O'Connor Music Studio

When my students are first working with the Grand Staff, they are often confused about the placement of the various clefs.

In piano music, we generally use only the G-clef (Treble clef – not “trouble clef” as some think!) and the F-clef (Bass clef) I try to show students how the curvy part of the G-clef wraps around the G above middle C and the F-clef looks sort of like an F marking the F below middle C. I draw out G and F on the staff to show how these could have looked.

Treblemaker!   When my students are first working with the Grand Staff, they are often confused about the placement of the various clefs. In piano music, we generally use only the G-clef (Treble clef & #821…

For Children Ages 2-5. Come And Visit! Meet the staff and tour the school.

Pender Hill Preschool offers over 60 years of early education experience for your little one!

Pender Hill Preschool Open House - Christmas In Fairfax For Children Ages 2-5. Come And Visit! Meet the staff and tour the school. Pender Hill Preschool offers over 60 years of early education experience for your little one! 703-352-6204 […]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:1-2, 14

https://penderumc.org/pender-blog/verse-of-the-day-august-16/

Andrea Quinones sang the Lord's Prayer at Pender's Traditional Service on July 21, 2024. She was accompanied by Heidi Jacobs, Pender Pianist. https://penderumc.org/pender-blog/hymn-history-the-lords-prayer/

The ornament table is a transcription of the one appearing in the Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, written by Johann Sebastian Bach for the keyboard instruction of his eldest son.

See the Ornament Table at

How to Play using J.S. Bach’s Ornaments The following ornament table is a transcription of the one appearing in the Clavier-Büchlein vor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, written by Johann Sebastian Bach for the keyboard instruction of his eldest…

Join us for a delightful Ice Cream Social tomorrow, at 12:30 pm in Pender’s Gathering Place!

Enjoy a sweet afternoon filled with delicious ice cream and all your favorite toppings—absolutely free!

Ice Cream Social Join us for a delightful Ice Cream Social tomorrow, at 12:30 pm in Pender’s Gathering Place! Enjoy a sweet afternoon filled with delicious ice cream and all your favorite toppings—absolutely …

Many homeowners don’t realize that there are movers available to them who specialize in the transportation and storage of pianos. A piano is a delicate instrument and not something you want to take risks with.

Moving this Summer? Many homeowners don’t realize that there are movers available to them who specialize in the transportation and storage of pianos. A piano is a delicate instrument and not something you want t…

“Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” was the closing hymn at Pender's 9:00 am Traditional Service. It was sung by Pender's Sanctuary choir, congregation and accompanied on piano by Heidi Jacobs.

Hymn History: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus | Pender Blog | Pender UMC “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” was the closing hymn at Pender's 9:00 am Traditional Service on September 17, 2023 It was sung by Pender's Sanctuary choir, congregation and accompanied on piano by Heidi Jacobs. "Stand Up, Stand Up...

To a Wild Rose is the first piece from Ten Woodland Sketches, Op. 51, by the American composer Edward MacDowell. It was completed in 1896, Numerous arrangements of the piece have been made.

Daily Listening Assignments ~ August 7 To a Wild Rose is the first piece from Ten Woodland Sketches, Op. 51, by the American composer Edward MacDowell. It was completed in 1896, Numerous arrangements of the piece have been made. Though …

Just because. This is a favorite Piano Guys piece that combines Amazing Grace, Scotland the Brave and Fight Song. I had loved it since the first time I heard it.
https://oconnormusicstudio.com/2024/08/05/daily-listening-assignments-august-5/

Today’s piece is from a TV show my son used to love to watch: Inspector Gadget. The show followed the adventures of a powerful but dimwitted cyborg police inspector named Gadget...

Daily Listening Assignments ~ August 2 Today’s piece is from a TV show my son used to love to watch: Inspector Gadget. The show followed the adventures of a powerful but dimwitted cyborg police inspector named Gadget as he investi…

Library Adventure Passport, Today through August 16 This summer, adventure begins at your library!

Travel around the library system completing scavenger hunts at 7 participating branches to earn stamps in your passport.

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Library Adventure Passport - Christmas In Fairfax This summer, adventure begins at your library! Travel around the library system completing scavenger hunts at 7 participating branches to earn stamps in your passport. Once your passport is full, […]

The Pender UMC Traditional Service Final Hymn "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" was played by Liz Eunji Moon on piano, accompanied on guitar by Brian Stevenson and sung the Pender Sanctuary Choir and congregation.

Hymn History: Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling | Pender Blog | Pender UMC “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling”Will Thompson UM Hymnal, No. 348 The Pender UMC Traditional Service Final Hymn "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling" on Sunday September 11, 2022 was played by Liz Eunji Moon on piano...

Heart and Soul – not what you may think.

Beginning piano students have often learned this from a sibling or at school…

https://oconnormusicstudio.com/2024/07/29/daily-listening-assignments-july-29

Daily Listening Assignments ~ July 29 Heart and Soul – not what you may think. Beginning piano students have often learned this from a sibling or at school: The real piece was written by Hoagy Carmichael Barbershop-style, very sl…

Handbells are not just for children and teens! We have adult handbell groups for beginner to advanced ringers. The difficulty level of handbell music is rated from Level 1 (easy) to Level 6 (most difficult). Junehttps://oconnormusicstudio.com/2024/07/27/adult-handbell-groups/

Adult Handbell Groups   Handbells are not just for children and teens! We have adult handbell groups for beginner to advanced ringers. The difficulty level of handbell music is rated from Level 1 (easy) to Level …

From the publisher: “This beloved choral prayer, immortalized in its performance at the funeral of Princess Diana, is now available in a breathtakingly beautiful arrangement by Mark Hayes....”

Hymn History: Make Me a Channel of Your Peace | Pender Blog | Pender UMC “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace,” Prayer of St. Francis, adapt. Sebastian Temple;The Faith We Sing, No. 2171 Make me a channel of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,And...

Check in was very easy and we were on the ship. Lots of people were wandering around the Centrum confused. I saw a guy sitting at a desk. Turned out he was the one who knew where we should go. We had The Key ...

Amsterdam/Boarding the Jewel After a great buffet breakfast at the Holiday Inn, we went across the side street to the Jumbo Foodmarkt. “An extraordinary concept in an extraordinary location” definitely applies to Jumbo’s newly…

National Ice Cream Day is observed each year on the 3rd Sunday in July and is a part of National Ice Cream Month. This day is a fun celebration enjoyed with a bowl, cup or cone filled with your favorite flavor of ice cream.

Happy Ice Cream Day! - Christmas In Fairfax National Ice Cream Day is observed each year on the 3rd Sunday in July and is a part of National Ice Cream Month. This day is a fun celebration enjoyed […]

🎵 Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade ~ Daily Listening Assignment

Daily Listening Assignments ~ July 9 Today’s piece is based on a collection of tales known as the One Thousand and One Nights or Arabian Nights. The story, which was written many hundreds of years ago, tells of a Persian king wh…

🎵 Beethoven: Symphony Number 5 ~ Daily Listening Assignments

Daily Listening Assignments ~ July 8 Today, we’ll listen to the Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, of Ludwig van Beethoven. It was written between 1804–1808. It is one of the best-known compositions in classical music, and one …

🪄 Learn Magic – Card Tricks, Sleight of Hand, and More, July 8

Learn Magic - Card Tricks, Sleight of Hand, and More - Christmas In Fairfax Learn and share fun magic tricks to do at home! Learn and practice a variety of fun magic tricks, ranging from easy to challenging. If you are a magic expert, […]

🪄 Magic Storytime, July 11

Magic Storytime - Christmas In Fairfax Celebrate Magic Week with a mystical storytime for all ages! Sing songs, play games, and enjoy a selection of hand-picked books celebrating the magic all around us. This storytime is […]

👩🏼‍🚒 KayDee Puppets, Today

KayDee Puppets - Christmas In Fairfax A 1st class puppet show with rhymes, stories and laughs! A local favorite, Kaydee puppet shows appeal to kids of all ages! Fresh twists on beloved fairy tales entertain and […]

🝚 Lego Club, Today

Lego Club - Christmas In Fairfax Calling all LEGO lovers! Drop in to create and build with LEGO bricks. Meet others who love building creations as much as you! Ages 6-12.

🌠 Camp PH: Under the Stars, Today

Camp PH: Under the Stars - Christmas In Fairfax Drop in to Camp PH to create a starry sky sensory jar! No registration. For children ages 5 and older. CAMP PH This summer, Patrick Henry is offering a variety […]

Today’s assignment is a little different but it shows how determination, hard work, practice and believing in yourself can take you a long way.

Inverary and District Pipe Band didn’t sound so great when they started out but…

Daily Listening Assignments ~ June 29   Today’s assignment is a little different but it shows how determination, hard work, practice and believing in yourself can take you a long way. Inverary and District Pipe Band didn& #82…

🎵 Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition ~ Daily Listening Assignments

Daily Listening Assignments ~ June 27 Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite of ten pieces (plus a recurring, varied Promenade) composed for the piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874. The suite is Mussorgsky’s most fa…