Competitions and Performance Opportunities - Winter and Spring 2025

MusicLink Playathon
Minnesota students will again be given the opportunity to show off their musical talents by participating in a MusicLink Playathon at the Mall of America. This is a fundraising event sponsored by MMTA and Schmitt Music to benefit the MusicLink Foundation. It has been very successful in raising much-needed funds for the Foundation and is also an exciting experience for students, teachers, and parents while providing a convincing public face to the value of music education.
Date: February 22-23, 2025
Registration fee: no fee
Ages: any age

https://musiclinkfoundation.org/playathon-registration-form/
Registration deadline: February 12, 2025

Piano Solo Festival
Students who would like to, have the opportunity to participate in the Piano Solo Festival at Northwestern University.
Date: March 2025 (exact date TBA)
Registration fee: $20
Ages: 4th grade and up

Thursday Musical - Young Artist Scholarship Competition
Scholarships are awarded in each age division and instrument category. First place awards for college are $1,300; high school, $800; and junior high, $550. Second place and honorable mention awards are also granted. First place winners are recognized with a featured concert performance at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis. Additional performance opportunities are also offered to winners.
Date: video due by February 14, 2025 // winners concert on April 26, 2025
Registration fee: $25
Ages: 7th grade and up
https://thursdaymusical.org/competition
Registration deadline: January 24, 2025

The Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition
The Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition is open to junior high and senior high students. Two cash prizes in each age and instrument category are awarded – $2000 and $1500 – to be used for further musical education.
Date: video due by February 2, 2025 // in-person finals on March 23, 2025
Registration fee: none
Ages: 7th grade and up
https://schubert.org/education/competition/
Registration deadline: January 13, 2025


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In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Music Composition Workshop - June 10, 2023

This summer, I am working with a fellow music teacher to offer a music composition workshop.

Throughout this workshop, students will experience the joy of creation while composing their own music: from the energy of the initial creative urge, to following the path of their personal inspiration, then settling it all into a captured vision. In this workshop, students will learn how to take a poem, set a melody to that poem, and then arrange harmony parts to that melody. Each student will take home a copy of their composition, printed using professional music notation software.

Date: June 10, 2023
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm
Location: 6500 Baker Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
Open to students between the ages of 13 and 18.
Cost: $50
Registration deadline: June 5, 2023

For more details and registration, go here.

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Spring Music Resources and Activities

Bring spring and nature into your music lessons these next couple of weeks!
🌸 Five Great Pieces: Springtime
🌸 Lesson Resources on Nature-Themed Classical Music
🌸 Music Activities for St. Patrick's Day
🌸 Spring Manipulatives
🌸 Springtime Music
🌸 Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
🌸 Thoughts of Spring

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Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter!
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.

In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Music Composition Camp - June 2022

This summer, I am working with a fellow music teacher to offer a music composition camp.

Dates: June 20 - June 23, 2022
Times: 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm each day

Throughout this camp, students will experience the joy of creation while composing their own music: from the energy of the initial creative urge, following the path of their personal inspiration, then settling it all into a captured vision. By the end of the week, each student will take home an illustrated copy of their composition, printed using professional music notation software. In addition to individual work, students will get to take part in group-based improvisation and composition throughout the week.
For students ages 8-12.

For more details and registration, go here.

-----
Sign up here for my free monthly newsletter!
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.

In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Best of Laura's Music Studio 2021

Here are the most popular posts posted here in 2021. A few posts you may have missed, so check them out.

- Chord Inversions

- How Can You Learn Piano at Home During a Pandemic?

- Learning Intervals

- My Sheet Music

- Transposing


Happy New Year, dear readers!

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You have just finished reading Best of Laura's Music Studio 2021.
Connect with me on Twitter and Pinterest.

In-Person Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

In-person piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- sessions can be held at your house or at my studio in the western Twin Cities

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Virtual Piano and Guitar Lessons Available

Virtual piano and guitar lessons are available:

- open to beginner students or those who have some music experience already

- pay by the lesson (via PayPal)

- sign up for just one lesson or however many you want

- you will need a reliable internet connection and either a piano or a guitar

- for more information, fill out the contact form on the right

Competitions and Performance Opportunities

MusicLink Playathon
Minnesota students will again be given the opportunity to show off their musical talents by participating in a MusicLink Playathon at the Mall of America. This is a fundraising event sponsored by MMTA & Schmitt Music to benefit the MusicLink Foundation. It has been very successful in raising much-needed funds for the Foundation and is also an exciting experience for students, teachers & parents while providing a convincing public face to the value of music education.
Date: February 12-13, 2022
Registration fee: no fee
Ages: any age
Registration deadline: February 2, 2022

Piano Fun MN Competition
PianoFun Minnesota is an inspirational musical event for young pianists who love music and want to share their love of music with others. This competitive but friendly event provides young musicians with the opportunity to perform in a wonderful venue, and receive a valuable experience playing for a large audience. The competition is held at the Landmark Center in St. Paul.
Dates: TBA
Registration fee: $27 or $33
Ages: younger than 14
http://www.pianofunmn.com/

Piano Solo Festival
Students who would like to, have the opportunity to participate in the Piano Solo Festival at Northwestern University.
Date: March 2022 (exact date TBA)
Registration fee: $20
Ages: 4th grade and up

Thursday Musical - Young Artist Scholarship Competition
Scholarships are awarded in each age division and instrument category. First place awards for college are $1,300; high school, $800; and junior high, $550. Second place and honorable mention awards are also granted. First place winners are recognized with a featured concert performance at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis. Additional performance opportunities are also offered to winners.
Date: TBA
Registration fee: $50
Ages: 7th grade and up
https://thursdaymusical.org/competition/
Registration deadline: TBA

The Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition
The Schubert Club Student Scholarship Competition is open to junior high and senior high students. Two cash prizes in each age and instrument category are awarded – $2000 and $1500 – to be used for further musical education.
Date: March 19, 2022
Registration fee: $45
Ages: 7th grade and up
Registration deadline: January 31, 2022