 One of our favorite times of the year at Music SO Simple is recital season! Our Holiday Recitals are just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate the hard work and growth of our students- our special theme this year is "Silver Bells ". At MSS, we believe recitals are about so much more than just performing a piece of music — they’re about building confidence, sharing joy, and celebrating progress. Every performance, big or small, represents weeks (and sometimes months!) of learning, dedication, and heart. Recitals are a chance for students to shine — to show what they’ve learned, to overcome nerves, and to share something beautiful with others. We teach our students that performing isn’t about being perfect; it’s about sharing their love of music and taking pride in their accomplishments. These experiences also help develop important life skills: confidence, poise, discipline, and perseverance. Each recital is a milestone, and the sense of accomplishment students feel afterward often carries into other areas of their lives. Recitals truly give you a full picture of all that music lessons teach us! Our teachers have been busy helping students choose recital pieces that fit their level and personality — music that allows them to perform with confidence and expression. We also set a memorization deadline of December 7th, which gives students enough time to polish their music, work on dynamics, and practice stage presence before recital day. Meeting this deadline is a big part of setting every student up for success — it transforms “last-minute nerves” into excitement and readiness. Being prepared means more than just knowing the notes. Students should:
 We’ll be hosting six recitals, each about an hour long, each one including a short reception to celebrate! Students are encouraged to wear holiday attire or their Sunday best — dressing up helps them feel proud and ready for the occasion. Families, please plan to arrive about 10-15 minutes before your recital time so students can settle in and enjoy the experience. We love seeing our students’ faces light up as they walk on stage, share their music, and then enjoy a well-deserved round of applause. Your recital fee covers everything — the beautiful venue, comfortable family seating, printed programs, refreshments, and all the behind-the-scenes details that make the event special. Families never need to purchase tickets; our goal is to create a welcoming, stress-free experience where everyone can simply enjoy the music and celebrate their child’s hard work. At Music SO Simple, we view each recital as an opportunity to help students grow not only as musicians but as people. Performing teaches courage, resilience, and joy — and it reminds us all why music matters. The recital deadline was early- now, we work on curating each recital, making sure we don't have too many piece duplicates on each recital. We also like to place family and friends on the same recitals. There is a ton that goes into planning recitals and they are a fantastic way of showcasing our amazing school. We can’t wait to celebrate another beautiful recital season with our MSS family. Every performance, every bow, and every smile tells a story of hard work and heart. 
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 I recently listened to a podcast recently from The Working Genius called The Key to Confidence, and it immediately made me think about our students at Music SO Simple. At one point mid-episode, the hosts talked about how important it is for children to understand their own “genius” — the way they naturally think, create, and contribute — and how using that awareness can build real confidence. That idea resonated deeply with me, because confidence is one of the greatest gifts we can give our students through music. In the Working Genius model, everyone has areas where they naturally thrive — where their energy and creativity flow easily — and other areas that feel more draining. For children, discovering this early helps them see that they don’t have to be great at everything to be successful. They simply need to understand their strengths and how to use them. This is very true for adults and teachers too! In music lessons, this plays out every single day. Some students love to analyze — they’re the ones who light up when learning music theory or reading new rhythms. Others are more creative or intuitive, thriving when improvising or composing. Some feel most confident performing and sharing their music with others. When teachers understand each student’s natural “genius,” they can teach in a way that builds confidence instead of frustration. A student who knows how they learn best feels proud of their progress — and that confidence spills over into every area of their life.  At Music SO Simple, we believe confidence grows from both encouragement and understanding. Our teachers intentionally connect with each student to find out what makes them tick — how they think, learn, and respond to challenge. When we teach to their strengths and gently stretch their weaknesses, learning becomes joyful, not stressful.
I believe that’s why our lessons aren’t one-size-fits-all. Whether a student is analytical, imaginative, disciplined, or expressive, we want them to feel capable, valued, and excited about their musical journey. When students learn to recognize their own strengths — their “working genius” — they gain something much bigger than musical skills. They learn that they can succeed by being themselves. And that confidence will carry them far beyond their lessons. The crazy thing? This podcast was all about confidence in the workplace — but it’s amazing how those same ideas apply to our students and young people. As teachers, we have the opportunity to use these lessons to inspire confidence in every child we teach.  When parents think about music lessons, they often imagine learning songs, practicing scales, or performing at recitals. But there’s another essential piece of the puzzle that helps everything come together — music theory. At Music SO Simple, we believe that theory is not just an extra subject; it’s a foundation that helps students truly understand and connect with the music they play.  Music theory is the “why” and “how” behind the notes. Even at a very early age, it helps students understand rhythm, harmony, form, and patterns in music. Just like learning to read and write in language, music theory teaches students to read, write, and think in the language of music. When a student understands why a chord sounds good or how a melody moves, their playing becomes more expressive and confident. Plus, they are able to pick up a piece quicker! Students who understand theory don’t just play by memory — they think like musicians. They can sight-read faster & memorize more easily.. This understanding gives them a sense of control and curiosity in their learning. Theory deepens their connection to the music and helps them feel proud of what they’re accomplishing. It also helps them move from one instrument to the next! At Music SO Simple, we intentionally weave theory into every lesson. It’s not a separate workbook or a quick “add-on” at the end of class — it’s an integrated part of how we teach. Sometimes getting away from the instrument to work another part of our brain is just what we need! Many of our students also take part in the Texas State Theory Test, an event that evaluates students’ understanding of musical concepts. Preparing for this test gives students a clear goal to work toward, boosts their confidence, and reinforces everything they learn in lessons. Whether a student earns a perfect score or learns from the challenge, the process itself is incredibly valuable in my opinion! Music theory helps create well-rounded musicians who can think, create, and interpret music with understanding to be independent. When we combine strong technique, artistry, and theory, our students gain a deeper appreciation of music that lasts a lifetime.  -Juliette Orwig Time slips by unnoticed, I am lost in thought, as if something understands me better than I do myself…maybe it does. Songs and lyrics captivate me as they convey my emotions, they have always been my safe space. The songs are in a multitude of colors, some in black and white, others a colorful contrast, like life. Different songs replay in my mind, like a broken record track on repeat. Spotify, always in the bottom corner of my screen, sits exactly where it belongs—intentionally placed, just like all my other apps. Having done this a million times, the songs stuck on repeat are instantly added to a new playlist, one that will play nonstop for the next few days. Listening and organizing the songs so that each flows into the next, I find myself adding new songs as they come to mind. Other times, I put the playlist on shuffle, letting my curiosity take over and silently playing a game with myself on which song will come next. These playlists are never deleted— each holding emotions and meaning that may not be fully understood in the moment. Often when I am listening to a song, my attention is not on the lyrics, just the beat. After going back, re-listening, and paying attention to the lyrics, it becomes clear to me why a song can stand out so much. It is because it relates to my emotions and feelings; it conveys a deeper emotion inside me that could never be put into words. As if my subconscious is telling me what is needed without having to say anything. As my music plays, I get consumed with other tasks. Whether that be homework, doing something around the house, or simply sitting there as I let my thoughts take over. Not even paying attention I zone out the music, but sometimes, it is a distraction, pulling me away from the stress and tasks I need to do. I never really pay attention to the time when I am listening to music. Songs and music captivate me to the point where I do not have to focus on anything else. This is my escape from reality. The comfort of knowing my playlists and stories will still be there in the back of my mind. Gladly listening to music with my friends and collaborating on playlists, I get a mixture of different genres and music tastes. By sharing our songs, I get an insight into their world and mind. Even with my parents, we have made playlists together, one with my dad and one with my mom. Each of us brings a unique music taste into the playlist, which expands my world of music. This special feeling of sharing music with my friends and family has helped me to feel more connected to them. Discovering songs has always been a joy of mine; it feels like a whole other world waiting to be explored. I stumble across my playlists randomly, like a memory of the past. Songs I have not heard in a long time flood back into my mind. They bring me back to the moment I sat down to make a playlist, they hold strong emotions and memories tied to the highs and lows of my life. It also shows the story, struggles, and happiness. Reminding me of how much I have grown, the friends I have lost and gained, but most importantly, how much I rely on music.
    At Music SO Simple, we talk a lot about the why behind what we do—but just as important is the who. I've had quite a few parents noticing new staff faces around the studio, so I thought I would write a little blurb about all of the changes! The relationships built between students and teachers are the heartbeat of our studio. And when families talk about what makes MSS feel like home, it almost always comes back to their teacher. So… what exactly does make a Music SO Simple teacher? It’s not just musical talent. It’s not just training or experience—though we certainly value those things. Our teachers are carefully chosen for more than what’s on a résumé. We look for kindness. For character. For warmth. For honestly and respect to both their students and their fellow colleagues. For people who genuinely love kids and know how to bring out their creativity, confidence, and courage. And last, but not least, a teacher who can balance a relationship of learning music, theory, and artistry—while fostering a genuine connection that motivates and inspires growth both inside and outside the lesson. We mentor our teachers to go beyond the music. Yes, we care deeply about artistry, musicianship, and technique—but we also care about connection. Growth. Encouragement. We hire people who understand that teaching music means forming a relationship with a student and their family. We choose people we’d trust with our own children. And we hold ourselves accountable to that every day.  Growth Brings Change
As our studio grows, our team grows, too. And sometimes, growth includes transition. While staff changes are never easy, they’re a natural part of any living, breathing community. What stays consistent is our commitment to providing your child with a teacher who fits—someone who is aligned with our values, our standards, and our vision of what joyful music education can be. We’re Grateful for Your Trust As always, thank you for trusting us with your child’s musical journey. We do not take that lightly. And if your family is experiencing a change in teacher this semester, know that we are here to walk you through it with care and support. Our leadership team works intentionally to ensure every student continues to thrive. I will continue to reach out to you to see how things are going, but always know that you may reach out to me anytime!  I recently listened to a podcast about intentional living, and it struck me how deeply that idea connects to my work. From the very beginning, Music SO Simple has been built on clear intentions and strong ethics: creating a place where students love making music in a professional, caring environment. For us, intentional teaching means more than just learning notes on a page. Our students—mostly children—spend one-on-one or small group time with their teachers every week. That teacher becomes not just an instructor, but a role model. To truly help students progress, motivate them, and understand how they learn best, teachers must also build trust and connection. Students thrive when they feel safe, valued, and comfortable with their teacher.  At the same time, balance matters. Too much chatting in lessons slows progress; too little personal connection leaves students feeling unseen. At MSS, we emphasize both: strong relationships and steady growth. This is what intentional teaching looks like in practice. Behind the scenes, this balance starts long before lessons even begin. I personally interview and thoroughly background-check every teacher we hire. They don’t need to be concert performers—they need to love teaching, respect their students, and be genuine team players. Our goal is to provide families with teachers you can trust, both musically and personally. That’s what intentional teaching means to us. When you entrust your child to Music SO Simple, you can feel confident that they’re not only learning music, but also growing in an environment shaped by care, professionalism, and purpose.  -Stathia Orwig  I am beyond grateful that September is here! For me, August is always a busy month, but this one was one that I would never want to repeat. It came after spending 4 weeks of much needed family time in Greece. Together with my parents, my husband, and kids, we had the best time reconnecting and relaxing as we soaked up the Greek beach, food and lifestyle. All this to say, it probably gave me the energy boost I needed to get through August! As we all try to regroup and fit practice into our new fall schedules, it's important for us to give ourselves a chance to evaluate what's important in our lives today. A new school year brings tougher classes, new friendships, sports, and extracurriculars. How in the world do we fit it all in? We've all been at it for about a month now and we might finally starting to come up for air!? Honestly, I love September because it does feel like a fresh start- in a way, just like January! But we get both September AND January! So how do we fit practice for the lessons we have committed to? First figure out all that you have going on. I like to ask my students to use practice as a break in their homework. Most of our students have at least a little homework or an afternoon routine. If the afternoon is not a good time to practice, then look at carving out time before school. Try connecting "practice" with another constant in your routine:
Whatever you choose, stick with it! Try it for 3 weeks and then reevaluate. Does the schedule need to be tweaked? That's okay! Nothing needs to be set in stone, and things are always changing. If you miss a day, be sure to get back at it ASAP. You know, the longer you go, the harder it is to get back! For me, I've been focusing on my workouts and morning ritual. I find that when I begin my day with mediation and exercise, the better prepared I am for my day. It helps me to juggle whatever gets thrown my way. I've been out of my practice routine as well. I love to sit down at the piano and just play. But sometimes after teaching all day, the last thing I want to do is sit at the piano. On the weekends or on a night I get home at a decent hour, I will sit down at the piano and just concentrate on learning a new piece, not my phone, email, work, laundry...the list could go on! Focusing on learning a new piece- all of the notes, dynamics, & parts, is it's own form of meditation. It makes us be completely present and in the moment. Our brain is getting something completely different! It's the perfect reset. I hope that you get into the new rhythm of your fall and that this has helped. We are all in this together, so if you have more ideas, please throw them my way! As I end my first blog of this school year, I hope you continue to gain wisdom, guidance, and joy from your music lessons and our teachers. I pray we receive strength to face challenges, clarity in learning, and continue to thrive in a positive environment that fosters growth and a love for music.  -Stathia Orwig  It's 2 weeks before our recital. You've been practicing. Your piece is finally memorized. Grandparents have been called. What do you wear? With my kids, I usually started thinking about this a few weeks ahead of time. They dreaded the time when I would ask them to look through their closet to see what they had. Then I would ask them to try it on. Of course, it wouldn't always fit. Grrrrr. There's honestly nothing worse than freaking out the day of (or even the night before) trying to figure out what to wear. And honestly, recitals are already a lot! So, here are a few pointers that have helped me make the recital day a little less chaotic.
 -Stathia Orwig Are you curious to know where your student is compared to others? Well, I really love keeping things on an individual basis. However, there are 2 metrics I found interesting! Below, I grabbed a screen shot of what our students we planning to participate in this school year. Did you know how many events we plan for our students? Check this out!  The other data I love looking at is how our students practice- we all know how much they practice- but are they making good progress? Are we as teachers explaining how to practice- and then are our students progressing? Take a look at this!  So, I would say that our students are doing a great job or know what to practice and making good progress!! That says a lot about our teachers and our students need to give themselves a great pat on the back for following practice guidelines!!
 Dear Friends of Music SO Simple, As you know, Music SO Simple is a growing music education studio dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of music in students of all ages. Since we began in 2016, we have been committed to providing exceptional learning experiences, nurturing creativity, and inspiring passion in each of our students. I keep my vision and expectations very high for MSS. We have just completed a wonderful expansion which has allowed us to see more students, add more instruments and even host small recitals in our big room! With this recital room, we are embarking on an exciting journey to elevate the quality of piano education we provide by acquiring a Steinway Spirio R piano. This extraordinary instrument is not only a masterpiece in craftsmanship and sound, but also an innovative tool that combines artistry with technology, offering unique features, like recording directly from the piano, that can enrich our students' learning experiences. As we have been working on preparing our students for an upcoming festival, this piano has proven to be a very valuable resource in helping prepare our students; We have been able to easily record their playing on the piano during a lesson, watch as it’s played back to us, learn from what we have heard and watched, and then make necessary adjustments to improve our playing. I can’t express how much this has helped students improve in such little time! The addition of the Spirio R will allow our students to explore new dimensions of music-making, including being able to easily record pieces, send them audio files, and interactive performance opportunities. With this instrument at our studio, Music SO Simple will be even more equipped to inspire & educate our students in ways that were previously unimaginable. It truly is an amazing instrument and we have already seen such phenomenal results using it with our students! I realize that I am dreaming BIG! To achieve this vision, we are seeking sponsorship and support from individuals and organizations who share our passion for music education and our belief in its transformative power. Your sponsorship will directly contribute to the purchase of this incredible piano, ensuring that it becomes a cornerstone of our expanded studio and a legacy for the students of today and tomorrow. Not only will it be accessible to all students at Music SO Simple, but it will also be available to students in the surrounding communities. In recognition of your generosity, we would be honored to acknowledge your contribution through a commemorative plaque in the Spirio’s room, recognition on our website, and recognition in all recital programs. More information and updates to contributions can be found at musicsosimple.com/spiriobound. Thank you for considering this opportunity to invest in the future of music education. If you would like to discuss this initiative further and explore how we can collaborate to make this dream a reality, feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected]. With heartfelt gratitude, Stathia Orwig Founder & Director  |
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