October 2026 Fall Studio News

SCROLL DOWN for:

1.  October Invoices

2.   No Lessons October 12-15

3.   Performance Masterclass #2

4.   Performance Attendance

5.   Kudos to Stellar Students!

6.   Upcoming Performances – Students

7.   Upcoming Performances – Mrs. Fall

8.   Interesting Links

1. OCTOBER INVOICES

October tuition invoices were sent by email today. For some students, there may be additional charges for music and/or supplies. During the school year, payments are due on or before the first lesson of each month.

Tuition payments can be made by check or using the PayPal or Venmo payment services. If using PayPal or Venmo, please send as a payment to a friend. If you choose to send payment for goods or services, the additional 3.5% fee will be passed on to you.

Please contact Mrs. Fall if you have any questions about tuition or billing.

2. NO LESSONS OCTOBER 12-15

Mr. & Mrs. Fall will take their annual Fall (pre-basketball season) vacation. This year they are travelling to San Sebastián in Spain, and Bordeaux and Sarlat-la-Canéda in France! They return to the states on October 17. Lessons resume (with added jet lag) on Monday, October 19.

Keep practicing!!

3. PERFOMANCE MASTERCLASS #2

We will begin each class with mock auditions for students who are preparing for District Honors Orchestras.

Next will be performances by students who are preparing for performances in the November NVMTA General and Judged Recitals.

As time allows, students will then perform solo repertoire in progress.

Performance selections and order will be emailed and posted on the studio website about a week ahead.

Sunday, October 4

Group A (violas)

5:00-6:30pm

Sol

Nathan

Jinger

Jason

Donnovon

Group B (violins)

7:00-830pm

Rebecca

Eilin

Noah

Jaden

Emily

4. PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE

Jason and Eilin have both completed the Performance Attendance requirement for 2026-2027!

Jason has attended 14 concerts!

Eilin has attended 4 concerts!

      Outstanding!! Don’t stop now – keep attending concerts!!



Rebecca, Jaden, and Sol have each attended one concert. Way to go!!

For Performance Attendance credit, bring a program or ticket stub to your lesson. If there is no program or ticket stub available, bring or send a selfie photo of you at the concert.

Remember: In order to maintain a place in the studio, all students are required to attend a minimum of 3 concerts/performances performed by professional musicians of their instrument during the school year. Students are, however, encouraged to attend as many concerts as possible!

5. KUDOS TO STELLAR STUDENTS

Sol, Donnovon, Emily, Jaden, Nathan, Jinger and Jason have worked tirelessly toward the September 29^th Regional Orchestra auditions. At this writing, we don’t know the results, but each one deserves high praise for his/her level of preparation!!

BRAVI!!

6. UPCOMING PERFORMANCES – STUDENTS

VBODA District 11 Senior Honors Orchestra Auditions

Tuesday, October 27 – District 11

Eilin and Noah will audition for this elite orchestra!

Break a leg!!

7. UPCOMING PERFORMANCES – MRS. FALL

No performances in October – more time to focus on YOU! :-)

8. INTERESTING LINKS The most interesting and helpful links that have come across my radar this month:

Artists as Athletes: Why Musicians Should Look After Their Bodies Like Sportspeople

Violinist Laura Frautschi shares her experiences and approaches to maintaining a high level of physical and mental endurance as a musician, drawing parallels between the demands of professional musicians and elite athletes

Wilhelm Magner: 10 Ideas to Stop Wasting Time in Practice

University of Texas-Austin Viola Professor Wilhelm Magner shares 10 valuable steps to make practicing more efficient. Watch one tip or all 10. Worth your time!

Ma and the Art of Balancing the Bow Hand

“The empty space [ma] inside the palm is the defining feature of the bow hold, and the key to understanding why freedom is possible at all. Not a passive absence but a structurally active presence: the place where balance lives, where forces meet, where control originates.”

Great article on how the bow hand should work.

How to Relax Your Left Hand When Playing the Violin (or Viola)

In this article, Julia Temeer shares her best tips for relaxing one’s left hand, wrist, and thumb.

Humidifiers for String Instruments 101

What's the deal with humidifiers for violin, viola, cello, or bass? Why is it important to regulate an instrument's exposure to humidity? Shar Music's Aaron Johnson and Michael Holmes get into the particulars on this important topic.

Just for fun….

When Classical Music Feels Like a Rock Concert

Can-Can!! Enjoy!

Keep Practicing!! Remember Fall’s Law!!

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