Silva Piano Studios

Sping Term 2012 starts this Monday

2012-01-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

Spring Term lessons begin Monday, January 16th. We are looking forward to a great semester - see you this week!

Website is up again...

2011-11-29T13:00:00.001-05:00

Website is up and running again with updates, including studio news and now a facebook button. Students: practice well for your upcoming recitals!

Lessons, week of November 28 : update Dr. Silva not back yet...

2011-11-27T21:53:00.001-05:00

Hello Students!
We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break and got in a lot of practice for your upcoming recitals Dec 17 & 18! We have been consumed with volumes of practicing for upcoming performances that we are planning for the Studios. Dr. Silva's recital in Brazil was a success and you may follow on the Studio and/or the SilvaMusic.org Facebook page.

Next, Dr. Silva just decided to return a week LATER than scheduled due to extra work in Brazil and Mrs. Silva will be teaching as many of his students that will fit in her schedule. Monday lessons should be the same except for the later times. She will be contacting everyone that this affects. Lessons missed will be replaced the week immediately following the studio recitals.

If anyone has tried to email or visit our website n the past few days, well, it's down until tomorrow about noon. We should be fine after that as we had to change our web hosting. If you need to reach us, please call Mrs. Silva. If you need to reach Dr. Silva, you may message him on Facebook. Meanwhile, Mrs. Silva will be confirming everyone's lessons this week.

Silva Piano Studios has a Facebook page!

2011-11-13T02:18:00.001-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/SilvaPianoStudios

Thanksgiving Break, MYSO Concert, Student Recitals

2011-11-13T01:25:00.001-05:00

Reminder: Thanksgiving Break starts Monday, Nov 14 (2 weeks). Lessons resume Monday, Nov 28. Most of the make up lessons have been scheduled for this coming week.

Will post more about Dr. Silva's upcoming recital in Brazil!

Also, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra is performing on Saturday afternoon, Nov 19th at 3PM. This is a great venue for students to attend! http://www.mysoatlanta.com/index.htm It will be at Salvation Army Worship Center, N Druid Hills Road, Atlanta, GA Map.

Student recitals are coming up at the end of the term on Dec 17 and 18 at the Studios. There will be 2 recitals per day: 1PM and 3:30PM. Everyone is welcome to attend. Join us for refreshments afterwards!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Back to Regular Lessons Tomorrow and Recital Invitation

2011-10-23T21:02:00.000-04:00

Students, this is just a reminder that regular lessons resume tomorrow, Monday, October 24.
This Saturday, October 29, at 4:30 PM you and your guests are invited to a piano recital featuring the Silvas at the studios- there is no need for an RSVP.

Break Reminder for this Week, Oct 17-22

2011-10-17T13:33:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder for this week, Oct 17-22: there are no piano lessons for this scheduled break (see calendar in previous posts). Only specially scheduled make up lessons will take place provided we have time. We will be working on improving method materials, editing music and practicing for upcoming recitals. Have a great week of extra practice!

Fall Term 2011-12 Registration is Open

2011-07-22T22:09:00.000-04:00

Hello Students!
We have emailed each of you a Fall Term 2011-12 registration message with 2011-2012 Calendar, Teaching Schedule and Registration Form attached. Below is this year's calendar with each teaching week listed for your convenience. Registered students are already receiving their lesson times. We will wait until August 5th to hear from all of you after which time we will offer the available open times to students on our waiting list. We look forward to seeing you soon! The Silvas

Fall Term 2011-2012
Week	Dates
1	Aug 22-26
2	Aug 29-Sept 2
3	Sept 5-9
4	Sept 12-16
5	Sept 19-23
6	Sept 26-30
7	Oct 3-7
8	Oct 10-14
Break: Oct 17-21
9	Oct 24-28
10	Oct 31-Nov 4
11	Nov 7-11
Thanksgiving Break, 2 weeks: Nov 14-25
12	Nov 28-Dec 2
13	Dec 5-9
14	Dec 12-16
Student Recitals : Saturday, Dec 17 & Sunday, Dec 18

Spring Term 2011-2012
Week	Dates
1	Jan 16-20
2	Jan 23-27
3	Jan 30- Feb 3
4	Feb 6-10
5	Feb 13-17
Break: Feb 20-24
6	Feb 27- Mar 2
7	Mar 5-9
8	Mar 12-16
9	Mar 19-23
10	Mar 26-30
Spring Break, 2 weeks: Apr 2-13
11	Apr 16-20
12	Apr 23-27
13	Apr 30- May 4
14	May 7-11
Student Recitals: Saturday, May 12 & Sunday, May 13

Grieg Pieces (intermediate and advanced students)

2011-07-22T11:56:00.000-04:00

Here's a link for Edvard Grieg pieces we have chosen to START with:
1. Arietta
2. Waltz
7. Album Leaf
26. Norwegian Dance
33. Nocturne (advanced)
62. Puck

2011-07-08T13:18:00.000-04:00

There are 3 more weeks of summer lessons left! We will be available for registered lessons, make ups and individual lessons.
Fall Term will start on August 22. Students will receive registration information in the mail. We will post on blog to announce when it is sent out.
The studio upright piano listed on a previous post is still available, but it is now $1200 since the pedal has been fixed and the action was regulated and piano was tuned.

Summer Announcements

2011-05-18T21:29:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Summer Term! We are offering 7 weeks of lessons throughout the summer. Number of lessons and scheduling is flexible. Check your email messages for the summer registration form. Make up lessons will be held over the summer as well, just choose your preferred week. Fall Term will begin August 22.

Week 1	May 23-27
Week 2	May 30-June 3
xxx	(June 6-10)
Week 3	June 13-17
Week 4	June 20-24

xxx	(June 27- July 1)
xxx	(July 4-8)
Week 5	July 11-15
Week 6	July 18-22
Week 7	July 25-29

Two Pianos for Sale!

Kawai Studio Upright: $1200.00
Recently tuned and adjusted, left pedal installed. See pictures on Blog.

Baldwin Grand Piano: call for information

Open House this Saturday afternoon, April 23!

2011-04-17T14:26:00.000-04:00

Everyone is cordially invited to join us in an Open House at Silva Piano Studios this Saturday from 2-5 PM! At 3 PM, a concert featuring the Silva family and selected students will begin. Family, friends, guests and the public are welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

March-April 2011 Announcements

2011-03-28T23:15:00.000-04:00

Students and Parents:
Don't forget to subscribe to the Studio Blog for immediate announcements! (It is also easy to unsubscribe, too!)
Look in your email for March news in detail. There are links to calendars and special dates for your convenience and a Practice Guide (a slideshow about technique and positioning that all students should refer to). Parents working with their younger children will also find this very helpful-view it together!

Recital dates are the weekend of April 30th, Saturday and Sunday (May 1st). Two recitals are scheduled on each day, both at 1PM and 3:30PM. Invite your family and friends to come and hear you play! Everyone is welcome and there will be an ice-cream party following each recital.

Spring Break (April 4-17) is two weeks long! If you need make-up lessons, make sure you email your (more than one!) options for days/and available times due to construction. Regular lesson schedule resumes Monday, April 18. Last lesson day is Friday, May 13th. The last make-up lesson week is May 16. Summer lessons will be announced shortly.

Frank Reeves will also be coming in from Texas during Spring Break on April 10th and you may arrange a piano tuning with him if you need one. Just let us know as his schedule will fill up.

Winter Break Week coming up!

2011-02-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

Hello Students and Parents!

It's time for winter break next Monday-Saturday (Feb 21-26- one week only). We will try to have a few make up lessons scheduled during this time, finish DVD copies and catch up on office work in case you need to reach us. See you back on Monday, February 28th!

Spring Term Begins Next Monday, January 17: see updated Calendar

2011-01-08T07:57:00.001-05:00

End of Term Student Recitals, weekend of Dec 11

2010-11-14T19:30:00.001-05:00

Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 1PM and 3:30PM
and
Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 1PM and 3:30PM

Students may choose one of 4 recital times. Advanced students may perform more than once.

Plenty of parking around the house, refreshments following and your friends and the general public are always invited to attend.

48" Kawai Studio Upright Piano for Sale!

2010-10-02T12:30:00.000-04:00

Kawaii Studio Upright Piano for sale! A bargain at $750, comes with a bench.

Appraised at minimum $900 by Craig Miller, piano technician. It is musically sound and it's the upright piano size we recommend for our students.

Specs: 48" high, by 59" wide by 24" depth from 1963. One owner (Mrs. Silva), black finish (worn) and missing a soft pedal (factored into the price).

770-565-7177 or email silvafm@silvapiano.com

Back to regular lessons this week!

2010-09-27T00:12:00.000-04:00

After a week of break, regular lesson schedule begins today! If you were out of town and did not have a chance to practice, come for your lesson anyway and have a supervised practice/lesson session. It is just as important to learn how to practice as much as what to practice.

Silva Concert this Sunday, 26 September at 3:30 PM!

2010-09-23T10:22:00.001-04:00

Mireille is performing the Beethoven 3rd Piano Concerto and Francisco, the Beethoven 4th. Wine and cheese reception following. There's plenty of parking in the back! 2 cd sets of various Silva recordings are for sale and a suggested donation for the concert is $20, $10 for students and seniors.

The Silvas in Concert Tomorrow, Sunday, September 19, at 3:30 p.m.

2010-09-18T22:27:00.001-04:00

Featuring two Mozart Piano Concertos:

K. 271, "Jeunehomme" and K. 467, "Elvira Madigan"

...and NEXT Sunday- September 26, at 3:30 p.m.-Two Beethoven Piano Concertos:

No. 3, Op. 37 in C minor and No. 4, Op. 58 in G major

All performances by Dr. Francisco Silva and Mireille Silva

Monday, Labor Day Lessons Cancelled

2010-09-05T22:06:00.000-04:00

For the students who have lessons on Monday, you should have already received a message earlier that due to lesson cancellations, we decided to NOT to have lessons on Labor Day. Your email message lists the days this week for make up lessons or you have your choice of posted make up weeks. We have received some confirmations, but not everyone responded, so we will follow up tomorrow, checking email or calling you.
Thanks for making the schedule adjustment and have a good Labor Day weekend!

Fall Term Lessons Begin this Week!

2010-08-23T06:57:00.000-04:00

The teaching schedule has been finalized and lessons begin today! We look forward to seeing everyone and don't forget to practice. We will have your previously ordered dvd's available at your first lesson to pick up. Don't forget to bring all your books and assignment book from the summer or last term. See you all later!

New Practice Guide: Positioning at the Piano, updated

2010-08-11T15:43:00.002-04:00

All Students and Parents: We will send you the Practice Guide as a Power Point Presentation attachment.

Fall Registration 2010-2011

2010-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

...hard copy packets are in the mail. We will be waiting for ALL the registration forms to come in before Dr Silva finalizes the teaching schedule on or about August 16. It will be difficult to change the teaching schedule once it's in place, so try to anticipate other activities in order to choose your best lesson day/time. Students, good luck with your first week in school!

Mark your calendars for our August 21 Studios Open House and invite your family and friends to attend (see side bar). Fall Term lessons begin the week of August 23.

Studio Update: Open House, New Program

2010-07-26T12:19:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone! Thanks for reading the studio blog. We will be sending the fall registration packets hard copy via snail mail this week and will try to attach the forms to this blog for your convenience.

First, we would like to announce our back to school Studio Open House which will be held Saturday, August 21st, two days before the start of the Fall Term. The Studios will be open for everyone all afternoon starting 1:30 PM until 6 PM. There will be 3 performances: 2:00, 3:30 and 5 PM with lots of exciting music. Dr and Mrs Silva will be performing selections from piano concertos by Mozart and Beethoven and there will be other teacher and student performances as well.
We are very pleased to announce a new program for this year at the Studios. Students will have the option to choose the 30+30 tuition program. In this program, 30 minute lesson students will have a regular, weekly lesson with our faculty (Dr and Mrs Silva, Ms Wright and Mrs Stephens) AND receive a 30-minute private, practice session with Ms Katie Kemp!
The main objective of this program is to offer an affordable, alternative to students that would otherwise benefit from a longer lesson. It will be especially beneficial to:

§ All students for developing proper practice skills and reinforcing the week’s lesson assignment

§ Younger beginners helping their focus and discipline in their practice session

§ Students desiring faster progress

§ Parents for observing practice skills (or a day off from supervising their child’s practice)

About Ms Kemp: Katie has studied with the Silvas for over 6 years, demonstrating unusual determination, motivation and perseverance in her piano studies. Her natural talent and hard work has led her through a very fast rate of progress and as she now enters her senior year at Kell High School, she has already made a commitment to pursue university studies in Music Performance. Ms Kemp is an A student and holds the First Chair position of the violin section at Kell’s top orchestra. Here at the studios, she has been training with us in the Gradus Piano Course and observed many student lessons at different stages of ability and musical development. It is significant that she was personally a successful product of this course and it is already infused in her lifetime approach to music. We expect that her enthusiasm and her own effective approach to practicing will motivate the students in this program.

Summer update from Silva Piano Studios!

2010-07-21T15:50:00.002-04:00

Hello everone!

We hope you are all enjoying your summer and now school is right around the corner! Welcome to the Studio blog where we hope you will be able to get instant information about important dates, announcements and more. In the previous post you can read about our vision with this blog for the studio. Your comments are always welcome, so join in if you wish!

At this very moment, we are in the process of putting together our Fall Registration packets and will announce on this blog when we put them in the mail hopefully in the next few days. We will determine if there's a possibility to attach it all here on the blog for your convenience. As school gets started, it's always a good idea to find out what your schedules are going to be for sports and other activities so you will be able to request the best options for your piano lesson day and time for the Fall Term.

We are looking forward to a very exciting year and will update you shortly on some new developments here at the studios. Fall Term will begin August 23rd and we are continuing the Summer Term into the beginning of August.

(Meanwhile, scroll through the following presentation to see positioning guidelines for sitting at the piano and some basic technical philosophies we think are important. )We hope you will take the time to think about it and implement the guidelines in your practice. Good technique is a carefully developed HABIT. This is also open for discussion and also to let you know that more pictures and explanations are coming along as this is the first draft of the Positioning at the Piano presentation! NOTE: PRACTICE GUIDE UPDATED and REPOSTED, see post August 11, 2010.

Until soon, the Silvas

News at Silva Piano Studios

2010-07-14T11:48:00.001-04:00

We hope you are all enjoying your summer! We are putting together this new blog for studios. It is our vision to improve communications between the teachers, students and parents. In the blog format, we can:

be more efficient and immediate with timely announcements
share teaching materials as we produce or update them
generate comments, feedback and dialogue in which everyone can benefit and contribute
answer questions and mediate discussions

Opened Silva Piano Studios Blog today

2010-05-08T22:26:00.001-04:00