Composer Workshop, Raleigh, NC
On March 2, 2013, piano students of Ms. Valerie Wood of Raleigh, NC (All Ages Piano Studio) presented a recital/master class/composer workshop.
This three-fold event was held in Raleigh and Ms. Wood’s students performed almost all of my compositions (21 of them). Students and parents made a beautiful banner depicting all of the pieces performed and autographed by the students. This was presented to me and is one of my treasures!
A debut of my new advanced piano duet entitled, "American Eagle", was performed by Will and Caitlin. The program was put into a booklet for each student including coloring pages of some of the pieces. (The "Sea Zoo" book is a coloring book to complement the sheet music in that collection and "Singing Rainbow" includes a coloring page for each piece.)
Encouraging and guiding these young pianists into composing themselves, I presented the actual building blocks of music (literally) and demonstrated how you use these in music composition as a novelist would use the alphabet. I demonstrated for the students many ways you can compose: you might have a poem that you want to write the music for; you may be trying out chord progressions on the piano and become inspired to work them into a piece; you might begin "playing" your emotions on the piano; imagine a favorite animal / color / place, etc., and decide to put into music what you imagine; or, you might like a certain style of music like a lullaby and decide to compose one.
Most of my compositions are "character pieces": brief compositions usually written for the piano and expressing a nonmusical idea (such as an animal or color) or a specific mood.
Ex. My "Iguana" is a tango, "Koala Lullaby" a lullaby. (This has just been chosen for NCMTA (NC Music Teachers Association) for their Jr. A III contest list for 2013-14)
It was a magical musical afternoon and ended with delicious refreshments served by parents of the students.
Ms. Wood is an exceptionally gifted and dedicated piano teacher. Her creative spark and enthusiasm for opening the world of music to students was quite evident at this event.
On March 2, 2013, piano students of Ms. Valerie Wood of Raleigh, NC (All Ages Piano Studio) presented a recital/master class/composer workshop.
This three-fold event was held in Raleigh and Ms. Wood’s students performed almost all of my compositions (21 of them). Students and parents made a beautiful banner depicting all of the pieces performed and autographed by the students. This was presented to me and is one of my treasures!
A debut of my new advanced piano duet entitled, "American Eagle", was performed by Will and Caitlin. The program was put into a booklet for each student including coloring pages of some of the pieces. (The "Sea Zoo" book is a coloring book to complement the sheet music in that collection and "Singing Rainbow" includes a coloring page for each piece.)
Encouraging and guiding these young pianists into composing themselves, I presented the actual building blocks of music (literally) and demonstrated how you use these in music composition as a novelist would use the alphabet. I demonstrated for the students many ways you can compose: you might have a poem that you want to write the music for; you may be trying out chord progressions on the piano and become inspired to work them into a piece; you might begin "playing" your emotions on the piano; imagine a favorite animal / color / place, etc., and decide to put into music what you imagine; or, you might like a certain style of music like a lullaby and decide to compose one.
Most of my compositions are "character pieces": brief compositions usually written for the piano and expressing a nonmusical idea (such as an animal or color) or a specific mood.
Ex. My "Iguana" is a tango, "Koala Lullaby" a lullaby. (This has just been chosen for NCMTA (NC Music Teachers Association) for their Jr. A III contest list for 2013-14)
It was a magical musical afternoon and ended with delicious refreshments served by parents of the students.
Ms. Wood is an exceptionally gifted and dedicated piano teacher. Her creative spark and enthusiasm for opening the world of music to students was quite evident at this event.