By: Renee Bordner
NWE Music Studio Director

One of the frequently asked questions from parents and instructors, is about how much a child should practice their music assignments.

I prefer to have students start with a simple formula. Each student is asked to play each assigned piece four times throughout the week. I encourage students to make their goal of playing each piece a total of twenty times in between the weekly lessons.  Students are usually successful if they make tally marks on the music or in their assignment notebooks.  This visible tracking system creates an easy opportunity for us to discuss how the practice went throughout the week with the student, parents, caregiver and myself.

In order to keep the practice interesting for our beginner students, I ask them to focus on one element each of the four times they play each piece.  The first time, students are encouraged to play the piece through focusing on the correct notes. The second time they are asked to focus on the rhythm and counting out loud or with a metronome (an app can be used). I ask students to focus on dynamics and any articulations the third time through.  The fourth time can be a lot of fun for some students and that is when I ask students to sing along while playing.  If the piece does not have lyrics, I encourage students to create them!

This system works well with beginner students who need structure in getting started with a solid practice routine.  Once a student can consistently achieve the above recommendations, then it is simple to increase the frequency and length of each practice session.  The process helps students break down the various elements of music into smaller steps.  When a student is in the habit of breaking the music into sections, it is very easy for a student to independently analyze what he or she should practice in a piece.

If your student or you have any questions about setting up a solid practice routine, please feel free to contact me for additional ideas.

Best wishes and have fun practicing!

By: Renee Bordner
​NWE Music Studio Director

​2021 is finally here!  I think the entire world is thrilled that 2020 is behind us!  

Originally, I had envisioned my word of the year for 2020 to be "grace" or "present" which I truly tried to adopt as my focus.  However in mid March "grace" and "being present" were replaced with "survival", "pivot" "perseverance" and "enough already"!

For 2021, what will our word of the year be?  Will it be "empower", "evolve", "resilience" or something else?  I am not sure yet.  I do know that whatever 2021 ends up being known for globally, there will be music.  There is music all around us all of the time.  Knowing that we will always have music is comforting and encouraging.  

As you start your 2021 New Year Resolutions be sure to include music in some way.  Best wishes to you and yours in the new year!

By: Renee Bordner
NWE Music Studio Director

No really, what is on your music stand?  If you are a musician or the parent of a musician, this is an important question.  A musician should be working on at least one piece of music that the musician selected to work on.  Yes it is very important for student musicians to work on warm ups, scales, method books, technique drills, etc..  If a musician has a recital, audition or competition then of course the musician should be working on preparing for the pieces specific to the event.  However, if a musician is not preparing for a major event it is also important for a student musician to explore a wide variety of music that is interesting to him or her!  There should be a balance for every music student of what is interesting, motivating and appealing to the student AND what the instructor believes will help the student continue to progress as a well rounded musician.  IF you believe that there is not a balance in your student musician's assignments, talk to your instructor and or myself.  I am always willing to help find new and creative ways to inspire a student musician.  In fact, here are a few of the piano pieces I have learned recently in order to prepare for my students' lessons... A Medley from the Halo 3 Video Games, The theme from the television show The Office, multiple pieces from Frozen 2 and "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns & Roses.  These pieces were very fun to learn since my students were excited by them.

So, ask yourself and your musician "What's on your music stand?" and consider adding more music that is appealing to your student musician.

By: Renee Bordner
​NWE Music Studio Director

​As the studio owner, as a piano teacher and as a mom I am often asked when is a good time for someone to start music lessons.  I am often asked if a child is too young or a senior citizen is too old.  I am happy to address this question here but if you have additional questions, please contact me directly.  I am happy to discuss your specific situation and help guide you in deciding what is best.

For me, the answer is very simple. If someone is excited and interested in learning then that is the perfect time or age to learn.  Students are never too old!  Sometimes students are too young for private one on one lessons and may be more appropriate for a group music and movement setting.  I do suggest starting very young students off with shorter lessons and an instructor who specializes in working with beginner students.

We do not have set semesters and required numbers of lessons for students for these very reasons.  Not all students' needs and interests fit neatly into semesters and lesson packages. I feel it is best for a student to start lessons when they are ready and interested even if it is in the middle of an academic grading period.

Another question I am often asked is how long of a lesson should my student have.  I typically recommend a half hour lesson for a beginner student and then increase the lesson time after a student shows signs of readiness.  To me signs of readiness include when a student says things like, "But wait I want to show you this!", when a student is still asking more questions that are relevant to the lesson even after the lesson is over or when a student simply does not have enough material to practice throughout the week.  In our Frequently Asked Questions section of our website, you can also see our team's recommendations on lengths of lessons.  http://www.note-worthyexperiences.com/faqs.html  these recommendations are truly recommendations and not set rules for our students. I always suggest discussing increasing lesson lengths with your instructor to weigh the benefits and discuss expectations.  

I am also always happy to discuss lesson plans, lesson readiness and goals for students at any time.  Feel free to reach out to me to chat further. 

By: Renee Bordner
​NWE Music Studio Director

I like many have been ready to wrap up 2020 for quite some time. 2020 has been a year for the record books for everyone!  I am looking forward to a fresh start and new year resolutions for 2021.  But first, we have a full weekend of seven holiday recitals and seven awards ceremonies planned!  We will watch, listen and celebrate 155 of our students' successes of the year!  This will be our first time hosting online recitals, this will be the first time we have had seven recitals in one weekend, and this will be our first time with 155 performers!  While I prefer in person events, I am really excited about keeping a tradition alive in a new way!  We will have photos up on our social media after, so please take the time to check them all out.

In 2020 our students, instructors and our studio did have many successes!  Some successes included students learning to play their first note while some students won music competitions and auditions!  My phone and computer were busy with excited parents and teachers sharing the latest news with me. Our instructors also kept my phone and computer busy with news about babies, engagements, graduations and exciting life milestones.  We captured photos and videos of many of these and posted them on our social media pages.  I have found myself going through these voice messages, texts, emails and social media posts on some of our longer tough pandemic days. We truly did have a successful year in the midst of all that surrounded us.  I know that at the end of this year we are all stronger.  

I do hope that you and your family take a break from the daily busy routine and enjoy time with those who are important to you this holiday season even if it is over a video chat.  Thank you for your support of NWE during 2020.  We look forward to continuing to work with you and your family in 2021.

By: Renee Bordner
​NWE Music Studio Director

​My friend, Christina Granahan, wrote this piece about how creativity accesses all three centers of intelligence. Please take the time to read her article ​https://christinagranahan.com/category/blog/. By now, all of us have heard that listening to music is "good for you" and "therapeutic". Reading Christina's article may help you understand how and why music benefits us humans. Feel free to send us your thoughts on the article and tell us how music affects you.

By: Renee Bordner
NWE Studio Music Director

By: Renee Bordner
​NWE Music Studio Director

By: Renee Bordner
​NWE Music Studio Director

Hello Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio!

Happy September!  

Autumn is my absolute favorite time of the year as I love the excitement of the back to school season, college football, and pumpkin spice everything.  However, this autumn is presenting itself with some new twists and turns for absolutely everyone.  

I truly appreciate all of you being incredibly patient as we navigate our fall schedules for in person, online and hybrid lessons.  A huge shout out to those of you who have opted for outdoor lessons and have been flexible due to heat advisories and thunderstorms!

Our team put together many on line free family fun nights and group workshops for our NWE community this spring and summer.  For this fall, we will focus on consistent one-on-one lessons, our outdoor performance, practice club, outdoor band rehearsals and preparing for Winter Holiday Recitals.  I will be hosting a free online workshop for parents who want to help their students with consistent practice routines.  I appreciate all of the feedback from parents and students that consistent weekly lessons have been helpful to have a somewhat "normal" routine in the midst of this global pandemic.

During this pandemic, I have been incredibly impressed by everyone's support of our students.  In addition I have been blown away by the support of our instructors, all of whom are also performers who are not performing regularly during this crisis.

I have been blessed to bring additional team members to our team, thank you for welcoming them.
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Please continue to reach out to me with any questions or concerns at any time.  I am here for our students and I can only help with a challenge when I am aware.  Please continue to send photos of videos of our students and instructors in action.
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Enjoy the autumn and stay healthy!

For 17 years, it sat in silence. But if that guitar could talk, it’d tell you it was watched over with care. It’d tell you how I’d never let the dust settle on it; I’d clean it and gently place it in its spot. If that guitar could talk, it’d tell you about the places it lived and how in those moves it watched me go from a young working professional to a newlywed to a single mother.

It’s not that I didn’t want to play it; I tried. But my hands were just meant for storytelling in the newspaper and for kneading and baking cookies from scratch for the one whose hands were meant to play that guitar. 17 years after that $100 purchase at Guitar Center, those strings found their perfect pair.

Maybe that’s why I cared so well for it and could never part with it; I must’ve known the child I was praying to one day have, would pick it up and play. I love listening to the sounds of those strings in motion. And when the guitar is in rest-mode, it’s hard not to admire its timeless beauty – its curves, its craftmanship…its ability to rhythmically tell infinite stories.

And, here is a story of thanks that I've been wanting to write for some time…

Let me tell you about Renee Helmke Bordner the Studio Director of Note-worthy Experiences.
Information about the in-home and online classes that this Sudbury-based private music studio offers can be found on their website (link shared in Comments), as well as, by contacting the Studio for further information.
What I want to share in this review is what you will not know from the former or latter sources; however, the Studio is what it is because of the character of the woman who runs the Studio.

I never wanted to be ‘that’ parent that pushes her interests or love of things (i.e. music, guitar, football, writing or whatever) onto my child. Just because I’m fueled by music, it doesn’t mean my child will be.
When my son came to me and said he wanted to learn to play the guitar, I was, well, more than excited. I thought of my traveling guitar and I swear, the guitar itself stopped crying that day when it overheard my son say he wanted to learn how to play it. But in the excitement, I caught myself from getting carried away in the dreaming of the sound of a live acoustic guitar playing in my home.

Why?

Why did I stop myself from dreaming and hoping? Because some of my life circumstances have, quite frankly, limited options and opportunities for my child to participate in extracurricular activities – be it music or sports…
And then I spoke to Renee. I told her I have a son that would like to learn guitar…

And like some fairy godmother, Renee was able to take the puzzle pieces that have been so difficult for others, like youth sports programs, etc. to put together…She found a way to put the pieces together so a boy could have the opportunity to learn something he wanted to learn – found a time for us to have our weekly lesson and matched us with teachers that were the right fit for my family’s needs and the teaching style that works best for my child.

I imagine this was not an easy task for Renee. Actually, I know it couldn’t have been as my circumstances are so specific; however, she seamlessly made what has predominantly been an impossibility for us, a possibility. She did so with an abundance of patience, understanding and a brightly-lit spirit of compassion.

And just like that, my favorite evening of the week to make dinner was the night of my son’s lesson – he’d sit in the living room having his lesson with his guitar teacher – I’d be in the kitchen cooking and listening to the sounds of that acoustic guitar strumming…a happy boy certainly makes for a happy mother.

Pretty much, for this one mother and her son, grace unfolds in their days through music. We could not have found a music studio with a Director that betters understands that, than at Renee’s studio.

It isn’t just that Renee has a love of music – her love for it is so clear. But it is that love coupled with her genuine understanding for the art of teaching that separates her Studio from the others. I have worked in education for 20 years and can say with certainty – Renee and her instructors know teaching – they know music – they know children and how to meet them at their level.

When COVID struck and lockdowns began, we (naturally) took a break from in-person lessons. But a global pandemic cannot forever prevent a love from burning and this summer, we have come back strong with lessons resuming in backyard summer sessions. And, I am deeply grateful for this – for the sights and sound of my child falling in love all over again, with this beautiful guitar.

If it is not clear from the aforementioned, I highly recommend Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio.
Thank you, Renee, for so much more than is written here. Thank you to the incredible teachers we’ve been blessed to learn from and work with. You truly embody all that the philosophy of your studio is and you have all enriched the life of this mother and her son.
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With deep gratitude and much love,
Suzanna