How can I register my child for lessons in 2022-2023 at Cambridge?
Click here to listen to all the instruments we offer and to register for lessons in the fall!
1. Read the welcome letter from Mr. Piszko, Mrs. Stanek and Ms. Dunn HERE
2. Sign your child up for an instrument on the Google Form link in the letter
3. Set up a rental instrument through NEMC, Music and Arts, Princeton Violins, or any company you choose BEFORE September- please have the instrument delivered to the school
Please email Matt Piszko or Katie Stanek with any questions about instrument sizes or extra products you may need.
Mr. Piszko and Mrs. Stanek set up Google Classrooms for each school year. Please remind your child to look out for an email invitation to our Google Classrooms.
What instruments do you teach at Cambridge?
Starting in fourth grade, students can register for the following instruments:
Band- flute, saxophone, clarinet, tuba, trombone, euphonium, baritone, percussion/bells, trumpet
Orchestra- violin, viola, cello, bass
-Registration for fourth and fifth grade instruments IS OPEN!
How do lessons work?
Hybrid students attend one 30-35 minute lesson a week. Lesson times will be shared with students, parents and their classroom teachers within the first three weeks of school.
In-person students are expected to bring their instrument and music book/binder to the music room for lessons. Students keep their instrument in their classroom until the lesson time.
All instrument students will receive an email to join the Google Classroom. Please remind them to check their email.
Some lessons are in the music room and some are in room A108 for Mrs. Stanek. Please check the schedule and discuss this with your child so they know where to find me!
How do I get an instrument for my child?
Click here for rental forms for NEMC, Music and Arts, and Music Shop
NEMC (www.nemc.com) and Music and Arts Center (www.musicarts.com) deliver instruments to our school to rent and provide weekly repair pick-ups. Rentals need to be secured by the beginning of the school year.
You can also go to outside vendors such as Princeton Violins (www.princetonviolins.com) on Nassau St. in Princeton, NJ for rentals and for instruments to purchase.
What does my child need for their first lesson?
All students should come to their first lesson with a three-ring binder. If you rented an instrument from NEMC or Music and Arts your child will receive their instrument at their first lesson with a book.
Mrs. Stanek and Mr. Piszko use a Google classroom to list assignments and our schedules. Please remind your child to check there regularly.
PRACTICING TIPS
Thoughtful Reading on How Kids Should Practice
Regular and thoughtful practice is an essential part of musical study. A student that attends a lesson or rehearsal without having put in practice time is unable to take advantage of the learning that happens during that time. It is important to set up a good quality practice routine and stick to it.
Establish a Routine
The first step is to establish a routine that works for your child. For example, a half hour session every weeknight just before dinner could be an easy way to develop a routine. Once you establish a routine, try not to break it. Discuss with your teacher how much practice time your child needs. Generally it’s a good idea to set a ballpark estimate of practice time, but bear in mind that ultimately productivity is more important than minutes.
Pick a Place
Students need a quiet space to practice...a space that is free of outside noise and distraction. Make sure your child is set up properly with supplies (a good chair, music stand, music, pencils etc.).
Set Goals
Setting goals for each practice session is one of the best ways to keep students focused and motivated. During lessons each week we carefully discuss and record our assignments and expectations for the following week. Talk about these assignments with your child. Ask questions...why does your teacher want you to work on this part? What makes this difficult? What specifically do you need to improve here?
Have a Weekly Concert
Students are motivated by performance. Give your child the opportunity to perform for you at least once a week. These performances will allow you to enjoy the progress your child makes from week to week. It's also a great time to offer praise, rewards, and constructive thoughts for improvement.
Expose students to live music...
Finally, expose your family to live classical and jazz music whenever possible. Our community is situated less than one hour away from New York City and Philadelphia, and just 15 minutes from Princeton. In any given week there are many musical performances available! Within New Jersey, performances are consistently offered through universities and community programs. Find a concert that features your child’s instrument. Hearing a professional player perform live can be a tremendous inspiration to young musicians. Often the experience can help open their eyes and ears to future possibilities, as well as motivate them to continue with their own study.
-Princeton Symphony Orchestra: www.princetonsymphony.com
-Princeton Symphonic Brass: www.psbrass.com
-New Jersey Symphony: www.njsymphony.org
-Philadelphia Orchestra: www.philorch.org
-Eastern Wind Symphony: www.easternwindsymphony.org
-New Jersey Capital Philharmonic: www.capitalphilharmonic.org
-Independence Sinfonia (come see Mrs. Stanek play cello in this orchestra!): www.independence-sinfonia.org
PRIVATE LESSONS
What is a private lesson?
A private lesson is one-on-one instruction provided to a student by an instrument-specific specialist.
Why should my child take private lessons?
Private lessons are for ALL students, regardless of ability level. Most students hire private tutors because they are struggling with a subject, but with private music lessons this is not the case. If you are enjoying playing an instrument and want extra guidance, more in depth study, and simply want to get better faster then private lessons are for you. While students do receive large group lessons in school, there is no substitute for the effectiveness of concentrated one-on-one instruction.
Who teaches private lessons?
The teachers we recommend for our students are highly qualified music professionals and educators. All have college degrees in music and work mainly as performers and/or teachers of their instrument.
Where do private lessons take place?
Lessons can take place in a variety of locations. Some teachers travel to your house to teach, some have a private studio or teach out of their own house.
What is the cost of a private lesson?
Private lesson rates for vary depending on the teacher.
How do I sign up for private lessons?
If you are interested in lessons, please contact Mr. Piszko or Mrs. Stanek. We will provide you with contact information for a private lesson teacher. It will then be up to you to contact and schedule the lessons with the teacher.
The Importance of Private Instruction by Mr. Piszko
As a music teacher, I am grateful for the value parents place on your child’s music education. I'm writing to share with you some of the ways you can help encourage your child’s success in their musical endeavors. If your child is currently playing in an ensemble but has never studied his or her particular instrument with a specialist, I hope you will consider private lessons.
While learning to make music with others is invaluable, private lessons offer the only real way for a child to learn the mechanics of the instrument on a deeper level. As their director, my primary focus is to work on developing the skills necessary for performing in a larger ensemble. Instruction in class is provided in large group settings, simply because of the numbers in our program vs. the number of staff. While I do provide methods for individual improvement within this group setting, there is no match for the growth opportunities provided through one-on-one instruction.
While gaining better fluency on the instrument is a prominent advantage of private instruction, this advantage also leads to a string of more comprehensive benefits the student will reap. As students feel more competent, they in turn feel more confident. Confidence ultimately leads to greater musical enjoyment and a broader sense of accomplishment as an individual and within the ensemble. The life skills students learn from studying privately and participating in band include: “learning to solve problems independently,” “learning to budget time,” “learning to cope with stress,” “learning how to take pride in an accomplishment,” and “learning how to contribute as a member of a team”.
In a private lesson situation, teachers have the opportunity to work individually and directly with a student, at their own rate of progress, with the process of learning. Private teachers act as a guide to the process of self-discovery through music. A good private teacher will provide the student with the correct tools to set musical goals, self-critique, and “figure it out” in the practice room.
Click here to listen to all the instruments we offer and to register for lessons in the fall!
1. Read the welcome letter from Mr. Piszko, Mrs. Stanek and Ms. Dunn HERE
2. Sign your child up for an instrument on the Google Form link in the letter
3. Set up a rental instrument through NEMC, Music and Arts, Princeton Violins, or any company you choose BEFORE September- please have the instrument delivered to the school
Please email Matt Piszko or Katie Stanek with any questions about instrument sizes or extra products you may need.
Mr. Piszko and Mrs. Stanek set up Google Classrooms for each school year. Please remind your child to look out for an email invitation to our Google Classrooms.
What instruments do you teach at Cambridge?
Starting in fourth grade, students can register for the following instruments:
Band- flute, saxophone, clarinet, tuba, trombone, euphonium, baritone, percussion/bells, trumpet
Orchestra- violin, viola, cello, bass
-Registration for fourth and fifth grade instruments IS OPEN!
How do lessons work?
Hybrid students attend one 30-35 minute lesson a week. Lesson times will be shared with students, parents and their classroom teachers within the first three weeks of school.
In-person students are expected to bring their instrument and music book/binder to the music room for lessons. Students keep their instrument in their classroom until the lesson time.
All instrument students will receive an email to join the Google Classroom. Please remind them to check their email.
Some lessons are in the music room and some are in room A108 for Mrs. Stanek. Please check the schedule and discuss this with your child so they know where to find me!
How do I get an instrument for my child?
Click here for rental forms for NEMC, Music and Arts, and Music Shop
NEMC (www.nemc.com) and Music and Arts Center (www.musicarts.com) deliver instruments to our school to rent and provide weekly repair pick-ups. Rentals need to be secured by the beginning of the school year.
You can also go to outside vendors such as Princeton Violins (www.princetonviolins.com) on Nassau St. in Princeton, NJ for rentals and for instruments to purchase.
What does my child need for their first lesson?
All students should come to their first lesson with a three-ring binder. If you rented an instrument from NEMC or Music and Arts your child will receive their instrument at their first lesson with a book.
Mrs. Stanek and Mr. Piszko use a Google classroom to list assignments and our schedules. Please remind your child to check there regularly.
PRACTICING TIPS
Thoughtful Reading on How Kids Should Practice
Regular and thoughtful practice is an essential part of musical study. A student that attends a lesson or rehearsal without having put in practice time is unable to take advantage of the learning that happens during that time. It is important to set up a good quality practice routine and stick to it.
Establish a Routine
The first step is to establish a routine that works for your child. For example, a half hour session every weeknight just before dinner could be an easy way to develop a routine. Once you establish a routine, try not to break it. Discuss with your teacher how much practice time your child needs. Generally it’s a good idea to set a ballpark estimate of practice time, but bear in mind that ultimately productivity is more important than minutes.
Pick a Place
Students need a quiet space to practice...a space that is free of outside noise and distraction. Make sure your child is set up properly with supplies (a good chair, music stand, music, pencils etc.).
Set Goals
Setting goals for each practice session is one of the best ways to keep students focused and motivated. During lessons each week we carefully discuss and record our assignments and expectations for the following week. Talk about these assignments with your child. Ask questions...why does your teacher want you to work on this part? What makes this difficult? What specifically do you need to improve here?
Have a Weekly Concert
Students are motivated by performance. Give your child the opportunity to perform for you at least once a week. These performances will allow you to enjoy the progress your child makes from week to week. It's also a great time to offer praise, rewards, and constructive thoughts for improvement.
Expose students to live music...
Finally, expose your family to live classical and jazz music whenever possible. Our community is situated less than one hour away from New York City and Philadelphia, and just 15 minutes from Princeton. In any given week there are many musical performances available! Within New Jersey, performances are consistently offered through universities and community programs. Find a concert that features your child’s instrument. Hearing a professional player perform live can be a tremendous inspiration to young musicians. Often the experience can help open their eyes and ears to future possibilities, as well as motivate them to continue with their own study.
-Princeton Symphony Orchestra: www.princetonsymphony.com
-Princeton Symphonic Brass: www.psbrass.com
-New Jersey Symphony: www.njsymphony.org
-Philadelphia Orchestra: www.philorch.org
-Eastern Wind Symphony: www.easternwindsymphony.org
-New Jersey Capital Philharmonic: www.capitalphilharmonic.org
-Independence Sinfonia (come see Mrs. Stanek play cello in this orchestra!): www.independence-sinfonia.org
PRIVATE LESSONS
What is a private lesson?
A private lesson is one-on-one instruction provided to a student by an instrument-specific specialist.
Why should my child take private lessons?
Private lessons are for ALL students, regardless of ability level. Most students hire private tutors because they are struggling with a subject, but with private music lessons this is not the case. If you are enjoying playing an instrument and want extra guidance, more in depth study, and simply want to get better faster then private lessons are for you. While students do receive large group lessons in school, there is no substitute for the effectiveness of concentrated one-on-one instruction.
Who teaches private lessons?
The teachers we recommend for our students are highly qualified music professionals and educators. All have college degrees in music and work mainly as performers and/or teachers of their instrument.
Where do private lessons take place?
Lessons can take place in a variety of locations. Some teachers travel to your house to teach, some have a private studio or teach out of their own house.
What is the cost of a private lesson?
Private lesson rates for vary depending on the teacher.
How do I sign up for private lessons?
If you are interested in lessons, please contact Mr. Piszko or Mrs. Stanek. We will provide you with contact information for a private lesson teacher. It will then be up to you to contact and schedule the lessons with the teacher.
The Importance of Private Instruction by Mr. Piszko
As a music teacher, I am grateful for the value parents place on your child’s music education. I'm writing to share with you some of the ways you can help encourage your child’s success in their musical endeavors. If your child is currently playing in an ensemble but has never studied his or her particular instrument with a specialist, I hope you will consider private lessons.
While learning to make music with others is invaluable, private lessons offer the only real way for a child to learn the mechanics of the instrument on a deeper level. As their director, my primary focus is to work on developing the skills necessary for performing in a larger ensemble. Instruction in class is provided in large group settings, simply because of the numbers in our program vs. the number of staff. While I do provide methods for individual improvement within this group setting, there is no match for the growth opportunities provided through one-on-one instruction.
While gaining better fluency on the instrument is a prominent advantage of private instruction, this advantage also leads to a string of more comprehensive benefits the student will reap. As students feel more competent, they in turn feel more confident. Confidence ultimately leads to greater musical enjoyment and a broader sense of accomplishment as an individual and within the ensemble. The life skills students learn from studying privately and participating in band include: “learning to solve problems independently,” “learning to budget time,” “learning to cope with stress,” “learning how to take pride in an accomplishment,” and “learning how to contribute as a member of a team”.
In a private lesson situation, teachers have the opportunity to work individually and directly with a student, at their own rate of progress, with the process of learning. Private teachers act as a guide to the process of self-discovery through music. A good private teacher will provide the student with the correct tools to set musical goals, self-critique, and “figure it out” in the practice room.