Thursday, July 25, 2024 | News

NEXT SCHOOL YEAR In most cases, we're already looking forward to our 2024-25 School Year, which starts August 23.  

INDIVIDUAL LESSON OPENINGS 

WEEKDAYS We have limited openings in early (2:00ish and 3:00ish) and late (8:00ish) times on weekdays. Prime-times on weekdays are full, but we are keeping a waitlist through October 1. Sometimes the schedule shakes out a bit over the summer or in the first weeks of the new school year. 

WEEKENDS We have lots of open spaces on Saturdays and Sundays including morning and midday times, with multiple teachers to choose from. We may be able to schedule siblings concurrently or back-to-back on Saturdays and Sundays as well.  

BRIGHT STARTS GROUP CLASS OPENINGS 

LEVEL 1 CLASSES We will start new beginner (age 5.5 to 8) classes in September 2024. We'll have a class on Saturdays at 9:30 AM and one on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM. Kindergarten students should choose the Saturday class. The Saturday class is full, but the Wednesday class has one space left. We're also keeping a waitlist. It's not uncommon for us to get an opening over the summer or in September, so if you're interested, please don't wait. Contact us today. 

LEVEL 2 CLASSES We have two Level 2 classes: Mondays at 5:00 PM and Saturdays at 10:30 AM. The Saturday class is currently full, but the Monday class has space for transfer students. For a student age 6 to 10 who is not loving their current individual lesson placement, our unique group program could be a great fit for you!  

AGES/LEVELS We teach all ages and levels! Adult lessons? Yes, we do that! 

IN-PERSON LESSONS In most cases, we are teaching in-person in our beautiful Falls Church studio! A few students may choose remote lessons or a mix of remote and in-person instruction. 

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BEGIN LESSONS... For your convenience, we try to summarize current openings here. But the best way to find out about openings is to just get in touch, now! Regardless of what today's openings are...we always want to hear from interested students/parents in the community. Sometimes, we have flexibility which goes beyond what we can post here. Contact us! We'd love to hear from you. 

Monday, July 8, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to those students earning Honors-level scores in RCM Exams during the 2023-24 school year. Unlike most events, the RCM assessment requires students to demonstrate a range of pieces and skills meant to gauge mastery at each level. Learn more at rcmusic.com.

♪ Gizem Onerci ♪ First Class Honors at Level 3 (June 2024)

♪ Henry Lensink ♪ First Class Honors at Level Prep A (May 2024)

♪ Maire Hore ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level Prep A (May 2024)

♪ Liam Horgan ♪ First Class Honors at Level 4 (May 2024)

♪ Kavya Thyagarajan ♪ First class Honors at Level 6 (May 2024)

♪ Harper Tran ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level Prep A (May 2024)

♪ Helena Horowitz ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 6 Theory (May 2024)

♪ Keshavan Nair ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 4 (May 2024)

♪ Owen Horgan ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (April 2024)

♪ Jacob Liu ♪ First Class Honors at Level 5 (April 2024)

♪ Emma Jewell ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level Prep B (April 2024)

♪ Emily Beloe ♪ First Class Honors at Level 5 (March 2024)

♪ Brooklyn Lyon ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 2 (March 2024)

♪ Eoin Hore ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level Prep B (March 2024)

♪ Mingun Kim ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (March 2024)

♪ Liam Jewell ♪ First Class Honors at Level 4 (March 2024)

♪ Timmy Chen ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 3 (February 2024)

♪ Adele Vassilopolous ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level Prep B (January 2024)

♪ Sarah Hellman ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 4 (December 2023)

♪Anastasia Vassilopolous ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 3 (December 2023)

♪ Helena Horowitz ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 5 Theory (December 2023)

♪ Helena Horowitz ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 6 (November 2023)

♪ Noa Herzog ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 4 (November 2023)

Monday, June 10, 2024 | News

One Sunday, June 8, 2024, we presented 117 students in recital in four different groups. Each student presented themselves with confidence and with good musical communication. In total, we enjoyed 168 unique pieces! Students ranged in age from 6 to 18, plus a handful of adults as well. 

Our summer recital isn't quite the point of what we do in the studio...but it's the only day in the year where we hear what everyone can do, all in one day! 

Sunday, May 19, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to the students who participated in Sonata Festival, held at George Mason University on May 18 2024. Students presented two sonata/sonatina movements in contrasting styles, from memory. 

The following students earned top ratings: Ethan Chen ♪ Helena Horowitz ♪ Caeli McIntosh ♪ Zachary Moeller ♪ Priya Perakam ♪ Lucia Severino

The following students earned a yellow ticket, similar to Honorable Mention: Ryan Chen ♪ Gabriel Chavaria ♪ Noa Herzog ♪ Jacob Liu ♪ Leah Weber

And an extra shout-out to Timmy Chen, who earned the award of Honors and performed in the Honors Recital at George Mason on Sunday May 19. 

Sunday, May 19, 2024 | News

We will be closed for Memorial Day weekend May 24 through May 27. We re-open on our old school year schedule on Tuesday May 28. Lessons continue from then until the end of the school year on June 16th. 

Monday, May 6, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to the students who earned the top rating of "Superior" in the Sonata Festival held by Springfield Music Club on May 4, 2024 at Springfield Baptist Church: 

Emily Beloe, Eoin Hore, Liam Jewell, Jacob Liu, Caeli McIntosh, Priya Perakam, Isabel Yao, James Yao

Monday, May 6, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to Timmy Chen who earned Honorable Mention in this event, which draws some of the top youth performers in the area each year. 

Monday, May 6, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

On May 4, 2024, we hosted noted area pianist and teacher Dr. Miriam Teie. Congratulations to the students who stepped up to perform and learn in this demanding environment: Eleanor (Invention in F Major, Bach); Kaitlin (Two Gossiping Old Women, Khachaturian); Sara (Little Flower, Gurlitt); Keshavan (Sonata in d minor, Cimarosa); Helena (Viennese Sonatina in C Major, Mozart); Karthik (Sonata in c minor Op. 10 No. 1, Beethoven). 

Monday, April 22, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to Noa Herzog and Gabriel Chavaria who created and notated original compositions, and then submitted them to the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs (VFMC) Junior Composers Contest. Their compositions were graded alongside entries from throughout Virginia.

Gabriel earned the top rating of Superior. Noa received a Superior rating as well, and in addition was selected for the award of 3rd place. 

Monday, April 22, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to Timothy Chen for receiving Honorable Mention at the NVMTA Judged Recital on April 14. In this event, students perform alongside high-achieving peers and receive comments from two judges. Sponsored by Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association.

Monday, April 22, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to the following students who earned honors in The Golden Key Music Festival, 2024. In this video-audition event, students receive comments from a qualified adjudicator and have the opportunity to be selected for awards. 

GOLD: Timmy Chen & James Yao

Timmy and James performed at the Honors Recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City on April 20, 2024. 

SUPER BRONZE: Piya Perakam & Aruni Veluri

Monday, March 18, 2024 | News

The Studio will be closed for Spring Break from Monday March 25 through Sunday March 31.

We'll be OPEN every day through and including March 24. We'll re-open on our usual school-year schedule starting Monday April 1. 

Thursday, March 14, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

As part of the annual NFMC Spring Festival, Springfield Music Club (SMC) hosted noted area pianist Miriam Teie for an all-day masterclass. Three students from our studio stepped up to learn with Dr. Teie. 

Timothy Chen (Sonatina in a minor, Benda)

Courtney Nguyễn (The Storm, Burgmuller)

Isabel Yao (Sonatina in G Major (Romanze), Beethoven)

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to Adrian Jeon, who performed in the RCM Celebration of Excellence (Southeast Region) on March 9th 2024.

Adrian was selected for this honor based on his top score on his RCM Exam during the 2022-23 school year. 

He traveled to the University of South Florida (Tampa) for this honors recital along with about 30 other honored students from around the southeast U.S. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | News

Join us Saturday March 23 at 4:00 PM for an engaging lecture-recital presented by Aphrodite Mitsopoulou. She will take us on a journey through Greek culture, history, and tradition as seen through selected piano compositions of the 20th century. 

About one hour. Suitable for ages 10 and up, including adults. Free. No walk-ins. If you'd like to attend, please contact Mr. Horowitz or Ms. Mitsopoulou or send us a message. 

Monday, March 11, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to the students who participated in NFMC Festival on March 8th and 9th. This non-competitive nationwide event is hosted locally by Springfield Music Club. Students present two pieces from memory and receive commentary and a rating from two judges.  The following students earned the top rating of "Superior". 

Juliet Barrett ♪ Emily Belle ♪ Timothy Chen ♪ Graham Halvaksz ♪ Noa Herzog ♪ Eoin Hore ♪ Liam Horgan ♪ Owen Horgan ♪ Helena Horowitz ♪ Liam Jewell ♪ Mingun Kim ♪ Ryo Lee ♪ Jacob Liu ♪ Brooklyn Lyon ♪ Caeli McIntosh ♪ Katherine Moon ♪ Emma Moon ♪ Keshavan Nair ♪ Courtney Nguyen ♪ Eleanor Nguyen ♪ Gizem Onerci ♪ Priya Perakam ♪ Eliana Rougle ♪ Anne Severino ♪ Joseph Severino ♪ Lucia Severino ♪ Karthik Thyagarajan ♪ Elena Valdez-Torres ♪ Adele Vassilopoulos ♪ Anastasia Vassilopoulos ♪ Aruni Veluri ♪ Ethan Williams ♪ Isabel Yao

and

Ellia Downer (Piano Solo & Piano Concerto!)

Monday, February 26, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

On Saturday February 24, 2024, we hosted longtime area master teacher Dr. Yoshinori Hosaka for a "mini" master class in our studio. Congratulations to the students who stepped up and performed in this challenging environment! 

Leah (Prelude in f minor, WTC 2, J.S. Bach)

Jacob (Sonatina in F Major [#2], Beethoven)

Priya (Sonata in c minor, Pescetti)

James (In the Evening, Hoffman)

Aruni (The Prophetic Bird [from Forest Scenes], Schumann)

Kavya (Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum, Debussy)

Monday, February 19, 2024 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to Ethan Chen and Ryan Chen who earned the top rating of Superior at Bach/Baroque Festival, an annual event sponsored by Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association. Students presented two Baroque-era (1600-1750) pieces from memory in recital format. 

Gabriel Chavaria also received Superior rating at this event and was selected for the additional award of Honors for his fine performances. 

Monday, January 22, 2024 | Practicing and General Education

About this post...

In the short article which follows, I describe what led me to seek sleep-away music camps for students age 13 and under. Following that, I have listed and linked five recommended summer camps. This list was developed from my own research and from personal recommendations. This article is not ad-supported and there is no sponsored content.

Each year in January...

I have recommended sleep-away summer camps and festivals to some of our advancing teens. Only very rarely has anyone taken my advice and actually attended a program. It’s OK, I don’t take it personally! Plus, there are good reasons why students and parents haven’t often chosen to pursue this opportunity: the tuition expense; the need to travel away from home; schedule conflicts; competing interests. And I never push very hard—I mention and recommend the possibility, but I rarely follow up with persistence.

This led me to this thought: If our older and advancing students may have pre-formed ideas and competing interests and obligations which keep them from considering summer music programs, maybe there are some younger students out there who might be interested!?

I undertook a search for quality programs suitable to our many capable (but not necessarily elite) younger students (age 13 and under). I looked for camps that were non-competitive or minimally competitive in both entrance process and camp environment…but that were also real music camps—which to me means that the programs offer individual music lessons from qualified adult teachers and supervised practice on quality instruments. After a pretty thorough search, I was surprised to find only a handful of such programs that are open to younger piano students. (I only looked for camps in the eastern U.S.)

These sleep-away camps aren’t just for future professional musicians and they’re not just for advancing students. They are suitable for any kid who loves music and is interested in an immersive experience. They also offer all of the traditional summer camp essentials like outdoor recreation and evening programs. 

Recommended music camps accessible to students age 13 and under

SONATA/SONATINA (sonatina.com) Bennington, Vermont.

Unusual piano-focused in-town program. Four one-week sessions which may be combined.

ENCORE/CODA (encore-coda.com) Sweden, Maine

Traditional summer music camp in a lake-side setting. Most instruments and voice including musical theater. Two three-week sessions which may be combined plus a shorter two-week option for ages 8 to 10.

NEW ENGLAND MUSIC CAMP (snowpond.org/nemc) Sidney, Maine

Traditional summer music camp in a lake-side setting. Most instruments and voice. One four-week session. Also offers an "intensive" two-week session for high-school aged students.  

INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS (interlochen.org) Interlochen, Michigan

Traditional summer music camp in a lake-side setting. Two-week sessions plus other programs for advanced/elite students and many other disciplines.

POINT COUNTERPOINT (pointcp.com) Leicester, Vermont

Chamber-music focused program for strings and piano. A more focused and slightly more intense program than the others on this list. Traditional music camp experience in a rural setting with lake access. One one-week session in August for ages 12 and under plus multiple sessions for advancing older students in June and July.

WALDEN SCHOOL (waldenschool.org) Dublin, New Hampshire

One five-week session plus a shorter three-week option for ages 13 and under. Creativity and composition-focused program.

To parents and camp directors

If you know of good programs in the United States, let me know about them! I’ll look into any recommended programs and consider adding them to the list.

For older students age 13+

This post focuses on programs that are suitable for younger students age 8 to 12. If you are age 13+, all of these programs are worthy of consideration, but you also have many more options! There are even camps for adult amateur pianists!

Day camps

The biggest competition the above programs have isn't from one another. It's from local day camps, and the many other activities that compete for our attention each summer. The experience you can get in a residential (sleep-away) setting is unmistakably different from what you can get in a day camp. But if you can't consider living away from home for one reason or another, you might consider a local music day camp instead. 

Develop your identity as a musician

Independent music study is, in some ways, a countercultural endeavor! Practicing alone and attending individual music lessons can make it feel like you have no team, and that your accomplishments don't matter. A good music camp may offer you the opportunity not only to develop your skill at the piano, but to become part of a community of like-minded students

Summer in our little studio

We sometimes dream of running our own piano day camp at the Studio…but not this year! But we’ll be open and here for you all summer, every summer, with easy flexible scheduling and no minimum requirements or monthly tuition. We post general details to the Summer Programs page of our website each year in early spring with full details and all schedules posted by May 1.

Monday, December 18, 2023 | News

What has 95 students and an enormous quantity of donuts? It's our Winter Mini-Recital, which we held on Saturday December 16th 2023 at Cherrydale United Methodist Church in Arlington. We enjoyed a total of 147 well-prepared, thoughtful performances from students age 5 to adult. And also some teacher performances and general merriment. 

Our next all-studio recital event is planned for early June 2024.