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 Für 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.

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.

This is exactly what I look for in beginning students...

I laughed so hard, I almost cried.

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.

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.

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).

Spring Schedule, 2011

Below please find the schedule for performance classes and recitals for the spring semester, starting in Jan 2011.  All classes and recitals will be on Saturdays at 11 am, held at Central Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO at the corner of Hanley and Davis, just north of Hwy 40.  Classes and recitals should last no longer than one hour.

Students should pick rep absolutely no later than three lessons before a recital and no later than one lesson before a performance class.  Pieces chosen should be pieces worked on previously that the student is comfortable with and likes well enough to continue polishing.  The topic of choosing repertoire will be discussed in lessons with each student several weeks prior to a performance.

Jan 29, 11 am:  Performance Class
Feb 5, 11 am:  Recital
Feb 26, 11 am:  Performance Class
Mar 19, 11 am:  Performance Class
Apr 16, 11 am:  Performance Class
May 14, 11 am:  Performance Class
May 21, 11 am:  Recital

Please reserve these dates on your calendar as we look forward to an exciting semester of musical growth for your children!