Reasons why music is hugely important in our lives just keep pouring in! Check out this video about the use of music to improve life at an elderly home, and then let us prove it to you too!

Individual Lessons

Please chose how many lessons you would like to buy for someone special, tell us their name, and then press “Buy Now”. These lessons are half an hour long, so if you would like to purchase hour long lessons, simply double your order. After your order is processed, you will be brought to a page where you can download and print your gift certificate. Gift certificates are applicable at either our Morristown, Verona, Andover, or Flemington location. After the gift is received he/she can call to schedule his/her music lessons! Beginners ages 3 1/2 through adults as well as experienced advanced musicians are all welcome.

Have you planned out your children’s after school activities for this fall yet? Whether your child is involved in a school music program or not, private music lessons is a good investment into their time and education. If they are in a school band/orchestra/choir, private lessons will get them to boost they need to catch up, or to make them feel the best in the class, both of which have a huge impact on them in school, and not just in that class. If they don’t have an musical outlet at school, as many schools in New Jersey are sadly cutting funding for such things, this is all the more reason for taking lessons privately! One on one lessons will allow the teacher to focus entirely on your child’s particular strengths and weaknesses and tailor the lessons to help them progress at the best pace possible. And because the lessons are one on one, there are only two schedules to coordinate… you, and the teacher. We’ll work with you to make sure the time is right, and the teacher is just the right fit. Your trial lesson is half price, so if for any reason after that you would like to try a different instrument or teacher, you can try another trial, and we’ll work with you until we have just the right fit for you.

8/6/12 through 8/10/12 – 9am-2pm

Grades 5 through 9 of intermediate/advanced skill on various instruments.

The Olive Tree Music Academy 2012 String Camp is a hands-on, performance based, program designed to introduce new students to the basics of classical performance, further develop the intermediate student’s group performance skills, and give the advanced student a chance to further hone their skills in performance. Instruments taught will be violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Students will be given several pieces of music prior to the beginning of camp. During camp they will be working on a handful of those songs with conductor or in a breakout session on tuning, sightreading, vibrato, etc. The end of the camp will conclude with a performance in front of family and friends.

Call for more information! (973) 786-1655

8/13/12 through 8/18/12

For 13 to 18 years olds of intermediate/advanced skill on various instruments.

The Olive Tree Music Academy 2012 Summer Rock Camp is a hands-on, performance based, program designed to introduce new students to the basics of modern music performance, further develop the intermediate student’s group performance skills, and give the advanced student a chance to further hone their skills in performance and running a band. This week long course will give all students a better understanding of many facets of modern music group performance. All instruments will be welcome, however the general focus will be on rhythm section instruments (Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums) and voice.
Students will begin the week by selecting a range of songs from the modern repertoire (Classic Rock, Blues, Funk, Hard Rock, Metal, Punk, and all other “electric” styles), and breaking into bands to begin arranging the songs for their respective groups. Students will then progress through the week, working hands-on with professional performers and teachers, until the campers perform their work on the 6th day of camp in front of a live audience.

Topics to be covered include but are not limited to:

Call for more information! (973) 786-1655

Below is the recital schedule for June 16! It is subject to change but hopefully changes will not be necessary. I’ve had to change the times a slight bit to fit in 6 recitals instead of 5, because we will have over 125 performers that day (wow!).

Also, you have just three more days to pay the recital fee at the lower rate of $25. The same link changes to $30 on May 15. Audience admission is free. Please pay the fee at the following link. http://www.olivetreemusicacademy.com/recitalfee/

If you missed any information regarding the recital so far, the original email is attached below this one. One more email that will outline procedures and etiquette will come at a later time.

For quick reference, here is the recital schedule by teacher.

Teacher Schedule:
9:15-10:15am
Trish, Tom, Zach, Terrence, Sue, Sarah L, Rafael
10:30-11:30am
Trish, Tom, Zach, Evan, Jonathan, Sue, Kristin, Jordyn
11:45-12:45pm – Adults Students Only
Trish, Tom, Zach, Evan, Christine, Angela, Diane, Gregg
1-2pm
Trish, Tom, Zach, Christine, Jeff, Sue
2:15-3:15pm
Trish, Tom, Zach, Sarah D, Mel, Christine, Dan
3:30-4:30pm
Trish, Tom, Zach, Molly, Sarah D, Mel

Recital day is tomorrow- wahoo! By now you should definitely know which recital you or your child is participating in, whether it’s the 12:30-1:30, 2-3, 3:30-4:30, 5-6pm, or 6:30-7:30pm recital. If for any reason you need to contact us, you can call up until 11:30am tomorrow at 973-786-1655, or after that time send a text message to Andy 908-797-9973 as he will be controlling the registration desk with his phone on vibrate.

Contents of this email:
New Hall
Performer’s Recital Fee due
Arrival Time
Photos and Video
How to Purchase a DVD
Photo/DVD Waiver Form
Parking
Directions for Performers

NEW HALL

Several people told us they are bringing a lot of spectators, which is great! So we’ve upgraded to a bigger hall at the Hyatt. Please tell your family and friends. The recital will now be at the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Hotel at 3 Speedwell Ave in Morristown. This hall is easily found on the first floor to the left of the front desk. This is a different hall than we used for our recital last June. Click here for Directions

Admission for spectators is FREE.

PERFORMER’S RECITAL FEE
If you have not yet to paid your recital fee, today is your deadline. Use the following link.

http://www.olivetreemusicacademy.com/recitalfee

ARRIVAL TIME
PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE HOTEL 25-30 MINUTES EARLY to park, find the ballroom, use the bathroom before the show, and get your instrument set up and tuned. Our recitals are full and we need to start right on time in order to end on time.

PHOTOS AND VIDEO

No photography or videography, flash or not, will be permitted from the audience during performances. This is standard concert etiquette for all types of performances, children through professional level, and as an educational school we want to set a good example of that. Also, our recital is set up so that the audience is only a few feet from the performer (on floor level) so movements can be very distracting to the performer, particularly movements of their own parent. They will be aware of your every move and want to see your smiling face encouraging them while they perform. Plus, feeling the need to pose for a camera while playing can be very distracting, and our performers have worked so hard we want them to have the best experience possible. While we are selling DVDs, please believe that our intention is to teach concert etiquette and not to make money. With the cost of professional videography and editing, our goal is to simply break even, and that everyone will have a high quality video of their performance.

We are hiring a professional videographer who will film each performance at the best angle possible with a professional microphone setup so that each performer will look and sound their best. When you buy a DVD you will also have to option to have a digital version of only your performance uploaded to YouTube so that it’s easy to share with friends or family.

Photos – We will not be hiring a professional photographer as we have in the past. We are encouraging you to have your performer pose in the front either before or after the show with their instrument or at the piano so that you can get an “action shot” with your own camera. You’re actually more likely to get a beautiful photo this way rather than during the actual performance. (We musicians often joke about our “playing face” which is often not the most flattering. We also learned this from hiring a professional photographer last time!)

PURCHASING A DVD

If you purchase the DVD today or tomorrow morning then you’ll receive a $5 discount. The DVD with YouTube option costs $20 before the recital, and $25 after the recital. Use the following link

http://www.olivetreemusicacademy.com/DVD

PHOTO/VIDEO WAIVER FORM
My husband, Andy Gruswitz, will be at the registration desk. You will be asked to sign a photo/video waiver form at that time. The form is available at the following link. If you can print it and bring it with you, you will save yourself, us, and everyone else time and traffic into the hall, but otherwise there will be copies at the desk.
Photo Release Form for printing

CONCERT ETIQUETTE
Please be sure to be on time and please expect to stay for the full hour of the recital. It’s disappointing for students to have audience members leave before they perform, and again, we’re teaching them good etiquette. Only leave your seat if absolutely necessary, and only do so during an applause, trying to minimize as much movement as possible. Please use discretion when dealing with squirmy little ones, and know that we understand. If you need to take a young child out please don’t take your whole row of family with you. Also, unlike our hall last June which had separate entrances for performers and spectators, this hall only has one entrance so that doorway needs to stay clear so it can be used as our “backstage”.

PARKING
Choose between valet and self-parking. The self-park garage is underneath the hotel. Self park is complimentary and valet is $10 (worth it if you’re late!) If you self-park, have your parking validated at the front desk following the recital.

DIRECTIONS FOR PERFORMERS

Please find your teacher and have your instrument tuned before the recital starts. In addition, Trish may double check that your instrument is still in tune when it’s time to go up and perform. We will have a designated place for cases and coats. We will announce whether students should sit with their instruments or place them in a designated place.

Performers will sit with their families in the audience for most of the recital. Parents, I need you to make sure that performers head towards the designated backstage area during the applause of the performer two lines before you in the program. Please send children old enough backstage on their own, but have just one parent go with them if they need an escort. Someone will be at the door to tell them when to go up. After the music has been played, the performer will bow then walk down the aisle and sit once again with his/her (proud and happy!) family. This will all be reexplained at the start of the recital.

Congratulations and thank you if you read every word! See you soon!

Sincerely,
~Trish Gruswitz, owner and violin/piano teacher
www.OliveTreeMusicAcademy.com
Music classes for Babies through Adults!
Andover, Morris Plains, Flemington, and Verona, NJ
Call 973-786-1655
or Text Trish 908-553-6810

“Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
~Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998)

About us

Even while we have multiple locations and a couple hundred students, the Olive Tree Music academy will always be a small family-owned business (never a franchise!). Whenever you call the studio you usually reach Trish or Andy right away. Trish usually has every detail of the calendar and every student on it memorized. Andy created every inch of this website and emails come from us, not a marketing company. Our children play a big part in the structure of our classes and who is chosen to teach them. Every suggestion and word of feedback from you affects how our school is run to give you and your children the best musical experience possible.