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For such a time as this
The photo in this post is the studio deadline whiteboard from March to the end of the season. Today I completed my very last task of this season – reviewing a student’s performance exam video submission. I am also right in the middle of planning the upcoming season. This is the time when I reflect,…
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O Canada!
Congratulations to all my students who played at our recent recital. To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday many projects this season have had a Canadian flavour. The last recital of this year was nearly all-Canadian content! At the fall group class we looked at the history of our own national anthem and students learned it in a…
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Ever hear of a one-armed piano player?
In every piano season, I receive at least one phone call from a parent telling me that one of my students has broken their arm. (Last season three students were wearing casts at various times!) Naturally, everyone is wondering what to do about piano. I can reassure everyone that the student should continue to attend…
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Is that how it goes?
My students just performed at a students-only performance class, and are now preparing for our upcoming recital. At recent lessons we have been discussing practice and memorization strategies. I keep threatening to make a video for my students of me practising. And I suspect that we are taxing the ears and patience of our fans…
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Musical Memory
I was working with a student as they prepared for our upcoming studio recital. Their memory was coming together, but the piece had several sections that repeated, and the student was trying to solidify the complete structure of the piece in their memory. It was tricky to keep the order of the sections straight. And…
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Is he dead?
When you attend a classical concert you are often given a booklet that lists the order of performance that evening, as well as some notes on the composers, pieces, and performers. My students prepared a beautiful booklet of program notes for their June recital. In the weeks leading up to the recital we talked about…
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Through the Door
The National Arts Centre is one of my favourite places in Ottawa. It is a beautiful home for the performing arts: classical music, English theatre, French theatre, dance, variety, and community programming. Housing four performance venues – Southam Hall, Theatre, Studio, and the Fourth Stage – there are many international and Canadian musicians coming through…
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Until We Meet Again
My last post was about the ordinary pencil. Today’s post is about modern technology. There are many ways I use technology in my studio. It is easy to make a recording of a performance. My students and I use YouTube and Google to travel the planet. Score writing software makes it easy to print out…
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Pssst…have I got a deal for you
Did you know that the National Arts Centre has a program called Live Rush™ that allows students to buy last-minute tickets to most NAC Dance, Theatre and Music performances for only $12. Students can purchase up to two tickets online or in person from 10 am the day before right up until 6 pm on the day of…
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Winter Wonderland
Ottawa’s 35th annual Winterlude opened on February 1 and runs until the 18th. It’s a chance to celebrate winter. Skating on the canal, snowshoeing in Gatineau Park, walking among the ice sculptures. But if your favourite season is any one but winter, take note that there are many great cultural events happening indoors – art, theatre,…
