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MUSIC ISSUES
DECEMBER / 2007
Dear John,
It's great to finally have a moment to send out a newsletter to all the BMS families, old and new. By now, everyone knows that December is group lesson month, and the program is Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics. We will be meeting on the first four Saturdays in December (1, 8, 15, & 22) from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon. The first two weeks we will be in Peter Hall while the last two weeks we will be in Hurst Hall. Directions to Moravian College are on the website just click here. The link will take you to the home page where you will find the link for the directions, just to the right of the "changing photos."
Please check your schedules because I am sure I have a few mistakes with the group lesson dates. I would not mind if you gave me a call or have your son or daughter bring in the schedule to double check it against mine. It is always complicated to create and I do make mistakes.
Read on to find out all the latest news and upcoming events. Have a great December!
Kirzia Nelson Takes First Prize
KriziaNelson, a junior at Freedom High School and a six-year student of Jack Stevenson at the Bethlehem Music Settlement has won First Place and $100.00 at the Music Teachers National Association Senior Competition in voice for Pennsylvania. Krizia competed at the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association annual conference held at West Chester University School of Music on November 8, 9, and 10, 2007.
As the top prizewinner for the State of Pennsylvania, Krizia now moves on to the Regional Competition at Penn State University on January 11 and 12, 2008. The region includes all of the New England states as well as New York, New Jersey, West Virginia and Delaware. If Krizia were fortunate enough to win at the Regional Level, she would then proceed to the National Competition, and compete against the six other region winners in the United States. In March of 2008, Denver, Colorado will be the location of the National Conference and the prize will be $1000.00.
Krizia's repertoire includes Un Certo Non So Che by Vivaldi, Ici-Bas by Faure, Hark! The Echoing Air by Purcell, and finally, Juliet's Waltz Song form the opera Romeo and Juliet by Gounod. I know that everyone wishes her all the best. She doesn't need luck, she has skill and talent.
It was a great year for our students who participated in the Adjudication Awards Auditions [AAA] at Moravian College on Saturday, November 17, 2007. The AAA, sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, is an annual event where students perform for an "outside" judge and receive feedback on that performance. If the judge finds the performance exceptional, he/she awards the student with a rating of "Superior Plus." Students who receive the "Superior Plus" return the following day to perform in the "Honors Recital."
This year the LVC/PMTA held two recitals simultaneously, one in Peter Hall, and the other in Hearst Hall on Sunday November 18. Be assured that Bennett Kang, Samuel Li, Michael Li, Erik Correll, Krizia Nelson, and Cameron Benda, six students out of the ten who auditioned, represented the Bethlehem Music Settlement with distinction as they performed. The other four students, Steven Paszkowski, Julius Santos, Anthony Vonelli, and John Vonelli all received the rating of "Superior," which is a tremendous achievement. Thanks to their ratings, the studio was able to remain within the "Superior" category. Thank you boys, and thanks to Krizia too.
Recital Dates
Our next student recital is scheduled for January 20, 2008 at 3:00 P.M. in Peter Hall at Moravian College.Other recitals on the schedule include:June 1, 2008: BMS Student Recital, Peter Hall, Moravian CollegeJune 15, 2008: Jack Stevenson Performs works of Bach, Mozart, Chopin and RavelPeter Hall, Moravian CollegeJune 22, 2008: Krizia Nelson & Erik Correll in a joint Junior recitalPeter Hall, Moravian CollegeDirections to Moravian College are located on our website. Click here and you will be directed to the main page. There you will find the link for directions, just to the right of the changing photograph.
I must state with some consternation that these new requirements created difficulties for most of our students. Obtaining a score of 90% on the theory proved to be out of reach for all but one of our students. Erik Correll passed the level seven exams (out of eight levels) with a 95%. Ron Audenried achieved an 87% on level eight, which is remarkable due to the extreme difficulty of the examination, and Krizia Nelson scored an 89% missing the passing grade by one point. The other applicants, Cameron Benda, Bennett Kang, Samuel Li, Josh Chudyk, Anthony Vonelli and John Vonelli all received scores well above the old passing grade of 75%.
On the other hand, the playing achieved rather high scores. Bennett Kang, Erik Correll, Julius Sarkozy, and Krizia Nelson, all received the rating of "Outstanding" on their performances while all the others received nothing below the rating of "Excellent."
After reviewing all the results, I realized that the rating system had become far more rigorous and that it caught me off guard, which in turn prevented my students from doing their best. I examined the theory results and reviewed the exam with each student. I soon realized that the students actually new much more than their grade demonstrated. I discovered that in most cases the students either misread the question or misunderstood what the question was asking but that they did know the material. I concluded that it is not the theory but rather the questions. Therefore, I am will be working on developing a series of quizzes for the students, which should get them more comfortable reading a variety of question styles and writing out their answers in a diversity of formats. This will help them learn to read the questions better and to understand what the question is asking. These quizzes will be my "December Project" so that I can begin using them sometime in early January with the students.
I must remind everyone that the two student computers in the studio are for the study of music theory. I have every up-to-date theory program available on the market. Students are encouraged to come early or stay after their lessons to use the computers and study their theory. However, very few students remain loyal to the process. Consequently, I will link the quizzes I create directly to the theory programs on the computers. Everyone must first work through a certain number of theory lessons before passing the quiz. I will then forward the results to the parents after each quiz is completed. Therefore, I am asking the parents for support in this endeavor. I am doing everything I can to help the students achieve but without the support of the parents, I will fail and so will the children. We all want 90% for everyone next year.
MASTER CLASSES
Master Classes are group lessons of usually four or five students given by a renowned master teacher of the instrument or voice. The process is always open to the public so that other individuals may benefit form the master teacher's experience and knowledge.
Each student prepares a piece to perform for the teacher who then comments on both the performance and the performer. Usually, the teacher offers suggestions about interpretation, style, and technique. He may also become specific about certain passages and ask the student to try again using the new suggestion. He may also speak directly to the audience about the composition, the composer, and what context the piece holds in history.
For the student performers it is an invaluable experience, which requires agility, flexibility, an open mind, and a willing spirit. It is not easy for the student who is performing before an audience of piers and teachers and doing his best to perform the composition sometimes contrary to what his teacher has taught him. The master teacher often asks the student to "try out" some new concept or new technique just to see how it might work in favor of the performance and its execution. It is always a risk for the student and for his teacher. Know one likes to appear dim-witted, and yet the experience provides valuable music knowledge, insight into the composition, and important technical skills that the teacher had not provided. No teacher is capable of teaching everything to his students: Thus, the value of Master Classes.
The Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association will provide our students with two opportunities this winter for participation and/or attending two master classes offered by two highly prominent musician-educators. The LVC/PMTA provides events like these out of the proceeds from the annual Hannah Young Play-a-Thon.
Mr. Eugene Albulescu, Professor of Music at Lehigh University will honor us at Moravian College in Peter Hall on Wednesday January 23, at 10:00 A.M. with a morning Master Class. On Saturday March 8, also at 10 A.M. the renowned master teacher, author, scholar, and internationally celebrated performer of the Classical Period and its instruments Mr. Malcolm Bilson, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University will offer a Master Class in the morning and a lecture on Music Interpretation of the Classical Period in the afternoon in Foy Hall at Moravian College.
Both of these programs are "must attend" for all of the middle and high school students registered in the BMS studio. These two programs will be exceedingly valuable to my students. Therefore, I will need your full cooperation, parents as I attempt to teach your children about the art and science of music making. The program on Wednesday will require the students to leave school for their AM classes, and so I will have permission slips to leave school available on the website. The LVC/PMTA provides these forms, which carry the signature of our President.
Please mark your calendars now for both events. I will expect every middle and high school student to be present. School cannot provide this experience for future musicians and opportunities like these come by only once. As for choosing the students to perform, a lottery takes place into which the teacher submits eligible student's names. We will need some good luck to win the lottery!
Krizia Nelson & Cameron Benda Chosen
On November 3, 2007, The National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) of the Lehigh Valley provided a Master Class program at Moravian College offered by Mr. Robert Edwin, a renound vocal teacher of many current Broadway performers. The Lehigh Valley NATS chose both Krizia and Cameron to sing for the master teacher. Unfortunately, Cameron became ill with laryngitis and was unable to participate but Krizia was healthy, thankfully, and was the first student to perform and work with Mr. Edwin.
Krizia sang "Can't Help Lovin Dat Man of Mine" from the musical Showboat. She has sung that piece many times in public. It was heartening to witness Krizia's enthusiasm, open-mindedness, and willingness to try the new ideas pouring out of Mr. Edwin. Krizia like all of my singing students receive a "legitimate" classical training in the Italian School. However, Mr. Edwin's goal was to teach us all how to add a "belting" technique to our training. This technique can be very hazardous to the singer if he or she is not trained properly. "Belting" allows the voice to become louder but with a hard edge to the sound. This sound is what one hears from the rock stars and Broadway singers. One executes this technique by pressing down slightly on the larynx and opening the mouth more horizontally than vertically. This can be harmful to the voice if done with excessive force, which most Broadway and all rock singers do. It is certainly contrary to the Classical Italian School of training where the larynx remains free and the sound generates from a round open mouth creating a beautiful warm tone. Nevertheless, "belting" is most helpful when auditioning for a Broadway Show and Bella Canto singing is absolutely necessary when auditioning for an opera.
Krizia did a supper job of following direction, adjusting to the new sound and then sang her selection again but this time; include the "belting" sound. Mr. Edwin was so impressed with Krizia that at the close of her performance, he said that Krizia was definitely headed for a large and prosperous career as a singer. Of course we all know that already, but it is good to hear it from someone outside who knows the business and is willing to say it in public.
I know that Cameron would have done a fantastic job as well. It would have been such a great opportunity for him since he is very interested in Broadway performance. Next time, Cameron!
In This Issue Krizia Takes 1st Prize AAA Winners Recital Date DSPF Results Master Classes Vocal Master Class
Winter Events
Click here for directionsJANUARY, 2008Bethlehem Music Settlement Studio PIano & Voice RecitalSunday January 20, 2008Peter Hall, Moravian CollegeClick here for directionsLVC/PMTA Master Class with Eugene AlbulescuWednesday January 23, 2008Peter Hall, Moravian CollegeClick here for directionsFEBRUARY, 2008NATZ Auditions (an event for the vocal students)February 16, 2008, Moravian CollegeLVC/PMTA Student Recital, 3:00 P.M.Saturday February 9, 2008, Peter Hall, Moravian CollegeBMS students participate at Directors discretionMARCH, 2008The 25th Annual Hannah Young Play-a-ThonMarch 1 & 2, 2008, Palmer Park MallMarch 1 & 2, 2008 (the date has been changed)Click Here for more information
Contact Information Jack Stevenson, Dirctor Email click herePhone: 610-691-5544
