This week it was so exciting to welcome Maggie and Jerry Pollio with Kevin Hsieh from Applause to the Musician to my studio in the Sugar Land Art Center & Gallery and speak with them about Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music! Read more about our interview by clicking HERE and stay tuned to watch it soon!
Tag: Sugar Land Art Center & Gallery
Tune in to KUHF 88.7 FM!
Tune in to 88.7 FM KUHF on Thursday, August 1st at 12 and 7 pm to hear Ms. Haley’s interview with Michael Hagerty for Houston Matters / Houston Public Media!
To learn more about Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music, join violinist Gary Levinson (Senior Principal Associate Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony, and Artistic Director, Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth), pianist Baya Kakouberi (Artistic Director, Blue Candlelight Music Series, and Lauren Haley at Kawai Piano Gallery Houston on Saturday, August 3rd from 1 – 3 pm!
This masterclass and workshop is generously sponsored by Kawai Pianos and will be free and open to musical families (and teachers!) of all ages and instruments.
We are especially excited to welcome young musicians from Virtuosi of Houston to the masterclass for a special performance in collaboration with Baya Kakouberi! Many thanks to Karen Needham for facilitating Virtuosi’s performance.
Top Tips for Holiday Practice
With all the approaching excitement (is it Christmas yet?!), it can be a bit tricky to maintain musical momentum and get in that holiday practice! I’m delighted to share my recent article, Top Tips to Spur Musical Progress Over the Holidays, in collaboration with The Local Moms Network (Sugar Land).
Happy practicing, everyone!
LHS Studio Spotlight: Molly
This week we’re speaking with Molly H. on what it took for her to make the top HS Region Orchestra (Symphony) just one year (!) after starting viola. Molly began playing the violin at age 6 and often leads The Sugar Strings in their performances around Sugar Land. In addition to playing violin and viola, Molly runs her own piano studio for young musicians.
You study three instruments in addition to your academic subjects! What’s your best piece of advice for other young musicians who want to pursue multiple areas of expertise?
Enjoy it! Don’t let your music just become a grade or a requirement. I feel the most accomplished when I can share my skills and bring joy to others!
How do you balance nerves and confidence in auditions and performances?
Before the region audition, I put positive affirmation statements on notecards, to tell myself I was prepared and would do well! At the audition, tried to block out all the other players and focus on being mentally prepared. At performances, I try to enjoy the music as much as I can and trust my muscle memory and all the hard work I put in!
Leading up to your audition, what was your practice schedule like?
When the music first came out, I made goals to have much of the music memorized fairly quickly. About a month from the audition, I increased my practicing to at least two hours a day. It was definitely challenging, but I found a drive within me. I had worked so hard, I couldn’t just give up! I knew that every minute I worked could be the difference of getting in or not.
Does your viola have a special story behind it? Tell us your favorite things about your instrument and why you chose it.
I really like my viola’s rich tone and, since it is only 14 inches I can switch between violin and viola. It’s an antique made in 1893 and I enjoy thinking of all the people who have heard it played!
What new pieces are you looking forward to adding to your repertoire this year?
I am looking forward to adding both viola and violin peices this year! I am currently preparing Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata on my viola.
Announcing New Houston Retailers for Kids Aren’t Lazy!
We’re happy to share that Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation and Talent Through Music is now available from Amati Violin Shop Inc., the River Oaks Bookstore, and the Sugar Land Art Center & Gallery!
Praise for KIDS AREN’T LAZY from the European String Teachers Association (ESTA) in ARCO Magazine, Fall 2018!
“This book is absolutely brilliant…a must read for every teacher and music parent in the land…I shall be recommending it to all I know – go buy, now!!!”
-Vivienne Blumfield for Arco magazine (European String Teachers Association, UK), Fall 2018
We’re over the moon to share the European String Teachers Association review of Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music from the Fall 2018 issue of Arco, which hits mailboxes today. For mobile readers, click through to your web browser to view the full review.
Audition Season is Here + a NEW Local Resource!
Happy Fall, Y’all!
HS Region Auditions will be this Saturday, October 13th, and MS Region Auditions will be next Saturday, October 20th. To celebrate these exciting auditions and help everyone prepare, I’ve teamed up with the Sugar Land Moms Network for an article sharing my audition prep tips! https://thesugarlandmoms.com/4-easy-ways-to-boost-audition-performance-for-orchestra-kids/
Sugar Land Moms is a new go-to site for families and is a chapter of The Local Moms Network, https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com. It’s a great resource for everything from local event calendars, arts and activity resources, and parent interviews to deals from nearby businesses.
In LHS news this week, we’re extra proud of Anika, who as principal viola in her Dulles orchestra will perform a solo in tomorrow’s orchestra concert. We’re also absolutely thrilled for Jordan, who (in the top group at Travis) has started coaching viola sectionals for a lower ensemble and has her own principal viola solo coming up!
Welcome Back, Sugar Strings Chamber Ensemble!
Welcome back, Sugar Strings! After their fabulous summer performances, the Sugar Strings are ready to begin rehearsals for their Fall/Winter 2018 Season and we’re excited to see what they have in store for us!
From left to right: Molly, Kathryn, Daelyn, Anna, Kyle, Lauren
Molly and Daelyn speaking with their audience
Kyle
Kathryn greets an audience member
Daelyn introduces herself to residents at Clayton Oaks
Lauren
Molly
Molly speaks with new friends at Clayton Oaks
Photos by Damon Cross.
Kids Aren’t Lazy Reaches #1 Best Seller and Takes the #1 New Release Spot in TEN Amazon Categories!
We’re absolutely thrilled to post that on its second day of sales, Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music (PDP, 2018) became a #1 Best Seller (see below) and reached the #1 New Release spot in TEN Amazon categories, including Music Instruction & Study, Psychology Education & Training, Gifted Students Education, Parent Participation in Education, Education Research, String Instruments, Baby & Toddler Parenting, Musical Instruments, Violins, and Music Techniques.
If you haven’t ordered your own copy yet, here’s a link! Kids Aren’t Lazy on Amazon.com: http://a.co/0braSwH 
LAUREN HALEY STUDIOS 
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