Hello SKCMA students!
We are a little over a month away from our Spring Recitals! A couple important things to know:
1. You don’t have to be perfect to perform! Recitals are about sharing your music and what you’ve learned with family and friends.
2. Recitals are April 27 and 28, and your recital time is based on your lesson time:
- Lessons on Mondays between 4:00 and 6:00 – recital is Monday, April 27, at 5:00pm.
- Lessons on Mondays between 6:00 and 8:30 – recital is Monday, April 27, at 7:00pm.
- Lessons on Tuesdays between 4:00 and 6:00 – recital is Tuesday, April 28, at 5:00pm
- Lessons on Tuesdays between 6:00 and 8:30 – recital is Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00pm
3. Location: Evangel Youth Building
4. Recitals are free! Invite your crew to cheer you on!
5. If you don’t feel ready to perform, we encourage you to come watch a recital.
6. No lessons are taught on recital nights.
And finally, I know it can be scary to perform in front of an audience. It took me a long time to get comfortable performing, and now I love it! Even so, there are still types of performances that make me anxious, and I want to share the things I’ve learned over the years to deal with performance anxiety and set yourself up for a great recital:
We are having a Preparing for a Performance Masterclass on April 24 as one of our make-up lesson options. This is the Friday before the recitals, so a great time to get yourself ready! Sign up with the QR code to the right.
Happy Music Making!
Laura Lee Crandall, owner
info@skcmusicacademy.com
(816) 682-3470
Student of the Month – Evan Krueger
Evan has been a SKCMA student for 8 years, and if you see him play, you will hear the time he’s put in on his guitar! Evan is an amazing musician. Evan’s current SKCMA teacher is Bryson Thomas, and Bryson chose Evan for his consistent effort, growth, and creativity.
Age: 18
School: Shawnee Mission South – Senior year!
What are your proudest musical moments?
- Playing the national anthem at my school’s high school basketball game.
- Performing with the Kansas All-State Jazz Band
Do you have future goals for your music?
To never stop playing, never get worse! Carry my passion for the rest of my life.
Are you in music groups outside SKCMA?
High School jazz band, Live Jazz KC Big Band, State Jazz Band, and Amber Quint Band
Congratulations, Evan!
Fun Ways to Stay Motivated to Practice This Spring
As the weather warms up and schedules get busier, it can be challenging to stay focused on practicing music. The good news: practice doesn’t have to feel like a chore. With a few creative ideas, you can stay excited about your musical progress this spring!
1. Set Small Goals for your Practice Session 🎤
Examples: Learn just the first 4 measures of a new song, or play a scale perfectly 3 times in a row. Achieving a goal is encouraging and makes the next practice something to look forward to.
2. Create a Spring Practice Chart or Reward System 🍭
Think of sticker charts, a jar where kids add a bead or coin for each practice session, or small rewards at the end of the week or month for both kids or adults.
3. Prepare for the Spring Recital! 🎵
It’s easier to practice more when you have something to prepare for! To get ready for the Spring Recitals, perform for your family after dinner, record a video to send to grandparents, etc.
5. Change the Environment
Spring is perfect for mixing things up. Practice outside on the porch or near an open window, rearrange the practice space. A new setting and an optimized practice space can be invigorating!
