Playing for Spielberg!

Every year for the past 5 years or so, my string quartet, the Cherry Blossom String Quartet, has been invited to perform at the Annual Gala for the National Archives. This year, they presented their 2013 Records of Achievement Award to the one and only Mr. Steven Spielberg. The quartet was delighted to be a part of the big event! The Archives requested that we feature music from some of Spielberg's most famous movies. So we set about learning and rehearsing the themes from Jaws, Jurassic Park, E.T., Schindler's List, and Poltergeist, to name a few. Our performance was even featured on WTOP radio the following morning. Take a listen! Aside from Mr. Spielberg, some other well-known folks were also in attendance at the event, including Ken Burns, Nancy Pelosi, and Cokie Roberts. It was a wonderful and exciting opportunity that I definitely will not forget!

Rehearsing!

Performing during the cocktail hour

Back to School!

I absolutely love this time of year. My continuing students are rejuvenated and excited about starting a new grade in school. Many of them are outgrowing their original violins and violas and trading them in for larger and better-sounding instruments. Some students who have been studying with me for several years enjoy looking back on all of the progress they have made. And of course, brand-new students sign on for lessons. I always love getting to know new students: learning their stories and background, understanding their learning styles, and helping them discover why playing music is so much fun.

This is also the time of year when I get to start planning for recitals and group lessons. Stay tuned for dates on both of those events. Happy September!

Rolland Workshop

Last week I attended a one-day session of a Paul Rolland String Pedagogy Workshop.  Paul Rolland was violist and violin teacher who emphasized the importance of freedom of movement in string playing.  He created a series of films that demonstrate various techniques in string playing. The films are particularly helpful for string teachers because Rolland used actual developing violin students to show teaching strategies. The workshop I attended was a one-week program at George Mason University. Since I hadn't heard about or attended the program before, I elected to go to the program's "sampler" day. The sessions included helpful information on teaching students about bow control and bowing techniques. It was wonderful to get a little teaching refresher and trade ideas with other string teachers.  Below is a picture of violin teacher Lucy Manning demonstrating how to teach bow bouncing (spiccato) to even very young students - our guinea pigs for the afternoon!

Paul Rolland Workshop

Spring Recital, 2013!

I presented my annual Spring Recital on June 1 at the Sanctuary at Convergence. Twenty-seven of my students performed solos while I accompanied them on piano. All of the students did a really lovely job. It takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of a crowd and perform, and I was very proud of them! The Sanctuary at Convergence

Enjoying some post-performance refreshments.

With one of my littlest students, post-recital!

 

In Memory: Neil Landsberg

On a sad note, I lost one of my beloved students recently. Neil Landsberg decided to take up the violin about one year ago. Lessons with Neil were always full of jokes and laughter, and he had a real enthusiasm for learning. I learned a lot from Neil, including how to be a more humble, compassionate, generous, and kind person. He touched the lives of so many, including my own. I don't think what I've described here is even close to adequate, but the world has lost a really special person. If you have a moment, this article in Time features Neil, and is an important read.

A Busy Spring

It's been a very packed spring here at the violin studio! Some of the highlights included my very first Adult Student Music Hour for my more mature students. Three of my adult students and their spouses came over to the house for a small get-together. Each student performed a solo while I accompanied on piano.  It was a lovely afternoon and a more relaxed way for my adult students to get a taste of performing (and all the excitement and jitters that come with it)! My band, The Beanstalk Library has wrapped up the recording of our newest album, The View From Here. It will be available for purchase in a couple of weeks. We played a show at the very cozy and intimate Galaxy Hut on Memorial Day to celebrate the completion of the record. Here's a pic from that show:

TBL Galaxy Hut

 

Studio Class!

Violin Quartet

This weekend, I hosted a small studio class for some of my younger students. We worked on playing a couple of tunes as a violin quartet, which each student playing his or her very own harmony or melody line.  Next, each of the students performed a short piece for the others and the listening students practiced giving positive feedback to the performers. it was an excellent way for them to prepare for the upcoming recital. The kids had a great time listening to each other play and learning to play in a small ensemble. It was a blast,  and I can't wait to schedule the next group lesson!

Kate on Violin I!

Tuning Your Violin

It's a daunting task. [Insert sigh of frustration here.] At this chilly time of year, especially with our constantly changing weather in the DC area, violins and violas have a tough time staying in tune.  For the inexperienced player or parent of a string player, you run the risk of breaking a string when you tune the instrument. This site provides tuning pitches for each of your strings. If you can use your fine tuners to get the strings in tune, use them. If the string is so far out of tune that you must use the pegs to tighten them, proceed with caution. Starting with the A string, pluck or bow to hear its pitch and compare it to the tuning pitch on this website. Chances are, you will need to tighten the peg. The strings are wrapped snugly around each peg so they don't typically tighten on their own -- they're more likely to slip out of tune. Gently turn the peg - gently! While you do so, push the peg into the peg hole a little bit to help it stay in place. Listen to the tuning pitch, pluck the string, and turn the peg again if necessary.

I could write pages on the tuning process, and this is just a start. If you're unsure of how to tune, ask your teacher. It takes years of practice to become proficient at tuning your instrument, so be patient!

Welcome, 2013!

What a fun December! It was filled with tons of fun performances. My students all did a wonderful job at my studio Holiday Violin & Viola Recital. It was a festive occasion with lots of carols and other fun tunes, and was a great learning experience for the kids. Everyone played their pieces by heart while I accompanied them on piano. Below is a post-recital photo of me with one of my very littlest students!

2012 Holiday Recital

The Cherry Blossom String Quartet was honored to be a part of some very beautiful holiday weddings, including a gorgeous wedding on New Year's Eve at Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington, VA. And later that evening, I capped off 2012 with a super-fun New Year's Eve show with The Beanstalk Library at a very packed, very sold-out IOTA Club & Cafe in Arlington, VA.

What's in store for 2013? Stay tuned for new events in my teaching studio, as well as new musical collaborations and performances. Onward!

Deck the Halls!

I'm in the midst of a music-filled December. My quartet, the Cherry Blossom String Quartet has had a banner year, and we are finishing it off with our busiest holiday season ever! All kinds of lovely company holiday parties and beautiful holiday weddings are on the horizon for CBSQ. Check us out at our annual performance at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA for their Lessons & Carols Service on December 16, and their Midnight Mass on December 24. In the teaching studio, I have been helping many of my students prepare for my first-ever Holiday Recital next weekend. Twenty-five students ranging in age from 6 to 15 will perform a mix of Christmas tunes and classical pieces. Judging from what I've been hearing in their lessons this past week, parents are in store for some lovely performances!

To round what has been an amazing year for me, I'll again join The Beanstalk Library at their 3rd Annual New Year's Eve Throwdown on December 31, 2012 at IOTA Club & Cafe in Arlington, VA. Sweetening the bill will be bands Ugly Purple Sweater and Alex Vans & The Hide Away. This is guaranteed to be a great night. Tickets are on sale now at IOTA for $18.00.

Lesson Slots: Get'em While They're Hot!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful summer! As Summer 2012 comes to a close and the temperatures are becoming (ever-so-slightly!) cooler, parents are looking ahead to get their kids back into lessons for the fall. Now is the time sign your son or daughter up for music lessons! This is a very busy time of year for private music teachers. Continuing students return from vacation ready to resume lessons and prepare for the upcoming school year.  Brand-spanking-new students, eager to have a head-start on their school strings program, are also signing on for lessons. I currently have just a couple of spaces available for new violin and viola students, so if you are considering it, please do email me asap! A few performances coming up:

Welcome to Summer!

Ah, summer. One of my favorite things about working with kids is being a part of all of the adventure of each school year.  For most kids, the first day of summer is the highlight of that year! Over here at my violin studio, we kicked it off with a end-of the year recital last weekend.  All of my students were excited and nervous to perform... and I think a little relieved when it  was all over. I'm excited to continue working with them over the summer in between all the camps and fun vacations! On the performance front, I'll have a couple shows coming up this week. On Wednesday, June 20, I'll perform with The Beanstalk Library at The Evening Star Cafe as part of the Del Ray Music Festival. Can't wait!

 

The Hills Are Alive...

The hills of Alexandria, that is. With the sounds of sweet violin music. Lots and lots of performances lately! My piano trio recital on March 25 with friends C.J. Capen (pianist) and Emily Greget (cello) was well-received and well-attended. It was a very satisfying performance to cap off many months of rehearsal! The Last Monarchs had the pleasure of performing 4 shows during the month of March, including the one below at the Rock n Roll Hotel, opening for Aunt Martha.

I also had a great time sitting in on violin with my friends The Beanstalk Library at the Black Cat on April 4.  D.C. Music Download featured TBL in a nice little review of that show.

So what's next? I'll be performing with The Maret School's pit orchestra next week for their production of "Legally Blonde" on April 19-21. I've been working with the amazing musicians in the country/folk/jazz/bluegrass group East of Monroe, and we will be scheduling a show very soon. And The Last Monarchs will return to the Velvet Lounge on Friday May 4!

On the classical front, my quartet, the Cherry Blossom String Quartet is keeping busy with many weddings on the horizon for spring, as well as an exciting re-design of our quartet website!

New Shows coming up!

Exciting news: I'll be appearing onstage in the following performances! 1.) Saturday, March 3, 2012, 10:00 pm

IOTA Club and Music Cafe

Guesting on 2 songs with The Beanstalk Library, Arlington, VA

2) Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 9:00 pm

IOTA Club and Music Cafe, Arlington, VA

Violin and backup vocals with The Last Monarchs

3) Sunday, March 25, 2012, 7:00 pm

St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Reston, VA

Chamber recital: Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor & Brahms Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8

 

Hope to see you there!

Student Recital: Mission Accomplished!

This past weekend, I held my Winter Recital at the Sanctuary at Convergence for 20 of my young students. It was a wonderful opportunity to have them show off to their friends and family all that they had learned in their lessons. Each student performed one or two solos (by memory) while I accompanied them on the piano. At the end of the recital, I even performed a movement of the Mendelssohn Piano Trio I've been working on with my friends CJ (piano) and Emily (cello) - this time with me on violin of course. :) I believe that it is so important that students become comfortable with performing -it's certainly one of those things that becomes easier with practice. Sure, there were lots of  butterflies and shaky knees on Saturday, but the sense of accomplishment after a performance well-done surely outweighs the nervousness beforehand.

Looking forward to the Spring Recital!