Summer is just around the corner, and I’d love to keep the music going with you. Here’s how summer lessons work:
🎻 Summer lessons are à la carte — sign up for as many or as few as you’d like.
📅 Scheduling Use the link below to book directly on my calendar. Please be aware that your regular lesson day and time may not be available during July and August, and not all weeks are open — so browse what’s there and grab what works for you.
💰 Pricing • 30-minute lesson: $35 • 45- or 60-minute lessons: reserve two consecutive slots (let me know if it’s for a 45-minute lesson so I can invoice accordingly!)
You’ll be invoiced after your appointments are scheduled. Payment is required for all summer lessons on or before the first lesson in July. 10% cash discount is still applicable for summer lessons.
🌟 A little encouragement I know summers get busy, but even a handful of lessons makes a real difference. Students who maintain some regularity over the summer come back to fall lessons ready to build on what they’ve learned rather than spending the first month getting back up to speed. Sign up for as many as you can!
If you have been practicing Celtic music in group class, you know who you are!
If you haven’t been coming to group classes and getting ready for this performance, please come support your fellow violinists on Saturday!
The nitty gritty:
there will be no group class this Wednesday 6/10
wear your String Beans T-Shirt
I’m picking them up tomorrow and will hand them out during lessons this week, and will bring them to the Market if I haven’t given you yours before then!
arrive early and account for parking being potentially challenging
I will be there around 11:15
bring a sturdy stand if you have one
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This is the info from the Farmer’s Market:
We’re looking forward to having The String Beans play at the Port Orchard Farmers Market this Saturday (June 13)! You will have set up, performance, and breakdown use of the Gazebo area from 12PM to 2PM. The market is open 9AM-2PM. We’ve got a full day of entertainment planned with Two Fiddles Plus playing throughout the market footprint (wandering performers) from 9AM to 12PM.
PARKING
Attached is the Vendor Parking Lots map that shows parking lots (marked in green) available for you to use in the downtown Port Orchard area. Please be aware that many other parking areas in Port Orchard have 2 and 4-Hour parking limits, and there is a small area of paid parking closest to the market. The parking lots in the attached document are available to us on a first come first served basis from 6AM to 4PM. Print the map or have it handy on your phone.
Kitsap County Family Support lot, 730 Prospect Street
Gravel lot across the street from PO City Hall main entrance, 216 Prospect Street
Kitsap Bank overflow lot across Bay Street from the Bank and next to to Western WA Center for the Arts
LOAD-IN
If you arrive before we become pedestrian only (8:30AM), you can drive right over to the Gazebo to unload and then move your car to one of the parking lots. The attachedBase Map shows in red arrows the one way traffic of the market for loading/unloading.
Our market is pedestrian only from 8:30AM to 2:15PM, so you will need to carry/cart items to the Gazebo if you arrive after 8:30AM. After 8:30AM, I recommend that you pull your vehicle up to the sandwich board signs that block off the market area to unload. We have a cart at the Market Info Booth you can borrow if needed. The Gazebo is marked on the map and there is power available.
LOAD-OUT
At 2:15PM we open the parking lot up to vendor traffic for loading out. If you load out prior to 2:15PM, you can pull your vehicle up to the sandwich board signs that block off the market area to load.
Please note that while we do allow sound amplification, musicians performances must not interfere with market operations or vendors ability to conduct business. Please keep your sound amplification to a low/medium level. At any time, market staff may request that you turn down the volume. Market operations and vendor rights take priority and we ask musicians to respond to staff requests as quickly as possible.
I will be announcing your performance with us on social media and in our newsletter this Thursday.
With the solo recital coming up, this is the ideal moment to take a hard look at the condition of your strings. The quality and lifespan of violin strings have a measurable impact on sound. When strings get worn out, tone dulls, tuning becomes unstable, and even strong playing can sound muted.
If your strings are older than 9–12 months (or 6 months with heavy practice), it’s likely time to replace them.
Recommendations:
Dominant or Evah Pirazzi: they cost more but they genuinely sound better and last longer than lower-tier options.
Please make sure to treat this as an EVENT. Soloists have been working hard all year and this recital is their chance to be recognized for that.
Bring flowers for the soloist, take pictures and video, invite friends and family, and stay for the reception.
Please give plenty of time in your schedule for this, and do not rush off immediately afterwards for that other thing you wanted to cram in. Since this is an afternoon event, please make sure that everyone is well-rested and your morning is not over-scheduled.
Solo recitals only happen once a year – give this the priority that it deserves.
DATE/TIME/LOCATION
RECITAL DETAILS
DATE:
Saturday, May 23rd
TIME:
Piano run-throughs: 12:00pm Performance: 2:00pm reception to follow
LOCATION:
Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 4418 Perry Ave NE Bremerton, WA 98310
RUNTHROUGH AT NOON Our accompanist, Brian Kenny, will be at the church at 12:00 for run-throughs. This will be the only opportunity to do a warmup/check-in/test run with him. Each student will only have a few minutes for their runthrough so please come prepared.
Please take a moment on Saturday to thank Brian for his collaboration with our studio.
RECITAL DRESS
Dress nicely but comfortably.
No high-heeled shoes.
Wear a top that allows for free movement of the arms.
Hair must be away from your face.
Fingernails must be short.
RECEPTION
We will have a dessert/hors d’oeuvres reception afterwards Please bring something to share.
BRING
Your violin – check that your bow and shoulder rest is in the case A snack or treat to share afterwards Your friends and family
PERFORMANCE (practice all of this at home!):
rest position
walk onto the stage
introduce yourself and your piece “my name is _______ and I will be playing _______”
playing position
make eye contact with accompanist and nod when you are ready for him to start
play your piece
rest position
smile
bow for three seconds
walk back to your seat
RECITAL PROGRAM
Jakob Hoedown
Nicole Twinkle Theme
Phoebe Second Twinkle Variation, “Ice Cream – shh – Cone”
Mira Third Twinkle Variation, “Run Suzy, Run Suzy”
Lexi First Twinkle Variation, “Taka Taka Stop Stop”
Camille Fifth Twinkle Variation, “Grandma Rides a Motorcycle”
Danica French Folk Song
Wren Long Long Ago
Angela Perpetual Motion
Leora Fifth Twinkle Variation, “Grandma Rides a Motorcycle”
Nathan The Two Grenadiers
Ryane The Happy Farmer
Isabel Hunter’s Chorus
Clark Minuet 1 (Bach)
Whitney Allegro
Cordelia Gavotte (Lully)
Blythe Minuet 1 (Bach)
Ellie Minuet and Trio (Beethoven)
Harper Minuet 3 (Bach)
Megan Allegro
Sezzy Gavotte in g minor (Bach)
Minah Concerto in a minor, movement III (Vivaldi)
Yunah Concerto no. 2, movement III (Seitz)
Jason Concerto no. 5, movement III (Seitz)
CONCERT ETIQUETTE:
Please silence phones and other devices completely. During performances, we ask that audience members avoid talking or moving around, since even small distractions can make it difficult for performers to concentrate.
At the end of each piece, clap enthusiastically! The students have worked hard for this. If you need to leave the room, please wait until a performer has finished before getting up or returning to your seat.
With the holiday recital coming up, this is the ideal moment to take a hard look at the condition of your strings. The quality and lifespan of violin strings have a measurable impact on sound. When strings get worn out, tone dulls, tuning becomes unstable, and even strong playing can sound muted.
If your strings are older than 9–12 months (or 6 months with heavy practice), it’s likely time to replace them.
Recommendations:
Dominant or Evah Pirazzi: they cost more but they genuinely sound better and last longer than lower-tier options.
As we move deeper into the semester, I want to acknowledge a stage of the learning cycle that applies to all levels, beginners and “veterans” alike. The early excitement of the new school year has faded, and we’re entering the phase where lasting progress depends on consistency and follow-through. This is true whether a student is working on Twinkles or polishing a concerto.
A dip in motivation right now is not a problem; it simply means we’ve reached the point where craft begins. Repetition, stamina, attention, and detail become the real drivers of progress. Students who stay steady through this stretch make noticeable leaps by January, regardless of where they are in the repertoire.
Practice doesn’t need to be long or miserable. It needs to be structured and repeatable. Five focused minutes a day will always produce more growth than one heroic session the day before your lesson or rehearsal. If practice at home has become emotional, chaotic, or inconsistent, that’s not failure; it just means the routine needs a better system. I’m happy to help troubleshoot and share practice-game strategies and tools for anyone who needs new ideas.
Holiday performance opportunities are coming up, and the work done now determines whether students walk on stage confident or anxious. This is a chance to share music with loved ones and to experience the payoff of steady effort.
Thank you for supporting your student through this essential phase of the process. Your consistency at home matters more than talent, age, or “natural enthusiasm.” If you’d like help making practice smoother, more efficient, or more enjoyable while still productive, reach out anytime.
Great advice from this month’s Strings Magazine about how to prepare for playing in an orchestra, and basic expectations and etiquette. This is written about community orchestras but applies to youth orchestras too!
String Beans Studio 