Monday, February 27, 2012

Events: Week of Feb. 26 - March 3









Wednesday, Feb. 29, 7:30 pm
USF Student Composers' Concert
Barness Recital Hall, USF
Free Admission


Thursday, Mar. 1, 7:30 pm
USF SYCOM
Barness Recital Hall, USF
Free Admission

This Friday, March 2, the Friday Morning Musicale program, which begins at 11 a.m. will be a piano recital by 13 year old Nadia Azzi.  She will play works by Bach, Mozart and Chopin.  She entered 8 events at the festival this month.  At age 11, Nadia made her New York City debut at Carnegie Hall and returned as Grand Prize Winner of the Crescendo Int'l Competition this month.  She began piano lessons at the age of 5 with Kinuyo Engelbrecht.  Currently she studies piano with Leonidas Lipovetsky and Dr. Grigorios Zamparas and violin with Lei Lui.  FREE 
Musicale :809 West Horatio Street  Tampa, FL 33606 (south of the Crosstown Expressway and west of Bayshore Blvd.


Sunday, Mar. 4, 2:00 pm
Resident Artist Series:
Scott Kluksdahl, Bach Cello SuitesConcert Hall, USF
Advance Tickets: $8/$12 - Day of Performance Tickets: $10/$15


USF Jazz Combos
Barness Recital Hall, USF
Free Admission

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Choosing a Music Teacher

I was recently looking up competition information.  I went to websites of local associations in which piano teachersI know participate, like Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and  the Mid-State Music Teacher's Association (MSMTA).  The latter website offered this guide on choosing a music teacher.

  For teachers, this is a great guide to making a resume and enhancing interviews!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Playing by Ear and Jane Austen Music


  Playing by ear has no official term that I am aware of for when someone re-composes music based on hearing something, be it a simple melody, a vocal piece with accompaniment, or a complex jazz improvisation. 

When I "pulled this by ear," it was a special point in my aural training because for the first time I really "re-composed," so to speak, a full and rich rendition of a very excellent piece of music.  Before most of my aural renditions had been just completing an assignment.  When my teacher heard this, he said I had turned a page in my skill.  Those are special moments for a teacher. It just took the right piece to inspire me, no necessity or particular knowledge of what is achievable as far as aural renditions.  Sometime I'll get myself recording on my digital piano and put my rendition on here.
Later, I received the score of this piece in the book "Jane Austen's World."  The rendition there added a few touches to mine, but actually I had re-composed a much fuller rendition of the film soundtrack than the book offered.  One advantage of playing by ear! 
If you can hum it, you can play it by ear.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Events: Week of Feb. 11 - 18

TONIGHT:  Wednesday, Feb. 15, 7:30 pm
USF Jazz Combos
Barness Recital Hall, USF
Free Admission

TOMORROW:  Thursday, Feb. 16, 7:30 pm
USF Concert Band
Concert Hall, USF
Free Admission

Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 pm
USF Choirs: Winter Concert
Concert Hall, USF
Advance Tickets: $8/$12



Free concert, see bottom.  I only received this announcement - the registration deadline is tomorrow morning at 10 am.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Playing at Nursing Homes with Linus and Lucy



Here they are again, The Piano Guys - my favorite cellist, Steven Sharp Nelson, with his fantastic pianist. My dear Mom took me to nursing homes to bring brightness and variety to shut in people from a young age.  This continues to be a ministry that is near and dear to my heart - being a friend to the lonely.  Playing an instrument can be a great entry into a lonely soul's life. 
Playing at nursing homes is a great way for a pianist to step out of their comfort zone and playing in public. Most of the time it tends to be like you are playing background music.  Another venue is for ministry fundraisers.  I have played in numerous banquets and teas for Pregnancy Care Centers - great atmosphere and response.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

I like this Cellist!

...and his pianist!  Together with their behind-the-scenes crew, they are the Piano Guys.  Great entertainment!




      Very beautiful, my style completely, and inculcates the theme from  Holst's Jupiter theme from Suite of the Planets (listen at 3 minutes) which has been used as the tune for a majestic hymn, O God Beyond All Praising.    Now for some real entertainment, see this cellist as Jedi.


Of course he also took the Cello piece every cello and Bach fan loves and took it up a notch. Actually 7 notches.  I like to listen to Steven Sharp Nelson on grooveshark streaming, free.  The Piano Guys song list is also great.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Events: Week of Feb. 12 - 18

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, 2 p.m.
University of Tampa,  Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values
Free!!!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Competitions for the Tampa Bay Area

 Researching piano competition in the area, and there are a lot of choices.  Thanks to Betty Chester for the info.

Florida State Music Teachers' Association*, the  Florida section of the The Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and  the Mid-State Music Teacher's Association (MSMTA) offer different competitions.  Teacher and student membership required.  MSMTA has two in Spring, March and May.    Under competition, MSMTA has judge's sheets along with application which list things that judges listen for - useful. 

This is an independent competition by prestigious pianists:
Piano 2 0 1 2  S o n a t i n a - S o n a t a F e s t i v a l   at St. Pete College - Brochure link:
http://www.spcollege.edu/spg/music/images/Sonata_brochure.pdf


A more broad annual youth competition with an emphasis on entertainment is Spotlight on Talent in Wesley Chapel.
 
Also, I am interested in looking into what Federated Music clubs has to offer as well, and they use Hillborough Community College facilities.

Many competitions are open to the public.  I would highly recommend a student attend one before participating, to learn and enjoy!

*P.S.   The February 2012 newsletter of the Florida State Music Teachers' Association contains further info on pianist competitions.  The next public competition is FSMTA Competitive Events, May 11-12 – HCC Ybor Campus, Tampa.