Meet Ella & the Progress You Can’t Hear Yet

A Note From Anna & Joe

Happy September, CSM families!

We’re excited to bring back our monthly CSM newsletter!

Every week at CSM is filled with musical discovery and development, and so much more. Students learn lessons they will carry with them for years to come: focus, discipline, perseverance, adaptability, creativity, and the confidence that comes from working through something difficult.

Learning music reaches far beyond the notes on the page. It is the individual attention each student receives from their teacher. It is the lightbulb moment when something suddenly clicks. It is the connection between a student and teacher as they work together, solve problems, make music, and help the student discover their own artistic voice.

Those moments are what make music lessons so special, and we’re excited to recognize and share more of them with you.

There is a lot happening across CSM every week, and the newsletter gives us a place to share more of it with you. Student spotlights, photos from around the schools, important dates, articles, and other news from the CSM community.

We are excited to share CSM news with you again, and we can’t wait to see you at your lessons!

Anna & Joe

Inside the studio: a guitar lesson at CSM.

Coming up soon at CSM

Mon, Sept 7

Labor Day. CSM is closed.

Sun, Sept 13

Anderson Student Recital at our Anderson school, 2:30 PM. Drummers Showcase, 5:00 PM.

Sun, Sept 27

Sign-ups start Sunday, September 27  for the CSM October Recitals (Halloween Theme) held Sunday, October 18 at St. Barnabas Church in Montgomery. Performance times are 2:30 PM, 4:00 PM, and 5:30 PM. Please talk to your teacher to confirm readiness for this recital!

Sat, Oct 31

Halloween Week is always a fun time at CSM where students often wear their costumes in for lessons and fun pictures. More on that next month so stay tuned!

We're open for Saturday lessons on Halloween and will have everyone finished by mid-afternoon. Wear your Halloween costume to your lessons, we'll be holding a costume contest with a cool prize!

Student Spotlight

Meet Ella

Piano  •  student of Porter  •  almost three years at CSM

Ella started piano for a simple reason: her mom played, and she wanted to try it too. Almost three years later, we asked her how it is going, and she answered in her own words.

What are you working on right now, and what is the coolest thing you have learned lately?

I am working on using both of my hands when playing and the beat of the music. I am really excited to be learning to play 22 by Taylor Swift. I am going to learn a Forrest Frank song next.

What has been the hardest part, and what kept you going?

The hardest part was practicing. I am in a lot of other activities and finding time was hard. We just got a wall piano instead of a keyboard and now I practice everyday. I love our piano.

“If you want to get better, you have to practice.”

Have you played in a recital yet?

Yes, I have played in 2 recitals. I love playing in recitals and showing my family my hard work.

Who is a musician you look up to?

I look up to Forrest Frank. We went to his concert when he was in town. He showed us how he makes songs. It was so cool.

Congratulations, Ella! Keep up the GREAT work!

Ella and her teacher, Porter.

CSM NUGGET

The Progress You Can’t Hear Yet

In the first few months of lessons, progress can be easy to miss at home. The piece may still sound rough, and practice may still need reminders. In the lesson room, though, teachers are watching for smaller changes.

Wrong notes overshadow progress.

A student who used to stop after every mistake starts picking up from the measure where they got lost. Two hands begin working together. A drummer keeps the pulse while adding something new. A student catches a wrong note before the teacher says anything.

Those things matter because they make the next stage possible. Reading gets faster. New music comes together sooner. Practice becomes less dependent on an adult sitting nearby.

One of the clearest signs is self-correction. When a student pauses, fixes something, and tries again on their own, that is real progress even if the song is nowhere near recital-ready.

If you are wondering how lessons are going, ask your teacher what they are noticing. They can usually point to several changes that are hard to hear from the next room.

Around the Studios

Some of the best moments at CSM happen in the middle of a lesson, and we will keep sharing them with you here.

A little rhythm work before the next run-through.

Welcome, New Students!

A BIG CSM WELCOME TO NEW STUDENTS WHO JOINED IN AUGUST!
We are looking forward to working with you!

Vinay T. • Sadie W. • Faith J. • Bella K. • Michael S. • Skii D. • Rayush A. • Nathaniel N. • Miles S. • Elliott F. • Audrey C. • Faye C. • Kayush A. • Sara W. • Kyle B. • Sergio P. • Anthony C. • Audrey C. • Lira U. • Prisha J. • Catherine C. • Eleanor M. • Amber W. • Max H. • Noah M. • Jace S. • Robert F. • Maria R. • Ethan K. • Frederich H. • Micah C. • Aydin B. • Aurora M. • Asher M. • Savanna B. • Michael R. • Leo D. • Kyra C. • Jack S. • Yeeun P. • Kiyah A. • Rishaan A. • Nishi A. • Mikayla B. • Jocelyn B. • Viktor R. • Arden S. • Mildred D. • Mahira D. • Marceline L. • Jasmin I. • Hunter M. • Eleanor P. • Madeline S. • Joe K. • Alon B. • Aiden F. • Logan B. • Jojo B. • Jolene B. • Katie R. • Caroline M. • Meme S. • Korra K. • Lily W. • Oliver J. • Max R.

We are glad you are here. Welcome to the CSM family!