February 1, 2022 By Dawn Thompson

Spring 2022 Recital Information

Prinzenpalais, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Thompson Tutoring is pleased to announce that sign ups are open for our Spring 2022 Recital! All students that are currently enrolled are eligible. This recital will be fully in-person. A sign up link has been sent to all families. As always, this recital is optional, but strongly encouraged. The deadline to enroll is Friday, February 25th. See below for details:

Recital date: Saturday, March 19th

Three sessions to choose from: 11am-Noon, 12:45-1:45pm, 2:30-3:30pm

Choose from one recital to attend. Recitals are optional.

Location: Ladies’ Library Association of Kalamazoo, 333 S. Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (Downtown Kalamazoo)

Limited Space: 20 performers per recital.

Note: Sign Up performer name/s as you would like for it to appear on the certificate.

Inform your instructor that you have signed up for a recital.

Deadline to Sign Up: Friday, February 25th.

Fee: $12. Costs include building rental, janitor, administrative staff, sound system, programs, and certificates. Billing will occur on the March invoice. Unable to provide refunds after the deadline date of February 25th.

If you are not yet enrolled in lessons but would like to participate, contact Thompson Tutoring for music lessons today!

November 29, 2021 By Dawn Thompson

Holiday Recital Submission Guidelines

The deadline for submissions to the Thompson Tutoring 2021 Holiday Recital is fast approaching! Here are some guidelines for performance recordings. Please read these instructions carefully before submitting.

1. The deadline for submissions is Friday, December 10th. Please submit all recordings no later than 12/10 to allow time for editing.

2. Practice practice practice! Students should play through their selection fully each day prior to recording.

3. Include all of the following information along with your submitted recording:

Performer name
Title of piece
Composer

4. Limit performances to no more than 4 minutes in length. If your submission is longer than 4 minutes, let us know which segment of the video to include in the recital via timestamp (:35-2:15 for example).

5. Please submit video files in .mov, .mp4, or, m4v formats. Be sure that your files are not too large to send! If necessary, the files can be delivered by hand to the recital coordinator via SD card – contact Thompson Tutoring for an address.

6. Recordings may be submitted via email attachment, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, or any similar service. Apple users can send videos via iMessage. Participants will receive an email with contact information attached.

7. Performers should take some time to consider the setting for the their video. Dress as though you were going to be playing on stage at a concert. Feel free to spruce up the space with holiday decorations, unique lighting, and so on. Before beginning their piece, participants are welcome to address the camera in order to introduce themselves and their selections. Be creative!

Feel free to contact us any time if you have questions.

November 22, 2021 By Dawn Thompson

3 Tips for a Great Performance

Thompson Tutoring’s annual holiday recital debut is fast approaching! Performance is a skill like any other in music and requires practice before it begins to feel natural. Below is a list of three helpful tips for making the most of your performance.

1. Practice like you perform

The most important thing to remember when preparing for a performance is to practice the music exactly as you want it to be heard. Every detail counts! This means using exactly the same posture, playing at the same tempo and volume, using the same sheet music, and so on. Are you using an electric instrument with a volume setting? Practice with the volume on the same setting whenever possible. Try to avoid changing your interpretation from day to day during practice sessions, and make important decisions about the music well before the performance takes place. Since this year’s holiday recital is taking place virtually, participants are able to set up their space exactly like it will be when they record the performance. This means using the same lighting, setting up the room like it will be during the recording, and so on. Consider practicing the music wearing the clothes you plan to wear while performing. If you intend to memorize your music, make sure to practice it that way many times beforehand.

2. Visualize the performance

Imagine the space that you’re going to be playing in, with and without an audience filling it. No detail is too small. How might the weather be that day? What time of day does the performance take place? Which pair of shoes will you wear? This mental preparation will help to put you into the mindset and prepare for the emotions you may feel during the performance.

3. Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is important! A well-rested performer is far more likely to succeed than a tired one. On the days prior to a performance, try to get eight full hours of sleep. Rest has a massive impact on motor skills, memory, and emotional state, all of which are critically important for a performer.

Are you interested in honing your performance skills? Contact Thompson Tutoring for music lessons today!

November 8, 2021 By Dawn Thompson

2021 Holiday Recital Guidelines & Information

Thompson Tutoring is happy to announce that sign ups are open for our annual Holiday Recital! This virtual performance is set to debut on December 18th. Deadlines and information for participants can be found below. Current students have been sent an email with the link to sign up. Recitals are a great way to develop performance skills for students of all levels, and the virtual format enables us to share these performances with friends and family anywhere in the world. Thompson Tutoring will also share this gift of music with senior living residents in the Kalamazoo area.

The recital is open to all ages, levels, and instruments. This offering is open exclusively to Thompson Tutoring School of Music students.

Students share up to two of their favorite songs. Maximum time limit per performer is 4 minutes, total.

Performances will by recorded at home by each student and submitted by Friday, December 10th. Submissions will premiere on YouTube on Saturday, December 18th. A guide to recording and submitting performances will be provided to registrants.

Deadline to Sign Up: Monday, November 22nd. Nonrefundable after this date.

Deadline to submit performances: Friday, December 10th. Please submit all recordings by 12/10 to allow time for editing.

Cost: $10 Recital Fee per student. Billing will occur on the December invoice.

Events Director: Austin Peters

Viewing Permissions: The YouTube concert link will be shared with friends and families of Thompson Tutoring. It will also be shared with senior living residents in the Kalamazoo area.

June 18, 2021 By Dawn Thompson

Summer Lessons – Guitar Fingerpicking

Summer Lessons - Openings Available!

Summer Lessons! Have you wanted to learn to fingerpick on the guitar? Online and In-Home Lessons are available. Here is one of our students playing a song from Pirates of the Caribbean! Call or Text: (269) 329-0730. Watch him play on our video post on Facebook.

Summer guitar lessons at Thompson Tutoring

February 28, 2021 By Dawn Thompson

Countdown to Spring Lessons!

Spring is just around the corner! Time for a new season, growth and starting new things. Do you know of someone that might benefit from starting a new instrument? Send them our way! Our amazing instructors are eager to help them reach their musical goals.

Learn More About Lessons

Complete Interest Form

February 1, 2021 By Dawn Thompson

Adults Can Learn to Play Too

Adults Learn to Play Instruments

Name: Thompson Tutoring Kalamazoo
Address: 5955 West Main Street #Suite 617, Kalamazoo, MI, 49009, US
Telephone: (269) 329-0730
Rating: 4.8

Have YOU been wanting to learn to play a musical instrument? Kids don't need to have all of the fun! Calling all adults!! It's never to late to start playing an instrument. This is the perfect time to start. Contact us to find out more about how we build the lessons around your interests!

Learn More About Lessons

Complete Interest Form

August 10, 2020 By Dawn Thompson

A Success Story!

Ask Us About Therapy

Taking a Look at Music Therapy - A Client Story

Edge Water MT truly values the flexibility of our clients and therapists! Before the covid-19 outbreak began, this client received music therapy services in her home to work on goals such as reciprocal communication and social skills. Services then moved smoothly to telehealth when the outbreak began and have continued online to address treatment goals.

In this photo taken prior to the covid-19 outbreak, you'll see her and her music therapist utilizing instrument play to practice taking turns, a skill that is foundational to addressing reciprocal communication. Her music therapist then utilized a steady drum beat to encourage a slowing of the client's rate of speech, and maintain engagement during a conversation about a client-preferred topic.

After switching to telehealth, this client and her music therapist utilized visual stories to learn about coronavirus and practice important safety skills such as hand-washing. Musical cueing was utilized to encourage hand-washing for 20 or more seconds by singing a client-preferred song and practicing hand washing movements.

In telehealth sessions, this client continues to work on reciprocal communication skills and social skills through musically prompted conversations. Musical stimuli including guitar accompaniment and steady drum beats act as both cues for turn taking in conversation, as well as means for maintaining attention.

Musically accompanied social stories are also utilized in these telehealth sessions to encourage understanding of the "new normal" we are experiencing and prompt conversation about life changes.

This client has continued to make progress in her goal areas, and has been an absolute rock star while adjusting to telehealth, we are so proud of her progress in her music therapy sessions!"

July 13, 2020 By thomps23

Math – Academic Coaching

Math - Academic Coaching

Are you wanting to get ahead in your math skills over the summer? We are offering online math coaching for kindergarten through 12th grades!

We offer 30, 45 and 60-minute sessions to meet your needs.

Would you like to know more about our academic coaching for math?

Give us a call at (269)329-0730
Send us a message on our Facebook page
Or fill out a music therapy interest form on our website.

We are always glad to answer your questions.

July 2, 2020 By thomps23

StoryPoint Residents Enjoyed a Virtual Concert Performed by the Students of Thompson Tutoring

StoryPoint Residents Enjoyed a Virtual Concert on June 20, 2020

Story Point Residents and Thompson Tutoring

StoryPoint residents enjoyed a virtual concert performed by the students of Thompson Tutoring - School of Music on June 20, 2020. The concert was live-streamed on YouTube for viewing on TV in the comfort of their residence. StoryPoint provided a TV Channel for the viewing.

Would you like to know more about our music lessons?

Give us a call at (269)329-0730, send us a message on our Facebook page, or fill out an interest form on our website. We are always glad to answer your questions.