Ahhh…Back-to-school has finally settled down. The schedules are set, the routines are forming, and students are finding their rhythm again. This is my favorite stretch of the year. The excitement of a new season is still there, but now there's consistency behind it, and consistency is where real progress and learning happens!
— Chad Ebert · School Director
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Danley Bae
Piano Student · Lewis Center Location
How long have you been taking lessons?
8 years.
What's the coolest thing you've learned recently?
Fantaisie-Impromptu by Chopin.
Favorite food?
Steak.
Favorite artists?
Mac DeMarco, Zion.T, and Radiohead.
Performances Coming Up
A few in January and February, nothing immediately on the calendar.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
26
NOV
Thanksgiving Break 26th–27th
The school is closed from November 26th–27th. Have a great Thanksgiving break!
📍 All Locations
26
DEC
Winter Break Dec 26 – Jan 1st
The academy is closed for winter break. Merry Christmas everyone!
📍 All Locations
2
JAN
Winter Recitals
Winter recitals happen throughout the month of January.
📍 All Locations
FROM THE DIRECTOR
A monthly tip & insight from Chad
“Motivation is what starts a student. Routine is what keeps one.”
I mentioned up top that the routines are finally forming, and I want to spend a minute on that, because it's the whole thing. September is quieter than August, but it's the month that actually decides how the year goes. The excitement of a new instrument is a starting fuel, not a lasting one. It runs out on schedule, usually somewhere around week six, and what's underneath it is either a routine or nothing.
So if your student started in August, this is right about when the songs get harder, the novelty wears off, and you may hear some version of “I don't want to do this anymore.” I want you to know that this is normal and it is not a verdict. It isn't a sign you picked the wrong instrument or that your child isn't musical. It's the predictable gap between wanting to play and being able to play, and every single person who has ever learned an instrument has stood in it. My advice is simple: don't renegotiate it in the middle of a hard week. Pick a date a month out, agree to revisit it then, and keep going until then. Most students never bring it up again.
What gets them through that stretch is almost never a burst of inspiration. It's the fact that Tuesday at 4:30 is just what happens on Tuesdays, and that practice sits in the same slot every day without anyone having to decide about it. Progress in music compounds quietly, and consistency is what gives it something to compound on. The students who are still playing in year three aren't the most talented ones. They're the ones who kept showing up.
THIS MONTH'S PRACTICE TIP
Stop scheduling practice by time of day and start anchoring it to something that already happens. Right after the backpack comes off. Right before dinner. Right after you brush your teeth. A new habit almost never survives on its own, but it will attach itself to an existing one and ride along. Pick the anchor this week and don't change it for a month.
Chad Ebert — Founder & Director
MEET YOUR TEACHERS
Evan M.
Piano · Powell Location
Evan is a pianist and educator with advanced degrees in piano performance, piano pedagogy, and music history. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Capital University and completed two master's degrees at Ohio University, one in Piano Pedagogy and Performance and one in Music History and Literature. Alongside teaching, he presents on music technology and innovative teaching methods, and his research has focused on bringing lesser-known piano repertoire to a wider audience. In lessons, Evan pairs a strong foundation in technique and musicianship with a patient, student-centered approach that builds skill and confidence at the same time.
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