Lessons
have now begun for term 1, and continue until 13th April.I am pleased to see everyone back, working enthusiastically and
learning so well.It is a delight to be the teacher of each one of you.I hope everyone has settled in well to school and back to work,
without too much shock! More
new students have begun lessons – I welcome you.
Business
Matters
All
parents, thank you for your supportive approach to lessons and the assistance
you have been giving the students following up with learning and piano playing
at home.This
makes a tremendous difference to the progress of the students.
AMEB
News
The AMEB is an educational board in Australia that provides
internationally standardised exams in performing arts.Piano teachers often structure a year’s programme of lessons on these
exams.The
exams offer recognition of the standard that a student has attained, by means of
a certificate and an external, formal report.Enrolment in these exams is available through Individual Dynamics.
The
24th February is the closing date for entry into the upcoming AMEB
theory exams.There will be another session of written exams later in the year, closing
in August.
Theory
exams start at first grade (requiring knowledge of simple time, rhythm, reading
of treble and bass clefs and memory work); and advance to seventh grade, in
which students compose music with complete harmonies.
If
any student is interested in these exams, please discuss this with me during lessons.The
appropriateness of these exams varies with the individual and their circumstances.
Mendelssohn Happy
Birthday wishes to who has their birthday this month.You share your birthday month with one of my favourite composers, the
Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn.
Felix
Mendelssohn was a German composer and piano player, born on 3rd
February in 1809.He
performed in a concert for the first time when he was 9.He wrote his first music when he was 10.He had become very famous by the time he was a teen-ager.Mendelssohn also conducted orchestras and demanded that they play the music perfectly.He wanted people to know about and enjoy earlier composers, such as Bach,
Beethoven and Mozart.He believed their work could only be enjoyed if it was played perfectly.
His
music had clear melody lines, many could be sung.It had a lot of feeling and painted pictures, just like an artist who uses paints.He
wrote more than 200 stories in music – some of the better ones being called Songs
Without Words.
Mendelssohn’s
life story is one of the happier stories in music.He played and wrote beautiful music from childhood until he died (1847).He was appreciated through all his life.
1.Choose a composer, whose name you recognise (maybe Bach, Mozart,
Schubert
or Beethoven).
Write a short story about
where they lived, how old they were when they played piano and about their
music.
2.What do you like about the composer you chose?
3.Write a true story about you and music.
4. Draw or paste on some pictures to make your work look good.
OR
B.Make
a model, mobile or poster.
1.Build a model of a piano (it doesn’t need to make a sound) or draw a
clear picture.
2.List all the parts of a modern piano.
The
entries need to be handed to me by 24th March 2006.The competition is not compulsory, but I encourage you to do something (even a small project) – it
would be very helpful in learning more about playing the piano.
Everyone
who hands in an entry will receive a certificate.All work will go on display, but will be given back afterwards. There will be a prize for the best work (with different ages considered).
All
the best with your work – I’m also happy to help or answer questions.
