Summer Repertoire-Learning Contest!

All current students of mine at Sherwood or FaithSlaker Music:

I hope you're all having a great summer!  Care to show us all what you've accomplished?  I've given you all the skills you need; we've worked hard together during the school year; now you have the opportunity to show everyone what you can do on your own!

This contest is for the performance of a single piece (or portion of a piece) played by you on video with beauty and accuracy submitted by e-mail (mp4, youtube or vimeo).

Winners will be selected based on accomplishment within their playing level, musical expression and daring choice.

Entries must be received by midnight on August 31st and winners will be announced via e-mail by Labor Day.  The first place winner will be awarded a book of wonderful music to learn at the piano as well as a CD of inspiring piano music by great performers.  The second place winner will be awarded a collection of fun sheet music that we can work on together during the year.  

Now, head on over to the piano, warm up with your performance pieces, and see what you can do!  I look forward to watching all entries!

*Suzuki students:  Suzuki repertoire will not qualify.

Summer CD 2011

The Summer CD is out! Check your child's bag or folder this coming week for the CD and enjoy supplementing your regular listening with this new variety over the next month!

The Playlist:

1. Brahms:  Hungarian Dance No. 10 - Tal and Groethuysen
2. Bach:  Fugue in A minor, BWV 895 -  Tureck
3. Beethoven:  Bagatelle Op. 119, No. 4 -  Brendel
4. Purcell:  Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, Act 3
5. Bill Charlap Trio - In the Still of the Night
6. Bach:  Gigue from Suite in E Major, BWV 1006a - Williams
7. Schubert:  Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 - O'Conor
8. Chopin:  Etude Op. 25 No. 1 - Pollini
9. Schoenberg:  Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23, No. 1 - Hill
10. Ravel:  Jeux d'eau - Richter
11. Mozart:  Piano Concerto No. 21, K.467, movement 3 - Ashkenazy
12. Milhaud:  Botafogo from Saudades do Brazil - Bolcom
13. Waltz from Songs without Words, Fred Hersch

Summer Recital Video

Congratulations to all the performers who played in last week's recital!  Everyone played beautifully, most everyone smiled beautifully, and we all did a pretty good job of polishing off those cupcakes!

To see the performances of Sean, Natalie, Fiamma, Megan, Amber, Max and Diego:




To see the performances of Pauline, Erica, Maeve, Jimena, Adrian and Anne Marie:




To view the performances of Evan, Gabriella, Cole, Sophia and Sarah:




To view the performances of Eddie, Katie, Graham and Declan:




To view Criss's performance, as well as my interpretation of some Schumann:



Thank you everyone for all your hard work. See you in lessons and definitely at the next recital! I'm thinking November.......
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You think you know the Baroque?!

Strong language.  Funny language.  Watch this before you let your children watch this.  It's old, but it's Pachelbel - it couldn't be that bad, right?

Pachelbel (1653 - 1706)'s Canon in D; you know it.

Ellis and Adrian

Hot Crossed Buns - like you've never heard it before!



Aren't they cute?!

Friday Afternoon Group Class

First attempt - just like the big girls in the recital!

Amber Schneider.... on to bigger and better things!

Congratulations to Amber of a terrific Suzuki Book 1 graduation recital this afternoon!  THAT is how you play Book 1!  (And thanks for including me in your performance - the encore piece ended up being a lot of fun!)

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