Join us for the LHS Arts Supplement Seminar This Saturday!

Lauren Haley Studios Presents: The Arts Supplement & the Ivy League

A Seminar for Families with Children Ages 5 – 15

Please join us this Saturday, September 10th from 2:00 – 3:00PM at the Sugar Land Art Center & Gallery (Blue Room) for a one-hour seminar on setting children up for success with the arts supplement. $10 Admission Per Family (tickets at the door)

 

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Princeton University. Photo by Albertine Wang (Princeton, ’14, Clements HS ’10)

LHS Launches New Studio Space

With great excitement, Lauren Haley Studios announces a new lesson space within the Sugar Land Art Center and Gallery! This energizing learning environment furthers the LHS vision for dynamic music education and performance.

Our partnership with the Sugar Land Art Center and Gallery, a non-profit 501c3 organization and Fort Bend Star Readers’ Choice Award 2016 Winner, presents fantastic opportunities for group lessons and performances as well as a dedicated space for private lessons. We’re thrilled for the growth this move will foster in our young musicians. 

More information about the Sugar Land Art Center can be found online at http://www.sugarlandartcenter.org. Lessons at our new studio location will commence on August 1st, 2016!

Sugar Land Art Center and Gallery
104 Industrial Blvd. Suite Q, Studio #9
Sugar Land, TX 77478

 

22 LHS Students Win 27 Grade 1 Awards at Solo & Ensemble

The final award count for Solo & Ensemble is in and it’s wonderful to announce that 22 LHS students won Grade 1 marks, with 5 students competing in both the Solo and  Ensemble categories and securing Grade 1 in both competitions. Every Solo & Ensemble contestant who performed in the 2016 LHS Student Showcase Recital on February 13th received a 1 for their solo grade. Well done, kids!

We’re super excited for Amanda, Ananya, Chris, Deepa, Nikita, Paige, Sharon, and Sophie, all of whom received Grade 1 marks on Class 1 (highest HS level) pieces. Sharon and Amanda are still in middle school (7th grade) !

Congratulations to Danae, Deepa, Sophie, Kayle, and Isaac for auditioning for both solo and ensemble competitions and securing Grade 1 marks in both categories!

Well done to Sneha for earning the current concertmaster spot of the Bowie Symphony, to William for maintaining the concertmaster spot in his orchestra at Elkins, to Amanda for maintaining her principal viola spot at Baines, and to Jacob for maintaining his principal viola chair at Quail Valley. We’re all so excited for Deepa, who will play first desk viola for Travis HS’s upcoming performance in Carnegie Hall over spring break!

MS and HS performers are graded on a scale from 1 (best) to 5, so without further ado, here’s the complete list of the LHS students who were awarded Grade 1:

Amanda

Ananya

Anisha

Ayushi

Chris

Danae

Deepa

Enara

Esosa

Isaac

Kayle

Maggie

Megan

Neha

Nikita

Paige

Sarah

Seline

Sharon

Sneha

Sophie

Taruni

Congratulations to everyone on your wonderful progress!

Vibrato Workshops

Hello, all!

In preparation for exciting spring auditions, the studio will be hosting January Vibrato Workshops on Saturday, January 30th, beginning at 1pm. Each workshop is one hour long and will cover both arm and hand (“wrist”) vibrato . In keeping classes small and effective, space is extremely limited. Students will be assigned to a class with others of a similar playing level. Tuition is $30 per student. Join us to expand technique and meet new friends! Reserve your spot by contacting Ms. Haley directly.

Evelyn Lam, B.M., M.M.

Lauren Haley Studios announces its affiliation with the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. This affiliation brings on board pianist Evelyn Lam, an Eastman D.M.A. candidate, for recitals, collaborations, and lessons.

Evelyn will perform regularly with Ms. Haley as well as with LHS students in upcoming recitals beginning in February 2016. 

Evelyn’s degrees include a B.M. and M.M. in Piano Performance from Eastman. Evelyn is also looking forward to her first Carnegie Hall performance on November 29th, 2015.

Evelyn Lam, B.M., M.M., Eastman School of Music. Pianist, Lauren Haley Studios
Evelyn Lam, B.M., M.M., Eastman School of Music. Pianist, Lauren Haley Studios

Ready for Region

Happy Fall, Everyone!

Back by popular request, our fifth and final middle school region workshop will be this Saturday, October 17th at 2pm. With just one week left before auditions, it’s exciting to see how much everyone has accomplished! Remember to RSVP at 832-600-5338 to reserve your spot.

Ms. Haley

Juilliard Symposium – Kurt Sassmannshaus

Hello, all!

As summer winds down, I’ve been reflecting on my favorite topics from Juilliard’s Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies. Kurt Sassmannshaus presented two dynamite pedagogy classes on technique, but his advice on practicing is what I’d like to discuss today.

The most frequent question I’m asked by parents is how they can help their children grow to be independent thinkers who practice effectively on their own. Parents worry that if they guide their children’s practice, their children will become dependent. However, the largest advantage Suzuki offers his followers is the positive and constant relationship between the student, parent, and violin.

Thinking of the families in my studio, I asked pedagogy expert Kurt Sassmannshaus (Dorothy Richard Starling Chair for Classical Violin at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music) how long he prefers parents to continue practicing with their children. “Until age 25!” he joked.

Kurt Sassmannshaus and Lauren Haley at Juilliard's 2015 Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies
Kurt Sassmannshaus and Lauren Haley at Juilliard’s 2015 Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies

The involvement of the parent is synonymous with talent.” Sassmannshaus confirmed. He mandates that parents be present and engaged for 100% of all practicing and lessons, insisting that one parent or caregiver must work with the student for 30 minutes each day or there will be no admittance to his studio. Affirming this incredible dedication of parents to their children, he reminded everyone that “there’s never a question of unconditional love.

Kurt Sassmannshaus’s website, violinmasterclass.com, is an excellent resource for those seeking advice on technique, videos, lessons, musicality, and pedagogy.

All opinions are by Lauren Haley and all original content is copyright 2015 Lauren Haley Studios.

May Recital 2015

Spring is here and we’re all ready to perform!

While the older LHS musicians complete their orchestra placement auditions, our littlest violinists have put together quite the show for you and the residents of the Sugar Land Atria Senior Living!

Please join us for performances and awards this Saturday, May 16th at 6pm at Atria. Bring a smile and your applause!

Studio Challenge – Sign Up Now!

Welcome to the 2015 LHS 100 Days of Practice Challenge!

Registration is now open and will close when the Challenge begins on Friday, March 20th. Dust away the dreary winter and infuse your practice sessions with excitement, motivation, and progress!

Celebrate the milestones along the way, and join us for a party honoring your accomplishments at the conclusion of the Challenge in June. Signing up for the Challenge will give your family step-by-step support and motivation. We’re in this together!

Check out www.musicinpractice.com to learn more about setting students up for positive and effective practicing. Sue Hunt, its creator, provides endlessly helpful tips! My favorite article about the 100 Day Challenge is targeted at teachers, but the diagrams help everyone understand how consistent practicing is the key to musical success:

http://www.musicinpractice.com/2013/100-day-practice-challenge/

Next up, grab your own copy of the 100 Day Practice Journal and we’ll get started!

http://www.musicinpractice.com/100days/

All opinions are by Lauren Haley and all original content is copyright 2015 Lauren Haley Studios.