Lessons with Lori Piano Lessons & Tutoring

Just a reminder that there are no lessons today or tomorrow as I had to have a minor procedure on my eye this morning. I hope to be able to return to lessons on Saturday. The procedure went well, but my eye will be quite bruised for the next several days.

Well, sadly with the province going Orange, we will have to continue with Online lessons. I was so excited to see everyone in person. I guess we will have to wait at least a couple of weeks. Hopefully things settle quickly so that we can get together again soon!

Invoices will be sent out later today. They will be due on Tuesday, January 5th. I apologize for being so late, but I was really sick Boxing Day and for a few days afterwards. I am finally starting to get some energy back, slowly. Please note that there will be no lessons from Thursday, January 14 and Friday, January 15th as I have to have a minor procedure on my eye. Hopefully by Saturday I will be able to teach again. There will be no charge for those two days. Please remember that in the case of snowstorms, your lessons will be held online if you normally come to my studio and cannot come. You are also welcome to do your lessons online anytime if you prefer.

Please note that January bills will not be sent out until December 30. They will not be due until January 4th for this month only.Please note that January bills will not be sent out until December 30. They will not be due until January 4th for this month only.

https://musicplayonline.com/ This site has some great games for note recognition and rhythm reading

After 6 months, we are finally able to return to lessons! Are you ready? Just a few things to remember, please: 1. Masks are mandatory. Put your mask on before you enter my house and leave them on until you are back outside. I will not have any spare masks, so if you come without a mask, you will not be able to have your lesson. ... 2. Socks are now mandatory! To reduce the amount of cleaning and toe prints on my piano, socks are now mandatory. With the increase in cleaning with Covid-19, I will not have the time to also be constantly cleaning toe prints off my piano between lessons. 3. You must wait in your car until I am ready for you. I will wave to you from my front door, so please be watching. 4. Use the washroom at home before you come, please. My washroom will now be off-limits as I cannot clean it between students. 5. Only the student taking the lesson is allowed in the studio. If siblings are taking lessons, the one waiting must wait in the vehicle as I can only have one in the studio at a time. 6. Please stay OFF my veranda furniture. This is for our personal use only. When you come to the door, stay in the area of the door only, please. 7. There are two locations of antibacterial hand wash. One is beside the hook that is designated for student coats and the other is located in the studio on the new cabinet. Students will be expected to wash their hands when they enter and remove their coat as well as anytime that they touch their face. 8. Do not come to lessons if you have been in contact with or exposed to anyone with Covid-19. Do not come to lessons if you have any symptoms of Covid-19. The screening questions will be posted. If you come and have any of the symptoms, we will be unable to do your lesson in person. However, we can schedule an online lesson for you and you may return to in-person lessons once you have been cleared by your doctor or Public Health. ******Parents, please review the change in routine with your children so that they are well aware of these changes. I will go over the changes with the treasure box and stickers with them as those will now be handled by me instead of the children going through them. There is no longer a sticker bin. I will be choosing a sticker theme for the day and using those stickers with the students. New Registration Forms will either be emailed or sent home with students at their first lesson. Please fill these in and return them ASAP. You can email them back or return them with your child. This would be a great time to get your child a new binder. Remember that Dollarama or Dollar Store ones work well! I am sure there are things that I forgot to mention. If you have any questions, please message me privately or leave a comment below in case others may be wondering the same thing. Thanks! See everyone in a few days!

Pippin was very curious to watch me as I did my annual cleaning of the piano and the piano humidifier today. He then wanted me to tell you how excited he is that piano lessons start back next week and that many of you are coming to see him (so he thinks, haha!) again! Chloe is looking forward to seeing all her friends again, too!

I'm SOOOOOOO excited!! It's September and in less than two short weeks we will finally be back together to do lessons again! I can't wait to see you all, whether online or in person! For those doing online, did you know that you can still earn prizes from the Treasure Box? I will keep sticker chart in your file to show you and each week we will still calculate how many stickers you earn. Then after 20 stickers, you earn a prize! You can chose to come and get it after each ...time, or you can chose to wait until you earn 2, 3. 4 or 5 (because some of you earn them pretty fast!). If you haven't booked your time yet, now is the time to do it. I have opened up and advertised for new students (in person and online) to fill my few empty spots. I have a limited Tuesday, Thursday and Friday spots left. If you know someone looking for lessons, please feel free to send them my way! (Please note that I won't be doing Preschool-aged lessons due to Covid-19 as my materials that I use are difficult to wash). Also just a reminder that payments were due September 1st. If you haven't sent your payment, please send it through. Thanks See everyone in just a few more sleeps! I hope you are as excited as I am!

I have ordered 6 special music-themed masks to wear during piano lessons. That will give me 7 music masks to wear, plus my regular ones. I hope they arrive before lessons begin. I have a good stock of hand sanitizer and try to buy Lysol wipes whenever I can find them (although I can't use them on the piano finish: I will use water and antibacterial hand soap as advised by Tony's Music Box). I have a new, adjustable piano bench that is more cleanser-friendly that will be used. Please remember to bring a mask and wear socks!

I have a few openings for September! Lesson openings are available Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday mornings. I have a few spots left each of these days. Lessons are available online or in person at my home. PM me or check out my website for more information. www.lessonswithloricummings.com

Plans for September: I am planning to open my studio for in-person lessons on September 15th. However, there will be several changes in scheduling as I have to schedule 10 minutes for cleaning between each student. Please note that only the student will be allowed to come into the studio and they must wait in their vehicle until I come to my front door to indicate that I am ready for them. I will be sending out the new Studio Policy and Expectations to each family by e-ma...il soon, so please be sure to read the entire document so that you are familiar with the changes. It is also available on my website, www.lessonswithloricummings.com I had planned to increase my rate since I have not increased it in four years, but with all the uncertainty with Covid-19 I decided that I would keep my rates the same for 1 more year. Please also consider doing lessons online. I have upgraded my equipment in my studio (my office) to include a full-sized digital piano, new laptop, two new webcams and a program that I can use with Zoom that is interactive and makes learning fun and engaging for the students. I have been teaching a few online students and it is a great way to do lessons! The benefit is that you can do them from the comfort of your home. We are finding that using your cell phone or a good tablet tends to work best. We will be making online lessons mandatory for storm days and if we have to close down again due to Covid-19. Please check out all the details about it on the website or contact me for more info. You are welcome to give it a try in August for a 15 minute trial with me to see how it works! I will be contacting everyone shortly to confirm your lesson times. Please be aware that they may have to change somewhat due to my having to add in a 10 minute cleaning break between students. I am trying to keep the schedule as close to last year as possible. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by message, text or phone.

This is why practice and CORRECT FINGERING are so important Lori

Today my new digital piano arrived! It is a Yamaha P125 that I purchased from Tony's Music Box. I also purchased the furniture stand and the extra pedals to make it into a piece of furniture and a full digital piano. However, you can purchase just the keyboard and use a metal stand (what many people do). When you purchase just the keyboard, it comes with a single pedal (a flat, square one). This is the one that I always recommend, or its similar model, the P45 (doesn't hav...e as many features). I'm really excited to use this one for teaching online lessons (it will remain in my office). Today Carl ordered a new laptop for me since mine is quite slow and he feels that it was time for me to upgrade. I'm still waiting for my new webcam to ship (they are really backordered because it's a new and really popular model). I am slowly figuring out how to use Manycam program and Zoom, so next week will be a crash course of tutorials and trying to figure them out! Anyway, I have a new piano to play with, so I am going to go play!, Talk later!

Pippin tried to look inconspicuous when I caught him trying to open the Emoji Note bin and then tried to pretend that he was learning the notes of the bass clef as I prepared for an online lesson this morning! I have taught some online lessons, and am excited to announce that hopefully this afternoon I will picking up my new Yamaha P125 electric keyboard from Tony's Music Box (if the shipment arrives). I have a new webcam that I have ordered and have been adding new technology and learning ways offer high quality online lessons. This fall, I will also be offering online as well as in-person (depending on what regulations are as directed by the province, but currently I plan to have in person as well).

Hi everyone. Here's my latest update. My plan is still to open to in-person lessons in September. However, in keeping with Covid-19 regulations, there will be a few changes. Of course, everything depends on how things progress with the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines and the Premier's directions at the time. While I will have in-person lessons, I will also be offering the option to do online lessons. I have been doing online with a few students during the pandemic, w...hich has given me the opportunity to adjust to the technology and this different method of teaching. I am also in the midst of upgrading my equipment (so far I have ordered a separate, high quality webcam and digital piano, both on backorder) to provide better video and sound quality on my end. However, on your end, all you need is your phone to use to do lessons. I can use Skype or Zoom now, as well as Messenger. My preference is Zoom, but the others work, too. The cost for online is the same as in-person lessons, except you get to stay home! I can send you the music files to print off or I can print off several pieces at a time for you to pick up every few weeks at my home. Students can still receive treasure box items. For in-person lessons, masks will need to be worn since social distancing is difficult due to the nature of the lessons. Only the student will be able to come in, and only one student at a time. I will therefore be scheduling a 10 minute break between each student to allow for cleaning of the piano and for students to not come in contact with each other. Coats will be hung on a hook inside my living room door. Antibacterial hand sanitizer will be used upon arrival and throughout the lesson as necessary (a practice we already have in place). Students are asked to please use the washroom before coming to lessons. Our washroom is our family washroom, and the only washroom in our home. I cannot wash it before and after every student uses the washroom, so please ensure you use the washroom before coming to lessons. Thank you. In the event that we have to go into isolation again due to the pandemic, or if you have to go into isolation due to any exposure, all lessons will continue as usual as online lessons during your usual scheduled time. I am now better prepared to do them, so feel that they can continue as usual but online. They actually are quite fun, and the few students who have been doing them have been doing really well with them! I will be starting back with in-person lessons the second week of school (second week of September) so that everyone has the opportunity to transition back to school. However, if anyone wants to try online lessons over the summer, please send me a message and I will set it up with you.

My sister just shared this https://www.classicfm.com/discover-/who-invented-the-piano/

For all my students who love Anne Crosby Gaudet's music, this is her cat, Mezzo, "playing" her harp! Anne is the one who wrote "Freddy the Frog", "Playful Puppy" & "Starfish at Night" that everyone loved last year! https://www.facebook.com/266909493334881/posts/4489372587755196/

Update: So with the way things are going, it's looking like it may be September before I can open again. However, IF over the summer things change and I am allowed to have you come to my house again, I will gladly open for anyone who wants to come do the lessons that we were supposed to do in March. I was really hoping that perhaps in June I could at least see everyone again and finish off the lessons from March, but I don't expect that to happen. I will be asking everyone ...to wear masks, please, when lessons do resume, unless Public Health declares that it is safe to go without by then. I will be washing my piano keyboard between each student and will be using more frequent handwashing during the lesson to minimize any risk of infection. I know we had already had fairly strict expectations because of my Lupus, so we will tighten them this bit extra. I may also have to limit it to just the student and I in my living room (which I hate to do as I love parent involvement), depending on what the regulations are as put out by Public Health. I will be handling all the Treasure Box items and stickers now. Students will choose them, but I will be the one to get it from the box for them. I am also considering adding a "turnover time" of 10 minutes between lessons to accommodate for the necessary cleaning and minimizing of number of people in my studio at a time. I will have more info as we get closer to the time. I want to keep everyone safe. Of course if you have been exposed to the virus or have any symptoms, you will not be able to come to lessons for 14 days, but we will make up the time when it is safe. I will have a new written policy as the time comes. Piano lessons are definitely challenging to do while socially distancing due to the nature of the instrument. I am trying to find a way that we can do this safely for everyone while giving the students the best lessons, teaching according to my own philosophy on how I feel students should be taught and meeting the specific needs and learning styles of each student. I will also offer online lessons, although my preference is in-person lessons. I initially had planned to increase my rate in September a bit since it has been the same for 4 years, but due to all the craziness and unpredictably of this virus, I have decided to keep it the same for another year. If you have any questions, please feel free to message me. Thanks so much for all your patience, understanding and encouragement through this

Hi parents. I just want to remind everyone that although I am closed, I still am available for free check-ins! If your child/teen is working on a song and needs a few minutes to work on a spot they are struggling with, I would love to go online for a few minutes to help them. This would be a 10-15 minute check-in (or less if that is all they need). I can also send a new song through to anyone who would like a new song! Just send me a message if you want one or both.... Hope you are all doing well. Chloe and I miss you all!

Since we can't get together, I wanted to let you know about a great and fun app that you can get on your tablet to help with your piano skills. It's called "Simply Piano". I know a few of you have started using it and are finding it really helpful. Parents: the only thing that you need to monitor is that they are following the proper fingering as the app. While it can't replace having a piano teacher, it can certainly help reinforce the skills that I work on at their lessons.

Hi to all my favourite piano students (that is ALL of my students )! I just want to say how much I am really missing you! My piano is so quiet and lonely without all your beautiful music, my living room is so quiet without all your laughter and chatter and Chloe and Pippin miss seeing all their friends! Chloe misses all the extra attention and extra snuggles from those who snuggle her while siblings take their lessons. I hope you are all doing well. I can't wait until we can all be together again!

Important: As a result of the closures with Covid-19 scare, I will be closing my studio for the two weeks that school is closed. Please watch for further updates.Important: As a result of the closures with Covid-19 scare, I will be closing my studio for the two weeks that school is closed. Please watch for further updates.

With the Covid-19 scare, at this point I will remain open and continue with my illness practice that I always have in place. If you have any symptoms of illness: sniffles, cough, fever, stomach ache, vomiting, please do NOT come to lessons. Furthermore, if you have been traveling or in contact with people that have travelled within two weeks, please do not come to lessons. If you have been in contact with someone with Covid-19, you will need to stay away from lessons for a ...minimum of 2 weeks. If you develop Covid-19, you will need to be cleared of it for 2 weeks before returning to lessons. All students will be expected to wash their hands thoroughly when they arrive at my home. As you are aware, I have Lupus, which results in my immune system being very suppressed. It is extremely dangerous for me, potentially fatal for me, if I develop Covid-19. It is very important that I do not come in contact with it. If necessary, I will close my studio temporarily, but will continue to teach lessons via Skype/Messenger video until the threat is over. Missed lessons are still charged, so this method will allow me to still carry out lessons. It will be a new experience for us, but is another way way to continue and a tool some other teachers use. I will send the music to you ahead of time to print out, then will set up times to do the lessons as close to your regular time as possible.

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful March Break and are ready to get back to learning more music I just want to warn everyone that the studio may be in a bit of an upheaval this week. We are having my office and daughter's bedroom painted Monday and possibly Tuesday and I am ordering new furniture for my office, so some of my things will be placed temporarily in the studio. Please bear with me as we go through the reno! Thanks!

Anyone looking for a full-sized keyboard, this just showed up in a Costco email to me. These are decent keyboards and have everything you need (although you may need to add a pedal eventually). This is also a great price! https://www.costco.ca/korg-b2n-digital-piano-with-stand.pro