May Violin Class

Hi Everyone!

I hope you’re having a terrific fall.  Bruce and I have been enjoying our time off but we are looking forward to getting back to “real life.” While I’m back in town for Ellery’s birthday, I thought I’d take care of a bit of business in order to start making a schedule at the end of the month.

I’d like to ask that you take a moment to either email me (preferable) at lmay1301 at yahoo  dot com or leave a message on the home phone at 651 994 7856.

Please give me windows of times that you can come for lessons.  As always, during the schooldays, lunchtimes, and mornings are easiest to schedule.  Generally, every other Thursday afternoon may be troublesome for me.  I’ll not be teaching every day of the week, but I will need to compare your available times with mine to say which days will be best for the largest group of people.  It is likely that I’ll go back to the original intent of the “two lessons per week program” for most of you and use the second lesson as a time either for violin chamber groups or combined lessons for theory and/or technique.

Enjoy the rest of October, and please send me your info as soon as you can.  I’ll get back to you with a schedule as soon as I’ve heard from everyone.

Thanks,

Lucia

Dear Students and Parents,

It is time to mark calendars again. Susan Garrelts has agreed to rehearse with us, play classes, and our concert. The first rehearsals will be Saturday, February 12, from 11:30 to 3. Please sign up with me for an individual time by giving me a window of possibility. I’ll do my best to fit in everyone for a time.

Saturday afternoon, March 12, we’ll have a class beginning at 2 p.m. here at the ranch.

April 9, Saturday afternoon, we will use our time with Susan to rehearse and /or make tapes for upcoming summer festivals. We will start at 11:30 and work til 3. If you have not received a brochure from me for my summer teaching here at the U, please let me know. The deadline for that application is Friday, April 15.

May 1, Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. we will rehearse at the SPCO Center.
May 8, Sunday at 2 p.m. we’ll have our concert.

Any absence from these rehearsals will require you to contact Susan directly and arrange your own rehearsal with her.

Please congratulate Alex Reed (violin) and Nora Ali (piano) and Alex Zhu (piano) for being finalists in the GTCYS competition. You can hear them in the final round on Feb. 13, Sunday, 2 p.m. at Sateren Auditorium.

I have some upcoming trio concerts and events that will take me out of town. I’ll need to cancel teaching on Wed. and Thursday, Feb 9 and 10. I also need to cancel Feb. 14, Monday, for a workshop we are teaching. Possibly March 5 I’ll need to cancel. March 18 and 19 I will be canceling. March 23, Sat., and March 25, Monday, I’ll also be canceling. These cancellations usually affect the Saturday students. I will be happy to try make up these times, or to give you extra time close to concerts.

Don’t forget Hillary Hahn is coming to the SPCO the weekend of Feb. 11 and 12! Don’t miss it; she’s one of the great ones.

Here is something to tape in your violin cases next to Josh Bell:

Go on; don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.

BEETHOVEN
(Letter to a young friend, quoted in Grove, Beethoven and his Nine Symphonies)

Dear Parents and Students,

Here is information for upcoming events.

Tue., Nov. 16, 4 pm-extra rehearsals for everyone. See sign up sheet for times. Please leave as large a window as possible for your availability. This time is to help you by making both Susan and me available at the same time. If you cannot make it to this rehearsal it will be necessary for you to contact Susan Garrelts and set up a time on your own for a lesson with her. She is not available for extra times til after Nov. 14. Her phone number is 612-822-3805.

Thursday, Nov. 18-master class with Mimi Zweig here at the house, 7 to 9 pm. Everyone attends, but there will probably only be time for four kids to play: Nora, Eileen, Alex R, and Gaia. Some of you heard Joshua Bell perform with the SPCO over the past couple of weekends. Mimi was Josh’s teacher before he went to study with Mr. Gingold. This is a great opportunity to see one of the greatest teachers of young kids of this generation.

Sun., Nov. 20 Class recital. 1:00 pm, probably at the new Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Center in the Hamm Building downtown, but we are waiting for the final ok. If we can’t have the hall, we will perform here at the house.

The deadline for the Thursday Musical is coming up on Nov. 15!

Note for Nora and Alex R: According to Liz Erickson from ASTA, the judges do not mind if your original copies are marked, just as long as they are not Xeroxes. Also, it is the judges who decide what piece(s) will be played at callbacks, and what part of the (uncut) piece(s).

Happy Halloween! Stay safe….
Lucia

Happy Autumn, Students and Parents!

Its time to get out your family flow charts, calendars, and colored pencils for a new season.

The ASTA State Solo Competition will be held Sunday, Nov. 7. I’ll be making suggestions to you in your lessons about whether or not to participate. The Winners’ Recital will be Sunday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.. The application deadline is Oct. 1. Please see the attached information and application. Our pianist this semester will be Susan Garrelts who is available for this competition and Winners’ Recital. She has also reserved some other dates for us (see below.)

Looking ahead to the Thursday Musical Recital dates: Please choose:
Jan. 22 & 23, 2005 at 1:30
Jan. 29 & 30, at 1:30
Feb. 5 & 6, at 1:30
All recitals are held at University Lutheran Church of Hope.

A recital performance on one of these dates is required for participation in the Thursday Musical Student Competition on Sat., March 5, at College of St. Catherine, 8 am to 5 pm. However, the recital is a good performance opportunity in and of itself without the solo competition.

The registration brochure will be available in October, and the application deadline is due Nov. 15.

We are very fortunate to have Susan Garrelts as our pianist this semester. Please write down these dates for rehearsals, classes, and concerts.

Oct. 3, Sunday afternoon.
Oct. 21, Thursday evening.
Oct. 31, Sunday, afternoon. (I know, don’t worry.)
Masterclass with Mimi Zweig Nov. 18, date tentative
Nov. 20, Sat. afternoon or evening Concert.

After culling the local subscription concert listings, I’ve come up with some suggestions for concerts that I think you’d enjoy. Of course, this list is by no means complete. Please try to attend concerts. Hearing performances is a crucial part of the kids’ development as musicians.

September 23, Th., 11 am Orchestra Hall
September 25, Sa., 8 pm Orchestra Hall
Osmo Vanska
Jorja Fleezanis
Minnesota Orchestra
Beloved concertmaster of the MO, Jorja Fleezanis, performs the Berg Violin Concerto, groundbreaking 20th century masterwork.

Sept. 26, Sun., 2 pm, Sundin Hall
Oct. 3, Sun., 2 pm, SPCO Center
Members of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Chamber music by Bach and Mendelssohn

Sept. 30, Th., 8 pm Temple Israel
Oct. 1, Fri., 8 pm Wooddale Church
Oct. 2, 8 pm St. Paul’s UCC
Steve Copes, director and violin
Wendy Warner, cello
Ruggiero Allifrancini, violin and Nina Tso- Ning Fan, violin
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Our fabulous concertmaster, Steve Copes, leads soloist Wendy Warner in the Haydn Cello Concerto in C. The concert also features chamber music with SPCO musicians.

Oct. 7, Th., 11 am, Orchestra Hall
Oct. 8, Fri., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Oct. 9, Sat., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Tony Ross, cello
Edo de Waart
Minnesota Orchestra
Principal Cellist of the MO performs the Dvorak Cello Concerto.

Oct. 22, Fri., Ordway
Oct. 29, Fri., Ordway
Joshua Bell
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Nov. 18, Th., 11 am, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 19, Fri., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 21, Sun., 2 pm, Orchestra Hall
Lydia Hong, violin
Osmo Vanska
Minnesota Orchestra
Bruch Scottish Fantasy (the “other” Bruch concerto)

Nov. 18, Th., 8 pm, Ordway
Nicholas McGegan
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
New York Baroque Dance Company
Court Dances
Nov. 24, Wed., 7:30, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 26, Fri., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Nov. 27, Sa., 8 pm, Orchestra Hall
Leonidas Kavakos
Osmo Vanska
Minnesota Orchestra
Greek virtuoso performs 20th century masterwork, the Nielsen Violin Concerto

That is all the news for now. Keep practicing. I can feel it in the air-it is going to be a terrific year!

Lucia

***~~~EXTRA EDITION~~~***Hi Everyone,

A couple of changes, please. Please discard your last newsletter.

• Our pianist, Charles Kemper, will be coming on Friday, April 16 to rehearse pieces the kids are preparing. I’ll ask you to sign up for times beginning at 6 p.m.

• We will also do the same on Friday, May 14, sign up times beginning at 6 p.m.

• We will have a performance class here Sunday, May 16, at 2 p.m.

• Delete the Friday, May 21.

• Saturday, May 22, we will have a house concert here at 1 p.m.

• Our concert at the new SPCO Center will be on May 23, Sunday, at 2 p.m., at the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul. The new rehearsal auditorium seats about 200. You’ll be able to invite everyone; in fact, lets ask more folks to this event rather than the house concert because of space limitations. Speaking of which….

Would any of you kids like to design an invitation to the May 23 event? Winner of the Invitation Contest will receive a prize TBA (will be good)!! Deadline Saturday April 24. Your entry must be reproducible on regular Xerox 8½ x 11 paper, black ink. Judges include the Management.

More later. Keep practicing-I’m hearing lots of great progress!

Upcoming performances April 23 & 24:

Sarah Chang and Joseph Silverstein with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
All at the Ordway
4/23 Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.
4/24 Saturday at 8 p.m.

Hi Everyone,

It is calendar marking time again.

Our pianist, Charles Kemper, will be coming on Friday, April 16 to rehearse pieces the kids are preparing. I’ll ask you to sign up for times beginning at 6 p.m.

We will also do the same on Friday, May 14, sign up times beginning at 6 p.m.

Friday, May 21 we will have a performance class here beginning at 6:30.

Our concert will be on May 23, Sunday, at 2 p.m., location TBA.

Rehearsing with a pianist needs to be a regular part of your musical training, and we are very fortunate to have someone like Charles to work with.

More later. Keep practicing-I’m hearing lots of great progress!

Hi Everyone,Our recital is this Friday evening, Nov. 21, here at the ranch.

We also play the next day, Saturday, Nov. 22, at Presbyterian Homes of Roseville, 1910 West County Road D, Roseville, MN 55112 at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Below is a map. Please understand that some of the residents in the audience may be unable to show their appreciation for our concert. They may even be unable to clap. This does not mean that they are not enjoying your playing or feeling happy that we are there. Please invite friends and family to both of these concerts.

A reminder:

Jorja Fleezanis, beloved concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra, will be playing the John Admas Violin Concerto Nov. 21 and 22 at Orchestra Hall. This is a very exciting piece. Call 612-371-5642 for more info. Mention “Suzuki Promotion” for a good price, although that promotion may only apply if you buy a series of their four sting concertos.

Please keep practicing your scales and etudes, even though you have concerts coming up. These are your vitamins!

I will try to reconfigure Thanksgiving week so that everyone can have contact with me that week, even if it is to combine lessons.

Thanks. Now go back to your marteles.
Lucia

Happy Autumn 2003, Students and Parents! Welcome to all new kids, and welcome back “old” kids. This newsletter is your reference guide to all events that I have specific information about. As more dates can be confirmed, for instance, our class recitals, master classes, and rehearsals, I will update this. Competition applications are also not all available. Please take a few minutes to read this over carefully. There could be a quiz.

The sole reason that I will encourage most of you to enter competitions is for the performance benefit of polishing a piece and performing it under formal circumstances. I am uninterested in your “winning”; I hope you will agree that the healthiest motivation is to improve upon your own playing. I also hope you understand that competitions and auditions can impede progress, and that you may be better served under some circumstances to not enter.

The State Solo Competition will take place on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Augsburg College, from 12 to 5 p.m. Also reserve the winners’ recital, which will be Sun., Nov. 9, 7 p.m., at Lake Harriet United Methodist Church. There is an application attached to this newsletter. I’ll encourage some of you to enter. The application deadline is Sept. 26.

***Please, please search your homes for some of my missing materials. I cannot lend CD’s and music to other students when they haven’t been returned! Among missing items are a number of my Barbara Barber CD’s and duets.***

It is a daunting task to browse through all of the upcoming concerts in the Twin Cities to choose some to recommend; however, I’ve tried to list a few very special ones by date. Check out the enclosed discount letter from the MN Orchestra.

Sept.11-13
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Dale Barltrop, violin
Vivaldi “Great Mogul” and Locatelli
Thur. Ordway 8 p.m.
Fri. Ordway 10:30 a.m.
Fri. Woodale 8 p.m.
Sat. United Church of Christ 8 p.m.

Oct. 9-11
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
American Music Week (very limited tickets)
Brubeck and Corigliano
Thur. Southern Theater 8 p.m.

Reich and Adams
Fri. and Sat. Southern Theater 8 p.m.

Oct . 10-11
Minnesota Orchestra
Steven Isserlis, cello
Fri. and Sat. Orchestra Hall 8 p.m.

Oct. 12
The Chamber Music Society of Minnesota
George Crumb Concert
Sun. 3M Auditorium, MN History Center 4 p.m.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Thomas Zehetmair, conductor and violinist
8 p.m. Ordway

Nov. 9
Minnesota Youth Symphonies
Sun. Orchestra Hall 2 p.m.

Nov. 21-22
Minnesota Orchestra
Jorja Fleezanis
John Adams Violin Concerto
Fri. and Sat. Orchestra Hall 8 p.m.

Dec. 5-6
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Steve Copes, violin
Concertmaster’s Collection
Fri. Ordway 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Sat. Ordway 8 p.m.
P.S. Please keep a spare set of strings in your case at all times. Remember, too, that new strings are usually needed about every three months.

P.S.S. Parents, I’ve just read a great book. Wish I had read it years ago! It is Parent Effectiveness Training by Dr. Thomas Gordon (Nobel Peace Prize Nominee)

Happy spring to all of you! When I’m not teaching or practicing I’m watching the bird show here on these acres.Bruce and I have reserved a block of 30 tickets at the student rate of $10.00 for parents and students to hear the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert on Saturday, April 26, at 8 p.m. at the Ordway. Gil Shaham will be performing the Korngold Concerto, and at 7 p.m. at the pre-concert lecture will be demonstrating the timbres of various violins. This promises to be fascinating; I hope you’ll all attend. Please RSVP to me so I can give a final count to the box office.

This event is on the evening following our afternoon concert at the house, and is also the evening before our Salvation Army concert. (see below)

Here is a reminder about upcoming activities and events, and details about our April 27 concert:

Sat., April 12 (9:00-12:30) Charles Kemper here to rehearse in private lessons. Please sign up for a time now. Come 15 minutes early and be prepared to wait or play earlier. No other Saturday lessons will be taking place. Those playing duos should also plan to coordinate with partners and with me.

Thurs., April 17 6:30 p.m. Performance class here with Charles.

Sat., April 26, 2 p.m. Class concert here with cookies and crayons. Invite friends and family.

Sun., April 27 1:30 arrive, 2:00 p.m. concert at The Salvation Army (map attached)
Lakewood Temple, 2080 Woodlynn Ave., Maplewood 55109. Nice clothes and no athletic shoes, please.

Attached please find an invitation to the Schubert Trio’s house concert here. Please feel free to include family, and please let me know how many so I can have a cookie count.I won’t be teaching on the following dates because of trio performances, rehearsals, or SPCO business:

Sat., Feb. 1—****For all students I recommend going to MacPhail to hear the Master
class by Robert Mann at 2 p.m. He is the former first violinist with the
Julliard String Quartet
Thur.-Sat., Feb. 27- March 1
Thur.-Mon., March 6-10

Be aware that the other two members of the trio live out of town, that plans sometimes could change, and that I may have to adjust the schedule.

Here are some dates to mark for our class rehearsals and performances:

Sat., April 12 9:00-12:30 Charles Kemper here to rehearse in private lessons.
Schedule TBA.

Thur., April 17 6:30 p.m. Peformance Class here with Charles

Sat., April 26 2 p.m. Class concert here

Sun., April 27 1:30 Concert, location TBA

Here are some other events. I’m only mentioning several concerts in the area, many involving works for violin. Some are student concerts that some of you are playing. Others of these promise to be of world class quality, concerts you won’t want to miss because you’ll need to tell your grandchildren about them:

St. Paul Chamber Orchestra:

Fri. and Sat., April 18 and 19, 8 p.m. Ordway
Steve Copes, our concertmaster premieres the Tsontakis Violin Concerto

Fri. April 25, 10:30 a.m. Ordway and Sat., April 26, 8 p.m. Ordway
Gil Shaham plays the Korngold Violin Concerto

Schubert Club:

Thur., Feb. 6 8 p.m. Ordway
Mitsuko Uchida, piano

Fri., March 21 8 p.m. Ordway
Ivan Moravec, piano

Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies:

Family Music Fest
Sun., March 9 12-6 p.m.
Landmark Center

Spring Festival Concert
Sun., May 11 6:30 p.m. Orchestra Hall

Auditions June 9-14
Minnesota Youth Symphonies:

Sun., Feb 9 2 p.m. Orchestra Hall

Sun., May 4 2 p.m. Orchestra Hall
I’m looking forward to another fruitful and musically rich semester. Try to attend as many concerts as you can. Its inspiring.

Yours in martele,
Lucia