034: Summer Duet Camps with Kirstin Weston

Today, we're having a chat with Kirstin Weston, the talented founder and owner of KW Music Studios, to discuss her innovative summer duet camps that have been a hit with her students. Kirstin, who holds an MFA in Piano Performance from UCI and has a wealth of experience in competitions and collaborative music, shares how her studio in Aliso Viejo, California, has grown to include 140 students and a team of dedicated instructors. We delve into the inspiration behind her duet camps, the impact on her students' musical development, and the unique approach she takes to foster collaboration and connection among her students. Whether you're a music teacher looking for fresh ideas or a parent considering new opportunities for your child, you won’t want to miss this insightful conversation.

• Kirsten shared a brief overview of her background and her multi-teacher studio.
• The pros and cons of renting a commercial space.
• Advice for teachers on running a multi-teacher studio.
• She describes how the idea for a duet camp was born from a desire to foster student connection and collaborative skills.
• Repertoire and activities included in her duet camp and the outcome and impact to her students.
• She discusses more about her duet camps, including flexible pairing, student levels, age requirements and skill improvement among students.
• How Kirstin reintroduced community outreach recitals at a local retirement home.
• Her upcoming events and a holiday recital in December.
• How she balances teaching and family time.
• Kirstin shared about her studio activities and meal prep on her Instagram page.

Links Mentioned

• Kirstin Weston Instagram Page: @kwmusicstudios
• KW Music Studios - Piano Lessons Facebook Page
• KW Music Studios YouTube Channel

Today's Guest

Kirstin Weston is the founder and owner of KW Music Studios and offers private lessons in piano performance, music theory, and piano pedagogy in Aliso Viejo, California and online. She manages a team of instructors who offer private lessons for the studio in their home studios or in the student’s homes throughout Orange County. Kirstin received a BA in Piano Performance from UCLA in 2012 and an MFA in Piano Performance from UCI in 2014. She has performed in competitions, master classes, chamber music groups, duet teams, and has been an active member of professional teaching organizations including MTNA, MTAC, and CAPMT. Outside of piano teaching, Kirstin loves spending time with her husband, two kids, and their dog Oreo!

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at https://rachelehring.com/
• Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
• Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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