Festivals & Competitions
All students are highly encouraged to participate in local festivals or competitions to gain performance confidence. Students can take a piece of music they love and bring it to the next level where they work on memorization, refinement of the piece, performing etiquette, and learning to deal with performance anxiety. In turn, students get to benefit from feedback provided by the adjudicator as well as from their peers’ performance.
Examinations
Piano and theory exams are offered through the Royal Conservatory of Music or the British Columbia Conservatory of Music 4 times a year. To prepare for this, the teacher works closely with the student to focus on the Conservatory’s curriculum. Students benefit greatly from having a goal to work towards. A grade and comment form will be given by the examiner for all areas: pieces, memorization, technique, sight-reading, ear training, & theory.
Recitals
Recitals are held twice a year: a formal winter recital held during December at a Church sanctuary and an informal recital in June (or party, to be accurate) in our studio. This is the event where parents and students get most excited about! Students work hard all year long to show families & friends their favourite pieces and how much progress they have been making. Families will be blown away by the incredible music they will be hearing from all levels and ages.
Duet Playing ( 1 piano 4 hands, 1 piano 6 hands, 2 pianos 4 hands!)
Often times siblings or students of similar levels are suggested to play piano duets. It’s extremely exciting and challenging to take on such project and there are so much learning benefits: coordination & timing with a partner, the music sounds that much more impressive, and grasping a greater sense of feel/balance from the partner’s style. Pieces will be learned individually and additional sessions will be set up so players can rehearse together.