PIANO OLYMPICS 2008/Testing 2nd week of May

What are piano Olympics? It is a program I have created to see how much the piano student has learned through the academic year. I test them on theory, technique, harmonization, and sight reading. They will perform a piece, hymn if applicable and then I will listen to their original composition. All students will perform in the piano olympics. I will then give them the medal they earned whether it be bronze, silver or gold at our piano party on May 16th from 4-6pm. This will be the end of this semester's piano study. I will ensure every student knows what to expect at the Olympics. All student's will easily be able to pass if they study the material I give them. Make sure you help them with this at home so they fill comfortable with all the material.

PICTURES! PICTURES EVERYONE!

I need you to help your child submit their recital pictures immediately so I can start working on the slide show presentation for their performance. Please don't wait until a day before the recital, because I'm a novice at this and I don't really know what I'm doing. Any help would be appreciated.

ENSEMBLE FRIDAY APRIL 11th! ALL STUDENTS, EXCEPT 1st YEAR

Since we didn't have all of our students show up at the last ensemble practice, I will need to schedule another before the recital on the 19th. If your child does not attend this practice they will not be able to play at the recital. PRACTICE TIMES: 4-4:30pm, (Silky Stars and Powder Mountain practice), 4:30-5:15pm, (African Drum, and Navajo Sunset practice),5:15-6:00pm (Lavender Blue, and Moonlight Performance). All the ensemble performers who play their ensemble part hole in one at the practice will receive 10 crystals. Work hard on your part and count, count, count!

April composer of the month- Sergei Rachmaninoff

Sergei Rachmaninoff is one of my favorite composers. First one in each class to tell me when he was born and what period of music he composed in receives 10 crystals. Have fun listening to his music this month. Here are some listening suggestions. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op.3, No.2; Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23,
No. 5; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op 43; Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor,
Op. 18. Have fun learning about him this month.

1st Year Spring Recital May 15th 5:00-6:00p.m.

We will be holding our first year Spring Recital at the Weber County Library
May 15th, between 5-6pm. I will be giving your child a special piece to play for this recital next week. Please help your child learn this piece. In addition to their special piece, they will be able to choose an additional solo to play from this semester's learned pieces,(Please help them choose one). To end the recital two ensembles, Chinese Painting and Indian Echoes will be performed by all. I'm excited for you to hear the progress the students have made between Fall and Spring Recitals. As in the past we ask that you bring 1 dozen goodies to share for the reception after the recital. Thanks for your help!

Ensemble Friday March 28th

Work hard on your ensemble piece this month because on March 28th, we will see which class can play their ensemble the best! Remember 1st, 2nd and 3rd year will come at 4-5pm, and 4th, 5th, 6th and teen will come at 5-6pm. Be sure to bring your crystals, the store will be open. New items have been added, so try to earn as many crystals as you can.

SPRING RECITAL April 19th 4-6pm @ Piano Gallery

Don't forget to mark your calendars for our Spring Recital on April 19th between 4 and 6 p.m., at the piano gallery. We will have 20 children play at 4:00, and 20 play at 5:00. The student's need to have one memorized piece ready to perform. I will ask some student's to perform two. STUDENTS!!! Work hard on your recital piece, as well as your ensemble piece. I would like to have our ensemble pieces ready to perform at this recital as well.

SPRING RECITAL SLIDE SHOW!

I would like to put together a slide show of the nature pieces that each student will perform during our Spring Recital on April 19th, but I need your help! Find some pictures on the internet, or take pictures that look like your child's piece. Then put them together into a slide show. Be sure to time your child's piece, so the slide show doesn't go over. This will require some work, but how fun! Make this into a family project. Then send the slide show to me via e-mail so I can start piecing it together. I don't know exactly how I will end up putting it together, so if someone would like to donate some time to help me, I would really appreciate it.

HAYDN Composer of the month!

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN is the composer of the month for March. First one in each class that can tell me when and where he was born and the instruments he played will receive 10 crystals. Listen to his music, write it down, then receive 2 crystals for every song listened to. I've listed some of his greatest works. Piano: Piano Sonata in E-flat Major; Piano Concerto in G Major; and Piano Concerto in D Major. Orchestra: Symphony No. 94 in G major (The Suprise); Symphony No. 101 in E-flat Major (The Clock) One of our illustrious students played The Clock in the WSU Honors recital on March 1st. The first one to find out who played it will receive 10 crystals. String Quartet: The Joke; The Frog; and the Sunrise. Oratorio: The Creation. Have fun listening to and learning about Haydn this month!