Below is a list of scheduled performance classes as well as the recital. I ask that your student make it to at least three classes this semester, as well as the recital, which hopefully will be a date that works out for as many as possible... I really tried to avoid during-the-week school programs and weekend Christmas parties (fingers crossed!).
All performances will be at the Steinway Gallery at Dorsett and 270... this means both performance classes and the recital. We are no longer at Central Presbyterian on Saturday mornings.
The performance classes are the keys to a smooth recital. Even if your pianist has performed in front of an audience before, performing is just like everything else -- use it or lose it! It's easy to get rusty or get your nerves up for no reason other than lack of practice opportunities. Not to mention that since each student is constantly working on new rep, it's important to be able to perform each piece at least once or twice in a smaller setting before playing in front of a larger audience... each piece presents its own set of performance challenges.
Our first performance class is coming up soon. If you plan on coming to this first one, your student and I will choose pieces to play in lesson this next week... 1 or 2 to get started. This first one will be pretty low-key as we all get back into the swing of the routine :) You can encourage them to pick a couple of pieces to play that they've worked on already, are comfortable with, and like well enough to play in front of the group.
Performance Class: Saturday, Sept 3 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class: Saturday, Sept 24 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class: Saturday, Oct 8 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class: Saturday, Nov 12 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class: Saturday, Nov 26 @ Steinway, 10:30-11:30 am
Performance Class / Dress Rehearsal: Tuesday, Dec 6 @ Steinway, 4-5 pm
RECITAL: Sunday, Dec 11 @ Steinway, 7-8 pm
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
To quote one of my newer students from yesterday: "We get to do recitals?!? YES!!!" (complete with big fat hand motions haha)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
June recital, awards, and other musings...
As I sit here on this lovely May evening typing up the last bits of this spring's studio recital program, I grow more and more excited for it's unveiling. With selections such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," the Ping Pong Song, Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Schumann's The Wild Rider, a simplified version of FΓΌr Elise, and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," I'm certain this program will be just as fantastic as February's recital a few months ago. Ten of my students will perform next week ot the best of their ability and I'm so excited and proud of all of them.
I've been thinking about a couple of awards to give out at the recital over the course of this past week as well. I have some incredibly hard workers in my studio...
... a Beethoven award for students who exhibit incredible musicality and artistry in their playing...
"To play without passion is inexcusable!" - Ludwig van Beethoven
... a Haydn award for students who've displayed extraordinary dedication and discipline in their practice habits...
"Young people can learn from my example that something can come from nothing. What I have become is the result of my hard efforts." - Franz Josef Haydn
... and a Mozart award for those students with a fantastic attitude and a deep love for their music...
"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius." - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Three or four students come to mind immediately. Now I'm even more excited. The end of the year is always such a bittersweet time for me... a time to look forward to rest, but also a time to reflect back on the year, savoring it's beauty and progress and sad for it's passing. It's been a good year. It's gonna be a great recital. And I'm excited for the phoenix phenomenon that will take place in my brain and heart over break as I let go of a year passed and prepare for the arrival of a new one this fall.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May 2011: perf class, dress rehearsal, and recital June 1
Hopefully this post finds you well. Seems everyone is running on "E" these days as the academic year comes to a close...
That being said, we are going to push through this last month of piano before we adjourn for a few weeks this summer. I've already had a chance to discuss this with some parents. But this is the official notice of year-end details :) Here is the schedule for May and this summer...
Performance Class: 14 May @ 11 am at Central Presbyterian choir room (we'll continue talking about Beethoven and start performing recital pieces)
Dress Rehearsal: 31 May, 4-5 pm at Steinway Piano Gallery @ Dorsett and 270 (first come, first serve -- come anytime during the hour to practice recital pieces in the hall one last time before final performance. Lacefield students: dress rehearsal + the recital will count as lesson for that week)
Recital: 1 June @ 7 pm at Steinway Piano Gallery (come 10-15 mins early to warm up; appropriate recital attire required -- no jeans, no flip flops, no cami straps, skirts must be knee-length or longer please)
(the former date of May 21 is no longer on the performance calendar per my last email)
Please notify me by this coming Monday (May 9) whether your child is able to participate in the June 1 recital or not. Recital participants MUST have their music picked out and approved no later than 16 May. Recital participants are strongly encouraged to attend both the May 14 performance class at Central in addition to the May 31 Dress Rehearsal.
For this summer: lessons will adjourn for the month of June. Summer lessons begin in July for anyone that would like to take lessons as available. Summer lessons will end the last week of July and the studio will break for 2 weeks before starting the fall teaching semester, which begins 15 August. I will post more details regarding fall semester within the next week or so.
That being said, we are going to push through this last month of piano before we adjourn for a few weeks this summer. I've already had a chance to discuss this with some parents. But this is the official notice of year-end details :) Here is the schedule for May and this summer...
Performance Class: 14 May @ 11 am at Central Presbyterian choir room (we'll continue talking about Beethoven and start performing recital pieces)
Dress Rehearsal: 31 May, 4-5 pm at Steinway Piano Gallery @ Dorsett and 270 (first come, first serve -- come anytime during the hour to practice recital pieces in the hall one last time before final performance. Lacefield students: dress rehearsal + the recital will count as lesson for that week)
Recital: 1 June @ 7 pm at Steinway Piano Gallery (come 10-15 mins early to warm up; appropriate recital attire required -- no jeans, no flip flops, no cami straps, skirts must be knee-length or longer please)
(the former date of May 21 is no longer on the performance calendar per my last email)
Please notify me by this coming Monday (May 9) whether your child is able to participate in the June 1 recital or not. Recital participants MUST have their music picked out and approved no later than 16 May. Recital participants are strongly encouraged to attend both the May 14 performance class at Central in addition to the May 31 Dress Rehearsal.
For this summer: lessons will adjourn for the month of June. Summer lessons begin in July for anyone that would like to take lessons as available. Summer lessons will end the last week of July and the studio will break for 2 weeks before starting the fall teaching semester, which begins 15 August. I will post more details regarding fall semester within the next week or so.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Final List
For those of you following the series of New York Times articles on the Top 10 Composers of All Time by Anthony Tommasini, click here to access the final list. I don't agree with everything he says, but his process has sure been interesting and he makes a lot of really valid arguments.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Top 10 Composers of All Time
The entire interactive video series of articles done by the New York Times on the 10 Greatest Composers of all time can be accessed by clicking on the above hyperlink. Apparently my last post missed parts 1, 3, and 4: Bach, Schubert / Beethoven, and Debussy. Part 5 to debut Jan 17, 2011.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Vienna Four
Great article in the New York Times about the 10 greatest composers of all time, this article focuses specifically on the Vienna Four: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert (first article in a series continuing through Jan 21, 2011).
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