Congratulations to students who have been performing in the Kiwanis Music Festival, and also those taking Royal Conservatory Online Examinations.

In-person exams are back, please speak to your teacher about taking an exam.

The following students were were invited to participate in the Provincial Finals:

• Avielle S. (Mr. Kwan)
• Leo Yi, cello (Mrs. Fisher)
• Maple Young, cello, (Mrs. Fisher)
• Mischka Stanulis, viola (Mr. Fisher)

We would encourage you all to start thinking about Theory Classes for the fall of 2022.

Our theory teacher Susan Hamblin-Dennis is an extremely capable and passionate teacher. The classes are very well done via Zoom, and so are extremely convenient.

Please check with us soon about in-person theory, as well.

All students need theory and ear training as part of their study.

https://www.rcmusic.com/learning/digital-learning/ear-training

Ear training and the ability to sight read music are essential aspects of well-rounded musicianship. These skills form the foundation for how we hear, play, or sing music. This is why The Royal Conservatory includes ear training tests with every examination.

The RCM Online Ear Training tool will help you improve your practical ear training skills. It can be used in conjunction with the Four Star® Sight Reading and Ear Tests books to provide you with outstanding preparation for examinations.

The online tool includes activities with feedback and hints to help you succeed in developing your aural skills. It also includes acoustic musical examples for a high-quality listening experience and an onscreen keyboard for additional support.

Now you can practice your ear training through an engaging, interactive, multimedia approach anytime and anywhere you have an Internet connection.

All levels of the RCM Online Ear Training tool (Preparatory A and B to Level 10) are available through a monthly subscription. If you have an access code, it can redeemed for 6 months of free access. The code can be used twice. 

TSSP students can easily enroll for RCM exams by using this link.

Both Julian and Mary Fisher are Certified Teachers for the RCM.

We are not offering this program at this time, however we will restart the early childhood program when the COVID situation improves.

TSSP is excited to launch a Program for Young Children age Newborn to 3 years.

Participants learn songs and develop rhythmic and melodic awareness while playing musical games and activities.

Please watch for news as to when we will restart this popular program.

Contact: Toronto School for Strings and Piano, info@torontoschoolforstrings.com

If your parents ever submitted you to regular music lessons as a kid, you probably got in a fight with them once or twice about it. Maybe you didn’t want to go; maybe you didn’t like practicing. But we have some bad news:

They were right

By Tom Barnes, https://www.mic.com

Toronto School for Strings and Piano is proud to be partners with Arts Access Fund, a charitable organization dedicated to providing high-quality arts training to young people, who would otherwise not have the opportunity to pursue.

The Arts Access Fund was established to open doors for children, youth, and teens, who have the passion, but not the means, to develop their artistic talent. Programs are offered in visual art, drama, music, dance, and filmmaking at more than ten high-quality arts training institutions in Toronto.

Please visit the ARTS Access Fund website:

http://www.artsaccessfund.org/

The Toronto School for String and Piano Gift Certificates are available upon request.

A great way to re-kindle the love of music or start up the New Year.

Whether it is providing the opportunity to try lessons for the first time, try a new instrument, or providing some additional lessons for exceptionally keen student, this would be a truly meaningful gift.

The teachers at TSS have an unusual breadth and depth of experience. Some are young people flush with the excitement of launching their careers, others are parents themselves, and understand the joys and stresses of being involved in their child’s musical education firsthand. Still others have nurtured and supported their students with caring, a sense of humour and inspiring playing. At TSS, we believe in taking the long view, that while there may be ups and downs, both the journey and the goals achieved along the way are totally worthwhile. Character traits like perseverance, patience and self-discipline last a lifetime.

At TSS/P we are very happy to report an exceptionally low turnover rate. Students tend to stay and develop their skills through the teen years and beyond, even coming back with their own children! We are developing more and more programs for students of all ages to join that will develop their performance skills, creativity and sense of camaraderie. Many TSS students take on leadership roles in their school music programs or audition successfully for select Regional Youth Orchestras.

Whether you are an adult, or a parent with young children or teenagers, we want to help you experience all that music has to offer!

Six Reasons why your child should learn music

• For the shy child, it is self-expression
• For the awkward child, it is co-ordination
• For the impulsive child, it is a way to channel energy into constructive accomplishment
• For the easily distracted child, it is concentration
• For the uncertain child, it is poise and self-confidence
• For the child who gives up easily, it is perseverance.

Music is for growth!