Atlanta Music Teachers Association March 2014 AMTA Newsletter March 2014 AMTA Meeting: March 14 Steinway Piano Galleries, Atlanta, 10:00 AM Dear AMTA members, Please be prepared to participate in the Piano Performance Practice Round Table discussion lead by Shirley Irek. Share and discuss teaching tricks and tips with your colleagues! Below is an outline of the discussion recommended by Shirley. "What a wonderful performance that was!!!" When we hear it, we know it. But what are the elements that truly make a beautifully played performance? In this discussion, let's articulate the various components that make a complete performance. We will break it down from the basics and then rebuild it, by applying the concepts from the 1st year student and working our way up to the young artist. Besides technical ideas, also bring to the table your thoughts about repertoire. What do you like to use to help your students understand the subtleties of good communication in their performance? We will also hear from Jenny Sutton who is a member of NFMTA. She will present her Magna- Writer Music Slate for teaching early Level Notation and Theory. We look forward to seeing you on the 14th!
AMTA Member Recital -Elena Dorozhkina at Steinway Alpharetta- Program: J. S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in A minor, WTC, b. 2 L. van Beethoven, Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 10 no. 2: Details Dr. Elena Dorozhkina will perform at 3:00 pm this Saturday, March 8 at Steinway Piano Gallery in Alpharetta. Elena will present a recital of baroque, classic, romantic and twentieth-century piano music by great masters, including Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, Debussy and Liszt. The free concert is at the Barbara Kirby Recital Hall of Steinway Piano Galleries, 5950 North Point Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30022. Seating is limited; call 770-777-1300 to reserve your space. Please find additional information about the recital here: http://steinwaypianogalleri es.com/events/65 Allegro Allegretto Presto F. Chopin, Waltz in D-flat Major, Op. 64 No. 1 F. Chopin, Ballade in G minor, Op. 23 Pause A. Scriabin, Etude in D-flat Major, Op. 8 No. 10 C. Debussy, L'isle joyeuse, L. 106 Franz Liszt, Après une Lecture de Dante:Fantasia quasi Sonata from Années de Pèlerinage, b.2 2
Master s Touch Alexander Kobrin Masterclass - Overview Submitted by AMTA member, VP Program, Outstate Presenter Program Chair, Raisa Isaacs AMTA Outstate Presenter Program was established in 2008 as a venue for promotion of the most dedicated and gifted students who would have a unique opportunity at the master class to meet the most outstanding internationally recognized piano performers and faculty from renowned conservatories and Schools of Music in the US. Since then, we have hosted Phillip Kawin from Manhattan School of Music (NY), Peter Takacs from Oberlin Conservatory, Vladimir Kovalsky from Monmouth Conservatory (NJ), Marina Lomazov from University of South Carolina and, this year, Alex Kobrin, L.Rexford Whiddon Distinguished Chair in Piano at Schwob School of Music of Columbus State University and Artist Faculty of the Steinhardt School of Piano Studies at New York University in New York City. Each presenter has own individual style and with commonly established ideas about a composition in mind, pursues different angles, whether of artistic or technical issues. Sometimes might seems controversial and conflicting with the perception about an interpretation 3
Sed et tellus at quam sagittis pharetra. Donec faucibus sagittis justo. students learn and benefit from the broad opinions that expand the views on the Art of Music and music performance in general. Alex Kobrin is not a showman. His first request for the master class repertoire was Short piece! Otherwise, what can we achieve in half an hour? The main aim is to reach the height in interpretation from the point of view of Master. There are no indulgences for pre-college level or assumptions about students non-musical professional career in the future. Interspersed with light jokes (that immediately became aphorisms!), his lessons seem quiet on the surface, however, they are very intense and detailed in its depth. His determination to lead to the final, the most demanding height he knows about, is very much like his performances with unbreakable will to uplift and lead an audience to the final destination. All tools serve for this goal: historical approach, associations with a personal experience, inspiring demonstrations, attention to the textual composers referrals It was obvious how meticulously Mr. Kobrin was working with dynamic marks. Question Why? ( Why not to play what you see in the text? ) was the first one in his pursuit to reveal composers intentions. Why? in correction of each shade of dynamics in students performances was leading question in exploration of importance of the nuances that might be easily overlooked in daily routine teachers work. Alex Kobrin expressed his opinion about students preparedness and abilities to communicate very positively. Like in Medieval- Renaissance art workshop, he put his final, superb stroke of Master on the excellent work of his assistants. 4
Reminiscences from King and Queen Time AEMA Baroque Keyboard Workshop A Brief Overview. Submitted by AEMA, AMTA member Raisa Isaacs What a fantastic time AEMA participants (students and teachers) experienced at the Baroque Keyboard Workshop on period instruments Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8 at the Church of the New Covenant in Atlanta (Doraville)! It was quite a drastic move from modern rap and pop to the music of kings and queens, the gallant manners with frequent curtsies, and bows, and elaborate garments. On Friday students had a unique opportunity to listen to the instruments demonstration and play on the French, Italian, Flemish harpsichords, Lute-harpsichord and Clavichord. The participants interest and excitement were very inspiring for Daniel Pyle, David Buice and Raisa Isaacs, the members and organizers of AEMA (Atlanta Early Music Alliance) Keyboard Workshop. On Saturday all instruments were moved to the different halls and students attended master classes and listened to the presentations about Bach s temperament (Daniel Pyle), Sun-King keyboard music (David Buice) and Baroque phrasing, articulation, and ornamentation (Raisa Isaacs). 5
Their discoveries about harpsichord touch, non-piano fingering, (and consequently different ways of creating phrases and articulation), tone colors of the different countries harpsichords, and a variety of aesthetic styles have opened a new world of Performance Practice of the Baroque repertoire that students only had to imagine by playing on the piano. Students were eager to find every minute when harpsichords rooms were available for practice to prepare for the Final Recital that concluded the festive event. Though not all students were able to attend it, upon completion of the master class AEMA BKW faculty recommended the following students and teachers of AMTA chapter for participating in the recital: Elena Dorozhkina, Joseph Snipes (Laura Gordy), John Mori (Edith Shiff), and students of Raisa Isaacs Jocelyn Yang, Venetia Zhu, Thomas Fennel, and Gabriel Cederborg. 6
AMTA Member News Students of Shirley Irek: Riley Osborn was the soloist with the Atlanta Community orchestra as a winner in the Ruth Kern competition. She performed the 1st movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Lexi Smith performed a Senior Recital on piano and flute on February 24 at Westminster School, where she will be Valedictorian in May. The program included Brahms Intermezzo, opus 118 no.2, J.S.Bach Sonata for flute and piano in b minor and the 4th movement of the Franck Sonata for piano and violin, which she played with her mother Denise Smith, a member of the ASO. Lexi will continue to play flute and piano when she attends Harvard this fall. Lindsey Sharpe won $500.00 as the 1st place winner of the East Cobb Federation Festival. Lindsey is also a cellist and member of the Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra. Liam Jagrowski won $250.00 as the 2nd place winner of the East Cobb Federation Festival. -Susan Ottzen will have a master class for her harp students with Nella Rigell as the master teacher, March 22. -Marily Minton, 9-year old student of Lori Hamrick, was awarded second place for her piano composition in Van Der Lyn Elementary's Reflections Contest. Her composition is entitled "The Mirror And Me." Marily is the daughter of Tim and Stacia Minton of Dunwoody. Marily has studied piano, voice and guitar with Lori for three years. -Benjamin Bertin is currently looking for a church pianist position. If you are aware of any needs or vacancies, please contact him: bwbertin@gmail.com, (419) 806-9949. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Please remember: you have to attend no less than two AMTA meetings in order to apply for the local auditions and competitions without a penalty of $50! AMTA NEEDS YOU TO FILL THESE ROLES: MTNA Foundation, Certification Deadline for Southeastern Piano Festival (June 15-22, 2014) University of South Carolina, is March 15. Free Masterclass attendance is welcome! Visit this vibrant neighboring event lead by outstanding performer and USC faculty member Dr. Marina Lomazov (http://sepf.music.sc.edu). This year Executive Director Lomazov will impress participants with a splendid team of internationally acclaimed performers. Besides USC faculty master classes, one can attend free Master classes by legendary pianist Leon Fleisher, Alexander Korsantia, Professor of Piano at New England Conservatory, international concert artist Ingrid Jacoby, and new emerging star Andrew Tyson. Columbia, SC is an easy, pleasant drive on HW 1-20. Apply now! 7