Hi Everyone,
Just a few items:
I’m looking forward to seeing you this evening at the SPCO Center for our rehearsal at 6:30. We won’t be having Thursday evening or Saturday classes this week because of our dress rehearsal and concert. Lessons are as usual.
Please bring some fruit, cookies, or treats for a dozen on Sunday and stay for a while to celebrate. I’ll bring the juice.
Our theory books are in. I’ll pass them out next week.
See you soon,
Lucia
Happy New Year, Moms and Dads!
This is a fairly long newsletter, so make some tea and be sure you read all the way down to “OTHER NEWS.”
I am so pleased as I reflect on the growth of our class. Bruce and I moved to the Twin Cities just over six years ago and began the initial project of simply finding students.Because of the steady and impressive growth of our class, I now enjoy the challenge of providing the highest quality of violin training.I believe that this class is unique in what it offers; it is my dream to provide opportunities for young violinists I wish I had had growing up, even within the settings of pre-college music schools.
My fee will increase to $75 per week for two 15 week semesters.In reality this should result in no net outlay for you vis, but should materially simplify business. Please remember that as always, I will consider scholarships in those cases in which paying is a hardship.
I will continue to provide private lessons and Thursday night classes, and in addition, all the accompanying costs of the Saturday classes and rehearsals, performance classes, dress rehearsals, master classes with other teachers, and recitals. I will also pay for the hall rental for recitals and dress rehearsals at SPCO Center (unfortunately, no nepotism breaks here!).As always, I won’t charge you for extra lesson time or a second lesson time weekly if we feel it is needed and/or useful.You pay only for the weeks you have private lessons.
I welcome your comments and ideas.I do not assume that this type of program is for everyone; indeed, you may feel that this is not what you signed on for.My policy has always been to teach each child as if he or she will need the same careful fundamentals that a career of playing would require, regardless of whether or not playing the violin will continue being a serious interest.
The “Juniors” including beginners and Saturday kids, will continue at the rate of $60 per hour, $45 for 45 minutes, etc., until this summer, when I will increase to $65 per hour.This is my first increase since 2002, but in the future the percentage increase will be lower, consistent with the annual cost of living increase. Juniors’ pieces can be rehearsed on Saturdays as part of class time.I believe that observing each other is crucial in their development and also teaches them to be colleagues.
Beginning students are encouraged to observe the Saturday classes until they have developed enough skill to participate, or until I have a critical mass of beginners to add a class.
Summer lessons beginning in summer 2008 will cost $65 per hour.In the summer months I don’t teach classes, and the month during Bravo! can only include my Bravo! teaching.Any work with Claudia would be privately arranged.
OTHERNEWS:
Our poor Ashley is no longer with us.He has fought a brave battle with a number of health issues, but the kidney disease would not improve. I know the kids are attached to the cats.Please prepare them.
I’d like to start the year with a renewed commitment to promptness, and in that spirit here is a Reminder Haiku for all students for all lessons and coachings and rehearsals:
Nails clipped and hair back
Arrive five minutes early
Ready for a scale
(and the clock starts ticking promptly at your agreed arrival time!)
I am starting to work on building a web site, on which I can set up a calendar, newsletters, etc.I’ll keep you up to date on that.
Thursday Musical and Schubert Club student recitals and contests are upon us.Please be sure to set up your pianists and applications now if we have spoken about your participation.
It is not too soon to plan for summer programs. I’ll be teaching at Bravo! again this summer, and I’ll also be doing a shortened version of Bravo Piccolo!I have brochures here and you can also see online at www.music.umn.edu/Bravo
Renowned violinist Pamela Frank will be giving a master class on Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the new MacPhail Center for Music in the Antonello Performance Hall.For more information, call 612-321-0100.
I want to thank all of you for your dedication to your kids’ learning, to the time, money, driving and daily help you give your children.I also want to thank you for your kindness and support of Bruce and of me.You make this work a pleasure.
As ever,
Lucia
Hi Everyone,Our next performance class for all of the students will be this Sunday at the house. Here is the way I’d like to divide the kids so that we have a mix of ages and levels:
1:00 to 2:30 pm
Nick
Imala
Alec
Lydia
Katie P
Clara
Katia
2:45 to 4:15
Leo
Alex Z.
Ethan
William
Kate
Maia
We won’t be having Thursday night etudes this week, but we will plan to have the younger Saturday class, which will meet at 10 am instead of our usual 11 am. This will be a rehearsal for the following kids:
Ethan– Kuchler mv’t 1
Clara- Bach minuets (Cathy, I think this is right?)
Leo- Boccherini- or Beethoven minuet
Lydia- Twinkle or Monkey Song
Katia- Infant Paganini
Alec-Handel F Major mv’t 2
Imala- Millionaire’s Hoedown (Katie D.-I think this is right? Either Handel and Klebenoff or Bach double mvt. 1. Please call Claudia and me)
On Sunday the rest of the students from the Thursday class will join them in the above divided sessions, playing the pieces for our January recital:
Alex -Lalo mvt. 5
Katie P.- Lalo mvt. 1-please set up a rehearsal with Claudia
Nick- Sicilienne & Rigaudon
Katie – Intro and Polonaise
William- Kabalevsky mvt. 3
Maia-Vitali Chaconne
If there are questions about pieces, please give me a call; I might need reminding about which polished pieces we agreed on..
Dress rehearsal at the SPCO Center-Wednesday, Jan, 16, 6 to 9 pm. We’ll loosely schedule the kids in blocks according to age so the younger kids can get to bed.
Recital, January 20, SPCO Center 2 p.m.
Thanks!
See you soon.
Lucia
P.S. Please return the theory tests if you haven’t!
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to check in with all of you about class this Saturday. I had originally wanted to divide the class since the last class we had was too long, but since some of you will be out of town, I’d like to hold just one class from 1 to 3 P.M.
On Dec. 16, Sunday, I’d like to have two sessions, dividing the class in the afternoon. More on that later.
I think this Saturday we should have a different approach. The classes have sometimes taken a formal tone. This is good to have if we are making a dress rehearsal. But it is also important for us to provide a class situation that bears no resemblance to a performance where the kids can be free to try their newest pieces with piano for the first time with the other students. Maybe this shift in tone could better be accomplished by having only the kids in the living roon, and for me to leave the parents in the kitchen to have tea, or to go to another place in the house to work or read. I think this would take a lot of pressure off the kids. Not all classes would follow this format; sometimes we will simulate a performance, as we will do in our Jan. dress rehearsal.
Kids, please return your theory exams if I gave you one. Claudia and I are curious as to what you know in theory, so please don’t feel you need to research the answers. Its just diagnostic.
Also, please remember to make a copy of the piano part for yourselves to study after you have given your part of Claudia.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Lucia
Dear Students and Parents,
I hope you’re enjoying these last few days of summer before we all start our new year. Its time to check your bows for rehairs if necessary and stock up on extra strings. I also have dates for classes and our recital, this time after the winter holidays.
Now its time to get out your calendars and colored pencils!
Our etude class will return to Thursday evenings, but I’d like to start at 6:30 since many of you had trouble being here by 6:00 because of the traffic.
The younger class will be Saturdays at 11 a.m.
Lessons at the new fall times will start on Tuesday, Sept. 4th, and our first classes will be the following Thursday and Saturday.
I will be out of town from Sept. 21st to October 4th. That would be a good time to set up rehearsal times with Claudia Chen. As always, please ensure that the a copy of the piano parts are with her in advance as soon as you know what pieces you’ll be performing. You can do that directly or leave the parts with me.
The Mary West Competition (formerly MNSOTA) will be held this year on Oct. 28. The application postmark deadline is September 28, and the Winners’ Recital is November 4. The application can be downloaded from www.MNSOYA.org. My member number is 31169. Please remember to discuss repertoire with me. Please also remember that Claudia Chen does not play in this competition, so calling Susan Garrelts or Charles Kemper early is a good idea.
Our performance class schedule is the following:
Sunday, Oct. 14th at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 24th at 1 p.m. (the Saturday after Thanksgiving)
Sunday, Dec. 16 time TBA
Dress rehearsal TBA, evening in week of recital
Recital, January 20, SPCO Center 2 p.m.
I’m looking forward to another terrific year!
All best,
Lucia
Hi Everyone,
I know you’ve all been pining away for a newsletter, so here it is:
Some of you may have seen on the studio door the announcement of an upcoming concert featuring our own Milana Reiche, otherwise known as Leo and Hugh’s mom. She will be performing this Sunday, Feb. 11 at 7 pm at the Colonial Church, 6200 Colonial Way, in Edina.
The concert will feature Milana Reiche, violinist with the Minnesota Orchestra and Laurinda Sager Wright, piano, performing the Bach Sonata No.1 and the Sibelius Five Pieces for violin and piano. The Brahms Horn Trio will be performed by Ms. Reiche, Ellen Dinwiddie Smith, horn, and Alexander Braginsky, piano.
To order tickets call 952-925-2711 x 504.
We’ve found a date for our own class concert at the SPCO Center on Sunday, June 3, at 2 pm. The dress rehearsal will be Wed. May 30 from 6 to 8 pm.
Thanks to all of you for your continued flexibility and understanding. The students are responding with more organized practice and preparation, which can only be good for them.
We are so fortunate to have Claudia teaching theory to the younger class on Saturdays. They are learning about intervals, note values and all of that good stuff. I wish she had done this years ago!
Keep practicing and smiling,
Lucia
Happy Fall 2006!
It seems as if we just finished our spring recital, and the trees’ leaves are thinking about changing color. It has been a summer of growth for all of you, and I’m very excited about how that will carry over into the coming year. I think we’re going to have a great time.
This newsletter will include dates for our classes, rehearsals and concerts. We are also adding a change to the Thursday night etude class format which will affect all students.
Once a month we will switch from Thursday to Monday evening to play through your latest piece with piano. Ms. Claudia Chen, our pianist and mother of Katia, has graciously agreed to play for us. This Monday class will include all students, even the youngest ones. It is important for the younger ones to hear the older ones, and for them in turn to be examples for the younger ones. For all of the kids, it is crucial to play with piano before their peers and in public. Before a student plays on a Monday evening, you’ll need to arrange a rehearsal at Ms. Chen’s house without me. This will not be true for those Book 3 and lower, who can rehearse briefly either on a Saturday morning here for an occasional young class, or on Monday evening here prior to class. Ms. Chen prefers to be contacted via email.
Monday evening classes from 6 to 8:
Oct. 2, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 27
Thursday evening etude classes from 6 to 7:30:
Sept: 7, Sept. 14, Sept. 21
Oct. 12, 19, 26
Nov. 2, 9, 16
Dress rehearsal: Thursday, Nov. 30, from 6 to 9 at the SPCO Center.
Concert: Sunday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at the SPCO Center.
I will be out of town from Nov. 19 to 25 (Thanksgiving week), so for those of you with Thursday and Friday lessons, please reschedule with me so I can see you the week of the Thursday dress rehearsal.
I will also be out of town from Dec. 6 to 11.
All students in the Thursday etude class are strongly urged to participate in the MNSOTA State Solo Competition preliminaries. The application is due on Oct. 6, competition date is Nov. 12, with the winners’ recital on Nov. 19. Please see attached. Ms. Chen will not be attending the competitions with students, so you will need to arrange a rehearsal with Charles Kemper (651-762-9311) or Susan Garrelts (612-822-3805) alone first without me, then another lesson with them and me together here. This should happen the week before the competition week, and the solos can also be performed for the Monday class on 11/6 with Ms. Chen.
I’ll repeat myself for the benefit of our new families: We look at competitions only as opportunities to perform in formal settings. We see them as peripheral, not central, to the learning process. This means that I need your help in striking the right balance with the kids between competitions and the far more important day to day studio work we do.
I will take responsibility for paying our pianist for classes, class rehearsals, and concerts. Any other separate work with piano is your responsibility, including lessons you take here with me with piano. Please come prepared to make payment at the time of rehearsal. We need happy pianists always!!
I am really looking forward to an exciting year. I’ve heard some wonderful summer work, and I know I’ll be watching more.
All best,
Lucia
Hi Students and Parents,Here are some more dates to mark and some reminders:
Both of these are at the SPCO Center downtown St. Paul in the Hamm Building,
The Huss Music Room:
May 11, Thursday, beginning at 6 pm, dress rehearsal
May 14, Sunday, Mothers’ Day, 2 pm recital
The following are rehearsal times for the Neal Zaslaw Class:
Thursday, April 6, here with Charles Kemper individually beginning at 6 pm.
(I will be out of town until that evening.)
Thursday, April13, here with Charles to play your “Mozarts” for class.
Wednesday, April 19 Mozart Class with Neal Zaslaw.
All students not playing Mozart are still invited to the Mozart Class; in fact, I’d love for everyone to be here. This is your first opportunity to hear one of the world’s experts on the performance practice of Mozart’s music.
Those students not playing Mozart are also welcome to a brief time with Charles on the piano at the above mentioned “Mozart” times to run through your pieces.
Bruce and I are doing “double duty” the night of April 19. After the class, we will be having a thank you dinner for Mr. Zaslaw with SPCO guests. Please do not be offended if we ask that you promptly leave when class is over. I don’t know how to type smile faces, but here is where I’d do one____.
Thank you so much.
Dear Students and Parents,Here are a few dates beginning next week that I will be out of town. Please mark your calendars for no lessoms these days:
March 1-4 inclusive
April 3-6 inclusive
I’d like to reschedule Thursday Class from April 6 to either Friday, April 7th, or Saturday, April 8th. I’ll let you know soon. Please let me know your preference.
Please pencil in (no pen) Wednesday evening, April 18, 6-8 pm for our class with Neal Zaslaw. This is for all students, whether or not you will be playing.
Those of you returning to Bravo! Do not need to make a tape this year.
Please leave me a note specifying what information you’d like me to include on an address and phone list.
Thanks,
Keep practicing!
L.May
I know how you’ve all been missing our newsletters, so I thought I’d write one again.
We again are able to use the SPCO Center for our spring recital. Please save May 14, Sunday afternoon. I will try to arrange a time to rehearse there, too. Susan Garrelts has agreed to play piano for us again.
To those of you in the Thursday night class (6 to7:30pm):
I’ve engaged Charles Kemper to come on Feb. 2 and Feb. 16. On Feb. 2 he will rehearse you individually while the rest of us work upstairs on etudes. On Feb. 16 we’ll have a performance class with those pieces you’ve read through with him. You all have pieces ready, even though those may not end up being your May recital pieces. Please plan on longer class times those nights.
Those of you not in the Thursday night class will most likely be included in the above dates, too, to rehearse with piano on Feb. 2, and to play and/or listen to the class on the 16th.
Neal Zaslaw is a professor at Cornell, a world renowned Mozart expert, author of The Birth of the Orchestra, former flutist with the American Symphony Orchestra, and luckily for us, consultant to the SPCO. He has graciously agreed to give a master class on performance style. He will be in town between April 18 and 23, and we’ll find a time then. Please polish up your Mozart assignments, and plan on being here to hear him, whether or not you will have a Mozart piece ready.
Some of you asked about summer programs and my summer teaching. I’ll be at Bravo again; you may want to check out their website soon. (Details next newsletter.)
I have a number of brochures and listings for programs, local and otherwise, depending on your child’s age. Believe it or not, it is not too early to be making applications to some of them, and some require tapes.
For those of you with whom I discussed these opportunities, here are other upcoming dates and deadlines:
St. Paul Conservatory and Schubert Club Competition
Ages 6-13
Application to be postmarked no later than March 3.
Thursday Musical Young Artist Scholarship Competition (open to those performing on the TM recitals
Application to be postmarked no later than February 15.
Schubert Club Scholarship Competition:
Application to be postmarked no later than January 31.
Sinfonia Young Artist Competition
Application to be postmarked no later than Feb. 3
Another note:
For a number of you, arriving late has become more the norm than the exception. We need every minute. Please be on time.
That’s all for now.
Thanks, Lucia
May Violin Class 