Allegro Notes
Spring 2021
Spring is in full bloom and we’re rushing our way toward summer here in Alameda, California. Things are beautiful outside. The plants are happy, the children are finally outside playing, and it looks like we’re starting a new cycle.
I wish I could say the same thing for the piano studio. We re-opened this month, May 2021, for the first time in 14 months, but we are taking precautions and moving slowly. I have accepted 6 students into the studio for their lessons. Everyone else is still on ZOOM. There is an Allegro teacher who gives lessons in the home, if that is what the family wants. He has been fully vaccinated (Moderna) and takes every precaution when visiting homes.
About a third of our students are preparing recital pieces for the recital we ARE NOT having this spring. It gives them something to work on that’s fancier and cooler than their usual repertoire and we make sure that the degree of difficulty of these pieces will stretch their skills level. If your student would like to do one too, just let me know.
Of all the summer courses that we offer at Allegro Piano Studios, the most important is the Sightreading and we are planning to do it in a modified form this summer This is the only workshop that we’ll run this summer and it will be offered for 6 or 7 weeks during the months of June, July and August. There will be a 4-6pm group and a 6-8pm group. There will be a maximum of 6 students per group and students will have to sign up for specific groups in order to maintain the attendance properly. There will still be drop ins, but they will happen when almost everybody has already taken the course. If your student will be away for part of the week they are attending, they will be able to make up those days in July or August.
The price of the course is still $250, the same price it has been for the past three years. The course runs for 2 hours a day, for 5 days. It is best to do it intensively: all 10 hours in 5 days. If a child has to miss some classes, they can make it up nicely by doing 2 or 3 days per week for 3 weeks or so. A drop-in fee for extra classes will be charged on the 6th day the student attends the workshop.
There will be no student teachers this summer unless our current situation with the virus changes dramatically for the better. Children who attend the workshop will be masked and separated throughout the 3 rooms of the studio, so there will be plenty of space between them. The keyboards will be sanitized before and after each use.
Please remember that if your student is studying the ABRSM syllabus, the Sightreading Workshop is a requirement. If they are on any of our other programs, it is not a requirement but it is highly recommended. It is the best course we have ever created.
I wish you all a happy Spring and hope you have time to get out and enjoy these beautiful days!
Best,
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Camille Escudero
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