The Peppermint Panda Piano Studio at VME with Miss Candy and Miss Chalice
Private lessons 30 minutes to 1 hour are offered during the school day and after school. Tuition begins at $45/month. Age 3 and up
Suzuki Piano combined with Traditional Note Reading
The Suzuki method is crafted for children and as a result more children do well in lessons and stay in lessons. The materials are adjusted for user friendliness. Suzuki is the "mother tongue approach" to music which means that just as a child learns to speak before he learns to read, children learnto play and excell in music by imitation of the teacher and using their ear to replicate sound. The accelerated progress rate in this method inspires the child, maintains their interest, and keeps them motivated to continue. The Suzuki Repertoire is composed of seven volumes. The first book starts out with Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (as with the violin books) and goes on with many folk songs & contemporary songs. As one progresses to the second book, there are pieces written by classical and baroque composers, such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. The fourth book ends with the Gigue from partita in Bb by Bach, the fifth book ends with the famous F*r Elise by van Beethoven, the sixth book ends with the Sonata in C major k.545 by Mozart, and the seventh book ends with the Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major by Mozart, this book also includes The Harmonious Blacksmith by Handel. There are also many Minuets in the second book. The New International Edition adds some more recent compositions to the books, such as the music of Bela Bartok.
Note Reading and Music Theory
Pianimals, the latest method in piano pedagogy is used to begin the note reading process. This method is suitable for children 3 and up.
Book 1 teaches hand placement and the child begins playing by following and learning their finger numbers.
Book 2 advances the learning process by switching to the musical alphabet replacing 1 with C, 2 with D, etc
Book 3 teaches notes placed on the staff, middle C is Cassidy the Cat, Middle D is Dalton the Dog, etc
The Music Road is also used and is complimentary to both the Suzuki Method and traditional note reading as it focuses on to the octaves presented in the two methods.
Children are taught music theory through age appropriate games and floor work. (Pianimals and Music 19)
Repertoire is enhanced by our vast music library of many classical and contemporary composers.
Performance Qualifying students are given many opportunities to perform. Performance is encouraged but not required.
Annual Performances include:
World Piano Competition
NFMC Junior Festival
St. Joseph's Oktoberfest
Halloween Recital
Christmas Recital
Fine Arts Celebration
Duet Recital
American Composer Celebration
Awards Recital
For more information, please contact Miss Candy, Kindermusik/Music teacher at 814-823-1300
