Upcoming Student Events:

Charleston Sonatina Festival

Saturday, November 14, 2026 

Registrations due Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Students who do not have their selections memorized by their October 26th lesson will not be entered this year. Students who are entering the Composition division must also have their compositions completed and prepared by October 26th. 

Angie Greer Poetry Award Contest

Submissions due in studio by October 26, 2026

Submissions should be prepared and ready

Online Writing Workshop

Sunday, November 15, 2026 Online 2:30pm

This is a student run virtual workshop for our members who are in 7th-12th grade and who are working on their essay contest entries for National Music Week.

Christmas and Classics

November 21, 2026

Students prepare one Winter/Holiday selection and one memorized selection from the standard repertoire for assessments  in this non-competitive event. The event will be held at the Columbia International University. The Winter/Holiday selection does not have to be memorized.

Video Holiday/Winter Recital

Miss Dolly will be collecting your performances on video beginning in November for our annual video Holiday/Winter Recital. Each student may perform a holiday or winter selection, along with a selection from the standard repertoire. Memorization is encouraged but not necessary. Students of all ages welcome.

Our Slow Online Irish Session Tune Classes return in October. You can sign up for these classes on my Patreon site. Classes meet once a month on the second Sunday with a new tune every month. All instruments welcome.

Welcome to our 2026-27 Junior Music Club Officers

President: Susannah Bell

Vice President: Benjamin Williams

Secretary: Yolanda Wu

We are looking forward to a fun year with great musical growth for every one of our studio members!

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Your 26-27 Practice Goals form is ready for download on the Student Resources page. 

Junior Keynote Cover Art and Magazine samples are in the Reading Room.  

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The 2026-2027 Studio Holiday Calendar is posted on the Student Resources page under General. This calendar only lists holidays when the studio is closed. (no events)

Rehearsal tips for 2026 

1. Have a clear goal for every practice session (examples would be: improving on, or memorizing, a section in a piece of music; focusing on a scale or a technique that needs work; sight-playing or musical analysis.)
2. Focus on the quality of your practice time, not the length of your practice time. Be sure you are leaving your practice time knowing you have accomplished a set goal.
3. Once you have determined your goal for your rehearsal session, approach challenging sections of a piece first, then play music that you are more comfortable with toward the end of your session.
4. Use your Metronome. A good rule of thumb is to start daily practice on a work 5 - 8 bpm slower than what you achieved the day before. 
5. Rehearse daily. Even a short session of 15 minutes on a busy day can lead to significant improvement. Parents this tip is very important for younger children. Do not wait to help your child rehearse the night before their lesson, or only have one or two days a week set aside for practice. Your child will not succeed as quickly as other students if you create this pattern. 
6. For older students, take short breaks during your rehearsal; Stand up and stretch, get a glass of water, or look out the window. This is a refresher for the mind and body.
7. Keep your lesson assignment notes on your piano where you can reference them in every practice session. Personal rehearsal journals can be a benefit for advanced students.

***Playlists for student listening work can be found on our listening site. ***

Ms. Paul offers private lessons in piano, ukulele, guitar, voice, and mountain dulcimer; locally and online.