Tuesday, January 4, 2022 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:

1. IN PERSON at your lesson
2. MAIL CHECK:  814 Pineland Dr, Cary, 27511
3. ONLINE PAYMENT:  PayPal (includes fee) or Google Pay (no fee) 

 January Schedule                              

NO Lessons are scheduled Jan 3-7.  

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! 

   Group Classes                                   

Group Classes will meet on Friday, January 21.  Location: Saint Francis UMC. Room TBD. 2965 Kildaire Farm Road, 27518.

All class will be streamed on ZOOM and will meet in person.  When the weather is nice we will gather under the portico of the Admin building.  When the weather is not tolerant for us or our instruments, we will meet in the choir room and follow the mask policies of the church at the time.  

Group schedule:

    February Group Recital                   

I am excited to put together a studio group recital!  Saturday, February 5 at 4:30 p.m.Location: Saint Francis UMC. More details will be given in the February news.  For now, make sure this date is on your family calendar.  All students are expected to participate.  

Repertoire for the Group Recital:

Please add these pieces to a weekly rotation in your practice.  I will be hearing the ones your student knows in lessons over the next 4-5 weeks to make sure all students are prepared for the group recital.

    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 Online Resources 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 month I am sharing an article that I don't really know where I acquired. Nevertheless, it is packed with a great tidbits that might just be what you need to start of this NEW YEAR.  Take some time to find the "FIVE little Ideas" article and read over it!    Go to the TAB: Online Resources>Parent Education Folder

      If you have time, send me your reaction, thoughts. etc.  I would love to know what speaks to you.     

   
   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 Isaac Stern  (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!

Wieniawski, Polonaise Brillante: https://youtu.be/zW_4xR72JBc

J.S. Bach, Chaconne: https://youtu.be/1zvRWFD_1_M

L. van Beethoven, Piano Trio, Op. 1 No. 2: https://youtu.be/tG7Z590f6MY

F. Kreisler, Liebeslied: https://youtu.be/ModXTjydx7k

A MUST WATCH:  Short Documentary (Grammy Lifetime Achievement award) + performance of Concerto for 2 violins by Bach (7:30): https://youtu.be/DSWxpsItJRg   (also includes piano performance by the pianist in the trio link above)

Isaac Stern

Isaac Stern was more than just a violinist, he was also a strong force behind many great and famous violinists, including Itzhak Perlman. Highly respected in the violin community as a statesman as well as a premier violinist of the 20th century, he was both a violin teacher and a player.

When he was 6, Stern started learning to play the piano but he would soon turn his interest to the violin which led him to study at the San Francisco Conservatory and then later under Naoum Blinder.

Since making his debut at the age of 15 with the San Francisco Symphony, he would go on to collaborate with the great Russian pianist Alexander Zakin before going on to discover great violinists like Pinchas Zukerman.

Before his death in 2001 at the age of 81, Isaac Stern had already had many recordings and awards to his name.