Monday, November 27, 2023 | News

We accept new students year-round, subject to availability. Now is a great time to plan ahead for a January or February start! 

BRIGHT STARTS GROUP CLASS OPENINGS 

LEVEL 1 CLASSES We started two new Level 1 classes (age 5.5 to 9) in September. At this time, both classes are full. We expect new classes to begin in September 2024.

LEVEL 2 & 3 CLASSES We do have Level 2 and Level 3 classes (age 6.5 to 10) meeting Saturdays at 10:30 and 11:45. Both have one or two spaces open for transfer students. If you're a lightly to moderately experienced beginner age 6.5 to 10 and not loving your current individual lesson placement, our unique group program could be a great fit for you!  

INDIVIDUAL LESSON OPENINGS The schedule is tight...but we do have several openings for new students:

MON/WED/THURS/FRI AT 3:45, 4:00, and/or 4:15 PM (availability to schedule siblings back-to-back or concurrently)

WEDNESDAYS AT 5:30 and 6:00 PM

SATURDAY MORNINGS EARLY

ALL WEEKDAYS AT/BEFORE 3:00 PM (availability to schedule siblings back-to-back or concurrently)

THURSDAY MORNINGS

If you are serious about starting lessons, we hope you'll still reach out, even if the above times don't work 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. 

Sunday, November 26, 2023 | News

We will be closed for Winter Break Tuesday December 19th through and including Monday January 1.  We will be open as usual on December 17th and 18th. 

On December 16th, we will host our annual mini-Recital. Some lessons will go on as scheduled, but others may be rescheduled or canceled. Please check in with your teacher about lessons on this date. 

Wednesday, November 22, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to those students who earned the highest rating of Superior at Fall Festival, sponsored by Virginia Music Teachers Association. For this event, students presented two pieces, one in "contemporary" style and the other in "historic" style. They received comments and feedback from two judges. Earning the top rating were:

Gabriel Chavaria

Ryan Chen

Kaitlin Nguyen

Leah Weber

Tuesday, November 21, 2023 | 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.

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

Monday, November 13, 2023 | News

The Studio will be closed for Thanksgiving Break Wednesday November 22 thru Saturday November 25. We will be open on Monday/Tuesday November 20-21 and also on Sunday November 26. 

Monday, October 23, 2023 | News

The Studio will be closed on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. We re-open on our usual school-year schedule on Wednesday, November 1. 

Monday, October 16, 2023 | News

Join us at the Studio on Sunday October 29 at 2:00 PM for a short recital featuring our own Aphrodite Mitsopoulou! 

Works to be performed include Schumann's Forest Scenes and Beethoven's 32 Variations in c minor.

Suitable for ages 10+ ♪ FREE ♪ Students, parents, and guests are welcome ♪ About one hour ♪ Sign up using the online Calendar or email Mr. Horowitz 

Monday, August 21, 2023 | News

IN-PERSON LESSONS We are deeply committed to in-person instruction. If you want to attend lessons in-person, yes you can! If you are a new or prospective student, just contact us to make an appointment. We can meet you in-person at the Studio for your FREE interview and/or for your lessons. The Studio remains open by appointment only, so please contact us before visiting. 

REMOTE LESSONS While the Studio is open for in-person lessons and most students are choosing to attend in-person, we are able to switch your lesson to remote-status whenever it is necessary (48 hours notice, please). We also are continuing to teach remotely for those few students who prefer or require that option.

MASKS We have transitioned to a mostly-flexible mask policy. As of August 2022, masks are optional. Individual teachers retain the right to request that any student wear a mask in the individual lesson. Your teacher will wear a mask in the individual lesson if this is your preference. 

GUESTS/WAITING ROOM We have a large and comfortable waiting room and practice nook and it's open and available for your comfort! You may also choose to bring a reasonable number of guests (i.e. a friend or your siblings) with you.  

WORKSHOP CLASSES Workshop classes are meeting in-person. We also continue to offer a limited number of remote workshops.  

Thursday, July 13, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

Several students have earned honors in this rigorous but non-competitive event! Unlike most festivals and contest, students need to do more than play one or two pieces, but also to demonstrate a broad base of skill at each level. Learn more about it via rcmusic.com

♪ Pelin Sarac ♪ First Class Honors at Level 9 (June 2023) WOW!

♪ Alex Xu ♪ First Class Honors at Level 10 (May 2023) WOW!

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

♪ Keshavan Nair ♪ First Class Honors at Level 3 (May 2023)

♪ Gizem Onerci ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (May 2023)

♪ Liam Horgan ♪ First Class Honors at Level 3 (May 2023)

♪ Ethan Williams ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (May 2023)

♪ Kavya Thyagarajan ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 5 (April 2023)

♪ Mateo Mulato ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (April 2023)

♪ James Yao ♪ First Class Honors at Level 7 (April 2023)

♪ Sakura Sasaki ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (March 2023)

♪ Owen Horgan ♪ First Class Honors at Level 1 (February 2023)

♪ Noa Herzog ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 3 (January 2023)

♪ Alex Lin ♪ First Class Honors at Level 2 (December 2022)

♪ Ben Beloe ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 4 (December 2022)

♪ Sarah Hellman ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 3 (December 2022)

♪ Sakura Sasaki ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 1 (November 2022)

♪ Adrian Jeon ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 1 (October 2022)

♪ Mateo Mulato  ♪ First Class Honors at Level 1 (September 2022)

♪ Jamison Cheng ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 1 (September 2022)

♪ Kaitlin Nguyen ♪ First Class Honors at Level 4 (October 2022)

♪ Aruni Veluri ♪ First Class Honors with Distinction at Level 7 (September 2022)

Thursday, May 25, 2023 | News

Join us for our all-Studio recital on Saturday June 10 2023 at Cherrydale United Methodist Church in Arlington (3701 Lorcom Lane). 

Guests of all kinds are welcome! This includes your friends, grandparents, etc., but also all of our non-performing students and families. Come on out and see what you could be doing next year! A festive sweets reception will follow each group. 

SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES

9:30 AM ♪ Younger 

11:00 AM ♪ Middle 

12:30 PM ♪ Middle

2:00 PM ♪ Younger

3:30 PM ♪ Older (teens & adults)

Participating students have already signed up and been notified of their performance times. If you signed up to perform, you should have already received this information. 

Participating students must play their recital piece(s) at a rehearsal, which are on June 3rd and 4th. Sign up using the online Calendar. 

Participating students will receive additional information on small details (appropriate dress, reception help, etc.) at or after the rehearsals.

Everyone will be able to see who is playing and at what times in the online Calendar (will be updated on June 6).

Sunday, May 21, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to our students who participated in Sonata Festivals this spring!

Aruni Veluri and Caeli McIntosh earned the top rating of Superior at Springfield Music Club Sonatina/Sonata Festival. 

Michael Nguyễn and Leah Weber earned the top rating of Superior at Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association Sonata Festival. In addition, Michael received the designation of Honors and performed in the Sonata Festival Honors Recital at George Mason University. 

Thursday, May 18, 2023 | News

We will be closed for Memorial Day break from Friday May 26 through and including Monday May 29. We re-open on our old school year schedule Tuesday May 30 and remain open every day until the end of the term on June 18. 

Monday, May 1, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

On April 30 2023 we hosted a Master Class at the studio featuring local legend and longtime independent teacher Nancy Breth. Congratulations to the fine students who stepped up to perform! 

Leah (Sonatina, Kabalevksy) 

Helena (Invention in E Major, Bach)

Karthik (The Spruce, Sibelius)

Eliana (Nocturne in E-flat major, Chopin)

Alex (Ritual Fire Dance, de Falla)

Monday, April 17, 2023 | News

Our Studio Honors Recital was held Sunday April 16 at 1:30 PM at the Woman's Club of Arlington. We enjoyed performances from 21 faithful intermediate+ level students of all ages as our teacher Wendy Yun Chen.  

Tuesday, March 21, 2023 | News

The Studio will be closed for Spring Break Monday April 3 through Sunday April 9. We will be OPEN as usual April 1 and 2, and from April 10 onward.

Monday, March 13, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

On March 10 and 11, 2023, many of our students participate in NFMC Festival, hosted locally by Springfield Music Club. In this nationally sponsored, locally run event, students play two pieces from memory for comments and a rating. The event is non-competitive and accessible to a wide range of students/levels. The following students earned the top rating of Superior:

Samiya Bhuvanagiri ♪ Graham Halvaksz ♪ Sarah Hellman ♪Noa Herzog ♪ Owen Horgan ♪ Liam Horgan ♪ Helena Horowitz ♪ Ryo Lee ♪ Caeli McIntosh ♪ Keshavan Nair ♪ Kaitlin Nguyen ♪ Gizem Onerci ♪ Priya Perakam ♪ Ryan Qi ♪ Eliana Rougle ♪ Pelin Sarac ♪ Sakura Sasaki ♪ Lucia Severino ♪ Anne Severino ♪ Anastasia Vassilopolous ♪ Aruni Veluri ♪ Ethan Williams. In addition, Karthik Thyagarajan received the top rating of "Superior" on both his solo pieces and his concerto, the first movement of Mendelssohn's piano concerto in g minor. 

Monday, March 6, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

Congratulations to Pelin Sarac who was awarded Super Bronze in this competitive video-entry event! 

Monday, February 27, 2023 | Student Awards and Honors

On February 18 2023, Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association hosted the annual Bach-Baroque Festival. Students had the opportunity to present two works from the Baroque era (1600-1750) and also had the chance to try their music out on a harpsichord. The following students earned the top rating of Superior: Helena Horowitz ♪ Eliana Rougle ♪ Leah Weber ♪ James Yao. In addition, Helena and Leah were awarded Honors and performed in the Honors Recital on Saturday February 25.

Sunday, December 18, 2022 | News

We were joined by 92 performing students and hundreds of family and friends at our annual Winter Mini-Recital on Saturday December 17 2022 at Cherrydale United Methodist Church in Arlington. We enjoyed well-prepared and communicative performances from students aged six to adult. And we really enjoyed the return of our traditional cupcake reception! 

To those who joined us as either performing students or guests: thank you for your dedication, support, and for sharing your music! To those who did not join us: you are warmly welcome next time! We hope for a formal summer recital in early to mid June. 

Current students can see a list of what was performed under Online Resources inside the Student Portal. 

Saturday, December 17, 2022 | News

Compliments of the Season to you and your family! Here is our 2022 Winter Break schedule: 

OPEN through and including Friday December 16

CLOSED for regular lessons/classes on Saturday December 17. Come join us at our Mini-Recital! 

OPEN Sunday December 18

CLOSED Monday December 19 through and including Sunday January 1

OPEN AS USUAL Monday January 2 and thereafter.