Exam must be taken during the 2015 year.

The exam program is meant to be a benefit to students and parents; an international measure of  achievement in a particular instrument. Teachers do not receive any compensation for signing students up for tests. Students are graded on technique (Scales/chords), Repertoire and Studies, Sightreading, Ear training, and theory/history (for upper levels). 
*Since the FREE exam will be taken in Nov/Dec, I will choose a student who is preparing in September. Let me know if you are interested!
 

February Student of the Month

Congratulations Ethan L.! Ethan does a great job of completing his assignments. He has been progressing quickly and consistently and asks thoughtful questions about his music. Nice job Ethan!

How long have you been playing your instrument?
About 4 years. I first started taking piano in group classes, then moved to private lessons.

What is your favorite activity?
I have lots. Football, reading, hanging with family and friends, and school.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a very famous inventor.

What do you like most about playing music?
It is very easy and it sounds nice.

What other activities do you participate in?

Baseball and skiing.

Which grade are you in? Which school do you go to?

I go to Medina Elementary school, 5th grade.
 

It's a BOY!!

We found out last week that Olivia will get a little BROTHER! Thanks for all of the kind words and well-wishes; we are very excited to welcome a new family member in June. :)

Our plan is to take off about 1.5 months of lessons (hopefully, this works well with summer vacation plans!). We plan to resume lessons around the beginning of August!

January Student of the Month

Congratulations Shawn Y.! Shawn does a great job with coming prepared with his weekly assignments. He does a great job with following directions and tries his best with counting out loud and tricky rhythms. Keep up the great work Shawn!!

How long have you been playing your instrument?
2 years.

What is your favorite activity?
My favorite activity is reading and playing games

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I don't know

What do you like most about playing music?
I get to learn something and it sounds good!

What other activities do you participate in?

Taekwondo- I am a black belt!

Which grade are you in? Which school do you go to?

I am in 6th grade and I go to FWPA.
 

December Student of the Month

Congratulations Livi M.! Livi has a great personality and willingness to try out different techniques and styles on the piano. She loves playing popular and Christmas music. She comes prepared for her lessons and motivated to play pieces that are difficult. Keep up the great work Livi!!

How long have you been playing your instrument?
I have been playing the piano for 5 years.

What is your favorite activity?
My favorite activity is hanging out with my friends at my old school

What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up, I want to be a professional singer

What do you like most about playing music?
I like that when I play piano I can sing along to the notes I play

What other activities do you participate in?

I  also play softball!

Which grade are you in? Which school do you go to?

I am in 7th grade at Eastside Christian School.
 

November Student of the Month

November Student of the Month!

Congratulations Noelle F.! Noelle has been taking violin lessons since 2012 and has also tried piano and ukulele! She has a bright personality and loves to play Christmas music, movie hits and popular pieces. She is working through the level 1 Royal Conservatory Music Development Program for violin.

How long have you been playing your instrument?
Noelle started taking violin in August, 2012

What is your favorite activity?
Noelle loves to read! She has read all of Harry Potter twice now.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
She doesn't know, but she loves to bake so maybe she'll be a baker or dessert chef

What do you like most about playing music?
She doesn't know that, either, but she doesn't want to stop :-).

What other activities do you participate in?

Noelle does gymnastics, girl scouts, choir and is learning to swim and to speak French. In the summer she has really enjoyed participating in musical theater camps.

Which grade are you in? Which school do you go to?

Noelle is currently in 5th grade and goes to Cherry Crest Elementary in Bellevue.

Christmas Recital!

Christmas Recital

The Christmas Recital this year will be held in Renton this year. We have students who come to take lessons as far North as  Kirkland and Sammamish, and also South, from Federal Way and Renton.

Who: Students, Friends and Family (This is a FREE event!)
Where: East Renton Community Church (13232 156th Ave SE, Renton WA, 98059)
When: Saturday, December 6th @ 3pm
Bring: Music and a plate of dessert to share (cookies, fruit, chips/dip)

For those of you who are interested in special music, Christmas songs, or duets with a parent/friend, I would LOVE to help find you some FUN music!
 

October Student of the Month

September Students of the Month!

Congratulations Shiven and Kunal S.! Both Shiven and Kunal have been playing the piano for about 4-5 years and have been progressing consistently. They are currently working on level 4 in the Royal Conservatory of Music Development Program. Keep up the great work boys!!


How long have you been playing your instrument?
Both: About 4-5 years

What is your favorite activity?
S: I like playing videogames and outside
K: My favorite activity is writing

What do you want to be when you grow up?
S: I don't know exactly. I might want to be an astronaut.
K: I want to be an author.

What do you like most about playing music?
S:I like hearing how songs turn out in the end after lots of work and practice.
K: When you practice a lot and it sounds excellent.

What other activities do you participate in?

Both: We play squash, robotics team and afterschool sports (currently cross-country)

Which grade are you starting in the fall? Which school do you go to?

7th grade at Redmond Middle School.
 

Congrats Rebecca J!

Congratulations Rebecca J.! Rebecca has been taking lessons from Christine for about 4 years! She has done a great job in progressing through level 3 in the Royal Conservatory of Music Development Program. She has scored highly in her exams and is a mature player that can sense the character of a piece very well. Keep up the great work Rebecca!!
 Click here to listen to Rebecca play Old French Song by Tchaikovsky!

How long have you been playing your instrument?
About 3-4 years on the piano.

What is your favorite activity?
Either piano or Taekwondo!

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to become a financial advisor

What do you like most about playing music?
I like learning new songs

What other activities do you participate in?

I do both piano and Taekwondo.

Which grade are you starting in the fall? Which school do you go to?

6th grade at Mcnight Middle School

How Playing Music Affects The Developing Brain

Check out this article about how playing music affects the developing brain!

“There are a lot of different brain systems involved in successfully playing even a small musical piece: your auditory system, your motor system, your emotional system, your executive function system; this playing together of these brain regions, almost like in a musical ensemble.”

Music education should be an essential part of every child's education. Schools should be encouraging more students to participate in musical programs rather than limiting/cutting them! Let's continue to support our students by offering music lessons, going to concerts, singing in the car, practicing and performing with them.

August Student of the Month: Rachel S!

Congratulations Rachel S.! Rachel has been selected as the August Student of the Month for her dedication to piano lessons and coming prepared to her lessons. During this last year, she has matured her sense of complex rhythm and dynamic expression. She is always willing to try new techniques and pieces! She is busy with her different activities and manages to excel at each one! Way to go Rachel! Keep up the great work.
 Click here to listen to Rachel play Autumn Leaves!

How long have you been playing your instrument?
I have been playing piano for about 2 years.

What is your favorite activity?
My favorite activity is swimming. I am on the Chinook Swim Team.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I have no idea.

What do you like most about playing music?
My favorite part of playing music is when I master a song because I know I’ve made a great accomplishment!


What other activities do you participate in?

I sing in my school choir, Chinook Swim Team and piano lessons.

Pianos in the Park!

Want to support the local arts and get outside for some summer fun? Check out Pianos in the Parks! There are 20 pianos in the King County and Seattle parks that are decorated by local artists. Look up a local park (or visit them ALL!) and video yourself playing some of your favorite tunes. You can even submit them for a contest.

 

Miller Music School also wants to support our local artists and the musical community. If any of our students go and send us a video of the performance and you'll get a goodie bag!

July Student of the Month!

Congratulations Guhan!!

Guhan has a positive and happy attitude when it comes to his weekly violin lessons. He does a great job practicing during the week and is open to learning new pieces and techniques on the violin. Last month he auditioned at his school (Bellevue Children's Academy) and was selected to sing a sing for the annual talent show. Guhan also participates in Indian Classical singing and Indian Classical Carnatic violin lessons. Way to go Guhan- keep up the awesome work!!

How long have you been playing your instrument?
Almost for 3 years.

What is your favorite activity?
Building with legos and reading books and comics.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to design new vehicles!

What do you like most about playing music?
The sounds of the many different instruments.

Summer 2014 Recital

Hello Families and Friends!

I am excited to announce the Summer 2014 Recital! Students enrolled in private music lessons will be performing. Let's show our support and cheer them on!

The recital is on June 15th at 6:30pm! (Yes, it is on Father’s Day- bring Dad!)

    -Where: Stage 7 Pianos in Kirkland (511 6th Street South, Kirkland WA, 98033)

   -Time: June 15th @ 6:30pm

   -Bring: A plate or cookies, fruit, or your favorite snack to share

      Remind your student(s) to bring music (even if it is memorized, in case of memory slips), formal dress and a smile! Feel free to invite friends and family. We are excited to hear your student perform! Students have been working hard and it is time to showcase their talent!

Please let me know if you have any questions. I will be sending out another reminder email as the event is closer!

Happy Practicing!

Benefits of Music Education

Check out an interesting article from the Royal Conservatory of Music:

"The Royal Conservatory of Music has published a summary of the recent neuroscience research proving that music education is a powerful tool for attaining children’s full intellectual, social and creative potential. “The Benefits of Music Education: An Overview of Current Neuroscience Research” highlights studies offering compelling insights into the potent, long-term value children gain through music training. "

You can find that article here.

Center & State Award

On April 2nd, we learned that one of our students earned the State Award, WA, AND Center Award for the Percussion 1  Assessment from the Music Development Program!!

One of the representatives writes, " I am delighted to inform you that your student(s) have won Royal Conservatory Music Development Program Awards of Excellence. Each year The Royal Conservatory Music Development Programs awards Certificates of Excellence and National Gold Medals to top-achieving students. All awards will be sent to students by the first week of April. Certificates of Excellence are awarded to students achieving the highest mark in their center and/or in their state on their Music Development Program assessment and who have also completed the theory co-requisites for their respective level and discipline. These awards are an exceptional distinction—the result of hard work, dedication, talent, and a testament to skill and creativity. They also represent a national standard of musical achievement upheld by the invaluable support you provide to your students. Congratulations once again on your students’ achievements, and thank you for participating in The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program.”

It is such an honor to work with such dedicated students at Miller Music School! Keep up the great work students!