2026-2027 Events
October 17-18, 2026 — Group Classes
December 5-6, 2026 — Group Classes
January 24, 2027 — Performance Class & Guest Artist Workshop
February 27-28, 2027 — Group Classes
April 10-11, 2027 — Group Classes
May 22, 2027 — Student Final Recital
How to Practice
Use the Practice Guide below. It logs your practice for you — no comments needed.
Press Start from # whatever number it shows. It picks up where you stopped last time.
Press Start, read the assignment, practice.
Tap the kind of practice, then press Done.
Press Next practice item and go again.
Capped items count down and chime. Keep going if it's going well.
Some assignments finish. Those carry a Done for the Week button. Press it when the job is done and the assignment comes off your list. Technique and repertoire don't have one; those are every day.
Need the metronome, a recorder or the NFPER colors? They are in Practice Tools, right under the practice types. Tap one and it opens inside your assignment. Tap Close to put it away.
Got something to say about an assignment? Paste the line it gives you into the comments and add your note.
Log only what you actually did, on the day you did it. Five minutes is a real entry.
Log every practice session from today. The competition starts October 1 — practicing and logging now is how we get the kinks out.
🟩 on track · 🟨 needs extra attention · 🟪 didn't get to it at the lesson · 🟥 priority · ⬛️ on hold, don't practice this one · 🟧 mine, not yours
[PRACTICE TOOLS]
Setup
1. 🟩 Music Binder
THIS WEEK: Move your blue papers into the new binder and put your name in the sleeve.
One-time assignment.
Your name goes in the sleeve on the front.
Anything I ask you to print goes in the binder.
Binder open at the piano, iPad for the Practice Guide only.
The yellow binder is finished. Move your blue papers across.
Songwriting
All four free writes, same method
One a day. Five minutes each.
Date every free write.
Don't stop to fix mistakes. Keep the pen moving until the timer ends.
Each one is done once. Press Done for the Week and it comes off your list.
Get these four done and we start playing new music next lesson.
2. 🟩 Free Write, Flint Park
THIS WEEK: Five minutes on Flint Park. Keep the pen moving.
⏱ Max 5 minutes per practice session.
Topic: Flint Park.
This is a one-off assignment. Once it is done it does not need to come up again.
3. 🟩 Free Write, Friends
THIS WEEK: Five minutes on Friends. Keep the pen moving.
⏱ Max 5 minutes per practice session.
Topic: Friends.
This is a one-off assignment. Once it is done it does not need to come up again.
4. 🟩 Free Write, School
THIS WEEK: Five minutes on School. Keep the pen moving.
⏱ Max 5 minutes per practice session.
Topic: School.
This is a one-off assignment. Once it is done it does not need to come up again.
5. 🟩 Free Write, Love This Place
THIS WEEK: Five minutes on Love This Place. Keep the pen moving.
⏱ Max 5 minutes per practice session.
Topic: Love This Place.
This is a one-off assignment. Once it is done it does not need to come up again.
Where It's All Heading
Free write → pull out the words that matter → free write on each of those → build the chorus → find the hook → write the verses → then write the music.
You are on step 2. The end goal is a song you can play and sing, words and music both yours.
Keep Your Papers
Blue papers go in your music binder. Back in the binder every time.