March Lessons, looking towards April and testing season

Happy Spring Break!

I hope everyone has enjoyed or is enjoying their Spring Break.  This is always a crazy time of year for me since the schools I teach at don't all follow the same calendar.  That means I got a little spring break last week, and a little this week, and it never quite adds up to a full spring break.  But I still managed time to be home with my son on break from college, and go see my other son who is in the military.  My husband also took me on a day trip to Oklahoma to visit the Pioneer Woman Mercantile and restaurants.  I'm a big fan, and was a little disappointed I just missed the chance to meet Ree Drummond in person.  Oh well!  Maybe next time.

So, as you already probably know, I shifted many lessons around last week and this week to accommodate some time off for me.  As we reach the end of March and going into April, we see the end of contest season and the beginning of testing season for the schools.  STAAR tests for almost everyone, and PSAT, SAT, ACT, and any number of other tests for certain students.  It used to be that all schools did their STAAR tests on the same days when they did paper tests.  But now, with online testing being done at most schools, the individual schools have a choice in which days they do their testing.  I will do my best to find out those dates for each school, but it is very helpful to me if you will communicate those dates to me, and the dates of any other tests your child is taking, as soon as you find them out.  With enough notice, I will do my best to try and get each student in for a lesson each week around their testing.  It may not work out if I have too many schools on the same dates, but I will do what I can.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon!

February Lesson Info

There's nothing like a few unexpected days at home to start contest season!

I hope everyone has been safe at home during the inclement weather days.  While it's unfortunate to lose time in lessons with so many of my students preparing for various contests, it is nice to have time at home with family, and after some time to relax, also a time to get caught up on housework, and for me and my husband, to get my billing out close to the first of the month for a change!  I can't promise we will always make it this early, but we will try.

Where I could, I did do a few lessons remotely over the last couple days, but as I will be out of town this coming Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for the TMEA convention, I may be rearranging my schedule considerably over the next couple weeks to make up as many of those missed lessons as possible.  I will be prioritizing those students who are preparing for upcoming Solo & Ensemble performances as well as seniors preparing college auditions.  I'll be contacting everyone whose lessons will be affected, and I'll do my very best to work everyone in, as usual.

I should mention that since we are sending out the invoices so early this month, it may affect those that send Bill-Pay checks from your bank if it was sent in the last week.  If those payments don't appear on the invoice, just let us know, and we will send you a corrected invoice as as soon as we receive the check.  I don't know about you, but we have had no mail delivery since Monday.

I should also say WELCOME! to a few new students who have started recently.  For them or for anyone who is looking for information about lessons or invoices, here are a couple of my previous posts that you may find helpful:

https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/10/welcome-new-flute-students.html

https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/04/how-to-pay-for-lessons-in-remote.html

I look forward to seeing all of you soon!

January Lesson Info

 Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Here at the Hudson house, we have had a great time.  Both of my boys were home for Christmas and New Years, and I am so thankful for the time we had together.  My youngest, who is in college, is actually still here for one more day, then my husband and I will be back to being empty-nesters for a couple of months.  Honestly, we're looking forward to that too!

As some of you already know, I will not be teaching tomorrow, Friday, January 13th, or on Tuesday the 16th.  Monday is MLK Day, so no school or lessons that day too, of course.  The usual caveats apply - I will be doing everything I can to work in make-up times for as many of those missed lessons as possible. Flexibility is the key, as always.  I'll be in touch with all of you with scheduling as it develops.

I guess if I'm making a New Years resolution, it might be to get my billing done on time.  Sorry this one is late.  No excuses: I just wanted to spend time with my family, and so I put it off.  Next month will be better.

I'm so excited to be seeing all my students again, and congrats to the high school students who participated in Area Auditions for All-State Band.  I am proud of all of you!

December Flute Lesson information

Hello December!

I am very sorry for the lateness of the November invoice.  With family in town for Thanksgiving, including my elderly father who was with us until last Monday, and the business of our schedules, my husband and I have just not seen much of each other for the last month, and finding time to do the billing just seemed to elude us.  We'll try to do better next month.  The winter break should be slightly less hectic for us...should be..  =)

So, as we are already on the last week of classes, and as you are probably aware, I will be teaching a reduced schedule this week.  The holiday break, for me, goes from December 17 through January 2.  I do plan on starting up right away on January 3rd, so I will be in touch with everyone about schedules in the days leading up to January 3rd, or whenever your school starts back.

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, and, of course, Merry Christmas!  And for your holiday enjoyment, here's a little fluty Christmas music:

https://youtu.be/2Qv-d6lqKMI

November Flute Lesson Information

Congratulations to all of the middle school students who tried out for your All-District and All-Region Bands!  It's always great to see some of my students performing in these great ensembles, but I'm proud of every student who makes the effort to try out.  It is an important leaning experience that can't be replaced.  And now it's the high-schoolers' turn for their upcoming auditions. We'll be doing all that we can to get them ready!  Good luck to all of you!

Of course, we're also looking forward to Thanksgiving, and family time.  I will not be teaching that entire week, and will also be taking the following 3 days, November 28-30, off as I will be out of town seeing my son's college band concert.  And, as some of you already know, I will be out of town tomorrow and Monday as well.  One of my students remarked, "Mrs. Hudson, you sure do travel a lot!"  She's right.  I think I've traveled more this year than any other.  My husband and I mark it up to our sons' life situations, and traveling to see important milestones in their newly independent lives.  It's fun, but I do miss my students while I am gone.  I will be working to add extra lessons to make up for the time I'm away, especially for those preparing for auditions.

I have added just a few more new students this month, and at this point I am starting a waiting list for new students at most of the campuses I teach at.  If you have friends that are wondering about getting lessons with me, please let them know to go ahead and sign up with me.  There are always changes throughout the year - scheduling changes at the schools, students moving away, high-school seniors who stop taking as they prepare to leave for college, etc, - that lead me to rework parts of my schedule, and that can mean an opening sooner than expected.

If you are one of my new students, here are a couple past blog posts that may be helpful to you:

https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/10/welcome-new-flute-students.html

https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/04/how-to-pay-for-lessons-in-remote.html

I look forward to seeing everyone next week!

October lesson information

 Hello, October and welcome cooler weather!

Whew!  What a busy month September ended up being!  I added several more students than I expected this year.  My schedule is pretty full, so I will almost certainly have to start a waiting list at some schools if there are more lesson sign ups.  The good news for you is: 1.) You're IN; and 2.) My scheduling should start to settle into a fairly predictable routine with the usual exceptions - holidays, picture days, etc.

Speaking of exceptions - I will be out of town this Wednesday through Friday.  I will be in touch with those students whom I haven't already let know about the schedule that affects.  And speaking of holidays - Monday is Columbus Day.  Most schools have that day off, but I may see a few students that day where appropriate.  Some schools are off Tuesday as well.  Again, I'll be in touch about schedules.

If you are one of my new students, welcome to my studio!  I have a couple of blog posts that you should read that may help acquaint you with lessons with me:

    https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/10/welcome-new-flute-students.html

    https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/04/how-to-pay-for-lessons-in-remote.html

Thanks to all of you for such a wonderful start to the school year!  And a special thanks to you parents for supporting your child in their love of music!

August Invoice and September Lesson Info

Happy Labor Day!!!

It's been great seeing all of my students again!  I'm looking forward to all of the band activities this fall.  It's such a fun and exciting time with marching band performances and so many beginners starting every year.

And on the thought of beginners, I have a large number of new students, beginners and otherwise, as I always do this time of year.  If you are one of my new students, welcome to my studio!  I have a couple of blog posts that you should read that may help acquaint you with lessons with me:

    https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/10/welcome-new-flute-students.html

    https://www.hudsonmusicstudio.com/2020/04/how-to-pay-for-lessons-in-remote.html

And with lots of new students, as always, comes scheduling challenges.  This year, my schedule has been especially complicated to get set up.  Several schools have changed their schedules, and bands and flute classes have changed times.  It's not unexpected, but there was more of that this year than normal.  But, like I always say, flexibility is key!  I have worked very hard to make sure I have all of my current students scheduled, and have left a little room for some more new students, which always happens through the first few months of school.  Hopefully I won't have to change lesson times for many of you going forward, but I know that there will be at least a few changes that will come up unexpectedly.  Just keep that flexibility in mind as we go forward, and it should all work out.

If you received a link to this with your August invoice, please remember that payment is expected upon receipt.  As always, if you need to make payment arrangements, please let me know.

September lessons are off to a great start!  I look forward to seeing all of my students' progress this week!