Greetings!
Today is a sad day for my family as we had to put our black lab, "Angie the Flute Dog," to sleep after her battle with bone cancer.
Angie had been at every lesson since the first day we got her. When she heard a student playing a scale from the music room, she whined at the top of the stairs until we both "went to work." One day I was listening to several CDs and, when I played a student competition CD that started with a scale, she raced downstairs. That dog was tuned in!
Some may think that having an animal in the lessons is unprofessional and distracting but, if it is the right animal, they can be an "adjunct professor."
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Why have a studio pet?
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Music lessons may seem a little scary or frustrating at times and a pet can make your studio a friendlier place.
My students would always greet Angie enthusiastically -- "Angie! You're such a good dog! You're so cute!" -- before they would say hi to me. (Why doesn't anyone ever say, "Bonnie, you're such a good teacher"? Or even better, "Bonnie, you're so cute!") A pet can be an outlet for your students' emotions and keep them calm and happy.
A pet can also give you a laugh or two. When Angie would lie on her back with all four feet in the air, I would point to her and laughingly say to my student, "Look! You killed my dog!"
She was such a favorite that I could get the younger students to work for dog biscuits to feed her.
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| When is a pet an intrusion in the studio? | |
Cats that shed or claw can not only leave clothes a mess but also cause allergic reactions. Any animal that jumps up can be scary, and dogs that howl are only cute for a minute so only well-behaved pets need apply.
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Practice Pointer
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Help for syncopation:
- Tap eights and play out inner eights (quarter note becomes two eights)
- Tap eights and play as written
- Tap quarters and play out inner eights
- Magic: Play as written
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It's August
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Don't forget to take a break, or you won't have enough energy to start the new teaching year.
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| Flute Flash | |
 To capture the feeling of raising the air stream during a diminuendo (and not letting the pitch fall) tell students to imagine their air stream hitting the wall then gradually going higher and higher until they hit the ceiling.
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Bonnie's Speech Calendar
Stop by and say hello!
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 2012 Speech Calendar
Attention all flutists: Are you going to the National Flute Association Convention this year? Want a waiting list of students eager to pay top dollar to be in your studio? Learn common mistakes and proven strategies to become a respected, well-paid professional with a fulfilling career at my presentation (and be sure to clap and laugh loudly!) August 9, 5:00 p.m. Speech: "Attract dream students, have fun in your studio, and start getting paid what you deserve -- today!"
LOCATION: Octavius 15-18
Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas!
August 9-12
Book signing
NFA exhibit hall Caesar's Palace
Carolyn Nussbaum booth
October 9, 11:00 a.m. Olympia Music Teachers Association October 20, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. All-Day Workshop Wenatchee Music Teachers Association March 2013
MTNA national convention Get Paid What You're Worth
April 2013 Gig Harbor Music Teachers Topic TBA
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