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Huntsville Suzuki School of Music   

Spring Newsletter 2010

CONGRATULATIONS  to all our Suzuki Olympians!!  It was quite a challenge…thank you for participating and keep up the good playing!

CONGRATULATIONS to our senior students who, following a stellar audition, were chosen as finalists for the G8 Youth Summit Closing Ceremonies on June 25.  The judges’ final decisions will be announced shortly.  Wish them luck!

CONGRATULATIONS to those Suzuki students chosen to perform at the Algonquin Theater on Friday April 9 in the Trillium Boards’ Stepping Stone Concert:  Jake, Caleb, Tegan, Aubrey and Marlose.

Canadian composer, Nancy Telfer, is once again collaborating with the Suzuki School as she prepares a proposal for a commissioned work for the Canadian New Music for Young Musician Series.  

GROUPS: Small groups begin again on Saturday March 27th (juniors) and Thurs April 8 (seniors).  Please check your schedule for your child’s group dates.

FRIDAY NIGHT IN DENIM:  Many duets, trios and ensembles have sprung up ….how exciting to play with friends.  Reminder that rehearsal times need to be set.  There will be a list on the bulletin board of times when I am available for coaching – please have your ensemble get together and sign up for at least one of those times.  Otherwise you are welcome to use the teaching rooms here to practise as they are available – please sign for times.  Set up your rehearsal dates NOW as it is often difficult to get ensembles together.

DATES TO REMEMBER:

SUNDAY APRIL 11  - 3 pm     SOLO RECITAL

                    LOCATION TBA

FRIDAY APRIL 30 – 7 pm  FRIDAY NIGHT IN DENIM

                    SUTHERLAND HALL

SATURDAY MAY 8 – 9 am  FINAL CONCERT REHEARSAL (all students)

                    ST ANDREWS CHURCH

SUNDAY MAY 9 – 2 pm FINAL SPRING CONCERT (all students)

                    ST ANDREWS CHURCH

All events are open to the public…bring your family and friends to hear and support our very talented young students.

REMINDER: Lessons continue until the week of June 7th.  There will be two weeks of make up lessons offered:  the weeks of June 14th and June 21st.  All other teacher cancelled lessons will be refunded unless other arrangements are made for summer lessons.

COOKBOOK FUNDRAISER:  Thanks to all for supporting our cookbook fundraiser!  Everything I have made from this wonderful little book has been delicious!!  All proceeds were donated directly to the Suzuki School, a grand total of $625.

SUMMER: Institutes are everywhere!! Make this the summer you and your child attend a Suzuki Institute.  It is a memorable experience and gives our students the opportunity to work with other teachers, make new friends and play in larger groups.

SUMMER LESSONS:  I will be offering summer lessons at  OUR SUZUKI SCHOOL on the following dates:

Tues July 13-Wed July 14

Tues July 27-Wed July 28

Tues Aug 10-Wed Aug 11

Tues Aug 31-Wed Sept 1

Sign up sheets will be posted.  Lessons are payable in advance.

In addition, there will be two outdoor group lessons offered (Weather permitting – check the phone message at the School 788-0027 on the date):

Thurs July 15 at 5 – 6 pm at my home:  1793 Ravenscliffe Road

Mon.  Aug 9  at  5 – 6  pm at my home:   1793 Ravenscliffe Road

October 2009

Thanks to all parents for your flexibility in scheduling this year!  We are off to a great start!

Reminder:  No lessons on Thanksgiving Monday.  These lessons will be postponed until Monday October 26th.

There are no lessons the week of October 27-November 1st inclusive.

SOLO RECITAL:  Sunday October 18th is our first solo recital of the year!  3 pm. 

Free admission…come and enjoy an afternoon of fine string playing.

EMAIL:  The Student Directory and Private Lesson Schedule will be emailed to all families by October 1st.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Wed. Oct. 21 – 8 pm  Huntsville Train Station.

PASTA DINNER:  Friday November 13th.  Trinity United Church.  Please support this ever important, annual fund raiser.  Gail, Kelly and Sandy have kindly volunteered to be on the organizing committee. Watch for sign up sheets soon and let’s make it a successful event all around.

GROUPS begin November 5 (Senior students only), November 7 for all others.  Reminder that group lessons are an integral part of the learning experience and not an optional part of our program.  The November groups will culminate in a  Christmas Play In on the morning of Sat. Dec 5th (senior students – please mark that date on your calendars now!! It is one of two Saturday mornings you have this year!)

SENIOR STUDENTS:  This year, the senior students will be performing at 3 local schools during the holiday season to raise money for our local environmental group.  Dec 8 is an important U.N. conference in Copenhagen and towns and cities across the world have been asked to commemorate the day by drawing awareness to our fragile environment.  These Suzuki students will be performing pieces from each of the G8 countries and taking an environmental message to each of the schools they visit.

Chairs:  Is there a parent able to take the ripped black chairs home to repair over the winter?  We will supply the materials.

STUDIO RENTAL:  We still have studio rooms available for rent . If you know of an interested party, please pass this information on to them and have them contact us at 788-0027.

                       

July 2009

Sunday June 21st marked a memorable event for the Huntsville Suzuki School – an afternoon concert at Jerrett’s Hwy 60 barn.  And what a concert it was!

Soloists Ashley Hill and Amanda Penner performed the hauntingly beautiful Handel Halvorsen for violin and viola; cellist Sarah Jane Johnson performed several movements from the Bach suites as well as the contemporary Julie-O by Mark Summers which was accompanied by modern dance artist Meredith Thompson and friend; drummer Glenn Kaye led a stirring Kenyan call and response and the Huntsville Suzuki Youth orchestra, led by Linda Drennan, performed a number of selections from both the Baroque and modern eras.

The highlight, however, was the premiere performance of a 3 movement work written expressly for the group by renowned Canadian composer, Nancy Telfer.  Titled Water, Rock, Trees the piece evoked powerful images of Muskoka while celebrating music and youth.  Telfer was in attendance at the performance.

A sold out performance, the afternoon culminated with refreshments courtesy of the Butchers Daughters deli, Huntsville.

June 2009

A reminder about a very special event this Sunday June 21st at 2 pm.

The Huntsville Suzuki Orchestra will be performing as part of the opening of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts summer season.

The Orchestra will premiere a work by Canadian composer, Nancy Telfer.  Ms. Telfer will be at the performance.

The program will also include soloists Amanda Penner, Ashley Hill and Sarah Jane Johnson (strings), Glenn Kay (drum), Meredith Thompson (modern dance) and refreshment provided by the Butcher's Daughter.

Proceeds will go toward the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music.

This event - not to be missed! - is being graciously hosted by the Jerrett family, in their renovated Hillside Barn on Hwy 60.

For more information, contact   www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Tickets may be purchased at the Algonquin Theatre box office or through the Festival on-line.

Seating is limited so get your tickets early.

We hope to see you and your family at this very special afternoon event!!!

warm regards,

Linda

May 2009

COMING EVENTS:

Sat. May 9th:  The 10 am and 11 am violin groups have been invited to play at Roger’s Cove Retirement Home from 2-2:30 pm

Tues. May 19th:  Senior Students to play for Innovations Muskoka’s wrap-up meeting of the year, Holiday Inn, Huntsville.

Fri. May 22nd:  Suzuki Registrations Due

Sat. May 30th:  9 am- All Violins and Cellos Final Concert Rehearsal – St Andrew’s Church

Sun. May 31st:  2:30 pm – Final Concert of the Year – St. Andrew’s Church

Wed. June 3rd:  Senior Students to play for the grand opening of Traditions Retirement Home, Huntsville

Week of June 1st:  Last week of scheduled lessons

Week of June 8th:  Make up lesson weeks begin

June 9th and 10th; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.:  Payment and Schedule Pick Up Night

Sun. June 21st:  Senior Suzuki Students Fund Raiser – Premiere of composer, Nancy Telfer’s piece, refreshments courtesy of the  Butcher’s Daughter , 2 pm, Jerrett’s Farm, Hwy 60. For more details including directions please visit our Community Events area.

REGISTRATION

Registration for violin and cello lessons in September is due May 25th.

The Board has made significant cuts to the 2009-2010 budget in order to maintain our home at the Train Station for another year and to ensure there will be NO increase in the school fee this year.  The convenience of our in town location for lessons, groups and recitals is unsurpassed.  The teaching fee, which has not been increased since 2007, will be increased by approx. 3%.

A word about group lessons.  As you know groups are an integral part of our program.  Learning to play a stringed instrument also means learning about ensemble, cooperation, and the joy of performing for others.  Groups also provide valuable teaching hours.  The schedule of 3 sets of 5 groups has proven that it provides a better learning environment than bi monthly lessons.  Continuity and retention are enhanced; skills develop faster.  As a Suzuki teacher I sometimes feel I am swimming upstream in our competitive society.  While there is nothing wrong with competition, I have chosen to work within a philosophy which teaches discipline and commitment in a non-competitive environment – marks, grades, medals, winning and losing are not part of this experience.  None-the-less, team effort is!  How can we instill in our children that the importance of commitment and discipline and being part of the ‘team’ goes beyond extrinsic rewards.  Their participation is just as important even if the ‘game’ is not about winning and losing.  This is surely one of life’s valuable lessons and what better place to be found than in music.

We set our group schedules in June.  It is impossible to hold both group lessons and private lessons after school on week days with our limited teaching staff – there just are not enough hours in the day.  Groups are not optional and, although I do understand conflicts sometimes arise, sometimes as parents we have to say ‘no’.  Please mark these dates on your calendar – there are only 15 small group dates throughout the year – and many thanks to all of you in supporting our scheduling trials!

HANDBOOK

All parents will receive a handbook with their schedule this year outlining the various components of the Suzuki School, including our mission, structure and various regulations.  A few additions this year will be the application of a $50 late fee for school and orchestra fees (unless alternate arrangements have been made with the volunteer treasurer), a $20 fee for all nsf cheques (as we are charged for them as well as you), and the School Fee has been divided into a $50 registration fee (payable in June) with the remainder $200 portion to be paid when lessons begin. This is to alleviate some of the burden in September payments and holds a place for your child in the Suzuki School over the summer.

April 2009

Dear Parents:

We have just received notice that Suzuki students may attend the Penderecki Quartet concert this Saturday April 18th (Trinity Church) FREE OF CHARGE.

This is a world-class quartet and sure to be a wonderful performance.

Also, Friday Night in Denim is Friday April 24th - 7 pm - at Sutherland Hall.  Your children know if they are involved, and have been rehearsing, but you may not have the details.  It will be a fun night, but on a smaller scale than other years.  Please come and invite your friends...it is an evening of duets and small ensembles.  Free admission..donations accepted.

Group is on Monday night - 6-7 pm.

Linda

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