Newsletter
 
September 18, 2017

 

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In This Issue
A Note From Our President
Festival of Pianos
Fundraiser
George Radosavljevic
Organ Dedication Concert
Student Recital
Music Sale
Substitute Piano Teacher
Part Time Piano Teacher
Hospitality
Note from the Editor
June Minutes
Click here for the June Board Meeting minutes.
May Minutes
Click here for the May General Meeting minutes.
Upcoming Events

SEPTEMBER

PROGRAM:
George Radoslavjevic
"Chopin: Poetry in Sound"
Monday, Sept 18, 2017     Rolling Meadows Library    9:45 A.M. Meeting

FESTIVAL OF PIANOS
Saturday, Sept 23, 2017 
Sunday, Sept 24, 2017 

NWSMTA NEW MEMBER COFFEE
Monday, Sept 25, 2017 9:45 A.M. 
Home of Laurie Sorman
3850 Anjou Ln., Hoffman Estates


OCTOBER

Sunday, Oct 8, 2017   Deadline: AIM: Levels 1-2 Exams (Complete)
and Levels 3-4 Theory Exams
All AIM registrations are now online. 
Mail check by Oct 8, 2017 to Mary Anne Block

Monday, Oct 9, 2017   email Deadline: Sonata-Sonatina Festival
Check must be received by deadline: mail early

Monday, Oct 16, 2017   Online registration: Classical & Pop-Jazz Recital
Checks must be mailed by October 16, 2017

PROGRAM:
Dr. Matthew Hagle
"Awards Competition Repertoire"
Monday, Oct 16, 2017 
Rolling Meadows Library  9:15 A.M. IMT (Independent Music Teachers) Chat
NWSMTA Library Sale 9:45 A.M. Meeting
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

I can scarcely believe that summer has passed so quickly and that we NWSMTA
members are diving into another busy year of monthly programs, festivals, recitals and exams. I would like to thank all of the board and committee members who have worked diligently this summer to plan and schedule the activities for the upcoming year and to make sure that they are listed in our yearbook and on our website. 

I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. My summer revolved around three family weddings. The first was my son's wedding in June, which was a week-long whirlwind of attending events downtown and hosting out of town guests. Later in the summer we travelled to Norman, Oklahoma and Frankfort, Illinois to celebrate with other family members. Each wedding was unique and special in its own way. The couples chose readings and music which reflected their personalities, and at the receptions the families shared pictures and stories of them as children. 

This made me think about one of the joys of teaching private piano students. We have the opportunity to really get to know them and their families and watch them mature as people and musicians. We can help them showcase their interests and individuality by choosing music which they enjoy and we can share in the joy of their accomplishments. 

In between going to weddings I was able to attend several concerts at Ravinia and at Millennium Park this summer. How fortunate we are to have access to these fantastic musical venues in the Chicago area! After many years of living here I just learned that the Grant Park Orchestra holds open rehearsals on weekdays at Millennium Park. It was really fun to go downtown and see the musicians and conductor rehearse in casual attire and to be treated to a complete preview of an upcoming concert. I did attend one evening concert there where I was privileged to hear the world premiere of a work commissioned by the Grant Park Music Festival titled "Legacy, Concerto for Horn, Strings, Harp and Percussion" by Aaron Jay Kernis. It was an extremely moving composition dedicated to former President Barak Obama which ended with the horn soloist playing Amazing Grace as he walked out through the audience. 

I would like to quote from the composer's program notes: " As a creative artist I think frequently about what I will be able to pass on to my family, and to our world, as I spend my life attempting to create works of beauty, healing, confrontation and ideas. Building, not destroying. I hope my children will appreciate and take part in giving their best to the world that we live in together." I feel that these words can also be applied to our lives as musicians and teachers. Are we not also striving to pass on a legacy of appreciation of beauty, ideas, and creativity to our students? I hope that these thoughts can imbue us with a renewed sense of purpose this fall.

Suzanne Murray

FESTIVAL OF PIANOS




24th Annual FESTIVAL OF PIANOS - SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

It's finally here - the Festival of Pianos!! Come hear our students perform throughout the day on six Steinway grand pianos at Northbrook Court. If you have never seen this event, we encourage you to come and hear it - hopefully you will be encouraged to enter students next year. Students are of all ages and levels, and a variety of music styles will be performed:  Classical, Patriotic, Jazz, Movie and Musical Hits, Popular, Folk Tunes and Old Standards.  

FUNDRAISER FOR JIM SBARBORO'S CHILDREN

I know we were all distressed by the news that Kathlyn Sbarboro's husband, Jim, passed away suddenly.  It's hard to know what you can do to help in such a tragedy.  A fund has been created for his sons' college education you may wish to contribute to.

Following is the GoFundMe link for Jim Sbarboro.


SEPTEMBER PROGRAM -  GEORGE RADOSAVLJEVIC
CHOPIN: POETRY IN SOUND

Pianist George Radosavljevic is well-known in the Chicago area as both soloist and collaborative pianist. Most recently he has been heard in recital at the historic Glessner House Museum in Chicago, as well as in several lecture-recitals given throughout the Chicago suburbs. Mr. Radosavljevic has appeared on the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series, and in many solo and ensemble concerts broadcast live on WFMT Radio. His playing has been called "polished and elegantly shaped" by the Chicago Tribune and "consistently enchanting" by the Pioneer Press. Mr. Radosavljevic appears as orchestral pianist with the Lake Forest Symphony and is currently on the faculty of the DePaul University School of Music, Community Music Division. He is a founding member of the piano trio: Trio Capriccio, and is the director of the RMU Chamber Ensemble (Ensemble in residence at Robert Morris University), which provides educational concerts in a variety of venues. Mr. Radosavljevic has also concertized with his son, BassBaritone Leo Radosavljevic, most recently in Tallinn and Pärnu, Estonia, as well as at Ravinia Festival last fall. He is a board member of both the North Shore Music Teachers Association and the Chicago area chapter of the American Liszt Society. Mr. Radosavljevic holds the degree Master of Music in piano performance from DePaul University as a scholarship student of Dmitry Paperno.

ORGAN DEDICATION CONCERT


STUDENT RECITAL

MUSIC SALE

 
SUBSTITUTE PIANO TEACHER NEEDED

Knight Music Academy, a community music school located in Lake Zurich, is seeking a temporary piano instructor to cover for our senior instructor's maternity leave. The position is on Monday and Tuesday afternoons/evenings from Oct. 9- Nov. 21. Candidates interested should have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in music, experience working with children, and comfortable teaching beginner through intermediate levels. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with education and experience. Interested candidates should email their resume to Laura Knight at laura@knightmusicacademy.com.

PART TIME PIANO TEACHER NEEDED - LAKE ZURICH

Knight Music Academy is seeking to add a part-time piano instructor to
it's faculty. We currently have studio space available on Thursdays
(preferred) and Saturdays. For a complete job description please visit our website:

http://www.knightmusicacademy.com/teaching-opportunities/piano-instructor-job-opportunity/

Candidates interested in applying for this position should remit a cover
letter and resume to Laura Knight at laura@knightmusicacademy.com.

HOSPITALITY












A card was sent to Carol Ekblad due to a sprained ankle.

A sympathy card was sent to Kathlyn Sbarboro for the loss of her husband.

Some of Lyda Samuels music was sold for $207.85 and a check was sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

A sympathy card was sent to Judith Shaltry on her sister's passing.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I have never looked forward to teaching as much as this year.  This summer I discovered one of the most unique men.   I have spent many hours listening to him and watching him teach.  In fact, he doesn't teach, he inspires.  In fact, he doesn't just inspire, he ignites people.  When I wasn't observing him teach, inspire and ignite, I was thinking about him, or talking about him.  He was the keynote speaker at the MTNA conference; Benjamin Zander.
If you haven't heard him, or watched him, feed your soul by checking him out.  You can find his Ted talk, "The Transfomative Power of Classical Music" and hours of masterclasses on Youtube.  He has also written the book, The Art of Possibiity. 

I now find myself checking to see if my students' eyes are shining during their lesson.  Maestro Zander asks himself, "If their eye are not shining, then who am I being?"  And when I find my students' eyes are smiling (even the non-Irish students), I know that they are discovering that their lives can brighten because of music. 

I have a five-year-old student who worries about making a mistake.  I can see it in his eyes.  They not only are not smiling, but look panicked.  I have tried many approaches to help him view a mistake differently.  Zander taught me to exclaim, "That was great.  I loved it."  It stopped him in his tracks, as he puzzled over what I was so excited about.  Lesson saved; and a lesson learned by both of us.

I have come to realize that your playing is a vehicle to the heart.  We must help our students discover that it's not about the performer, or playing correctly.  It's about feeling the music and portraying that with your whole being.  Then watch the shining eyes of those who listen to you perform.

I came to the realization that I don't have to be the best piano teacher in the world, I have to be the best teacher FOR my student.  When I think of my colleagues in NWSMTA, I realize I have learned many of these things, from them, as well.  Every lesson is a chance to look at life as possibility.  I am grateful to my students for the opportunity.
 
Link to Ted talk by Benjamin Zander.
 
Link to the first masterclass.

Deborah Lynch
Editor