My goodness, how is it already August? I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer. I was lucky enough to do some traveling last month, and it’s been wonderful to see some students in-person again at our new home studio spot!
Back in June, students played a terrific studio recital on Zoom, and we’ve been having fun working on new repertoire since then. A few students even participated in last month’s Intermezzo Musicianship Festival, where they learned about music history, theory, and composition.
While the pandemic still lingers, it’s great to see some of the music world opening up. Tonight, for example, there will be an outdoor concert by the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra at Normandale Lake Bandshell. One of my favorite places in St. Paul, the Schubert Club Music Museum, opened back up to the public this summer. And local cultural institutions like the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra have announced exciting programs for the 2021-2022 season. I can’t urge you enough to support these places and get your ears on some beautiful live music!
In the virtual realm, I’m excited to dig into some of the music of Amy Beach with friend and fellow pianist Margarita Rovenskaya live on Instagram next week. Follow Margarita’s page and tune in at 1:00 p.m. central time for our chat about feminism in Amy Beach’s music and life (and, yes, there will be some performance, too!).
Fall Session Lessons
The current plan is continue with offering both in-person and virtual options for fall lessons, but patience is appreciated as we take this lingering pandemic one day at a time. I’ll be reaching out to students and families in the next week or two with details about Fall Session registration and scheduling.
There is currently a waitlist for Fall Session, so please be in touch with me as soon as possible if you’d like to get on the list. And don’t forget to follow Gardner Piano Studio on Facebook for musical resources, updates, and fun!
Wishing you a restful and rejuvenating August as we gear up for another academic year. (And if you’re already feeling rested and rejuvenated, August is the perfect time to practice, practice, practice!)
Yours in music,
Lillie