Ambuter studio announces events

VERNON — The Ambuter Music Studio of Vernon announces its extra-curricular events for the coming piano lesson season. Included in this year’s events are a trip to see seasoned jazz expert Dick Hyman, who played with the great Benny Goodman, at William Paterson’s The Jazz Room Series on Sunday, Oct. 23; the Discovery Orchestra’s Dueling Pianists concert at Drew University in Madison on Sunday, Feb. 26; and the Student Honors Recital of the Music Educators Assn. of New Jersey (MEA-NJ) in Madison on Sunday, Nov. 13. Many students of MEA-NJ members audition to participate in this recital and will offer other students a vision of what can be achieved at their own age with giving one’s devotion to one’s piano studies.
Also on the schedule for this coming year are a “Fun Duets Party” in which participants learn the classic, fun piano duets that kids all want to learn, such as Chopsticks, Heart & Soul, and others. Students will have a piano movie event in January and watch the Hallmark classic The Piano Lesson, which was nominated for several Emmy awards (for ages 12+.)
Some of Ambuter’s students will participate in the MEA-NJ non-competitive auditions for friendly written feedback from another teacher, which is invaluable as additional input on their playing and also serves as reinforcement of principles they are learning. Required for the auditions are repertoire pieces and rudiments such as scales, arpeggios, and cadences according to the student’s level. Depending on level of interest, the studio will also make a visit to the Princeton Early Keyboard Center to be introduced to and play the harpsichord, the clavichord, and the fortepiano and to enjoy a mini-concert on the instruments by a master early keyboardist Gavin Black. And of course, planned are the annual winter and spring studio recitals at a lovely church with a delightful Baldwin grand.
A new feature of the studio this coming year is the “10-Piece Challenge” for the fall semester in which students are challenged to learn 10 pieces by the time of December break. Those who complete the challenge in time will receive an engraved medal at the winter recital. A longer-term goal is to learn 40 pieces by the end of the lesson year, with an engraved trophy as the reward. As an incentive for learning rudiments, students will be provided a music-themed keychain this year. Every time they learn a new scale with its arpeggios and cadences, they will receive a new “key” for that scale to place onto their keychain. When old enough to learn to drive, they may use this keychain for car keys.
Ambuter’s music studio offers instruction in piano and in sight-singing for singers to learn to read music. These piano events are planned for students in the studio to shape them into well-rounded musicians. More information on the music studio may be found at www.cherwynambuter.com.