Thursday, January 12, 2023 by Averil Spence-Clarke | Uncategorized

Hi Everyone:

Happy New Year & hoping that is has been a positive and enjoyable start to the year for everyone!!

First, you will notice a "new look" to the portal.  The techs have been working for a while to ensure that the portal works well, is up to date and meets both the needs of teachers and students/parents.  Hope you like the new outlay and that it makes it easier to navigate.  If you experience any problems or have any suggestions. please do not hesitate to contact me.

Next, you will not see any "available timeslots" posted for this week and part of f next week.  I, happily, will have some family and friends visiting, so am hoping to keep as much time for them as possible.  Please know that if you need to schedule a different time for lessons during that period, do give me a call or send a text with a couple of preferred times and I will ensure that I meet your requests.

Lastly, I know that at the end of January, many schedules change as students change school and recreational activities.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need to change your regular lesson timeslot.  I will do my best to reschedule to a more sustainable time if necessary.

We often make many New Year's resolutions and then find that within a few weeks, they have fallen by the wayside.  We then castigate ourselves, make or renew the resolutions and repeat the process.  New Year's Resolutions have created the most frustrating experiences of my life and I daresay many of yours.  So, over the past few years, I have not created them.  Instead, I have been kind to myself and worked on a different formula.

Each month, I focus on one aspect of "mindfulness" and try to maintain it for the month. I know that I will not always meet the goal, but I remind myself that it is a day-by-day process and that seems to help me get back on track. 

This month, it is about "engagement and listening".  Oftentimes when busy, my mind slides to other areas of concern even in the midst of a conversation.  So, this month, I am practicing my "mindful listening" and am happy to say that so far, I have been reasonably successful.  I mention this because, if you have any concerns about lessons, your child's progress, or the teaching process, this would be a great month to contact me and dialogue.  I promise to listen mindfully and work together to find solutions to the challenge whatever it may be. Even if there are no problems and you would just like to play catch-up, please feel free to give me a call or arrange a face-to-face get together.

Looking forward to hearing from you or seeing you in the near future.

Sincerely, Mrs. A.

Monday, July 4, 2022 by Averil Spence-Clarke | Uncategorized

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all having an enjoyable summer and that it is already being filled with adventures and memory-making.

Wow! What a wonderful summer I have had so far! My trip to England was so much more interesting and enjoyable than I could ever have imagined.   Of course, spending quality time with Christopher was the icing on the cake.  

My return trip was fraught with all sorts of excitement – many flight delays (returned to Toronto almost two days after the expected time); then my flight from Toronto to Windsor was cancelled and then delayed several times (spending the night in the airport – NOT FUN!!) but finally made it back.  Of course, with all of the changes, my luggage did not return with me – they just arrived on Friday but they did arrive.  I am hoping they enjoyed their extra vacation time. 😊

Happy to say that like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, “there is no place like home.”  Since my return, aside from a ‘little bit’ of relaxing, I’ve also been doing a lot of reading, learning and planning, as I prepare for another exciting summer and year of music lessons.

A lot of information was given to you before I left in May. I know it was a busy time for everyone so this email is to touch base with you about Summer lessons in the hopes that it arrives when you have a moment to write some things on your calendar.

Summer Sessions:  Can be booked ONLINE and can either be scheduled for online or In-Studio. As you can see, I have maintained the "three weeks on, one off" format. If you have any questions or need different times, please give me a call.

Happy to say that starting this summer, I am implementing a “hybrid” model for lessons. With the return to “normalization”, I am re-opening the studio to “in-person sessions” as well as continuing to offer the “on-line Zoom format”.  When booking lessons, you will see both options available.  Whichever you choose, I will delete the remaining option when confirming lessons.

Are your piano, flute, theory books looking a little dusty? Summer is full of family fun and this might mean that your child(ren) may not want to practice as much as they do during the school year. This is totally understandable. I can promise, however, that your child(ren) will be even more excited about returning to lessons if they feel prepared and ready to learn. Setting up a summer practice schedule is usually a great idea. Plan for at least 15 minutes of practice a day during the summer and, if possible, schedule it in the morning before the day’s activities begin.

I can’t wait to reconnect with you soon and I look forward to hearing about your summer fun.

Take care,

Mrs. A.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 by Averil Spence-Clarke | Uncategorized

Hi Everyone:

You are probably all in the "countdown to summer vacation mode"!  I am sure that not having to attend music lessons has already made that a reality. ☺  Of course, I hope that you are still touching your instruments if not actively practicing.  For myself, I did bring my flute along and I now practice in the gym in the basement at nights (the gym is usually not being used).  Hopefully the sound does not percolate up to the reception area but so far, I have not had any complaints. 

Happy to say that I am still enjoying every moment of my vacation!!  With history all around me, great weather (sunny and in the 70's) which is unusual for such an extended period, comfortable walking shoes and 4 directions to explore, I can truly say that I am not bored!! ☺  

So far, some of the amazing experiences that I have had:

• up close and personal with Shakespeare - explored the Globe theatre, a recreation of what it would have been like in Shakespeare's time and had the opportunity to see the rehearsal for an upcoming performance of King Lear.  I hope to go and see it as a "groundling" - in period time, these would have been the peasants who paid a penny to stand and see the performance which means you are practically on the stage.
• attended a performance of Mahler's Symphony #2 with the London Philharmonia Orchestra, soloists and chorus at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.  There were over 120 in the chorus & 80 members of the orchestra.  Even more exciting, this was being recorded live for BBC.  If you have access to BBC Radio 3, you can hear this performance until the end of June.
• attended a "Sung service" at St. Paul's Cathedral followed by a short organ concert - truly amazing and inspiring sound 
• tour the Museum of London from prehistoric times through to current times.  Attended talks on the Great Fire of London (did you know that it started with a baker's oven?) and heard about "Beasties & Unusual Apparitions" - scary and farcical!!
• attended a showcase of different arts and designs by students from the "National Saturday Club" including such areas as Writing & Talking, Art & Design, Society & Change etc.  These high school students meet weekly under the tutelage of an expert in the field to discover and develop their interests.  
• walked around along Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes's home was on Baker Street), the Marble Arch, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and the Parliament Buildings, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Gardens, took a bus tour of the city, rode on a double decker bus and much more!!

On the lighter side:

• my morning view is of the Millenium Bridge overlooking the Thames and all the foot and boat traffic
• a City of London Boy's School is doors away from my hotel & any day that I walk by, I am serenaded by music classes and practice sessions.  I will oftentimes sit and listen to the kids practice.
• I have climbed more steps than ever before.  For example there are  48 steps to get to the top of the Waterloo Bridge from the Embankment and 52 to get back down on the other side. 
• There are more cobblestones than pavement which means - do not try to wear heels (I saw a lady walking barefoot with her shoes in hand because she kept tippling over).  Everybody (for the most part) wears running shoes even business men in suits!  
• Clothing ranges from the traditional to anything goes.  Everyone that I have asked says "comfort" is the main focus.  
• Everyone except visitors carries a backpack or a rolling case.  They also "eat on the run" all the time. 
• With so many "green spaces", it seems as if most people sunbathe once the weather is good - so walking along the embankment of the Thames, it's usual to spy lots of feet while the bodies are hidden by the shrubbery. 
• It is not unusual to hear all languages except English being spoken as London is a true "tourist mecca/hub" and of course, many people are still here from the Jubilee celebrations.  One day I counted at least 10 different languages.
• The pigeons are myriad and have no fear of humans.  They fly so close to your head that you spend a lot of time ducking!!  In fact, one of the members of the staff here said that a guest who was on the walkway outside our hotel decided to eat his lunch there.  The pigeons dive bombed him and stole the sandwich right out of his hand!!  Believe me, I stay as far away from them as is possible.

But, on to Summer Music Lessons:

I have had some questions re: summer lessons, so thought this would be the easiest way to respond.

• Available times are already posted on the portal.
• you will notice that there are two entries for each lesson(one that says Lesson-In Studio and the other that says Zoom)
• Since I plan to reopen the studio for in-person lessons on my return, you can choose to book either type of lesson.  It does not have to remain the same for each lesson.  Example:  for the first week you might want to receive a Zoom lesson and the following week an In-Studio lesson.  Book whichever is most convenient. I will delete the alternative.  
• If you usually receive an hour's lesson, please book two half hour lessons back to back and I will connect them.  
• On my return, I will send emails confirming the lesson times that have been booked.
• Note:  For those who wish to move to the next level, please do plan on taking some lessons over the summer as the exams will take place mid-to-end of September.
• If you still have any questions, feel free to email or "What's App" me. Do know that emails arrive on their own schedule, so don't be worried if it takes a day or two to receive my response.

Take care and see you in a few weeks.

Cheers

Mrs. A.