Interested in Making Music?

It is wonderful if you or your child is interested in playing an instrument!  If your child (or you) have been seriously considering a specific instrument, then that is the instrument you should pursue.  If you attempt to try another instrument before progressing to the one you really desire, then you might cause a lot of frustration that may turn into aversion.  Aversion may not always happen, but you have to consider the risk if you insist your child begins playing a different instrument before the one he or she really wants to play.

As with anything, conduct some personal research before you dive in.  Look up the history and invention of the instrument on Wikipedia, search on YouTube to see people playing the instrument.  If you know anyone personally who already plays, ask them to tell you about it, how the sound is produced or even to play a song for you.  If after all your research and self-education, your child (or you) continue to show an increasing interest in the instrument (note: voice, i.e. singing, is an instrument, too) then you need to begin to search for all your options.

There are many local music stores available where you can rent, rent to purchase, or buy various instruments who also provide music instruction, maintenance and repair specific to that instrument.  Shop around for the best offers.  Remember: you're in the driver's seat.  Personally, I recommend dealing with a local store for several key reasons.

1. You have a physical location where you can return the instrument for maintenance or in case you want to return it.
2. You have real people who can assist you through the process with personal customer service.
3. They are more likely to offer other financial options in regards to strict renting, renting towards purchase, three-month trials, etc. instead of just out-right purchasing.  
4. You are able to view and try the instrument before you make a commitment.  If you find an instrument online, like at Craigslist, Amazon or eBay, you don't truly know the condition of the instrument before you purchase it.  With Craigslist, you might not be able to return it for a refund or repair.  

 With children it can be difficult to discern when the time is right to pursue musical instruction.  I will approach the issue with my own children in the following manner.  If they express a serious interest in a particular instrument over a significant amount of time, say one year, for example, and they show enough discipline in other areas to where they can sit still for instruction and practice at least 5 days faithfully most weeks, then I will feel that they are ready to begin.  This would be the case where a financial and time investment needs to be made on my part.  When, and if, that time comes I would allow them to pursue whichever instrument they are inclined towards.  We would see if there are three-month rental trials available and test it out.  If my child practices on his or her own initiative, then we would continue for a year and maybe switch our payment options toward a rent to purchase.  I should not have to pressure my child to practice if he or she is truly interested in the instrument.  It should be something he or she enjoys doing.  

Likewise you must find a teacher who's style and personality are a good fit for you and your child.  Oftentimes students who are interested in the instrument will become averse to it if the teacher doesn't suit their personality.  As a parent, I would observe the lessons in the beginning to see how the teacher interacts with my child.  If it something doesn't seem to be working well, then we might need to change teachers.  Every individual student and teacher are unique and switching teachers should not be taken personally.  Your child needs a teacher who has mastered the instrument themselves, who is excited about your child learning the instrument, who can diagnose problems and explain concepts in the way that your child will understand, who can motivate your child to continue, and who can make your child feel at ease.  Observing the lessons in the beginning can help you determine if your child and that teacher will make a good match educationally.

I hope that this proves helpful to some of you parents out there who have children discussing musical instruction.

Reviews: AARP Volunteer Appreciation Dinner 2012

The following are handwritten comments I received from guests attending the Appreciation and Recognition Dinner hosted by AARP Saturday night, December 15, 2012.  The evening was moderated by Tobias Tillmon in the Marriott Atlanta Century Center Hotel.  I was contracted to play background music while the guests arrived to take their seats and also while they enjoyed the first dinner course.  For the former time allotment I played traditional Christmas carols.  For the later, featured selections, I performed three movements from The Solo Partita in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach entitled, Allemande, Corrente, & Giga followed by two Christmas carols arranged by Marilyn Carlson entitled Coventry Carol and, finally, Sweet Little Jesus Boy.

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"How blessed you are.  God has given you a talent.  I so enjoyed your music.  Good luck and God bless." 

Yvonne

"Meggan, Please continue to share your God-given gift with others!  Truly a blessing for me tonight and as the weeks will go by."

Emilia

"Meggan - Your talent is remarkable.  All of the selections, but especially the last, spoke to me.  You and your music became one.  It was very touching.  Thank you for sharing with us."

Ginny Reid

"Meggan Anderson you and your instrument were truly one.  Keep up the work."

"Awesome. I am so pleased to have had an opportunity to be able to witness this performance.  Continue to stay on your path.  Thank you!!"

"Great Job!  I love the presentation that you gave prior to beginning.  Not often do you get a chance to get the background story before hearing the selection.  *The last selection was moving - Thank You!"

"I truly enjoyed your music.  I know you are extremely talented and I would like to hear your music again.  Let me know if you will be available." 

Shirley Hunter

"Beautiful, precise playing!"

"Dear Meggan, Your violin playing is simply beautiful.  Your playing seems to be very effortless but your talent demonstrates that you have put a lot of hard work in developing your skill in music.  I appreciate hearing you share your talent.  May God continue to bless you."

Thomas Walter (I hope I read the name correctly. :-)

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Thank you, Tobias Tillmon, for contracting me to perform for your event.  It was an honor and joy for me to do so.

Studio Reviews: Vicki Johnson Art Opening 2011, Norcross Welcome Center

August 3rd, 2011 Vicki Johnson sat outside under a tent in the hot and humid Georgia heat to paint a portrait of the Welcome Center in the City of Norcross on Lawrenceville Street. She did a beautiful job. Inside were displayed just a few samples of her gallery of paintings. Most are acrylics or oils on canvas or wood mediums in the impressionist and romantic styles and all are lovely. There were hors d'oeuvres from The Blue House Cafe just around the corner on North Cemetery Street accompanied by solo violin music in the background provided by Meggan Anderson.

The following are written comments the guests graciously provided.

"Thank you Meggan. Great." - M. Sudderth

"Thank you Meggan for the beautiful music." - Grace

"Meggan,

The music is very beautiful and enchanting!

Keep up the good work.

Golden strings!" - Aleem & Chantez

"The music was DIVINE

. . . a rare treat . . .

your talent is amazing.

Thank you for sharing your 'gift'!" -Beth Gayle

"Meggan,

Your violin speaks to the heart.

Your talent is amazing." - Richard Gayle

"Music was really beautifully done! Thanks! :-D" - Anonymous

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If you are interested in providing your guests with solo violin music for your next event, large or small, comment on this post below or email me at andersonmusicstudio@ymail.com and I'll be glad to speak with you on the services I can offer.

The Anderson Music Studio Handbook

Welcome to The Anderson Music Studio!

This handbook is a resource guide for all things concerning 

any musical instruction I provide.

If you have any questions regarding the following information, please feel free to comment on this post, call (770.841.5547) or send me an email (andersonmusicstudio@ymail.com). Your personal information will always be protected from public view.

Thank you for perusing.

A Letter to Parents & Students

Dear Parents and Students,

Music is defined as a pitch in time. But the whole of music cannot be confined to a simple mathematical equation.

Music is an expression of the soul. Through music one can engage in the highest of all exercises, the worship of the Holy Creator, Redeemer God. Music can proclaim critical truths from God's Word, it can make Scripture memory easier, it can comfort the hearts of hurting and doubtful people and it can communicate the entire gambit of human emotions across all languages, nationalities, ethnicities, cultures and ages. It is a gift from God by which the musician can glorify God in return or bless others in ministry.

Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Psalm 33:3

Music is just as much a discipline as reading, writing and arithmetic. And just as other disciplines require skill, though there may be a measure of talent or gift involved, so does music require the learning of particular skills to execute proficiently. Talent allows the assimilation of such skills to come easily, but correct, regular practice is needed for adapting these new skills until they are effectively mastered. Not every student needs natural talent in order to become a fine musician. All that is required is patient, disciplined practice and a skillful, caring, thoughtful, attentive teacher. I look forward to providing you with such a teacher for as long as you would allow.

It is my desire

• to provide a comfortable and safe learning environment for each student,

• to teach and encourage each student to the best of my abilities,

• to be sensitive to the learning needs of each student,

• to help each student set realistic goals for achievement,

• to adjust the teaching to the goals of each student,

• to treat you with respect,

• to exercise justice,

• to be flexible to the needs and circumstances of each student in terms of scheduling and other emergencies, etc. that arise,

• to always remember that all things are done "to the glory of God" from whom and to whom are all things.

I consider it a privilege to work with you.

Sincerely,

Meggan Anderson

Services & Payments

Private violin instruction begins at $20 for one half-hour lesson, $28 for a forty-five minute lesson or $35 for one hour lesson.

General music instruction in areas of literacy, theory, sight-singing and ear-training, composition and arranging are available for $10 for one half-hour and $20 for one hour. This instruction may be given to individuals or groups.

These rates are effective for lessons given in my home. If you are interested in brief, 2 to 6 week courses in general music instruction, other teaching locations will be strongly considered.

Payments for each month are made at the first lesson of every month. This method of payment allows for paper conservation, reduced confusion regarding payments and ease for lesson scheduling.

There is a First Month Trial Offer by which a new student pays for 3 lessons and receives the fourth free. This is to allow time for the student, parent and teacher to decide whether it is desirable to continue. There is no initial obligation, no commitments and no signed contracts. It is important to find a teacher with whom the student and parent are comfortable and that may take some time.

If a lesson needs to be cancelled or rescheduled, kindly give 24 hours advance notice to avoid financial responsibility. In the event that a student will be absent from a scheduled lesson, given prior knowledge, a credit will be made toward the next month for that missed lesson. If prior notice of 24 hours has not been given, payment for that lesson is forfeit.

Exceptions to avoid financial responsibility for missed lessons include: personal and family emergencies, contagious/serious illness which require medical attention, inclement weather and threats to national security.

In the event that a student discontinues lessons any payment credits will be promptly refunded. The parent and teacher are free to discontinue lessons for any reason at any time.

Schedule, Absence & Tardy Policies

The Music Studio offers lessons Mondays through Saturdays. Specific day and time arrangements for each student can be made once contact is established. Lessons can begin at any time during the course of the month or year.

It is optimal to schedule lessons once weekly. In this way, the student is given sufficient practice time between lessons to establish a regular daily/weekly routine and schedule for each individual family and home. Other scheduling arrangements can be made for special auditions, performances, and vacations. I am also available to teach lessons twice weekly, if that is desirable.

Please remember to notify me at least 24 hours in advance if you need to cancel or reschedule a lesson in order to avoid financial responsibility. For sudden illnesses and emergencies in less than 24 hours, a courtesy call would be greatly appreciated. If a lesson should be missed for an emergency, the student will not be financially responsible (see Services & Payments).

If a student is tardy for the lesson, please note that there may not be the opportunity to have a full lesson and it may have to end at the normal time. If I am able, I will do my best to accommodate the situation at hand. It is my goal to be respectful of your time and end each lesson as scheduled.

Should the road conditions become severe, all lessons for that day would be cancelled or postponed at no charge.

Practice Policy

Each individual student will progress at his or her own rate. Consistent, disciplined practice is necessary for laying a solid foundation for assimilating music skills. It is very important to practice in an environment absent of all possible distractions such as television, radio and other music/noise-making devices. Some individuals can concentrate only in silence, while others can focus better with a little background noise -- whatever works best.

The student should practice in such a manner that he or she should be thoroughly prepared for the next lesson. Perfection is not expected or demanded, but preparation is essential. An excellent summation is, "Quality not quantity." It is better to be confident with one or two measures or lines than to have an entire page or song played with many mistakes. In this way, though progress may be slow, both teacher and student may be encouraged that the diligence will pay off in the end.

The amount of practice time will vary greatly on the skill level, concentration, desire, and free time of each student. For beginning students, 20 to 30 minutes a day for 5 or 6 days is adequate. For those students at a higher skill level, one hour a day may be the minimum.

The student is responsible for diligence in his or her practice habits. While the teacher is present to give instruction and aid in providing help, the responsibility is upon the individual efforts of each student for his or her success. In other words, it is almost impossible for the teacher, meeting once a week, to cause the musical success of a student who does not practice in his or her own time. The teacher is provided to help guide the student in his or her endeavors, much like the headlights on a vehicle. The student is the whole remaining parts of the car -- the engine, gas, etc. -- the teacher provides instruction and guidance for what the student already possesses, the ability to become a fine musician.

Literature & Materials

The required literature will depend on the specific goals of each individual student. General required materials will include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Individual instrument in working order with all accompanying components,

• Instrumental maintenance materials,

• Notebook,

• Pencil,

• Metronome,

• Scale exercises,

• Instructional method book, and

• Level-appropriate repertoire.

Resource Information

Instrument Dealers

Atlanta Violins

387 South Atlanta Street, Roswell GA 30075

770.642.8111

Huthmaker Bowed String Instruments

3140 Main Street, Duluth GA 30096

770.476.9443

Music & Arts

1905 Scenic Hwy, Ste 610, Snellville GA 30078

770.982.0822

884 Buford Hwy, Ste 1000, Lawrenceville GA 30043

770.277.7300

PianoWorks

2805 Buford Highway, Duluth GA 30096

770.623.0683

Ronald Sachs Violins LLC

836 Pleasant Hill Road NW, Lilburn GA 30047

770.931.2440

Village Music

5775 Jimmy Carter Boulevard #220, Norcross GA 30071

770.300.3387

Sheet Music Suppliers

Hutchins & Rea

4016 Flowers Road, Suite 430, Atlanta GA 30360

1.800.753.BACH

J. W. Pepper

9053 Riverside Parkway, Lithia Springs GA 30122

770.941.9100

Music & Arts

1905 Scenic Hwy, Ste 610, Snellville GA 30078

770.982.0822

884 Buford Hwy, Ste 1000, Lawrenceville GA 30043

770.277.7300

Expectations for Parents & Students

The following are the responsibilities I expect each student to assume.

The student will:

• Arrive at each scheduled lesson on time with all of the required materials;

• Arrive at each lesson well prepared, having practiced the previously assigned passages;

• Arrive at each lesson ready to learn and ask questions with a positive attitude; and

• Perform in a public or semi-public venue at least once annually to celebrate his or her achievement;

• Notify Mrs. Anderson in the event that he or she will be absent for a scheduled lesson.

I understand that not all students will have an accompanying parent, given his or her age. However, in those cases, these are the obligations I assume each parent will willingly undertake.

The parent(s) will:

• Provide contact information;

• Provide any necessary timely transportation;

• Provide any necessary instrument and materials in a timely manner;

• Provide a conducive home environment for individual practice, i.e. remove as many distractions as possible;

• Provide positive, encouraging support;

• Freely address any concerns or questions for immediate resolution.

Biography

Having been born into a musical family, the presence of music always filled our house with my Dad playing guitar and Mom singing. As much as I heard them daily and my Grandfather, John Jackson, regularly perform in many public and private venues, I wasn't interested in playing anything until I saw my neighbor playing viola in the school assembly. I haven't parted from the violin since.

At ten years old, I began to learn through the public school strings program in the fifth grade. I enjoyed it and began to take consistent private lessons in seventh grade. At that point I began to compete for positions in audition-based orchestras: All-County, Regional and State Orchestras. In high school I had opportunities to play solos before my peers and in church worship services.

My skills continued to improve and I auditioned for college scholarships, one of which I was awarded at George Mason University where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. I loved to play with the orchestras there and in the Woodbridge community, namely, The Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra.

During my time there, I felt an increasing desire and pressure to perform in a career setting, but strongly felt the need to continue my training and education. Having been brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ at 18, I followed, what I know now, to have been the Lord's will and pursued a Master's of Music degree in Solo Performance in the Church, at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

There I continued to focus on developing a professional quality of violin performance while minoring in piano and becoming vocally proficient, as required. When I concluded my studies at SBTS in 2006, I knew that I could not perform for a professional symphony orchestra as a career because of certain physical constraints, among other reasons, and I became content with that.

I have been teaching violin since 2000 to the present. What I have enjoyed most about teaching is the ability to watch and encourage students of all ages, from 6 even to 60, to grow in their skills. I prefer to teach privately because my teaching methods can be focused on the needs of each individual student. In this way, the student is able to better excel at his or her pace.

Norcross Welcome Center: Vicki Johnson Art Opening 2011

August 3rd, 2011 Vicki Johnson sat outside under a tent in the hot and humid Georgia heat to paint a portrait of the Welcome Center in the City of Norcross on Lawrenceville Street. She did a beautiful job. Inside were displayed just a few samples of her gallery of paintings. Most are acrylics or oils on canvas or wood mediums in the impressionist and romantic styles and all are lovely. There were hors d'oeuvres from The Blue House Cafe just around the corner on North Cemetery Street accompanied by solo violin music in the background provided by Meggan Anderson.

The following are written comments the guests graciously provided.

"Thank you Meggan. Great." - M. Sudderth

"Thank you Meggan for the beautiful music." - Grace

"Meggan,

The music is very beautiful and enchanting!

Keep up the good work.

Golden strings!" - Aleem & Chantez

"The music was DIVINE

. . . a rare treat . . .

your talent is amazing.

Thank you for sharing your 'gift'!" -Beth Gayle

"Meggan,

Your violin speaks to the heart.

Your talent is amazing." - Richard Gayle

"Music was really beautifully done! Thanks! :-D" - Anonymous

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If you are interested in providing your guests with solo violin music for your next event, large or small, comment on this post below or email me at andersonmusicstudio@ymail.com and I'll be glad to speak with you on the services I can offer.