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Student(s) of the Month 

 

Lucy & Maddie are both doing such a great job that we couldn’t choose between them. Can you blame us?

 

Lucy consistently impresses me and always practices exactly what I ask her to and beyond. – Trevor

Maddie is a joy to teach. She is talented, bright, and ALWAYS prepared.

 - Michael

 

Great job girls!

 

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September Is National

Piano Month  

For the twelfth year in a row, the National Piano Foundation is proud to celebrate September as National Piano Month.

It's a special time to focus on the instrument we all love-its versatility, its magic, and its place in our lives. If you're the owner of a piano, perhaps this September can rekindle your love of making music. If you're not, there's no better time to think about bringing a piano into your home.

September, the back-to-school season, is also a perfect time to add a piano to your kids' range of experience. Making music helps young minds do better in school and in life. Having a piano in the home provides a focal point for family enjoyment and togetherness. This could be the year your family begins a rewarding new relationship.

There are 10 million pianos in America, and another 100,000 are made here each year. During this year's National Piano Month, make one of them your own--and let the piano enrich your life in each of the months and years to come.

 

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Look who's playing in Time Square.

Way to go Nicholas!

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"Pianos are such noble instruments - they're either upright or grand."

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Are you curious about where Jen went for a few weeks?

Check out the Faculty page for info.

Note - it's really cool.

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Great job Rock Band!

 

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Congratulations to everyone in the Jazz Class for doing such a great job!  We're proud of all of you.

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Recital photos still available!

 

You can see them at -http://www.schutterbugphoto.com/ Or  go to www.digiproofs.com and enter guest password:EXCEL

      

   

  

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Music Trivia Quiz  

True or False?

Another piece frequently heard at weddings is the “Ave Maria”, usually in a setting by Schubert or Gounod. Ironically, neither of these pieces was originally a setting of the “Ave Maria” text.

True - The Schubert “Ave Maria” is the last of three songs based on Sir Walter Scott’s “Lady of the Lake”, all of which are sung by the heroine Ellen. The other two are “Jager, Ruhe von der Jagd” (“Hunter, rest from thy hunt”) and “Raste, Krieger, Krieg ist Aus” (“Rest, warrior, the war is done”). The “Ave Maria” is a prayer to the Virgin sung by Ellen when she and her father are on a deserted island together (the accompaniment is meant to suggest waves lapping at the shore). Although each of the three verses begins with the words “Ave Maria”, the subsequent text is in German and has nothing to do with the traditional Latin prayer. The Gounod version began as the Prelude #1 in C Major by Bach from the “Notebook for Ana Magdalena Bach”, a collection of keyboard pieces which Bach dedicated to his wife. Gounod wrote a violin melody over this piece which Bach dedicated to his wife. Gounod wrote a violin melody over this piece and titled it “Meditation”. Later, the words of the “Ave Maria” were added and the piece became one of the most popular standards of the sacred repertoire. Ironically, Gounod wrote quite a lot of sacred music (including the “St. Cecilia Mass” and the oratorio “The Redemption”); however, none is as well known as this piece.

"When you play music you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed." - Bill Evans