Leslie Tien Studios - cello instruction and performance

06/01/2026

Hi, All: 5-31-26

Here is the second installment of AYSAPT (Are You as Smart as
Pre-Twinkler? Which will from now on be known as AYSAPT.).

Don't worry if you haven't done last week's questions; you have until Aug. 19th.

Also, remember that I don't care about "right" answers as much as I care about you making a stab at an answer. You might use Google, your Suzuki book, friends, family, grandparents, ancient with knowledge and experience, etc, etc, etc. Don't forget, the idea is to HAVE FUN!

(Whenever you get a set of questions done, please email them to me, or take a picture and text it to me.)

And the questions are:

Who was the 2nd president of the United States?

What do we call moving from one position to another on the cello?

Who sewed the first American flag?

True or false: your left thumb should always be across from 2nd finger.

To what musical instrument family does the cello belong?

Where was the first battle of the American Revolution fought?

What color is the rug in Leslie’s unpacking room?

Which of the following is the most important to learning a piece?

Which major key has one sharp in the key signature?

In which Suzuki Cello book would you find a Gavotte by Lully?

What color is Batman’s car?

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See you this week,

Leslie

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05/25/2026

HI, All: 5-25-26

Happy Memorial Day! Here is the first installment of Are You as Smart as a Pre-Twinkler?

The only deadline is the end of our summer semester (Aug. 19), and the person who turns in to me the most questions answered
(or tried to answer) gets to have ice cream with me at the end of the summer.

Some of these you will know without thinking, and some you
might have to go look up. It's perfectly fine to make it a family
project, but you (Student) have to participate - no farming the work out to someone else without doing any yourself! The idea is to learn fun stuff about music.

And remember - HAVE FUN!!!

Leslie

1. What color is the file cabinet in Leslie’s studio?

2. In which Suzuki Cello Book would you find French Folk Song?

3. What is it called when you lightly touch the string to play a note, instead of pushing the string down?

4. Who was a Yankee Doodle?

5. Who is the Suzuki method named after?

6. True or false: your left arm should always make a straight line
from elbow to back of the hand.

7. How many quarter notes does it take to make a half note?

8. What piece is painted on the wall in Leslie’s studio?

9. Which is true?
A. The reason we learn a piece is to get on to the
next piece.
B. We learn a piece to learn the skills needed to play the
piece.
C. We learn a piece for the joy of playing music well.
D. Both B and C
E. Both A and B

10. What is the key signature of C Major?

05/05/2026

Hi, All: 5-4-26

BIG FAT REMINDER: Our rehearsal for the Celebration Concert is this Friday at 4:30, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. PLEASE ARRIVE BY 4:15 so we can start on time. Your child can leave as soon as we've finished the last piece she plays. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ALL MUSIC IN THEIR BINDER IN ORDER BY THIS WEEK'S LESSON!!! Avoid a fussing! Get it done!

Also, please note the weeks I won't be teaching during the summer semester:

June 29 - July 3
July 6 - July 10
and July 27 - July 31

03/24/2026

Hi, All: 3-23-26

This Friday (the 27th) is our Spring Party/Recital! We'll be in the
Fellowship Hall at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, at 2325 S. 24th St.

Please arrive by 4:15 so that we can have everyone tuned and ready to start at 4:30. Dress is casual, and you can bring friends,
grandparents, fairy godmothers, etc. Be sure to bring your cello,
music, and whatever treats you offered to bring (let me know if you don't remember what you volunteered for). I'm going to the church later this week to check everything out, so I'll let you know if you need a stand or endpin stopper, but I don't think you'll need either one. I'm pretty sure we'll be done before 6:00 (that's my plan, anyway).

I look forward to seeing all of you at your lesson this week,

Leslie

10/13/2025

Hi, All: 10-13-25

This is just a reminder that we don't have lessons this week! Please keep practicing Christmas music, and I'll see you next week.

Leslie

05/14/2025

Hi, All: 5-14-25

Here's a sneak peak at my summer dates and tuition policy. All of this info will be on my website next week. But I thought you might like to know now. I'll be asking you soon to let me know which option you prefer, and when you'll be taking lessons.

I don't suggest taking the summer off from lessons. I will work with you to fit lessons in to your child's schedule. Without lessons, there's not as much incentive to practice, and without practice, much learning is lost and means more work next fall to regain skills in place now. Even if your child is able to continue practicing without lessons, there's no new progress being made, and that gets boring after a while! So, I encourage you to keep lessons going, even if they're fewer and further apart.

Semester Dates

Semester break: May 19-23 (No lessons)
Summer semester: May 26 - Aug. 20
Weeks off: June 30 - July 11 (two weeks)
July 28 - Aug 1
Semester break: Aug. 25 - 29
Fall semester begins: Sept 2

Summer Tuition

There are two options for summer lessons. For the 10-lesson option, you have the choice of one semester payment or monthly tuition payments. For the seven-lesson option, the one semester payment is required (no monthly payments, sorry).

Thanks,

Leslie

05/12/2025

Hi, All: 5-12-25

Our Celebration Concert is this Saturday! This is an email to share all the details, and to ask you to bring a goodie to share or paper products. Please let me know what you plan to bring, so I can make sure we have enough for all.

This Thursday (May 17), please be at Grace Lutheran Church (23rd and Washington) in the gym by 4:30 p.m., so we can tune and be ready to start promptly at 4:45. There are some folks who need to leave to get to school concerts, so please be on time. Bring your binder (arranged in order), a stand, and a belt or carpet strip for your end pin.

This Saturday (May 19), please be there by 10:15 for tuning and starting on time. Several things will happen Saturday, including certificates for those who have passed a graduation level, and rewards for all those who have made it back to Lincoln on their map by this week's lesson. If you're close to Lincoln, jump in there and get the rest of your cities visited! Everyone who's made it back to Lincoln will get a prize.

Dress for this concert is casual. Please bring friends, family, and
visiting dignitaries (like grandparents). Come prepared to show off and have fun!

I think that's it for now.

Leslie

05/05/2025

Hi, All: 5-5-25

Please check the website for info about our upcoming Celebration Concert, on Saturday, May 17, at 10:30. The rehearsal is Thursday, May 15, at 4:45. I need everyone at the rehearsal, so please make arrangements to be there! It shouldn't be very long, and as soon as your child is finished, she may leave.

I'm going to be asking folks to bring a treat to share to our concert. Watch for a sign-up email coming soon.

Also, I have dates ready for summer, but they're not on the website yet. I will try to get them on the website and send an email soon with summer dates and tuition info.

Thanks, and I'll see you this week,

Leslie

03/29/2025

Hi, All: 3-29-25

We are at the halfway point in our Travel America project, with seven weeks to go to our Celebration Concert. If you've been traveling 3-4 cities every week, you should be close to where you need to be to get back to Lincoln in time for our concert. By my calculations, you should be as far as Atlanta, Georgia by your next lesson. If you're not that far yet, it's time to start visiting more cities in a week, practicing the review pieces at each one.

I will send weekly updates from here on, letting you know where you should be on your map. Of course, if you want to go further faster, practice more of the songs. I discovered last week that one student was already in Idaho. That's great! But whatever your itinerary looks like, just give it you personal best. The more cities you visit, the more ready for the concert you'll be.

See you next week,

Leslie

02/25/2025

Hi, All: 2-25-25

I want to remind and welcome you all to our Spring Recital this Friday, February 28th, at 4:30. We will be in the sanctuary at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 2325 S. 24th. Please arrive by 4:15 to unpack and tune. Dress in your nice spring duds. Bring friends, family, and visiting dignitaries.

Also this Friday the 28th, tuition is due for March.

Thanks,

Leslie