I have a long time running joke/tradition with one of my friends….Her and her husband decorate for Christmas almost the second that Halloween is over and the calendar turns to November 1st. I always tell her that she isn’t allowed to decorate for Christmas until after my birthday. This week I celebrated my 47th birthday, so for everyone eagerly wanting to start decorating, Merry Christmas, you are now allowed!! LOL. I do love Christmas. Last week I started working on Christmas songs with some of our students, I bought a bunch of new Christmas stickers to start giving out next week at lessons, and I have enjoyed seeing some of your decorations every week (Isabela’s working train set under the tree is currently my favourite of the decorations). I’ve also enjoyed hearing about some of the items on the student’s lists to Santa. Fingers crossed that Santa brings Jude his Bugatti that he wants!! (I’m still trying to figure out how Santa will fit that in his sleigh and also under the tree). I also love hearing about all the cool things that Santa brings the students. Being a kid at heart still, hearing about new toys is always fun for me (I’m trying to convince Isabela’s Dad to let me play with the train set under the tree..LOL).
Here’s what we have for this months newsletter……
- December Newsletter Schedule
- Christmas Schedule Reminder
- Student Of The Month
December Newsletter Schedule
December is the busiest time of the year for everyone with the upcoming Christmas holiday and everything involved with preparing. There will be no December newsletter. The monthly newsletter and our Student of The Month selection will return in January.
Christmas Schedule Reminder
I’ve already started speaking with those who have lessons with me on Wednesdays regarding schedule changes. Here’s a reminder again for scheduling over the holidays……
Christmas Day: This year, the 25th is on a Wednesday. I will not be teaching this day. For those with lessons on Wednesdays, I have already spoken to you individually regarding how you want to handle billing or make up lessons for that day.
Christmas Eve: I’m normally off on Tuesdays so nothing will change for Christmas Eve Day.
Boxing Day (December 26th): I will be back to work as per usual on the Thursday.
New Years Day (January 1): I will still be teaching this day.
With kids being home for the holiday break, I will have options for moving some lessons around to accomodate any holiday/family events you may have planned. In addition, any outstanding make up lessons that need to be completed can be done during the holiday break as well since the kids are home. Moving lessons around is going to be on a first come, first served basis. I will have Saturday and Sunday afternoon (December 28,29) as options as well for moving lessons around if need be.
Student Of The Month
Our Student of The Month for November, 2024 is, Ranti!!
Ranti has been learning piano with me from the Faber & Faber Piano Adventures Series, starting with the Primer Level book. Each week, her and her siblings greet me with hugs and smiles and Ranti is always eager to show me something new that she learned on the piano during the week in addition to her lesson book songs. This month, Ranti wanted to play one of her new songs for Mom, which ended up turning into a mini concert, performing for me, her Mom, Dad, AND her 4 siblings! Ranti said she was so nervous, but you would never know it because she didn’t miss a note and did awesome playing with both hands!! When it’s time to choose stickers, Ranti switches between the Super Mario, Spider-Man and Harry Potter stickers!!
Ranti received her framed Student Of The Month certificate, and is featured in this months newsletter as well as on our Facebook and Twitter pages, and on the school webstie when the newsletter is posted there.
Congrats, Ranti!!
Coda
I normally end our monthly newsletter with a quick summary of the topics covered but I would like to do something different this month, as I feel I need to acknowlege an amazing act of kindness. As mentioned in the intro paragraph, this week I celebrated my 47th birthday. I had a very relaxing day with family and dinner with Raina and in the late afternoon, I received a phone call from one of the families I teach to sing me Happy Birthday. In all the years I’ve taught, that was a first for me and it was very touching (I’m sure someone was cutting onions in my house).
To Bennie, Kristen, Teejay and Ranti…..Thank you once again for taking the time to call and sing me Happy Birthday and for contributing to making my birthday feel special this year. It’s a memory I will always cherish.
Socials & Where To Find Us!
- Web: https://www.doansom.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADOANSOM
- Twitter (now ‘X’): https://twitter.com/alexander_doan
- Google Reviews if you would like to leave a review: https://g.page/r/CbNrxK_Veae6EB0/review
Alexander Doan School of Music 