Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Counting down the days! The UPS man arrived with 6 big boxes of MYC supplies that I ordered only last FRIDAY, the 14th! I was stunned. I'm always excited to get the shiny new books in their plastic wrappers, and the new bags, thinking of the new students coming in 2 weeks to begin the new year. Every year is a little different, and this morning I heard on a webinar of an MYC teacher who is teaching 19 classes this year! Again, my jaw dropped open with amazement, as to how on earth she can do that. I only have 5, hopefully 6, but also 21 private students in addition. I suppose she must teach on Saturdays as well as all through the week, and evenings. I think I'm maxed out. Too busy a schedule with no down time makes Lori a less than optimal teacher.
I would still love some Sunrise kids - that's the 3 - 5 yr olds. That class is a blast! No piano yet, but everything leading up to it. So many songs from my childhood, which do, sometimes, run through my head non-stop. One example: He's a little white duck, sitting in the water, a little white duck, doing what he oughter.....or Oh, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me....etc. One student from last year said that the sibling of a Sunrise student would NOT settle down to anything in the car except that CD. I wonder if they're still listening to it!
Anyway, I have to go organize it all. Time's a wasting!
Until later,
Lori
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Sommer Oktoberfest! For the next 3 days we will smell the weinerschnitzel, hear the oom-pah and and late into the night, hear cries of "Eins, zvie, drie, fumfuh!" or something like that. No one ever stopped to spell it for me. They were too busy draining their stein of German beer.
Anyway, here's another link for you to enjoy. Thanks, Bill Henry for sending it to me.
http://www.flixxy.com/bach-duo-piano-organ.htm
Later,
Lori
Sommer Oktoberfest! For the next 3 days we will smell the weinerschnitzel, hear the oom-pah and and late into the night, hear cries of "Eins, zvie, drie, fumfuh!" or something like that. No one ever stopped to spell it for me. They were too busy draining their stein of German beer.
Anyway, here's another link for you to enjoy. Thanks, Bill Henry for sending it to me.
http://www.flixxy.com/bach-duo-piano-organ.htm
Later,
Lori
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
This was sent to me by an adult student. No explanation necessary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKKlhYF53w
Now for the youngsters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMr-tfuouc4
Painting the studio......gotta run!
Lori
This was sent to me by an adult student. No explanation necessary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKKlhYF53w
Now for the youngsters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMr-tfuouc4
Painting the studio......gotta run!
Lori
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Wed, August 12, 2009
Sometimes I feel like I'm just writing a private journal that only I read, but JUST IN CASE there's anyone out there, I'll soldier on.
Today is a teaching day, and I'm on lunch break. In the summer I take a few select students and have them all on one day, which makes a one day work week. Nice to take. It reminds me of how much I love what I do, and how the students energize me, and make me want to keep my own skills up. I spend HOURS at the piano or in class around keyboards, so I ought to spend a little more time there by myself. I pulled out the old books this morning and got back to relearning some pieces I had worked on in the school year. I felt rusty, but it was good. That's the nature of this job; I'm more of a coach than a teacher. I can only take someone from point A to point B, the best way I know, and hopefully the best that works for them. The rest is up to the student. Obviously, the more they put in at home, the better, and unlike a test or quiz at school, there is no cramming that will equal lost days in practice during the week. It really takes a few years before students get that, and the light goes on in their heads where they WANT to practice. I remember VIVIDLY when that happened for me, and when I came home from school, I dropped my books, got a quick snack (you never miss that!!!) and hit the piano if it was vacant. My father taught lessons, so many times it was occupied. I didn't like playing in front of him - still would rather not - but I do remember actually making the connection between the amount of work I put into a piece and the results, AND improving and getting more enjoyable pieces to play. How I wish I could bottle that feeling and give a dose to each student that is struggling and wants to give up. Any ideas? I am open to comments!
Until later,
Lori
Sometimes I feel like I'm just writing a private journal that only I read, but JUST IN CASE there's anyone out there, I'll soldier on.
Today is a teaching day, and I'm on lunch break. In the summer I take a few select students and have them all on one day, which makes a one day work week. Nice to take. It reminds me of how much I love what I do, and how the students energize me, and make me want to keep my own skills up. I spend HOURS at the piano or in class around keyboards, so I ought to spend a little more time there by myself. I pulled out the old books this morning and got back to relearning some pieces I had worked on in the school year. I felt rusty, but it was good. That's the nature of this job; I'm more of a coach than a teacher. I can only take someone from point A to point B, the best way I know, and hopefully the best that works for them. The rest is up to the student. Obviously, the more they put in at home, the better, and unlike a test or quiz at school, there is no cramming that will equal lost days in practice during the week. It really takes a few years before students get that, and the light goes on in their heads where they WANT to practice. I remember VIVIDLY when that happened for me, and when I came home from school, I dropped my books, got a quick snack (you never miss that!!!) and hit the piano if it was vacant. My father taught lessons, so many times it was occupied. I didn't like playing in front of him - still would rather not - but I do remember actually making the connection between the amount of work I put into a piece and the results, AND improving and getting more enjoyable pieces to play. How I wish I could bottle that feeling and give a dose to each student that is struggling and wants to give up. Any ideas? I am open to comments!
Until later,
Lori
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
I just wanted to write quickly today and tell you about a few great sites. One is www.myc.com and within that site is my personal teacher page www.myc.com/teacher/LScheutzow. It has the current upcoming schedule and other info about the coming year. I hope to get another website up that can accomodate video and audio and put the recital videos on it. I have at least 2 years recorded digitally, so they could be uploaded easily. Well, easily for someone who really knows what they're doing. I have enough knowledge to be dangerous in the realm of computers. It all takes time to learn. Time which I am running out of.
Another site for musicians is a great music dictionary at www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary. I use it regularly. Best of all, it has pronunciations of the words, which helps those of us NOT fluent in Italian!
For sheet music, you can go to www.primamusic.com. They have the same shipping rate no matter how many things you order, so it makes sense to wait until you have a big order, or better yet, tell me what you want and I'll add it to mine.
That's all for now. I have lesson planning to do!!
Until later,
Lori
I just wanted to write quickly today and tell you about a few great sites. One is www.myc.com and within that site is my personal teacher page www.myc.com/teacher/LScheutzow. It has the current upcoming schedule and other info about the coming year. I hope to get another website up that can accomodate video and audio and put the recital videos on it. I have at least 2 years recorded digitally, so they could be uploaded easily. Well, easily for someone who really knows what they're doing. I have enough knowledge to be dangerous in the realm of computers. It all takes time to learn. Time which I am running out of.
Another site for musicians is a great music dictionary at www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary. I use it regularly. Best of all, it has pronunciations of the words, which helps those of us NOT fluent in Italian!
For sheet music, you can go to www.primamusic.com. They have the same shipping rate no matter how many things you order, so it makes sense to wait until you have a big order, or better yet, tell me what you want and I'll add it to mine.
That's all for now. I have lesson planning to do!!
Until later,
Lori
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Today is Michelle's grad party, and it's going to be in the 90s and high humidity. Guess I have an excuse to turn on the A/C. IT really better for the pianos anyway. The humidity is terrible for them; rather, the CHANGE in humidity. Dry shrinks the wood holding the pins and makes them go out of tune badly. Humid I suppose would hold the pins, but the wood actually feels sticky. I have noticed the ceiling fan changing the sound of the notes, as the sound waves are broken up. Another thing I need to do is find out a good product to clean the old piano keys, which may or may not by ivory. The finish is practically gone, so dirt and dust sticks to them like glue. Even a damp towel comes off black, and that's with weekly cleaning! I've started even asking the students to wash their hands before lessons. Boys especially have often just come in from playing outside. A little sweat mixed with the dirt, and we have little muddy fingerprints! I know - I raised 3 boys, and every wall, light switch and cupboard door shows it! Only paint will help now!
Anyway, this was a really boring post, I know, but the "big" news now is that I figured out how to change the settings so anyone can comment, as long as they can copy those funny little words in the box. I read that those are actually helping translate old literature into computer databases. Next time you're annoyed by them, try to remember the good you're doing!
Off to make the cheese dip for the party. (BTW, if you didn't know, Michelle is another "daughter" - my youngest son Jordan's girlfriend)
Until, later,
Today is Michelle's grad party, and it's going to be in the 90s and high humidity. Guess I have an excuse to turn on the A/C. IT really better for the pianos anyway. The humidity is terrible for them; rather, the CHANGE in humidity. Dry shrinks the wood holding the pins and makes them go out of tune badly. Humid I suppose would hold the pins, but the wood actually feels sticky. I have noticed the ceiling fan changing the sound of the notes, as the sound waves are broken up. Another thing I need to do is find out a good product to clean the old piano keys, which may or may not by ivory. The finish is practically gone, so dirt and dust sticks to them like glue. Even a damp towel comes off black, and that's with weekly cleaning! I've started even asking the students to wash their hands before lessons. Boys especially have often just come in from playing outside. A little sweat mixed with the dirt, and we have little muddy fingerprints! I know - I raised 3 boys, and every wall, light switch and cupboard door shows it! Only paint will help now!
Anyway, this was a really boring post, I know, but the "big" news now is that I figured out how to change the settings so anyone can comment, as long as they can copy those funny little words in the box. I read that those are actually helping translate old literature into computer databases. Next time you're annoyed by them, try to remember the good you're doing!
Off to make the cheese dip for the party. (BTW, if you didn't know, Michelle is another "daughter" - my youngest son Jordan's girlfriend)
Until, later,
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Summer's accelerating even more than a week ago. How is this possible? In January, time slows down it seems, with no real holidays to look forward to until Easter. In my world, January is composition time, where we really get serious about the students' compositions, juggling that with the regular curriculum. I'm hoping to have something special this year to motivate kids to practice more than the usual, but I won't say what it is here and spoil the surprise. I'm just trying to get everyone scheduled and happy with their time slot, which is next to impossible. One mom said this week for one scheduling change I had to make that I had succeeded in making everyone unhappy about it, so at least it was fair! :-) Oh well. It was the only way to accomodate everyone. This is the least favorite part of my job. Once it's done I will have the fun part of actually meeting everyone and starting in on the year's work.
Just for fun and giggles, here's a performance of a harmonica player at Carnegie Hall. I know, it sounds like I made an error, but check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlukDf4k8E
It's a lot of fun, and obviously the audience enjoyed it! Hope you do too. Enjoy your weekend!
Until later,
Lori
Summer's accelerating even more than a week ago. How is this possible? In January, time slows down it seems, with no real holidays to look forward to until Easter. In my world, January is composition time, where we really get serious about the students' compositions, juggling that with the regular curriculum. I'm hoping to have something special this year to motivate kids to practice more than the usual, but I won't say what it is here and spoil the surprise. I'm just trying to get everyone scheduled and happy with their time slot, which is next to impossible. One mom said this week for one scheduling change I had to make that I had succeeded in making everyone unhappy about it, so at least it was fair! :-) Oh well. It was the only way to accomodate everyone. This is the least favorite part of my job. Once it's done I will have the fun part of actually meeting everyone and starting in on the year's work.
Just for fun and giggles, here's a performance of a harmonica player at Carnegie Hall. I know, it sounds like I made an error, but check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SlukDf4k8E
It's a lot of fun, and obviously the audience enjoyed it! Hope you do too. Enjoy your weekend!
Until later,
Lori
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
“Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children.”
―Marilyn Penland
I LOVE this quote! It brings to mind the idea that what parents show as important will be important to kids too. (Or bosses, or teachers, or anyone in "authority") There is a dying of the arts in our culture, and it saddens me. People don't attend concerts much anymore, or even know how to behave when they do. I was horrified to be at Severance Hall to see the Cleveland Orchestra and saw people in casual clothes - not quite jeans, but not dressed up by any means. To top it all off, people clapped after the 1st movement of a concerto! For the non-musical, this might be no big deal, but it's a big no-no in the music world, and luckily, it didn't happen again, since they got the message. At my recitals, I try to instruct people up front how it all works, and seat the wigglers and noisy ones in the back so as not to distract the performer. In the school-age world, people are in the habit of getting up and walking out after their student's performance, and I find it RUDE to the rest of the performers. It doesn't help, though, when the schools have a habit of putting all the band, choir and orchestra concerts together in one day. I understand the audience's impatience.
Anyway, this was a rabbit trail if I ever saw one. Sorry for that. I guess it's my soapbox to get on and off, so hopefully I'll still have a reader or two after today. Moral of the story; make music a part of your lives, and participate enthusiastically! (Just not too loud as concert-goers!)
BTW, http://www.bw.edu/ has a schedule during the school year of scads of concerts by faculty and students alike - all for FREE - and fairly kid-friendly, as far as having a large enough venue to leave gracefully if someone has to go. (But please sit in the back, unlike the mother with the little boy who threw toys, yelled and ran up and down the aisle who chose the FRONT ROW as her spot.) Oops, sorry, another rant.
Have a wonderful day.
“Sing out loud in the car even, or especially, if it embarrasses your children.”
―Marilyn Penland
I LOVE this quote! It brings to mind the idea that what parents show as important will be important to kids too. (Or bosses, or teachers, or anyone in "authority") There is a dying of the arts in our culture, and it saddens me. People don't attend concerts much anymore, or even know how to behave when they do. I was horrified to be at Severance Hall to see the Cleveland Orchestra and saw people in casual clothes - not quite jeans, but not dressed up by any means. To top it all off, people clapped after the 1st movement of a concerto! For the non-musical, this might be no big deal, but it's a big no-no in the music world, and luckily, it didn't happen again, since they got the message. At my recitals, I try to instruct people up front how it all works, and seat the wigglers and noisy ones in the back so as not to distract the performer. In the school-age world, people are in the habit of getting up and walking out after their student's performance, and I find it RUDE to the rest of the performers. It doesn't help, though, when the schools have a habit of putting all the band, choir and orchestra concerts together in one day. I understand the audience's impatience.
Anyway, this was a rabbit trail if I ever saw one. Sorry for that. I guess it's my soapbox to get on and off, so hopefully I'll still have a reader or two after today. Moral of the story; make music a part of your lives, and participate enthusiastically! (Just not too loud as concert-goers!)
BTW, http://www.bw.edu/ has a schedule during the school year of scads of concerts by faculty and students alike - all for FREE - and fairly kid-friendly, as far as having a large enough venue to leave gracefully if someone has to go. (But please sit in the back, unlike the mother with the little boy who threw toys, yelled and ran up and down the aisle who chose the FRONT ROW as her spot.) Oops, sorry, another rant.
Have a wonderful day.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 (continued)
I forgot to mention the BIG news lately! They have discovered 2 new Mozart pieces, probably written when he was 6 or 7. For more info and to hear a 45 sec excerpt (longer than they played on the evening news!) go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/arts/music/03mozart.html?_r=1
It was performed on Mozart's own pianoforte at his residence in Salzburg. How I would have liked to be a fly on the wall there!
I forgot to mention the BIG news lately! They have discovered 2 new Mozart pieces, probably written when he was 6 or 7. For more info and to hear a 45 sec excerpt (longer than they played on the evening news!) go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/arts/music/03mozart.html?_r=1
It was performed on Mozart's own pianoforte at his residence in Salzburg. How I would have liked to be a fly on the wall there!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I find myself watching Youtube for these fantastic piano performances from the past, such as this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&feature=related by the master of all time Vladimir Horowitz playing Chopin's gm Ballade #1. I remember my father practicing and performing this in concert when I was a little girl. I knew all his pieces so well that I was probably the only one in the audience who picked up a mistake (and there were only a few!) My current students, who live lives of a whirlwind of activity and video games probably couldn't believe that I spend many hours petting my dog under the Steinway while my daddy practiced, just to hear the beautiful music and to be near him. (Sometimes I'd read a book, but it was pretty loud under there!) I had such a musical heritage from my father for which I will forever be grateful. My only small problem was that since he was busy concentrating on what he was doing, he didn't stop and tell me what piece of music it was, or even what composer wrote it, so to this day, I will hear piano music on the radio and know EVERY note, and not have a clue who wrote it, or what it's called.
I've heard recently of research that is showing prenatal memory, such as a newborn being able to pick out his mother's voice from others, but it goes deeper than that. I "played" (on records at high decibel levels) all 5 Beethoven piano concertos for my firstborn prenatally. I don't know if it had any effect on him or not, but he has almost perfect pitch singing, and has since before he could talk. All 3 of my sons are musical, but not the classical, or even jazz, and certainly not the piano. Not for lack of trying on my part. They all had lessons, but gave up early on. The youngest played sax and had a wonderful teacher, David Kay, who teaches students at Interlochen in the summer, and took lessons for several years. He could not only read the difficult rhythms in the jazz music, but could improvise as well. All 3 play guitar now, and much better than I ever could.
I know MANY people who took piano lessons and quit and regretted it, but have never met ONE pianist who is even moderately accomplished who regrets all the time they studied and practiced! Some of that I attribute to the books they had in the 50s and 60s that were pretty tough, had tiny print and required some serious practice. Nowadays there are nice big notes, pretty colored pictures, and even accompaniment CDs and disks to play along with. Bells and whistles don't change the basics that everyone needs to learn, but it makes it a little more palatable. (In my humble opinion!) note: as soon as I can, I switch kids over to the old school methods, since they might as well be playing actual Bach and Mozart, rather than pieces that mimic them. I LOVE Kabalevsky. The entire preceding paragraph was most likely BORING for non-musicians, but I'm putting the soapbox away now.
In fact, enough for today. I hope you go to youtube and watch the Horowitz clip. Even for non-musicians, it is inspiring. We should all strive for excellence in something!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&feature=related
I find myself watching Youtube for these fantastic piano performances from the past, such as this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&feature=related by the master of all time Vladimir Horowitz playing Chopin's gm Ballade #1. I remember my father practicing and performing this in concert when I was a little girl. I knew all his pieces so well that I was probably the only one in the audience who picked up a mistake (and there were only a few!) My current students, who live lives of a whirlwind of activity and video games probably couldn't believe that I spend many hours petting my dog under the Steinway while my daddy practiced, just to hear the beautiful music and to be near him. (Sometimes I'd read a book, but it was pretty loud under there!) I had such a musical heritage from my father for which I will forever be grateful. My only small problem was that since he was busy concentrating on what he was doing, he didn't stop and tell me what piece of music it was, or even what composer wrote it, so to this day, I will hear piano music on the radio and know EVERY note, and not have a clue who wrote it, or what it's called.
I've heard recently of research that is showing prenatal memory, such as a newborn being able to pick out his mother's voice from others, but it goes deeper than that. I "played" (on records at high decibel levels) all 5 Beethoven piano concertos for my firstborn prenatally. I don't know if it had any effect on him or not, but he has almost perfect pitch singing, and has since before he could talk. All 3 of my sons are musical, but not the classical, or even jazz, and certainly not the piano. Not for lack of trying on my part. They all had lessons, but gave up early on. The youngest played sax and had a wonderful teacher, David Kay, who teaches students at Interlochen in the summer, and took lessons for several years. He could not only read the difficult rhythms in the jazz music, but could improvise as well. All 3 play guitar now, and much better than I ever could.
I know MANY people who took piano lessons and quit and regretted it, but have never met ONE pianist who is even moderately accomplished who regrets all the time they studied and practiced! Some of that I attribute to the books they had in the 50s and 60s that were pretty tough, had tiny print and required some serious practice. Nowadays there are nice big notes, pretty colored pictures, and even accompaniment CDs and disks to play along with. Bells and whistles don't change the basics that everyone needs to learn, but it makes it a little more palatable. (In my humble opinion!) note: as soon as I can, I switch kids over to the old school methods, since they might as well be playing actual Bach and Mozart, rather than pieces that mimic them. I LOVE Kabalevsky. The entire preceding paragraph was most likely BORING for non-musicians, but I'm putting the soapbox away now.
In fact, enough for today. I hope you go to youtube and watch the Horowitz clip. Even for non-musicians, it is inspiring. We should all strive for excellence in something!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnRIuGZ_dc&feature=related
Monday, August 03, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
I've neglected writing for a while due to a wild and crazy anniversary weekend. It was fun fun fun, and we celebrated our 26th on July 30. Hard to believe it's gone by that fast. The summer has a mere 3 weeks left to enjoy, but also to schedule students, organize lesson plans, order materials, and generally get my act together! I don't know what the best way to get the word out, but I did get some new brochures today, and the new business cards are ordered and on their way. After 5 full years of teaching MYC, I finally get the letters MYCC after my name. Ok, it isn't PhD, but it's an accomplishment nonetheless. I've taught over 100 MYC students, and have the pin to prove it.
I've enjoyed the summer vacation, as I always do, even though I taught 8 or 9 students throughout, but I have to say I'm looking forward to starting a new year. Each year brings new challenges but new rewards. I've decided not to raise my rates this year, even though EVERYTHING around me is going up up up. I try to think of it as a gift for the students and their parents, for the investment they're making in the future. Still, next year I think I'll have to......
One perk was a lovely gift card to Trader Joe's (a cool organic grocery store) and another gift card to itunes, where I downloaded LangLang playing both Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations and Concerto #2, with a few preludes thrown in. They are SO good that listening to it while picking blueberries this morning, I picked 3 buckets - almost 15 lbs! I kind of got lost in the music and the beautiful fruit, the sunshine and peacefulness of it all. Rachmaninov goes well with almost anything, if you ask me! Here's a link to variation 18 of the Paganini, played by Lang Lang. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQALZFW85E
He is really something to watch if you haven't already seen him. Here's a short excerpt from the Concerto #2, middle movement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG-qtaZqOqQ
Youtube is a great place to get lost in musical performances. Time to get back to work!
I've neglected writing for a while due to a wild and crazy anniversary weekend. It was fun fun fun, and we celebrated our 26th on July 30. Hard to believe it's gone by that fast. The summer has a mere 3 weeks left to enjoy, but also to schedule students, organize lesson plans, order materials, and generally get my act together! I don't know what the best way to get the word out, but I did get some new brochures today, and the new business cards are ordered and on their way. After 5 full years of teaching MYC, I finally get the letters MYCC after my name. Ok, it isn't PhD, but it's an accomplishment nonetheless. I've taught over 100 MYC students, and have the pin to prove it.
I've enjoyed the summer vacation, as I always do, even though I taught 8 or 9 students throughout, but I have to say I'm looking forward to starting a new year. Each year brings new challenges but new rewards. I've decided not to raise my rates this year, even though EVERYTHING around me is going up up up. I try to think of it as a gift for the students and their parents, for the investment they're making in the future. Still, next year I think I'll have to......
One perk was a lovely gift card to Trader Joe's (a cool organic grocery store) and another gift card to itunes, where I downloaded LangLang playing both Rachmaninov's Paganini Variations and Concerto #2, with a few preludes thrown in. They are SO good that listening to it while picking blueberries this morning, I picked 3 buckets - almost 15 lbs! I kind of got lost in the music and the beautiful fruit, the sunshine and peacefulness of it all. Rachmaninov goes well with almost anything, if you ask me! Here's a link to variation 18 of the Paganini, played by Lang Lang. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQALZFW85E
He is really something to watch if you haven't already seen him. Here's a short excerpt from the Concerto #2, middle movement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG-qtaZqOqQ
Youtube is a great place to get lost in musical performances. Time to get back to work!
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