JANUARY studio news
Friday, January 3, 2025 by Cortney Baker | Uncategorized
January tuition
is due at your first lesson of the month. Consult your monthly invoice for the exact amount.
Ways to pay:
- IN PERSON at your lesson
- MAIL CHECK: 814 Pineland Dr, Cary, 27511
- ONLINE PAYMENT: Venmo & Zelle
January Schedule
NO Lessons are scheduled from Dec 23 to Jan 10.
Log in to your MyMusicStaff portal to see your specific lesson dates, times and location. Also included in your account: the link to access the Zoom webpage, previous lesson notes, the monthly studio news, and much more!
Inclement Weather
During seasons when school could be cancelled and storms cause travel to be unsafe, remember that we have many options for moving the lesson to an online format. Of course, this is given that we still have power to run our devices! The missed lesson policy will remain in place if you do not attend a lesson that we have agreed to move to an online format. In the event of a location change, I will contact you via text or email and will update the lesson location in the MMS calendar of events.
Group Class
Group Classes will meet on Friday, January 24th. We will return to our Suzuki-style group class in preparation for our March 1 group recital. Location: Saint Francis UMC. 2965 Kildaire Farm Road, 27518, Sanctuary.
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*plan to arrive 10min prior to your assigned group time to unpack and be ready to tune.
Chamber & Group Recital
Saturday, MARCH 1, is our Chamber and Group Recital. Students in Book 2 and above have been assigned to a chamber ensemble and given music to be preparing for their selected piece. (see details below.)
ALL students will be preparing group pieces to perform on the second half of the recital in a Suzuki-style play-down. To prepare for the group pieces, add the following to your weekly practice routine:
Book 7+: C. Dancla, Air Varie
Book 4+: F. Seitz, Concerto No. 2, III
Book 3: G.B. Martini, Gavotte
Book 2: Long, Long Ago or Hunter's Chorus (will decide at Jan group class)
Book 1: Minuet 1, Perpetual Motion, Song of the Wind, Twinkle
Chamber Ensembles
Before the December break, music was handed out to the students who will be participating in a chamber ensemble on the March 1 recital. Teaching videos and videos to play along with will be coming soon to your inboxes soon!
During January, students will work on preparing their part on their own. Times and rooms for a first rehearsal together will be assigned during the January 24th group class. Plan ahead to be there longer the normal group class timeframe.
During February, students should set up another rehearsal on their own and at least one coaching with me. To easily facilitate these coachings, I would like to set up back to back times in the studio on Friday, February 7. Details will be sent soon so everyone can add it to their family calendar.
Studio Videos
Reminder: link to our YouTube folders: https://pinelandsuzukistrings.mymusicstaff.com/Video-Links
For now, I have posted links to the Pre-Twinkle videos, Book 1 accompaniment, Daily Do (for Music Mind Games class), and Christmas Carols.
Parent Education
I have loaded several articles to the Library & Downloads page in your MMS portal with articles and handouts for parents. Find a title that interests you and read it! I highly encourage you to take a moment this month to choose one and read it. There is so much value in motivation for the Suzuki parent. Let these articles give you that blessing!! This link might help to take you there: https://app.mymusicstaff.com/Student/v3/en/online-resources
The Year of Listening
It has been exciting to see the progress of everyone's listening journey on our studio chart. Everyone is more attentive to the idea of listening as a benefit to their musical progress. Keep going!! ****Everyday is a new opportunity to listen.****
****When you complete your second 50-day chart, please hand it to Dr. Baker in your lesson.****
A reminder of why listening needs to be a focus each week:
This year, to encourage and build healthy habits, we will hold three Listening challenges. Each semester, there will be a 50-day listening challenge and throughout the winter a 100-day challenge. Students who complete a challenge will be recognized during the recital at the end of each timeframe, with a MASTER LISTENER award being presented to students who achieve the maximum 200-day listening challenge.
Special Listening
Just a reminder that wonderful videos and audio recordings of professional performers can be seen/heard on YouTube. Use this as the Special Listening assignment for each week. This month's famous performer is Stella Chen. (see notes below).
There are other recordings - enjoy looking around and learning more about this great artist of our time.
Please share these with the kids.
Enjoy!
Stella Chen
N. Paganini, Caprice, No. 9 “The Hunt” & H. Vieuxtemps, Capriccio, Op. 55 “Hommage A Paganini”: https://youtu.be/KzDGj24k8is?si=ot-v4GYe5nlVfpgO
Interview / Introduction to her new album Stella x Schubert: https://youtu.be/cm3EZ9lrF3g?si=YtIDSFsKCOlPjhhA
F. Schubert, Fantasie in C Major, D. 934:
I. Andante molto: https://youtu.be/VQyKu2aCCKE?si=tTeN3mXjZwSU7YcH
IV. Allegro vivace: https://youtu.be/zSb_uugcU9M?si=u6Raj5NJzfWWuEBY
And a video from her younger years… Wieniawski, Polonaise: https://youtu.be/dC6lFvx1I-E?si=5mioCXw7xQT68v7Y
Stella Chen is the recipient of numerous awards: Gramophone 2023 Young Artist of the Year, 2019 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition, 2020 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award.
Ms.Chen has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia in concerto, recital, and chamber music performances. Including, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Baltimore Symphony, Belgian National Orchestra, and many others.
Teachers and mentors have included Donald Weilerstein, Itzhak Perlman, Miriam Fried, and Catherine Cho. She received her doctorate from the Juilliard School where she serves as teaching assistant to her longtime mentor Li Lin.
Ms.Chen plays the 1720 General Kyd Stradivarius, on generous loan from Dr. Ryuji Ueno and Rare Violins In Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative and the 1708 Huggins Stradivarius courtesy of the Nippon Music Foundation.
*excerpted from her website bio
Local Performances
Young People’s Concert (NC Symphony) TCHAIKOVSKY DISCOVERS AMERICA, SAT, JAN 4, 2025 | 1PM & 4PM, MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL, RALEIGH
NC Symphony presents DVOŘÁK VIOLIN CONCERTO with Stella Chen, FRI/SAT, JAN 10-11, 2025 | 8PM, MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL, RALEIGH *also our special listening artist this month! See links above.
*Jan 31 & Feb 2 - NC Opera presents Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán: https://ncopera.org/2024-2025-season/florencia-en-el-amazonas/
*April 4 & 6 - NC Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro by W.A.Mozart: https://ncopera.org/2024-2025-season/the-marriage-of-figaro/
*denotes Dr. Baker is performing
