Which Musical Era Best Suits You?

Congratulations to the Advanced Suzuki Group Class at Sherwood for creating a Musical Era Personality Quiz to demonstrate their knowledge of music history!  You can take the quiz here: 

Which Musical Era Best Suits You?

Summer Contest 2014

All students of mine at Sherwood or FaithSlaker Music:

I hope you're all having a great summer so far!  Though I hear it is raining in Chicago....  Since you're not having summer weather though, you can spend a little more time at the piano!  Care to show us all what you can accomplish on your own?  

This summer there are two contests.  The first contest is to play something using technology as an accompaniment and perform it via video.  Have fun with this one.  Surprise me!  The second contest is to learn and perfect a piece entirely on your own.  This may not be a piece we have previewed in lesson and it may not be a part of the Suzuki repertoire if you are a Suzuki student.  The piece needs to be performed with beauty and accuracy, but does not need to be memorized.  As always, 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 (via youtube, vimeo or mp4) and winners will be announced via blog/twitter/facebook during the first week of classes.  There will be one winner and one runner up for each category (technology or repertoire) and the winners will be awarded fun sheet music to work on in lessons as well as the privilege of having their performance shared and admired.  

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 the entries!

Summer Quarter Begins with APPLAUSE!

Welcome to the Summer Quarter!  Schedules are looking a little bit different, so you might want to download the newest swap list if you need to make a swap (see website).  Office Hours are now offered every Monday from 6:45 to 7:15pm.  I will be available via Skype, Twitter, Facebook and phone for piano help, scheduling discussions, and parent conferences.

Congratulations to Declan, for winning a half-scholarship and an iPad at Sherwood's annual 

Scholarship Competition this past month!

Newest Videos from FaithSlaker Music Studio

Katie, performing with the Sherwood Suzuki orchestra as the winner of the concerto competition, May 2014

Chamber Music Fun!  May, 2014

Newest Pictures from FaithSlaker Music Studio

Twinkle Group Learning Steps and Skips, May 2014

Chamber Music from the Sherwood Faculty Recital, May 2014.

Click HERE to listen to a movement of a Chopin Sonata.

Cellist Amber Walton-Amar

Pianist Aubrey Faith-Slaker

Sherwood Scholarship Competition Finalist

Congratulations to Declan F., a finalist in the elementary division of the Sherwood Scholarship Competition! Awards to be given at the Honors Recital Thursday, May 22nd at 7pm in the Sherwood Recital Hall!

March Group Class Highlights

Here are some of the highlights from the most recent group classes:

A bit of silly improv by Maxi, Matei and Anjali (check out those dance moves!):

A beautiful performance by Fiona that moved the entire audience:

And check out this outstanding hand position by Chloe!  She didn't even know we were looking!  What a natural!

Winter Performances and Classes

Some of the fun things that went on in lessons over the winter:

 Evan playing Minuet in G Major, February 2014

 
 Twinkle Cuties reviewing basic musical concepts, January 2014

Congratulations to Aidan!

Congratulations to Aidan on moving up through his method books!  He's out of the primer and on to level 1 where he starts doing some more impressive music making!

Well done!