Happy Holidays!
I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday!
It has been a wonderful year as always with all of you students and parents. The Soiree was amazing as always (I always think it will not be and then every time I am truly amazed!), and I have a comment for everyone so please pass them on to your students:
The ukulele students were so entertaining, with Leo and Ava, Ramona and Sadie singing and playing Beatles songs and I do not know what I am going to follow dueling ukuleles with next time! Sadie your duet was beautiful.
Emma you have finally found your metier – very nice playing and next time maybe a duet?
Alex you did very well with your song and your voice is getting much stronger – good work.
Jolan just beautiful singing and playing – well done.
Subi my little recorder player – you are reading so well (especially when you practice) – not long to changing to flute!
Tendo – very secure playing and very sensitive – nice work.
Vivi – everyone loved raindrops – you were very confident!
Mia excellent work on your piece and I love your composition – more coming maybe?
Jesse – you did it! I know you were nervous and we will work on that but you did not give up and you finished it – wonderful!
Carina – loved your sensitive Sakura.
Johnny – great playing and you were well in command of the piano.
Jake – everyone loved your amazing grace – you always put your own make on pieces which is how it should be and thank you for always going first in the second half!
Jovany – what imagination you have – and what you can do in a very short time with some practice! Now I know!
Lia you played perfectly – really well done.
Andrew – congratulations on playing very well Andrew and thanks for all your help handing out programs!
Chloe – perfect playing as always Chloe – a difficult level 3 piece very well played.
Henry – you are so good at that bass line Henry – well done!
Quinn – you did the bizarre Bazaar very well and also etude in D minor. I know you wanted to play the River piece but then you did at the DSA concert and it was terrific!
Remi – everyone loved your interpretation of The Hills. Well done!
Ruvarashe – just beautiful singing RuRu – lovely voice.
Viola – Perfect German of course and very secure singing from memory and lovely tone.
Michelle and Zoe – mother and daughter, so sweet and you sounded beautiful. wish I had recorded it – next time!
Richard – everyone really loved your amazing song and they especially enjoyed the chorus!
I have some recordings and videos which I am determined to put up on my soon to be refurbished blog.
Other highlights:
On December 19, Karsten Huneycutt, one of my adult students, gave a recital at his home. He played two Bach two part inventions, Bach’s C minor prelude and fugue, Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude, Chopin’s C# minor Waltz, and Grieg’s Wedding day at Troldhaugen. It was such an enjoyable program and he had worked really hard in the last year and a half to achieve this level of performance – well done Karsten.
On December 17 Quinn Barbaza played Yiruma’s The River Flows in You. It is a very challenging piece, rather too hard for someone who only started piano in January THIS year. I cannot wait to see what he brings me next year and says it is his next piece! Quinn is in piano studies at the DSA and does work hard on basics as well both there and in his private lessons.
I am a registered founding teacher with The Music Development Program. It is a wonderful program originating in London at Trinity College. It took root in all the colonial countries such as Australia and Canada and is now here in the USA via the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. The curriculum is very comprehensive and introduces students to a wide variety of repertoire they would not otherwise encounter (such at The Turkish Bazaar Quinn played and the Elegant Toreador that Chloe played). In 2016 Chloe will sit for level 3 and Jake for level 2 and possibly Mia for preparatory or level 1, we will see). Please ask me for more details if you are interested and sorry only piano – wish they had ukulele for my wonderful ukulele players!
Most of you know I am a member for the Durham Music Teachers Association (as well as the NC chapter and also the National Music Teachers Association). This coming year 2016 I am the Chair for the Classical Voice Master Class but there are also three other master classes that might be of interest. A Master Class is where a teacher submits one or two students who are ready to perform an item and the clinician, usually a professor of music or an acclaimed performer, gives their feedback and advice. These master classes are free to audience members who might like to come along and support the performers. I always come away from a master class having learned something new.
Here are the details and contact me if you need more:
February 6 – 1:00-3:00, JAZZ MASTERCLASS at Durham Jazz Workshop/Sharp 9.
Chair: Catherine Alderman, catalderman@gmail.com
Clinician: Dave Finucane
Registration deadline: January 23
February 13 – 2:00-4:00, CLASSICAL VOICE MASTERCLASS at Croasdaile Chapel, Croasdaile Village
Chair: Lorna Collingridge, lcollingridge@gmail.com
Clinician: Dr. Elizabeth Linnartz
Registration deadline: February 1
February 21 – 2:30-4:30, PIANO MASTERCLASS at Croasdaile Chapel, Croasdaile Village
Chair: Alice Tien, alice_l_t@yahoo.com
Clinician: Dr. Clara Yang
Registration deadline: February 1
March 5 – 3:00-5:00, VIOLIN MASTERCLASS at Duke University String School
Chair: Shelley Livingston, shelleyl@duke.edu
Clinician: Fabian Lopez
Registration deadline: February 20
Now for a nice break! I look forward to seeing everyone starting January 4.
Thank you always for learning music with Flourishing Muse.
