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The West Potomac High School Pyramid presented their Pops Concert last night, and I loved having the chance to see SEVEN of my elementary, middle and high school private students perform! Highlights of the show were Songs from “Encanto” and a Grease medley (one of my personal high school summertime favorites).
My final student to be featured today is Jack. He selected this lovely and lyrical piece entitled “Reflections” as one of his solos for the upcoming recital, and I suggested we record it at a recent lesson. I can always hear a beautiful expressive quality in his tone, and am particularly proud of the gorgeous vibrato he’s honed over the past years. Hope you enjoy the color-coordinated sweatshirt-and-wall combo here.
So many things to be proud of in the studio this spring! I traveled down to Christopher Newport University last month to see senior Jaelyn perform in the All-Virginia Orchestra. Though she was accepted to All-State in the two previous years, this was the FIRST time she was able to attend the live event due to the pandemic. She made me proud sitting 5th chair in the first violin section. The students worked hard over the 2-and-a- half- day event, and sounded fabulous.
Student Chloe had the unique idea to perform a medley of Minecraft tunes for the upcoming recital. She chose a variety of songs from the game, composed an original violin part using online music notation software, and even created a piano accompaniment for me to play! Anyone who has arranged music before knows that this is an hours-long process. I am continually amazed by my students’ creativity and enthusiasm. Looking forward to unveiling this number on June 4!
Student Nikhil is amazing at making great violin arrangements of pop songs. He covered this Britney Spears classic, Toxic, for a recent school talent show, and I think he captures the mood of this song perfectly. Enjoy!
One of my graduating seniors this year, Brandon, has been honing his running skills for nearly his whole life. I remember us talking about running the local Turkey Trot when he was only in 5th grade or so. I finally got the chance to see him race a few weeks ago at a local high school track meet. He busted out a 4:38 mile! Aside from being a delightful, kind, and positive person who has always had the most enthusiastic attitude in his violin lessons, Brandon’s also the fastest runner I know. His hard work is an inspiration.
Student Kate and I were playing some duets at the end of her book a couple weeks ago and they sounded so great that I decided to hit record. She’s been taking lessons for about nine months and is doing beautifully! One of my very favorite things about being a musician is experiencing the joy of chamber music (i.e., small ensembles). Duets like these give even young students the chance to take part in the absolute joy of playing with others.
Today is a cold and rainy day in this area, but the spring weather will be here to stay soon. Until then, I give you the appropriately titled, “In the Bleak Midwinter.”
I had a wonderful and inspiring experience at the American String Teachers Association National Conference a couple of weeks ago! I attended some fascinating educational sessions and heard awesome performances by fiddler Jeremy Kittel (Kittel & Co.) and the Air Force Strings. It’s always invigorating to trade ideas with string teachers from around the country. One of the foci of this Conference was music from under-represented composers, and I was delighted to hear great new and old music that is being more widely publicized!
Just finished this great book, which I think all musicians, actually, everyone, will love! The great detail it provides into the string world is so accurate and interesting. The insight it provides into a Black man’s experience in the world of classical music is must-read material. The author, Brendan Slocumb, is a local musician! Go read it, now!
Congratulations!
Senior student Jaelyn shared an awesome accomplishment: 5th chair in the First Violin section in the All-Virginia Orchestra! Many hard-working violinists audition for a spot in this prestigious group, and I can’t wait for her to have this wonderful learning and performance experience! Here she is good-naturedly posing for a post-lesson photo for me.
One of my lovely students was recently learning “El Choclo” as a light and fun post-recital piece. I hit record during a run-through of it with the piano accompaniment. Enjoy!
All the ERVS students performed splendidly at the 12th Annual Winter Recitals on February 26th! I was fortunate to have some parents join us as piano accompanists for their kids’ solos. Selections ranged from Taylor Swift to Lalo, and we opened the first recital with the Star-Spangled Banner. We were graciously hosted at the Commonwealth Baptist Church in Del Ray, a beautiful airy space. Looking forward to the Spring Recitals on June 4.
Exciting day at ERVS today! After working online with two fabulous students since nearly the start of the pandemic 2020, I got to meet them in person today for a face-to-face lesson. We’re preparing for our in-person Winter Recitals coming up this weekend. What an absolute joy to see their smiling (behind the mask) faces and hear their gorgeous tones! Below, are Toni and I - (I sadly forgot to snap a pic with Nikhil)! Also, here’s a first glimpse of my new studio-pooch, Churchill.
I attended a wonderful performance of the American Youth Philharmonic yesterday at the new Capital One Hall. My senior student, Jaelyn, did a fabulous job serving as Associate Concertmaster of this very impressive youth orchestra. They performed Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with a previous concerto competition winner.
I highly encourage all students to participate in string-related extra-curricular activities such as youth orchestras, chamber music programs, and summer music opportunities. These programs are so incredibly enriching, fun, and a superb way for students to develop their musicianship outside of school and private lessons.
I attended an interesting and informative online workshop with Dalton Potter of Potter Violins this weekend, presented by the Maryland chapter of the American String Teachers Association. I picked up many helpful nuggets of info to share with my students and colleagues. Most importantly for this cold and dry winter season: Make sure the space where your instrument is kept is above 35% humidity to prevent instrument cracks and pegs slippage! (My humidifier is bubbling and vaporizing in the corner as I type this.) I’ve heard mixed opinions about Dampits, which are little spongey devices that are kept in the instruments during winter months, but Mr. Potter encouraged the use of them to help stabilize and maintain humidity for our precious instruments.
Another helpful tidbit - if you play for an average of 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week (which is probably pretty much everyone….), your bow should be rehaired every six months! My own bow is due for a rehair - I can tell by how much extra I need to tighten it every time I play, and because it no longer has the nice friction it used to have upon the string.
I was so proud of students Sophia and Claire for their acceptance and participation in the District X Honors Orchestras last weekend! Students in the Junior (Middle School) and Senior (High School) District X groups convened for 2 and a half days with their fabulous conductors to rehearse and prepare three pieces. The Junior District Orchestra shared a very moving performance of She Will Hang the Night with Stars, while the Senior District Orchestra wowed the audience with the challenging Egmont Overture by Beethoven. It was wonderful to attend a live student performance after years concert cancellations.
With student Claire (a graduating senior!)
Senior District X Honors Orchestra
Junior District X Honors Orchestra
Students performed in the 1st of 3 ERVS Winter Recitals this past weekend. This performance was presented over Zoom. This time I offered students the option of pre-recording their solos via video, with a live introduction from each student, or playing live via Zoom (complete with all the suspense, excitement, and jitters that come with live music). We had amazing performances with selections ranging from Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, to Dance of the Reed Flutes, to Vivaldi’s Winter. As always, I was immensely proud of the performers. We’ll look forward to our in-person Winter Recitals on February 26, when omicron will (hopefully!) have subsided!
I had a wonderful visit to my alma mater, University of Mary Washington, attending the UMW Philharmonic’s Holiday Concert. I couldn’t be prouder of my former student, Parris, as principal violist! They played selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite as well as movements from Duke Ellington’s jazz interpretation of The Nutcracker, which were amazing.
Congratulations to two of my students, Claire and Sophia, who were accepted into their Senior and Junior District Honors Orchestras! So proud of these gals for their hard work, and looking forward to seeing the performance in January.
Happy to report that the students delivered delightful performances a couple weeks ago at our Autumn Recitals 2021! Some highlights included the first movement of Summer by Vivaldi, a movement of the Bach Cello Suites (on viola), Scott Joplin’s Pineapple Rag, and Sarasate’s Ziguenerweisen. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to capture all students in my group Zoom photos below, but we will be sure to get them for the Winter Recitals in January! I welcomed a few first-time recitalists as well as some “old-timers” (i.e. 12th graders) for whom this was their 20th recital.
Alexandria, VA
