Year XX, No. 4 April 2016

Transcription

1 ima Newsletter Voted top 100 educators in the world by the International Biographical Centre Winner of the Consumers Choice Award for best music school in the GTA. Winner of the Royal Conservatory of Music Gold Medal for Teaching Excellence. Winner of the York Region Character Community Award. Markham Board of Trade Business Excellence Award finalist Highway 7, Suite 1 Markham ON L3R 1N1 Canada M1K 3K1 Phone: Fax: info@internationalmusicacademy.ca International Music Academy Year XX, No. 4 April 2016 WELCOMING OUR NEW STUDENTS Kuhan P. (flute) Shaan S. (voice) Aryan I. (piano) Emily Y. (flute) IMA STUDENTS BIRTHDAYS IN APRIL Bianca A., Alexander G., Emily J., Daniel R., Deejesh S., Elysia W., Tyler Y., Jaisen W., Maria- Aimee T., Zeynep S., Bernice C., Jenny J., Sophie S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! IMPORTANT DAYS IN APRIL April 10- May 3. North York Music Festival April RCM practical examinations (piano only) April Passover. April 29. Good Friday (Orthodox). April 29- May 1. Canadian Music Competition (Local finals, Toronto). NEWS IMA SPRING PRACTICING CONTEST On April 6, in the presence of IMA teachers, staff, clients and students we did the draw for the IMA Spring Practicing Contest. WILLIAM TAM came as the winner of the contest and the prize of $60 (which he will use as a credit towards his tuition fee in April). Congratulations! ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC WINTER EXAMINATIONS SESSION ACHIEVEMEMTNS Student Subject Mark Teacher Emily Jong Harmony I 97 M. Grigoryan Joy Wu Theory III 95 K. Cao Michael Lee Theory III 88 M. Grigoryan Labros Spandonidis Grade 4 Piano 84 A. De Wolfe Celina Mekhail Grade 3 Voice 81 J. Welsh GET A $30 CREDIT ON YOUR NEXT MONTH TUITION We have been very pleased with the continued success of our students. They have improved a great deal and we share their excitement with their families, friends, neighbors, and schoolmates. We appreciate your interest towards our programs and services. We are always very happy to welcome new students of all ages, levels, and instruments to the ima. Please tell your friends about your experience with the International Music Academy. Do you know someone who is thinking of taking music lessons or who has children who may be interested in getting their hands on a musical instrument or singing? Do you know a teenager who needs a high school OAC credit? Do you know an adult who has wanted for a long time to learn how to play a musical instrument but has never had the time or inclination? Please tell them about the IMA. As an appreciation for your referral, we will give you a $30 credit for each new student who registers at the International Music Academy as a result of your referral. As we value your friends as much as we value you, we will offer to each referred student a $30 credit as well. WINNER AT THE NORTH YORK MUSIC FESTIVAL Kyra Sophie Oszlai 1 st and 2 nd Awards (piano) WINNER AT THE MARKHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL Kyra Sophie Oszlai 3 rd Award (piano) FOLLOW US ON Stay in touch and follow the IMA latest news on Facebook. Visit Music- Academy / and become a friend of the International Music Academy.

2 PERSONALIZED IMA GIFT CARD The IMA offers personalized Gift Cards that could be used as thoughtful birthday, holiday, bar/bat Mitzvah, graduation gift or for any other occasions as well as to encourage someone to start learning a musical instrument or singing. The card can be used for any products or services. The gift card is available for any amount. As cards are personalized with the name of the person who will receive it as well as with the name of the person who purchase it, requests have to be made 1 day in advance. Cards can be ordered in person, by phone at or by e- mail at info@internationalmusicacademy.ca. At the time the card is ordered, a non- refundable $5 deposit is required. The full value of the card is paid upon pick- up (and the deposit is credited towards the purchase price). Payments can be made by any major credit card, cheque or cash as well as through the accounts of the IMA Clients. COMPOSERS ANNIVERSARIES IN APRIL 01/04/1873 Rachmaninoff born 01/04/1917 Scott Joplin died 03/04/1897 Brahms died 06/04/1971 Stravinsky died 08/04/1848 Donizetti died 14/04/1759 Handel died 18/04/1936 Respighi died 27/04/1891 Prokofiev born 27/04/1915 Scriabin died 27/04/1992 Messiaen died Where you born or do you know someone who was born on the same day as these famous composers? Drop us e- mail at info@internationalmusicacademy.ca to let us know. FEATURED TEACHER OF THE MONTH Mariko Der Avanesian, B.F.A.., D.Mus Piano Studies, Music Theory Born in Japan, Ms. Der Avanesian earned Bachelor of Fine Art from Osaka College of Music. She continued her study in Paris, France at Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris for Diplome Superieur d Execution (6eme division professionelle, piano performance). She has performed numerous concerts, recitals and also appeared as a concerto soloist in Japan, France and Canada. She participated in several music festivals such as the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (New York), the Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival (Toronto), Scotia Festival of Music, Academie International d interpretation de Piano (France) and Flaine Musique Festival (France). Among her teachers were world- renowned pianists Alicia de Larrocha, Menahem Pressler (Beaux ArtsTrio), Peter Frankl and Andre Laplante. As a piano teacher, she has more than 25 years of experience and successful in teaching any level of students at any age. She has a great ability of communication with students to tailor the lessons to fit each students needs, goals and skills. Her passion and love of music transforms any music lesson to a joyful musical experience filled with beautiful artistic moments and fun challenge. Any student will find her/himself to be a motivated self- learner. Ms. Der Avanesian is a registered teacher with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Ms. Der Avanesian was happy to answer a few questions for our students and parents: 1. What do you like most about teaching? Music is a universal language. Teaching music for me is talking about it regardless of any difference as human. That gives me the joy of sharing something very precious we all have in our heart. That's what I love. 2. How do you inspire students to practice more? I set a small goal to reach each students dream. A little step makes a big difference. I want to them to feel it. A little victory leads you a real achievement. Achievement gives you a satisfaction. Happy feeling equals to the motivation. 3. What roles does performance play in student s development? When I teach, performance is in my mind always. For me, practicing means preparing for the performance. I assess what need to be done to make her/his performance better at each student s current developing stage. This is what I teach at each single class. From another angle, I absolutely know what the students will go through to preparing performance and experiencing real performance so it makes me possible to prepare each student in the best possible condition. 4. Who are your favourite composers? There are a lot! Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Albeniz, Mozart, Beethoven, Scriabin, Brahms, Ravel, Debussy, Faure Falla, Scarlatti, Bartok, Dutilleux, Franc, Berg, Shoneberg on and on and on and on... :) 5. What was the last piece of music (sheet music or a recording) you purchased for yourself? Bach The Cello Suites by Yo- Yo- Ma

3 FEATURED STUDENTS OF THE MONTH Priyanka Ragunathan What instrument do you play? At IMA I play the piano; at school I play the recorder, I do bucket drumming, and I am in the junior choir. In piano; I am in Level 3 and I have learned 5 new songs, the scales and I ve been practicing my sight- reading and ear tests for my piano test. When I play the recorder we practice as a group to play star wars medley. We are practicing really hard as a group to play for our concert. In bucket drumming we are playing songs to practice our rhythms. In choir we went to Music Alive at the Cosmo Music Center and we were singing Ghana Folksong and we received a silver plus overall. I also like creating my own songs that I can sing to. How long have you taken lessons? I started about 3 years ago (January 2013) and I was inspired by my cousins because they had a piano at their house and every time I went there I wished that I knew how to play the piano so I can have a new activity to do every day. Once I told my parents they enrolled me into piano lessons at IMA. Who are your favourite musical artists? My favourite artists are Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato and lots more. I love Taylor Swift s country albums and I love her new pop album 1989 and I like Demi Lovato because I like her new album Confident and the songs (Confident, Cool for the summer ). My favourite band is Fifth Harmony because I like their songs especially their new song called Work from Home because it sounds urban like and very casual. What are your other hobbies, besides music? My most favourite hobbies besides music are: Soccer, Volleyball, Cricket, Swimming, Skating (I do even more), Reading, Art and Baking Cupcakes! I like playing sports because they are fun to do when I have absolutely nothing else to do. I also like to read because I am a bookworm. I am currently reading the Hunger Games 2 other books (Geronimo Stilton: The secret of the Cacklefur Castle and The Valley of Adventure). I also like art because it keeps me calm whenever I feel like I am stressed out so I can draw, paint, sketch however I feel. I also love baking cupcakes because I think it is easiest food I can make. Favorite food? Well my favourite food of all time is cupcakes. I love cupcakes because I love baking them (like how I said in the previous question) and like the idea of making your own flavours (ex. Chocolate and Vanilla mixed ). What is the coolest thing you ve learnt in your lessons in the past three months? I feel like the coolest thing I ve learnt in the past three months were my Formula Patterns because I like the idea of going up and then you split up then you come back together then you go up then come down then you split then you come back together then you go down. It sounds cool to do the Formula Pattern scales and I learned D major for the Formula Patterns. Do you have any performance coming up? I don t really have any upcoming performances but I have a piano test as I mentioned in question 1 and that is going to be taken place on Friday, April 15 th, I hope I pass my Grade 3 test!!!!!!!!!!!!!! E- mail to info@internationalmusicacademy.ca a photo of yourself (or your child) together with the answers of the questions above. The deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month. We will feature you in one of the next issues of the newsletter. PET OF THE MONTH Send a photo of your pet together with following information and we will publish it in one of the next issues of the IMA newsletter. What is the name of your pet? How old is he/she? What kind of breed our pet is (if applicable)? How long have you had him/her for? Any special circumstances around getting the pet (i.e. a gift, foster pet, etc.)? The funniest story about you pet? Any special skills or abilities. FEATURED ARTICLE American Idol: Final winner announced 8 April 2016 The 24- year- old waiter beat fellow Mississippi native La'Porsha Renae to the title as the long- running series came to a close. It was a surprise win for Harmon, as the judges had tipped 22- year- old Renae to triumph. He fell to the floor after he was announced the winner and tearfully praised his rival. "I know that I have a God- given ability, but I didn't want to take it for granted. I wanted to work so, so hard, and [Renae] pushed me to do it," he said. Harmon worked as a waiter at his family's restaurant before auditioning for the show. He grew up on a farm and described himself as a "dude from Mississippi". Single mother Renae overcame domestic abuse to compete in the show and won support from the judges for her powerful voice. Both contenders for the crown were from Mississipi Fox announced in May last year the long- running talent show would end after its 15th season. He said he hoped young people would be as eager to vote at the polls as they were to vote for their favourites on the show, adding he was doing his best to make it as easy. The show was launched by Simon Fuller and Simon Cowell in

4 2002, based on their hit UK series Pop Idol. Cowell was an original judge on the show along with Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. US President Barack Obama kicked off the show with a taped message congratulating the show on its 15 years. It paved the way for a wealth of TV talent contests including The X Factor and The Voice. The show launched the careers of Kelly Clarkson - who was the first ever winner - and stars including Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks and Adam Lambert. Trent Harmon has been crowned the 15th and final winner of American Idol in a star- studded farewell show. Ending the show Seacrest said "Good night, America" adding when the screen faded to black, "for now". The final show featured guest performances from previous contestants including Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, David Cook, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Sparks and Kimberley Locke. Current judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr and Keith Urban also performed. Original judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell appeared on the farewell show To comment on this story or anything else you have read in the Newsletter, head over to the IMA Facebook page or message us on Twitter. The season 15 contestants returned to sing on stage with Harmon and Renae Original judges Abdul and Jackson appeared on the show to pay tribute to host Ryan Seacrest, while Cowell also appeared on stage and said he was "feeling quite emotional" about the end of the show. The singing competition drew 36 million viewers in its heyday in 2006, but ratings have fallen every year since then. It averaged about 11 million viewers last season, but with fewer younger viewers which are favoured by advertisers.

5 International Music Academy GIFT CERTIFICATE for new students only ONE FREE LESSON Call the IMA Office at to schedule your first lesson. Once scheduled, the lesson cannot be rescheduled. Cannot be combined with any other offer. No refunds, no exchanges. Music is sooooooooo beuatiful! Register for lessons by April 20, 2016 and receive $30 off New students only. Cannot be combined with any other offer. REFER A NEW STUDENT and GET ONE FREE LESSON! When you refer a new student to the IMA, who registers for lesson, you will get one free lesson for every new student. So, if you refer the IMA to 2 new students, we will give you 2 free lessons; for 3 new students 3 free lessons etc. Fill in the coupon below and leave it with the IMA Office administrator. Your name: Name of the new student: You can print or photocopy this coupon as many times as you need. Cannot be combined with any other offer.