HeartStrings Institute for Music

Just another few short months before our return to Slover library!! Ukulele at 10, guitar at 11, piano at 12. Everybody signed up?

Hey It's Wesley here. I believe I have responded to all those who had reached out for information regarding our homeschool program this coming Fall at Slover, BUT... if you have not heard back from me, please reach out and I'll get you the information you need. - Mr. Wes

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It’s finally happenin’!!! Piano Ensemble I and II at Slover Library this Fall.

10 seats per class. Wednesdays at 12pm and 1pm

Psst! I'll try to keep my voice down but um...

IT'S OFFICIAL! HEARTSTRINGS IS BACK AT SLOVER LIBRARY THIS FALL!!

Yep, the one and only guitar and ukulele ensemble in Hampton Roads is making its long-awaited return on Wednesday mornings this September.

So, if you have a couple cool cats that love to make music as much as I love to teach it, reach out so we can forward you some information about our upcoming program. - Mr. Wes

It was a packed house, standing room only. 24 performers and an unbelievable atmosphere. It was our Spring Performance Celebration at Windsor Meade. What a night to remember!

Special thanks go out to our performers, parents, Windsor Meade and staff, and all of you who have supported us over the past several years. THANK YOU - Wesley and Mari Ann Stevenson.

Hey homeschool community! Wesley here making it official that the mixed guitar and ukulele ensemble is temporarily on hold until the Fall. Last year the ensemble was a runaway success, and the most fun I had as a music educator in my 17+ year career.

Rest assured that the mixed ensemble will return bigger and badder than ever!! - Mr. Wes

Happy Sunday HeartStrings!

Classes resume tomorrow (Jan 8th) and we are SO very excited to get back into the swing of things. Wouldn’t you know it, we were able to stay sick free the whole break - imagine that.

So parents, you are more than welcome, to come on in, kick your feet up, have some hot cocoa, and enjoy the sound of progress.

See you soon - Mr. Wes

Merry Christmas HeartStrings family! I hope you and your family are having a great start to the Christmas/Winter Break.

So many exciting things coming up in 2024. The recitals in March and Dec, the introduction to group piano classes, the return of the HeartStrings Ukulele Ensemble, the online video catalogue to name a few...

This past year was filled with so many great memories for sure, and still 2024 is shaping up to be our best yet :-)

Mr. Wes will be back in action Monday, Jan 8th, and Ms. Mari Ann will return at the start of the new year.

Merry Christmas! - The Stevensons

Wowserz, seems like there’s a lot of sick kids the past few weeks. Stay safe and healthy everyone. So far I managed to avoid whatever is going around, but please remind your little ones to be diligent about washing your hands.

As mentinoned before, this semester begins our study of JS Bach. Here are 10 facts about the world-renowed composer and yes, there will be a quiz at the end of the month :-)

Parents please share with your little ones. There are a lot of words and phrases that they won't know, but I will be sure to go over that in class.

Bach - 10 facts about Johann Sebastian Bach | Classical Music History ♫ Buy “The Best of Bach” (MP3 album) on the Official Halidon Music Store: https://bit.ly/2PI6VQm🎧 Listen to "Bach: Essential Classics" on Spotify: http://sp...

Today, September 11th officially kicks off our Fall semester and we could not be more thrilled about our growing musical family. So many new faces, new personalities, and new opportunities to explore the musical arts.

See you at our next class!! - Mr. Wes

Reminder, no classes tomorrow on Labor Day. I’ll be kicking my feet up alllll day! 😀

Hello Williamsburg and surrounding areas. My wife and I still have openings for lessons this Fall. Morning and after school lesson times are available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Slots usually fill up the first week of August so… If interested, please reach out sooner than later to reserve a spot.

Still no word regarding Slover library in Norfolk but will update you soon… hopefully.

May 20th, 2023… our Spring Recital, our celebration of many small victories throughout the year. It was such an invigorating, moment as so many have our students experienced the joy of performing for the very first time. It was also bitter sweet as far too many of our students are moving away this year.

Thank you Mari Ann for all you have done this year. Thank you to the students who continue to amaze me with their level of dedication. Thank you to the parents who helped motivate them along the way, and thank you to my partners at Slover Library, Living Hope, and Music and Arts. Thank you to Melissa Seaman for helping bringing HeartStrings into fruition. Not a chance I could have done this without you all.

It was a riveting performance by each of our students and we look forward to doing it again next year.

- Mr. Wes

Hey Hey. I’m out of town at a kids camp this weekend so I don’t have access to my video equipment, but I would love for everyone to look over and review the notes on the treble clef.

Once you feel like you have a good handle on the note names, you can take this 3 minute note reading challenge:

https://www.musictheory.net/exercises/note/beoyryyynyydgb

Be sure to record your scores throughout the week for me.

Thank you and I’ll see you all very soon!

There’s still time to join in on all the fun! Wednesday mornings in Norfolk, Friday mornings in Williamsburg.

Today, Wesley Stevenson from HeartStrings Institute for Music hosted the first classes of the new year, Rhythm Recess and SixStringSheninigans.

The 5th-floor Teen Area came alive while the kids practiced bucket drumming and strumming the ukulele and guitar. 🥁🎸

We can't wait for the spring concert!

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. May these days be filled with family, friends, and fond memories.

If any of our musical family have any pictures to share, please send them to us so we can cherish this season for years to come.

- Mr. Wes

Hey! Mr. Wes here with 2 reminders for the parents as we approach the gift giving season.

1. If you're considering gifting your child an instrument, avoid getting the cheapy cheapos because you're "not sure if they'll stick with it.” Pay the few extra bucks and get them something that will give them the best chance for success. Of course, stay within your budget, but the lowest priced instrument will usually have build defects, sharp edges, and performance inconsistencies that will cause more frustration than anything.

2. Avoid purchasing method books that are too far beyond their playing ability. I've seen it time and time again. As parents, we often nudge our kids in the direction we want them to go. If they have never demonstrated an interest in jazz, for example, maybe not get them a jazz book. If they currently working through a level 2 method book, maybe hold of on the level 5 method book and hope they work their way up to it.

If ever in doubt, ask your teacher first, as he or she can best steer you in the right direction to get them that perfect musical gift!

Hello HeartStrings! Mr. Wes here again.

I know we are mostly numb to taking precautions these days, but please, please, PLEASE do not bring a sick kid to class. The flu is out in full force, common colds are still doing their thing, and yes, Covid is still as stubborn as ever.

Sure, this is the season for giving, but maybe consider giving a card or some fruitcake instead.

Looking forward to class this week! See you soon :-)

Hello HeartStrings!! Mr. Wes here wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving week! I hope each of our students take the time to celebrate the holiday by spending time with your friends, your family, and... your instrument :-)

For our Slover family, yes there is class tomorrow, but I also wanted to take a moment to give our community some details regarding our debut Winter Wonderland concert on Saturday, December 17th.

Our slotted time to perform is at 11:30, so all performers must arrive PROMPTLY at 10:30 so we can make our final preparations before showtime.

It's important to SOUND great, but it's also important to LOOK great so, please come in dressed in our specified concert attire. Black pants/slacks and white or red shirts/tops/sweaters. Please no jeans or polos.

The Wednesday before the Winter Wonderland concert will be our mock performance (dress rehearsal) so be sure to attend classes that Wednesday.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your instructor. Thanks and see you tomorrow! - Mr. Wes

The Slover Orchestra, Percussion, and Guitar/Ukulele Ensembles are still meeting Wednesday the 23rd.

Living Hope and Virginia Beach Central Library classes have Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25 off in celebration of Thanksgiving break.

Students do not, however, have a week off from practicing. Stay on it 😀👍🏽

Reminder students that your assignment for this week is to bring Mr. Wes at LEAST 3 pieces of Halloween candy. This assignment is worth 20% of your grade. 🍭 🍬 🎃 👻.

Wow Williamsburg!! I think that was the most fun I had playing the ukulele in a loooong time! Thanks SO much for coming out today.

Today we learned the C7, F major, and C major chords and next week we're going to give the G6 and D7 chords a try. Can't wait till next week at 11:00am! See you there! - Dr. Uke

Hello HeartStrings family. Tomorrow, Mr. Wes' ensembles will be in the production room on the 5th floor. Where is the production room? I have no idea. I suppose we will find out together. :-) See you all tomorrow

https://youtu.be/eAsa97N8FTk

Grab your bucket, strap on some sticks, and let's drum along to JT's 2016 hit song from the Trolls soundtrack! Be warned. This song is likely to cause you to get up and dance, dance, dance!

HeartStrings | Rhythm Recess | Can't Stop the feeling Playalong

ahem... AHEM!!! Hey you! Yes, I'm talking to YOU! Your kiddo's got no rhythm... can't keep a steady beat for more than 10 seconds. That's right, I said it to your FACE. What'cha gonna do about it?

Rhythm is THE foundation of all music, and sadly something that very few take the time to develop. Let's fix that! Let's cure this epidemic that has been plaguing our youth for decades.

Your guys and gals will learn to FEEL the beat with rudiments, body percussion, bucket drumming, rhythmic dictation, transcribing, counting... all while having a BLAST with their peers. It's so much more than sticks and a bucket. It's a full body rhythmic intervention!

Rhythm Recess is not just for aspiring drummers, it's for anyone who has a desire to pursue the arts, whether as a musician or even a dancer!

So tell 'em to put the controller down and pick up a pair of sticks! LET'S GO! - Mr. Wes

Thank you to all who came to our Petting Zoo yesterday! We had a blast meeting all you prospective students and showing what we’ll be up to this semester. If you weren’t able to make it yesterday, we will be hosting a second meet-and-greet next Wednesday, August 31st, 2022, at Slover Library from 10 am - 11 am! We won’t have any instruments to try out, but our choir teacher Ms. Melissa Seaman will be there to answer any questions and provide information about the classes we are offering.

Our instructors will get in touch soon via email to relay tuition details so enrollment can be finalized! If you have just recently sent in an application, we’ll also get back to you ASAP.

If you have not already done so, please fill out an application for the Fall 2022 semester to get the ball rolling! https://forms.gle/f9CfCVxXp8HuSRrr5

Last day to send in applications and finalize tuition is September 1, 2022! If you have any questions, feel free to shoot us a message.

Reminder that if you have reached out to us and you have NOT already completed one of the google forms, to please do so we can follow up with you and get you the information you need. We plan to follow up with you THIS WEEK!

We do not want anyone to get accidentally left out this year because something was accidentally deleted, overlooked, or we just simply missed the notification.

Here are the forms:

For orchestra, percussion, guitar, ukulele, or choir classes at Slover Library: https://forms.gle/f9CfCVxXp8HuSRrr5

For the guitar and ukulele ensemble at Living Hope: https://forms.gle/F8bNjuwtFBMA3qiu8

For private lessons with Mr. Wesley in piano, guitar, or ukulele at our Home Studio in Williamsburg: https://forms.gle/jbveYkuqVTcMt5au9

Send a message to learn more