Event: FLMF Student Piano Ensemble Concert

Ensemble Festival postponed to Saturday, Feb. 22, John Champe High School, Aldie, 7:00 p.m.

 I am very excited about discovering the Fairfax Loudoun Music Fellowship.  Their piano ensemble concert looks very well done, from photos and all the information they have posted.

Concert Date:   Saturday, Feb. 15, Dominion High School, Sterling, 7:00 p.m.

Concert Snow Date:  Saturday, Feb. 22, John Champe High School, Aldie, 7:00 p.m.



They record the student's playing, which is such a great souvenir and gift for them to have.  This year's performances are listed here.

Some Concert Night Etiquette, provided by FLMF for students (applies to guests too)

1. Arrive for the concert no later than 6:40pm. Students must be in their seats by 6:45pm. The concert will begin promptly at 7:00pm.
2. The dress attire is .. Knee length or longer dresses/skirts for young ladies and shirts with collars and black pants for young men are recommended. ... No tennis shoes, flip flops, Uggs boots or short skirts or dresses. 
    
3. Please plan to stay for the entire concert. The start time of 7:00 should enable younger performers and family members to stay. It is important that all performers have a full audience to listen to and enjoy their hard work.   Please show respect for ALL of the performers in the festival.  Those who leave early are displaying their lack of respect and/or lack of knowledge of concert manners.
4. If you have an emergency during the performance please leave only during applause.
5. This concert is free to the public....There will be a donation box at the entrance to the auditorium. Please show your appreciation for such a unique educational opportunity for our children by making a donation at the concert.

Events: Jan.8 - 14

Friday, Jan. 13, 8:00 pm
Guest Artist Recital: USAF Ceremonial Brass
Concert Hall, USF
Free Admission
For additional information click here

Sunday, Jan 15, 4:00 pm
Steinway Piano Series: Paul Orgel
Barness Recital Hall, USF
Advance :  ($6 with coupon) $8/$12 Day of Performance : $10/$15 
For additional information click here

Another "My Next Big Piece" :o)

Yet another piece I discovered at the Colson Guest House in a book of easy piano solo favorites:


WOW!  I love the glorious, victorious dynamism of this piece! It is nicknamed "Heroic."

Boston Pop's Christmas - Somewhere in My Memory

When I was growing up, Boston Pop's "Joy To The World" with John Williams was my favorite CD at Christmas time, and "Somewhere in My Memory" will always be in my memory.  Home Alone is a great Christmas movie!!  =]  I happened upon this video from another pianist-blogger. Some Christmas, I hope to teach this to some student who shares my joy in this sweet melody.  Enjoy!

http://blip.tv/pianopodcast/somewhere-in-my-memory-from-home-alone-5815895

This is my instrument!

Featuring : True Piano Feel and Expressive Control

I'm researching about this digital piano, especially how to record with it.  I discovered why the box didn't have the manual.  It is available at Yamaha's website.  So I'll be registering my Arius YDP 161's serial number to get access to this and other features.

"50 classic piano songs are provided in the song player and as a music book, "50 Greats for the Piano." These songs can be used for background music or as learning reference.

10 Voices  -  In addition to the realistic Grand Piano Voice, you can play other instruments like Vibraphone, Electric Pianos, Harpsichords and Church Organs. There’s also a rich Strings Voice that sounds great when used in Dual Voice mode with the Acoustic Piano.

The easy to use, built-in 2-track recorder lets you capture your music and plays it back. Play both hands together and use the second track to add a different part. Or play one part at a time and rehearse complicated pieces. You can also transfer recorded songs to your computer using Yamaha’s free Music Downloader software..."

Happy Thanksgiving!... Songs

I've been assigning Thanksgiving hymns to my students. 

And Thanksgiving would not be complete without good ol' Charlie Brown!  One of my students just began learning this theme.  Should be a fun challenge for rhythm and agility.

 

Events: Week of Nov. 13-19

Brian Moorhead - soloist for upcoming USF Wind Ensemble Concert, Thursday, November 17, 7:30 PM, S.o.M. Concert Hall.  10- 12 $

 

Featuring the artistry of Brian Moorhead, USF Professor of Clarinet, as he performs the new clarinet concerto by Michael Daugherty entitled Brooklyn Bridge.

 "for an enticing combination of the  ‘new and  traditional ’  in fine instrumental major ensemble repertoire." 

                                                     

Fri, November 18, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Olivier Latry, organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris
at Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values, University of Tampa.               Free!!

Events: Week of Nov. 6- 12

Monday, November 7, 2011, 7:30pm, Puckett Auditorium. program of Late Romantic art songs from around the world.  He wife, Shawn, (MM in Piano Performance) will accompany him on the piano. Free admission.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 5:30pm, Chorus Room, K223. We will hold a seminar with Scott Wyatt on “Christians in the Professional World of Music” in a less formal setting. All those with an interest in performing arts are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 7:30 pm   USF Jazz Combos    Barness Recital Hall, USF - Free

 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 4:30pm, Puckett Auditorium. Scott will conduct a masterclass with Florida College voice students. All are welcome. Free admission.


Saturday Nov. 12th -  USF - Jacob Dike's Percussion Recital -  at 2:00pm - free.  My colleague for the last 3 years. :)

Expanding

I've just expanded my "Students" page, on the top menu here, to include more links to free sheet music.  This was particularly to give my students some Christmas lead sheets.  It's less than three months away! With Thanksgiving coming next month, I'm thinking I'll post about traditional Thanksgiving  music. 

More from our Honeymoon: WhItEwAtEr Chopsticks!

On our way home from our time in Virginia, we stayed at the home of a most hospitable family I met in 2006 at a Little Bear Outdoor Adventure camp in Pennsylvania. Hope, also a pianist and piano teacher, showed us a video of her and her student playing a dramatic duet of this piece, and it was AWESOME!  I want to learn this piece, and copy her idea!!  :)  Here is a rendition I liked from youtube:





Sheet Music  here

The Three Ways to Play Piano

My learning of piano was revolutionized by the tri-fold learning method of Dave Clark in Brandon, Florida.  For 30 years, he has been using the method of teaching by Notes, Chord Symbols, and Ear with great success.  I have continued in his foot steps teaching this approach.  So, what makes it work?

First, the three ways bring a great variety of music to the musician’s fingertips.  Some music is only available completely notated or in lead sheet form.  Some music is not written down!  No matter which camp it’s in, you can play it with one (or maybe all?)of  the three ways. 

Second, the three ways give to the musician incredible versatility.  The above reason is one, the ability to add to the music according to taste is another.  The list goes on.

Third, the three ways reinforce and enhance each other.  Simple as that!  You can see this in a myriad of ways.  To name one, when you know chords well, you will quickly spot them in notated music, seeing recurring patterns, and read much, MUCH faster.

Fourth, when you have three ways to play, each tapping into different neurological, motor, and aural functions, each having their access to certain genres, one  of the ways is bound to stick with you!  Mr. Clark has noticed this from keeping in touch with his students over the years.

By the way, the musician who plays tuba is just as likely to prophet by learning all three ways.  Granted, the tuba, like most instruments, does not in obvious ways give the ability for playing harmony which is needed for the chord symbol approach. Yet if a tuba player learned a bit of the chord symbol style on the piano, it would enhance his reading and by ear skills. 

Mr. Clark wrote Piano Companion, a book which guides the student to advanced playing in all three ways.  I use it with intermediate to advanced and older students.

Because this is so basic and special to my teaching method, and kind of revolutionary in the piano pedagogy community, I’m sure I will write on it more in the future.

Events for this week!

A little late on this...

University of Tampa Studio

Betty Chester emailed this to her students/colleagues. She is such a source of inspiration and information! :)
Piano Music Lovers,

This week a Summer Piano Camp is being held at the University of Tampa.  The evenng performances by the faculty are free and open to the public (free parking too).  I hope that you get to go to at least one:


Sunday, July 24th, 7:30 p.m.  Recital by Grigorios Zamparas [We've seen him in town before!]- Grand Salon,  Plant Hall

Tuesday, July 26th, 7:30 p.m.  Recital by   Duncan Macillan - Music Room, Plant Hall

Thursday, July 28th,  7:30 p.m.  Recital by Leonidas Lipovetsky - Fletcher Lounge 2nd Floor

Saturday, July 30th, 1:00 and 3:00 - Grand Finale Concerts of Student Performers (aged 12 - 18)  - Grand Salon, Plant Hall

Adult Piano Students are also invited to attend the free  Master Classes this Monday through Friday at 4:40 in the Grand Salon in Plant Hall. 
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Thank you, Mrs. Chester!  I would call UT to check for the free Master Classes.  Check out more here: http://www.ut.edu/music/

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.·°·.»♫ FREE .·°·.» Sheet Music Websites

For classical: imslp.org (also linked by http://petruccimusiclibrary.org/) 

http://www.free-scores.com/

http://www.freesheetmusicguide.com/original.htm

http://cantorion.org/

Check on noteflight.com. Some musicians leave certain pieces on their accounts visible

Various and Christian:  http://www.leadworship.com/resources/songbook.html

http://www.greghowlett.com/freechristianpianomusic.aspx

http://www.music-for-music-teachers.com/free-sheet-music-blog.html
http://www.piano-play-it.com/free-christian-sheet-music.html
 http://www.score-on-line.com/freescores.php?collection=piano&lang=en

Old favorites for children, divided by level for easy lesson planning up to Intermediate levels.:

 http://www.nhpiano.com/music/

http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/freebies.html

Happy Searching!!

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