Bellevue School of Music Announces 2015-2016 Recital Dates

This school calendar year, recitals will be on these dates:

Fall December 13^th 1-5:00PM

Spring June 12^th 1-5:00PM

Bellevue School of Music Spring Recitals at Resonance

Bellevue School of Music Spring Student Recitals on Sunday, June 14th 2015 at Resonance

Bellevue School of Music is holding our Spring student recital at a brand new performance venue, Resonance at SOMA Towers, in downtown Bellevue. Performance is integral to developing students musical talents, performers of all ages and abilities will present their works.

Join our students in sharing their talents!

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Pianist wins competition after breaking a wrist

Recently, we read an article about Sam Kinsey, a college junior, who broke his wrist while playing basketball. This was a huge challenge for Kinsey because he was a pianist. He was not allowed to touch a piano with his injured hand for a period of two months. This led him to explore piano literature written solely for the left hand.

There is a lot of piano literature for one-handed play. There is even a guide, "One Handed: A Guide to Piano Music for One Hand" which surveys over 2,100 individual piano pieces for either playing with the right or left hand alone.

Since most people are predominately right handed, the right hand and arm are injured more often than the left hand so 99% of all piano pieces written for a single hand are for the left hand.

Last month, according to USC's Thornton School of Music, Kinsey won Grand Price at the 2014 Debut Concerto Competition playing Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major.

One-handed piano music is not only for people with injuries. Actually, learning to play music written for a single hand can be fun and serve as a break from the usual routine and it can increase the technical ability of the hand which can help when playing music with two hands.

Playing an instrument: a brain workout!

"When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument,that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout."

This is a really great video showing how playing an instrument and studying music benefits your brain. It's based on neuroscience. 

Puget Sound Student Music Festival Season is Upon Us!

Here in the Puget Sound we are extremely fortunate to have strong support for music education, there are many great student music festivals available in which to participate. Listed beyond the break is information on three of the area's largest music festivals, but I urge you to ask your teacher about other opportunities and perform in as many as possible.

Music festivals serve as important goals for students to work toward; they motivate students, focusing energy into action through the heightened purpose of daily practice, and provide the opportunity for students to assess their progress beside their peers. By participating in music festivals, student's gain motivation which is an essential element to forging their musical ability.

Follow the links under each listing for details on eligibility and registration requirements:

 

Behind Every Successful Music Student Is a Devoted Parent

Behind Every Successful Music Student

Is a Devoted Parent:

 

How to Guide Your Child on His Musical Journey

 

by Michelle Alten

Musical Notes For Parents:    1. Help your student stay motivated by being positive and supportive. 2. Set a pattern with a specific practice time and stay with it. 3. Find a place and time for your child to practice where she won’t disturb the family. 4. Discuss with your instructor an appropriate amount of time for your child to practice and let your child know your expectations. 5. Show your child that you find music enjoyable and that it is a priority for your family. 6. When you hear your child making progress, let her know.  Your encouragement will go a long way.

    The day my child brought home his cello and played his first note, I was elated.  The thought that we might have a future musician in the family was tantalizing.  But it didn’t take long to realize that there is a lot to helping a young musician launch and stay committed to his musical experience.  Music students are not just born loving to practice and ready to work hard at music.  Like every great musician, each successful music student has a devoted parent behind the scenes helping him to reach his goals. 

    Most of us assume that if a child chooses an instrument that he or she will naturally want to practice.  I have spoken with parents of enthusiastic and outstanding music students, as well as parents of reluctant young musicians.  What I learned is that neither group is eager to pull out their instrument and devote time to practicing.  Kids don’t like to practice, and that’s that.  So the idea of placing children in charge of making decisions about practicing is unlikely to succeed.  Clearly another tactic is needed. 

    Robert Wilson, owner and director of the Bellevue School of Music, has suggestions for parents of young instrumentalists who wish to help their child succeed.  “It is important from the beginning for parents to help their child establish a practice pattern,” Wilson explains.  “The family should choose a daily practice time and stay with it.”  When children know when they will practice each day, he points out, it is easier for them to shift from other activities to playing their instrument. 

The Audition

The Audition a wonderful article from Boston Magazine chronicling the audition process experience of Mike Tetreault, a percussionist auditioning for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Tetreault shares his dreams, the hours spent in preparation, the toll on his personal life--a must read for every aspiring artist!