PERFORMANCES
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the AIM Festival. I heard wonderful comments from judges about all of you.

LESSONS WHEN?
Lessons in December run through Thursday, December 21st.  Carmel-Clay School System begins Christmas break on this day, but Thursday lessons still meet on that day.

There will be no lessons on December 25 through Thursday January 5th. Lessons resume on Monday, January 8th, 2001. Please read details regarding breaks at "NO LESSONS" and "POLICIES". If you have any questions, please feel free to phone me.

You may also want to take a look at "SNOW DAYS" information.

TUNE TIME
Has it been more than 6 months since your piano has been tuned? You may want to call Jon Porter of Castleton Piano Service to schedule a tuning. Now would be the perfect time. Jon tells me he has changed his phone number: (317) 773-0716. The old number will remain in service for several more months, but you may want to make note of the new one. Some students are commenting to me their not sure at home whether the notes they are playing are correct or not. This is often an indication of practicing on an out of tune piano. When your technician comes, also ask him or her to adjust the pedals.

Field Trip
Students are asking about field trip possibilities for next semester. Here are some ideas: Opera Don Giovani, Andre Watts piano soloist with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, a hands on tour of Mars Music, a CD Collector's Trip to Sinfonia Classical CD shop. An arts experience trip to the Indianapolis Art Museum. Which sounds best to you? Field Trips are optional.

Future Contests and Performance Opportunities include: CYO Contest (Feb. 10), Hoosier Auditions (April 15), ISSMA Contest (Feb.), IPTG Cooperative Recitals (Advanced and Beginners). We'll start chatting about plans at the January lessons. Check "What's New? January" for further details and dates.

Kudos
Three of our advanced students performed in the IPTG Advanced Cooperative Recital last November. I received phone calls from area teachers who were in attendance (I had to teach that night and did not attend). They were very enthusiastic about the music making of Lauren Z.'s of Mozart 's Theme and Variations on "Ah, vous dirais-je, Maman") and Abby and Danielle G's. interpretation of Brahm's Waltzes scored for 4 hands. I heard comments like: inspired performance, beautiful phase shapes, musical, fabulous ensemble sound). Congrats girls!

(The IPTG is a professional piano teachers group of greater Indianapolis, of which I am an active member. The organization sponsors recitals in the area to offer performance opportunities to the budding pianist. This particular concert was reserved for advanced pianists with about 5 minutes of memorized music or more, and of at least the late intermediate level.)

Tune In
,,, your radio to 88.7FM from 7:00-8:00pm on Sunday evenings. "Keyboard Kaleidoscope" is brought to your home and car radios by host extraordinaire, Dr. Richard Ratliff. Dr. Ratliff is Professor of Piano at University of Indianapolis. Click here for the program:  Keyboard Kaleidoscope with Richard Ratliff