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October Newsletter
Do You Have A Cozy Practice Nest At Home?
This Fall is a perfect time to create a comfy practice nest in your home. What is a practice nest you may ask? It is a place in your home specifically designated for a productive music practice session. Students with a "nest" will feel comfortable, welcome, supported, organized, and happy. What these look like will depend on a variety of factors: instrument, age of student, your particular home layout, etc. If you create a space that is a welcoming place for music practice, students will begin to love their practice times and look forward to it every day.
Here are 5 tips to creating a practice "nest" in your home:
1. When choosing a location for your piano, or other instrument nest, select a space that is lived-in, welcoming, and well-lit. Keep it close to the action but not in the action. Your children will gravitate to the piano more often if it is in a central place in your home. Avoid basements and other out of the way places. Feeling shut-off from the family while practicing will inevitably lead to a reluctance to spend time on the piano.
While choosing an appropriate space, also consider the noise factor; not only from the instrument, but also from your family’s day-to-day activities. Your children want to be close by, but not competing with noise from TV’s, dishwashers and washing machines.
2. Make the space warm and welcoming. Your children will be encouraged to spend upwards of 30 minutes every day in this space. Is it a happy place to be for this amount of time? Small adjustments to lighting and heating can make a world of difference. Seek out places with natural light and ensure it is a cheerful and welcoming space that will encourage your child to visit the piano often for their own enjoyment.
3. Ensure your children have all required materials at hand. Help your children put together a small basket or bin of everything they may need for home practice. Pens, pencils, highlighters, and post-it notes will give your children a sense of organization that will then spill over into their practice habits. Your children will also need adequate lighting to see their music, a good quality music stand, and a comfortable bench or chair at the correct height to practice comfortably and correctly.
4. Make the Practice Nest a communal space. Children of any age appreciate company while they practice. Having a chair, couch, beanbag chair or pillows nearby where family members will be inclined to sit, listen and enjoy the music immediately sets the tone for happy time on their instrument. Encourage siblings to stop by and listen quietly, and allow yourself even just 10 minutes to sit and listen with undivided attention each time your children practice. A set-up that is conducive to including the family in home practice will encourage everyone involved to make piano practice an activity the entire family can be a part of.
5. Set the stage for organization. Ensure your children’s practice space is uncluttered and organized. Clear out old sheet music and books from the piano bench, use a magazine organizer to hold current and favorite materials, and minimize knickknacks and other distractions from the top of the piano. If you can, avoid having the piano room do double-duty for laundry, toys and other clutter. Having the books your children need at their fingertips reliably ensures that no time is spent searching for lost or crumpled music. Get into the habit of placing the piano books in their appropriate space immediately after each piano lesson so they are ready and waiting.
Plus one more! Adding small surprises to your children’s practice nest (fresh flowers, a hand-written note of encouragement, a small treat, a new sticker pad, a special pen etc.) helps to show that you value the time they are spending on the piano and that you appreciate their efforts and dedication. Preserving the specialness of their practice space encourages positive feelings towards their home music time.
Keep practicing! Dawn Elmer, Academy Director
This Fall is a perfect time to create a comfy practice nest in your home. What is a practice nest you may ask? It is a place in your home specifically designated for a productive music practice session. Students with a "nest" will feel comfortable, welcome, supported, organized, and happy. What these look like will depend on a variety of factors: instrument, age of student, your particular home layout, etc. If you create a space that is a welcoming place for music practice, students will begin to love their practice times and look forward to it every day.
Here are 5 tips to creating a practice "nest" in your home:
1. When choosing a location for your piano, or other instrument nest, select a space that is lived-in, welcoming, and well-lit. Keep it close to the action but not in the action. Your children will gravitate to the piano more often if it is in a central place in your home. Avoid basements and other out of the way places. Feeling shut-off from the family while practicing will inevitably lead to a reluctance to spend time on the piano.
While choosing an appropriate space, also consider the noise factor; not only from the instrument, but also from your family’s day-to-day activities. Your children want to be close by, but not competing with noise from TV’s, dishwashers and washing machines.
2. Make the space warm and welcoming. Your children will be encouraged to spend upwards of 30 minutes every day in this space. Is it a happy place to be for this amount of time? Small adjustments to lighting and heating can make a world of difference. Seek out places with natural light and ensure it is a cheerful and welcoming space that will encourage your child to visit the piano often for their own enjoyment.
3. Ensure your children have all required materials at hand. Help your children put together a small basket or bin of everything they may need for home practice. Pens, pencils, highlighters, and post-it notes will give your children a sense of organization that will then spill over into their practice habits. Your children will also need adequate lighting to see their music, a good quality music stand, and a comfortable bench or chair at the correct height to practice comfortably and correctly.
4. Make the Practice Nest a communal space. Children of any age appreciate company while they practice. Having a chair, couch, beanbag chair or pillows nearby where family members will be inclined to sit, listen and enjoy the music immediately sets the tone for happy time on their instrument. Encourage siblings to stop by and listen quietly, and allow yourself even just 10 minutes to sit and listen with undivided attention each time your children practice. A set-up that is conducive to including the family in home practice will encourage everyone involved to make piano practice an activity the entire family can be a part of.
5. Set the stage for organization. Ensure your children’s practice space is uncluttered and organized. Clear out old sheet music and books from the piano bench, use a magazine organizer to hold current and favorite materials, and minimize knickknacks and other distractions from the top of the piano. If you can, avoid having the piano room do double-duty for laundry, toys and other clutter. Having the books your children need at their fingertips reliably ensures that no time is spent searching for lost or crumpled music. Get into the habit of placing the piano books in their appropriate space immediately after each piano lesson so they are ready and waiting.
Plus one more! Adding small surprises to your children’s practice nest (fresh flowers, a hand-written note of encouragement, a small treat, a new sticker pad, a special pen etc.) helps to show that you value the time they are spending on the piano and that you appreciate their efforts and dedication. Preserving the specialness of their practice space encourages positive feelings towards their home music time.
Keep practicing! Dawn Elmer, Academy Director
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Art Classes - Try Out A Class For FREE! Ages 4-17
We at PFMA are supportive of all art forms. What goes well with music? Visual art! There are different classes based on age group. These classes are focused on drawing/sketching, acrylic painting, watercolor painting, mixed media, and Manga/Comic/Disney Character Drawing. Classes are month to month and are taught by a professional local artist. Private lessons available as well for more customized art coaching. Registration for these classes is going on now! 
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Pet Of The Month, Luna
This is Luna. She is Ty’s best friend. She even curls up and sleeps under the blanket with her head on his pillow, to keep him safe at night. She absolutely loves Starbucks pup cups! From the Bosnich family. Congratulations to Luna for being named Pet of the Month! Her family will receive a $5 gift card to Petco to buy a special treat! Do you have a special pet you would like to be Pet of the Month? Just email us at info@postfallsmusicacademy.com with a short pet bio and you may be the winner! 
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