Dear Music Friends,
As we head into this season of gratitude, I’ve been reflecting on how lucky we are to make music with you each week. Your commitment to learning, your curiosity, and the trust you place in us to guide your musical journey mean more than I can say. At Medina School of Music, we see every lesson, every practice breakthrough, and every performance as part of a bigger story we’re creating together. Just as Thanksgiving brings families and friends around the table, music gathers us into a community, one built on joy, growth, and shared experiences.From all of us here, thank you for being such an important part of our studio family. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with rest, good food, and plenty of moments that make your heart feel full.

With appreciation,

Mariana
Director
Medina School of Music

Winter SHOWCASE RECITAL

January 10th & 17th 2026

 Performance Times Vary

Westgate Church

The winter recital is just around the corner!!

Here are some frequently asked recital questions:

What time should we arrive?

Students and their families can arrive 15-20 minutes prior to their performance group time to take pictures on the red carpet. We bring in a professional photographer and roll out the red carpet for our students! The recital is FREE for performers and audience members and the professional photos are FREE too!

What if we haven’t picked a song yet?

It is okay! Talk with your teacher this week to pick a song and begin preparing. Stop by the front desk to confirm your spot for the recital, or accept the invitation in your student account.

How do I encourage my child to participate? 

The first thing we recommend is to have a conversation with your children about what a recital is; a fun way to play for friends and family. The showcase is absolutely optional but I’m sure you’d love to hear your children play or sing. Ask your children open-ended questions and recognize their hard work. Mention how much they’ve been practicing and how lovely one or a few of their pieces are sounding. Have them prepare a song for the recital (even if they don’t end up performing). A living room family recital is a great way to help them get ready for the performance day.

All current students are invited to attend the recital even if not performing.

How do we prepare?

Now for the really fun part, students, choosing a piece. I recommend choosing something that you really enjoy playing and that you feel you play well. Talk to your teacher for suggestions and if there’s not a piece you’re currently working on that excites you, check out our selection of supplementary repertoire books that go with your lesson book (oftentimes listed on the back).
Next is to prepare the piece. After learning all of the pitches and rhythm it’s time to polish the songs with dynamics and articulations. For those of you who play an instrument other than the piano, you may want to consider playing with a piano accompanist. 

Do I need to memorize my piece?

Now, this is the question that we get the most and the one that makes students the most nervous: The answer is no. After practicing a piece for several weeks we may naturally memorize it but when adding the excitement and nerves of a performance, we may forget certain sections. That’s why we say, bring your books! Even if you end up not looking at the book at all, having the book in front of you provides a safety net to ensure a superb performance. 

A big congratulations to our performers in our Summer Showcase Recital! Recital photos have been sent via email for both recitals. Please let us know if you need access. 

Join us in spreading holiday cheer! From November 5 to December 15, we’re collecting new, unwrapped toys for local families in need. Drop off your donations in the lobby and help make a child’s holiday season a little brighter!

We are the only music school in Medina / Plymouth / Wayzata area that gives their students the opportunity to earn special color wristband/bracelets (kids and teens love them!), trophies AND certificates for passing musical challenges. Do other schools offer trophies and certificates? A few. But none of them inspire their students with smiling faces by giving them full color, really cool Musical Ladder® wristbands that they can show off to their friends. The Musical Ladder® is our unique method of encouraging achievement that you can only get here.

More importantly when our students have a challenge coming up, they practice more, their parents are proud, their teachers are proud, and everybody wins. You can only get the Musical Ladder® here. We also specialize in music lessons for adults.

Piano Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Voice Lessons, Violin Lessons, Ukulele Lessons, and Music Classes in ONE Location!

Proudly serving the

communities of Medina,

Plymouth, Hamel, Maple

Grove, Wayzata, Corcoran,

Orono, Hamel

Friends of Medina School of Music