Studio
News
December,
2007 --
A
Review of 2007 at Individual Dynamics van
Beethoven
Already
we have the final Studio News for 2007.
It has been an exciting year, with many new students and everyone
achieving and learning commendably.
Thank you all, students and families, for your dedication.
You are a fantastic group of people. Have
an enjoyable break.
Remember to keep some piano-playing going through the holidays so you
keep what you have learned and the finger tone you have developed this year.
Business
Matters
Lesson
times: I have received many
requests for lesson time changes commencing term 1, 2008.
Letters have been sent home providing opportunity to elect or confirm
suitable times for next term. Please
complete and return these letters urgently to ensure preferred placement. This will assist me in planning a schedule that works well
for each family. You will be
notified of new times with the invoices that will be sent out mid to late
January.
Term
and holiday lessons: Term 1
lessons will be invoiced mid-January and will commence from Monday 28th
January. This is a pupil-free day
at public schools; so it’s back into routine a little earlier with the music
lessons. There will be no lessons
available during the ten days from 23rd December to 1st
January. Limited lessons will be
available for the first week of January for students who have maintained a high
level of practice since the end of term 4.
Usual holiday lessons may be organised from 7th January at
times and on days that are mutually suitable.
Phone a day ahead if you wish to arrange a lesson.
Holiday
practice: I encourage students
to spend time at the piano every couple of days during the holidays to keep
memory active and finger muscles strong. However,
take some time to rest from practice routines and play favourite pieces instead. Some fun pieces can be found for free download at many sites
on the Internet. These can make a
good change from regular lesson pieces. Some
sites include:
http://www.easysheetmusic.com/popular_classics.asp
http://www.rowy.net/enFullPf.html
http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/freebies.html
http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/howtoprintfreemusic.asp
Lesson
fees 2008: Lesson fees will
continue at the current rate for first semester 2008.
With an 11-week term, fees will be $275 for the term for half hour
lessons. Invoices will be posted in
mid-January and early lump-sum payment (with discount) will be due by 9th
February 2008.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents for showing your
support by meeting account and book payments and providing transport for on time
lesson attendances. I know that
everyone has been prompt in all areas to the best of their ability, given
individual circumstances. This
support is very important for students and highly appreciated by me.
Such a high level of consistent support is rare.
Thank you.
AMEB
exam entries: Exam
entries for AMEB piano and theory exams in first semester 2008 are due the first
week lessons recommence. This means
that students need to make a decision about exams while on holidays.
You are welcome to contact me during the holidays if you have questions
regarding exams, or for any other reason.
^
A
Review of 2007
This year has been very successful with all students making excellent
progress for their own rate of learning. The
recent Young Pianist Recital showed how far students had progressed in less than
6 months. Many students started
learning piano and music for the first time during the year and a number
transferred as beginners early in the year.
Every one seems happy, and many are working very hard.
For some, there has been a difficulty balancing commitment to music with
other interests – but they have shown considerable potential.
A few students have found this a year of settling, and it is good to see
they are much happier and looking forward to future learning experiences.
Two recital parties have been held this year for
young performers. The earlier
event, on 24th June, was the first experience of performing that many
of the young people have had. The
second, on 2nd December, showed enormous growth in piano skill and
self-presentation. It was a total
delight to see this development and to see that all students, including those in
Beginner 1 stage, are playing with good technique and musical sensitivity.
I was very proud.
A few students have received formal recognition and commendation this
year. Karen received full marks and
honours in written exams. Sabrina
received honours in her performance exam. Mikaela
received a pass with credit in her first written exam.
Many students have shown exceptional and consistent commitment to
practice throughout the year. Well
done everyone. I would like to
particularly mention Grace, Tiger, Lucy and Natasha.
All other students have frequently made important leaps forward in their
learning. To all, your work is a
credit to you. Well done.
^
Ludwig
van Beethoven
Ludwig
van Beethoven, baptised 17th December 1770 in Bonn of Germany, is one
of the best-known composers of all time. He wrote for many different
instruments, including the pianoforte and string ensembles and was also a
celebrated performer. His influence
on music was important because, as a highly passionate and effective composer,
he paved the way for composers to express their deepest thoughts and feelings.
His music forms a bridge between the stricter Classical and freer
Romantic periods.
Beethoven came from a family of musicians.
He was the oldest brother of three surviving children. He showed musical talent from a young age and learnt viola,
organ and piano from his father, who was a singer.
His father was a cruel man and a harsh teacher, making Beethoven practice
often all through the night. When Beethoven was 16, his mother died tragically.
Beethoven escaped from his father with his younger brothers, working as a
tutor for a wealthy family. The
loss of his family was very important to Beethoven and it effected the raging,
surging emotion in his music.
At 17 years, Beethoven visited Vienna where the famous composer Wolfgang
Mozart heard his performance. Mozart
is recorded to have said, “He will give the world something worth listening
to”. Beethoven certainly lived up
to this expectation.
In 1792, Beethoven received support and publicity from another famous
German composer, Joseph Haydn. Haydn
taught Beethoven for a short time. Haydn
praised Beethoven’s music and virtuoso skills, writing to the ruler of Cologne
who then sponsored Beethoven’s performances in front of the noblemen of
Vienna. Beethoven was welcomed into
the social circles of the royal families and treated as an equal by many of the
aristocratic families. This was
unusual, as composers had been treated as simple workers before Beethoven.
The wealthy people listened enthusiastically to Beethoven’s’ first
compositions, which were for small ensembles with piano.
Strangely, although Beethoven was very popular, the wealthy families were
not quick to provide financial support. He
fell into debt at the same time as he was experiencing another significant loss.
His hearing began to fail.
From
1796, Beethoven gradually became deaf. He
was unable to hear and enjoy music or conversation.
He withdrew from people, becoming irritable and cross.
He had a world of music in his mind that he wrote down to express the
raging feelings and sometimes the longing for beauty and friendship that he
experienced. Sadly, and incredibly,
he could not hear performances of the amazing music he wrote.
Initially, he used devices, such as a large stick that he held in his
mouth one end and attached to the piano soundboard at the other.
This helped him sense more of the sounds.
However, he suffered deeply from his loss.
He cried at the Premier of his Ninth Symphony when he was physically
turned around and he realised he was unable to hear the enormous applause.
Beethoven’s deafness meant that he left behind an unusual treasure that gives
understanding about Beethoven’s thoughts and about how he wanted his pieces
performed. To communicate,
Beethoven used a collection of notebooks. These
record his conversations with a group of devoted friends.
They show his inside world of troubled thoughts.
Beethoven left a reputation for being difficult to get along with.
It seems Beethoven longed to be treated with respect and grieved deeply
as a result of much physical pain and personal loss.
His music would probably have been very different if he had not been such
a passionate man.
Beethoven
died from pneumonia in 1827, leaving a range of musical styles, developing
themes and concepts of the Classical period and extending them into more unified
and longer forms. He wrote for
chamber instruments, symphonies, piano solo, vocal song and opera.
He sometimes sketched the progression and form of a piece before he
decided on the melody.
The development of his musical style is divided into three periods.
Pieces of the first period, to around 1802, imitate and expand on the
works of the Classical composers such as Haydn and Mozart.
The first twenty Piano Sonatas (e.g. Pathetique,
Moonlight)
are from this period. The second period, around 1803 to 1814, are marked by the
feelings of tragedy that were brought on by his progressive loss of hearing.
Among other works, seven Piano Sonatas were composed at this time (e.g. Appasionata,
Waldstein).
The final period, 1815 onwards, are considered to be intellectual and
creative. Beethoven wrote very
mysterious and complex music in this latter time. Most of his music from the last period was not understood and
was not played until the next musical era (the 20th Century).
Beethoven’s music is best known for its complexity and wholeness.
He brought out previously unknown characteristics \\and sounds from
instruments such as the piano and violin. His
music is the expression of a deeply passionate soul.
Annah
Hyrst
Individual
Dynamics
”Music
gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and
life to everything." - Plato
"Music
gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and
life to everything." - Plato
