Velma Piano Students- Advanced , Doug Finley

Douglas.

Another one I could go on and on about.

He came to me as a 5th grader. And 5 years later he still has the same insatiable desire to learn music. He went through 3 books a year the first 2 years.



This year he had some major set backs- neck surgery in FEbruary. He missed only 2 weeks of lessons but has not competed like he could. We took the down time and did a lot of theory. Doug received a high score on the OMTA level 7 theory test in March.

Here he is playing a piece we've worked on all year called "Moonlight Rapsody" by Melody Bober.

Doug has taken on accompanying this year. He played for Sidney at Christmas and joined the Velma Show Band, playing keyboards. They performed at a benefit concert and at Miss VA this spring.

Doug, like Sidney, is a pleasure to work with. He tackles Beethoven and Chopin even when he doesn't care for it. He is a work in progress. You'll want to stick around to see the finished product. I have a feeling this one's going places.

He is actually going to a particular place in July- England. With GO missions, he'll spend a week in London doing mission work.

Go Doug! We are proud of ya!

Besides piano, Doug plays the tuba as well. He is an excellent academic student and also does Karate.

And....

I've had the privilege of snow skiing with him before in Colorado.

Velma Piano Students- Advanced Sidney Lewis

Oh my what to say about this one...

She came to me as a cute and polite 3rd grader.

She stole my heart.


What she has become is amazing.

A young woman.

With beauty and talent.

What I love most about Sidney is her heart. And if there were anything to measure a person by it'd by that. The heart. At the heart of Sidney is perspective and optimism, light and breath, openness and beauty- incredible beauty. True beauty. The kind you can't buy and you can't fake.

She has an amazing ability to write songs. Not just catchy tunes either, songs with depth and meaning and tunes I go away singing for days.

While she started out singing, after 2 years she picked up the piano. After 2 years of that she began picking up the guitar. She plays all three well. And sings while playing a lot.

This year she picked up singing in Italian.




I have taken her to contest, she's sung all over the state, sharing her heart and her song. She was awarded this trophy today and I couldn't be more proud.


This is an impromptu singing of "Hold My Heart" on my very much in need of a tuning piano....

Here's the link to her other song......

Left or Jared's Song

Velma Piano Students- Intermediate, Kadee Belle Hall

Kadee Belle Hall completed her third year with me this year! She is a complete joy to have around on Wednesday afternoons. She's recently completed Faber's book 2a and on to 2b. This has been one her most productive years I've felt. She also made cheerleader for next year as a 6th grader. Congrats Kadee!

She was playing Deep Singer on the above video.

Velma Piano students- beginner, Ryland McCord

I have 4 currently taking piano in Velma. I'll start with my newest....

Miss Ryland.

Ryland and my son Silas have gone to school together since prekindergarten. Her dad is a percussionist. It was a joy to get her as a student. She started in the fall last year. She's progressed through the Faber Primer book and is now on to level 1- those fun red books! She's quite creative and always pleasant to work with. I have no doubt she'll continue making music the rest of her life. Here she's playing Firefly by Faber from the Red Book. She also played it during our animal song charades game at the end of the year party.

Velma Beginner Guitar Student- Case Hurst

I've had Case for a mere 7 weeks but he is a smart guy and is progressing fast. He's finished the 4th grade at Velma and plays a nice blue guitar. What I love most about Case is not only his great-to-work with personality but the fact that he goes home and teaches his parents everything he's learned. He is playing Spanish Theme from the Hal Leonard Beginner Book.

Intermediate Guitar Students- Velma

I have had 3 students all year and most of the year before.


Brooklyn has taken guitar for 2 years. She is the sweetest thing. Always willing to work hard and always cheerful. She's my first student of the week and I am always excited to see her. She has a natural ability to play stringed instruments. She has finished learning all the notes on the guitar from all 6 strings and at the same time learned many chords not in her book. She performs with me on Wed. nights kid worship and once on Sunday morning for the whole church.

Colten Williams is a 5th grader just like Brooklyn. He's taken lessons all year and a several months of the year before. He likes to play loud and plays better under pressure. He has as many stories as Brooklyn and is always sharing them. He is a joy to teach and has lots depth and perception for a kids his age. He was playing Duke of Earl from the Hal Leonard Beginner Book.

here's a link to him and Jake playing with me on Sunday morning a few weeks ago. click here.

Colten can also speak publically. click here

Jake Brown is also a 5th grader and has taken a little less than Colten. He has taken to the guitar quickly and managed to accomplish much despite many obstacles in the last year. Being the oldest he leads out well. Although he has an electric, he prefers the acoustic sound. I enjoy his laid back personality and his charming smile. I know he'll continue to pursue learning the guitar, he has an excellent feel for the rhythm. Jake is also playing Duke of Earl, featuring the G, em, C and D7 chords

.

Alleluia

Former student Kaley Neal had a great
concert in Duncan High School's vocal music spring concert.

Brought back some great memories....

May all our alleluias

When spoken and heard

Be heart felt thanks to thee

Dear Lord and not just lovely words

And may each passing moment

till the ending of our days

Be filled to overflowing

With our never ending praise

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia