May Violin Class

Dear Students and Parents,

As promised, here are our dates for the semester:
Saturdays, Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 10 (dress rehearsal)
Winter recital will be on Friday evening, Nov. 16.

Our Saturday Book 1 class will meet on all Saturdays except those performance class dates listed above. This Saturday Book 1 class meets from 1 to 2.

Our recital is early like it was last year. We hope this removes some pressure from the holidays.
I’d like to arrange some chamber music or reading activities from mid Nov. until the first of the year, although it is likely that I’ll be out of town for some of that time. This would not be connected to any performances.
I am so excited about our new semester!
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.

Best,
Lucia

Dear Students and Parents,

Welcome to Fall 2012! By beginning Vol. 11, we can say we’re starting our second decade of teaching in the Twin Cities.

Some of you have locked in your lesson times for the fall. I have times still available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and one on Wednesdays between 6:15 and 7 p.m. I think these will fill soon, so don’t delay!

Please stay tuned: I will soon have dates for performance classes, our recital, and other events for you to jot down. Those of you who have theory and private rehearsals with Claudia should schedule those with her.

We’ll have monthly Saturday performance classes in the same format as last spring, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for all students together.

Our weekly Book One class will be on Saturdays, between 1 and 2 p.m. We will not have Book One class on our performance class Saturdays.

Also, I hope you old timers participate in the ASTA Mary West Competition. The application form can be downloaded from here. The application deadline is Oct. 11, 2012. The Competition date is Nov. 4.

Here is a link to the details: MNSOTA:   www.mnsota.org   My ASTA number is 31169.

I was surprised to find Dominant strings for sale on Amazon.com. SHAR also often has good prices.  It’s always advisable to have a spare set, even if you might be changing violin sizes. Most places will trade you up a string size.
Many of you need “fall cleaning” and on your equipment. (How is your bowhair? You know who you are.)

Stay tuned for the monthly dates of our performance classes and recital.

My best,
Lucia

Hi, Everyone,
Come cheer on Alec and Imala at Bravo! this Friday at 7:30. Alec will play the Bacewicz Sonata for solo violin, and Imala will play the Vitali Chaconne.
My husband, Bruce, will be giving a chamber music masterclass on Friday at 3:30.
We hope to see you there. Check out the many other concerts and masterclasses. All are free and open to the public. See the post below for the link to the calendar.

Hi, Parents and Students,

Here is the summer 2012 Bravo! calendar. The recitals and masterclasses are great opportunities for all of you to hear wonderful string playing by our class kids and others from around the country.  I hope to see you there!

Bravo2012CalendarLETTER FINAL

Dear Parents and Students,

Bravo for a terrific spring recital! I’m very proud of all of you.

Last Sunday I met four former students who are in high school or off to college.
Our reunion was a moment I’ll never forget. To reminisce about our lessons, etude classes and concerts is a rare pleasure and especially gratifying since each one loves music, studies the violin, and attends concerts. Check out their photos on the Pictures page here.

And since the holidays are just around the corner in seven months, consider a subscription to www.classicalarchives.com for your family. I’m speechless as I browse the catalog–what a world. Any piece of music or recording you’ve wanted to hear is a click away. No excuses, we’re in a post YouTube world, thankfully.

I’ll see you in your lessons. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.
Happy practicing,
Lucia

Hi Parents and Students,
I thought you’d enjoy reading this article from Saturday’s New York Times. William Harvey was one of our students at the String Academy at Indiana University. People like William give us hope through music. We found the last paragraph particularly inspiring.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/arts/music/afghan-youth-orchestra-to-perform-in-washington-and-new-york.html?_r=1

Dear Parents and Students,

The Schubert Club Competition Winners’ Recital will be given on Friday, April 20, 2012, at 7 p.m. at Sundin Hall, Hamline University for free. Please be sure to congratulate Alec who was a finalist. He was awarded a Schubert Club Scholarship for his summer study at Bravo! at the U. For more info, see www.schubert.org/competition

Speaking of Bravo! for those of you planning to attend, Sally has asked me to remind you to send in your applications so that she can start making chamber music assignments before she travels abroad.  For more info, see  www.music.umn/bravo

I also want to follow up the last post by giving you Lipo Cole’s website address here. I’ll also include it on our Links & Numbers page. www.pcoleviolin.com

Happy practicing. See you at your lessons this week.

Lucia

Here is a lovely article written about our Lipo, Gabi’s dad, by Eric Schumsky:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/phillip-cole-a-violin-maker-at-one-with-his-art-215861.html

Dear Class,

I so enjoyed class yesterday. You are all learning by leaps and bounds! You Bach Unaccompanied guys are an inspiration to our newer bees.

Please mark your calendars; we’ve had some last minute changes. I won’t be teaching this week, but I’ll resume on March 4. Anyone who would like a make up lesson is welcome on Monday, March 5 or Tuesday March 6. I’ll make up the Saturday beginner class if you let me know your availability.

That will leave only two more Saturdays until our next full class on March 24. Please be sure to plan with Claudia accordingly.

I also will not be teaching on the following days: Sat., March 31
through Wednesday, April 4.

I also won’t be teaching Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8 and 9. Our dress rehearsal will remain on Saturday, May 5, and our recital will be on Friday evening, May 11.
I can then continue our normal schedule until Bravo! starts on Sunday,
June 10.

Please feel free to call or email any questions. Please know that I can reschedule any of these times and I’ll be happy to do so.

Happy practicing,
Lucia