What defines a successful music performance?--Bellevue School of Music

With our spring Student Recital recently concluded and lessons focused on reviewing performances, I’m reminded students need guidance to recognize their accomplishments. Understandably some inexperienced students arrive at their lesson with a gloomy face hounded by memories of nervousness and the notes that got away; they view their nerves as a weakness and their errors as failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. A student’s willingness to accept the challenges of performance is itself a tremendous achievement and the single most important prerequisite to developing their talent. The nervousness and errors are essential components a student learns to manage through experience.

Violin Student, Bellevue School of Music Spring Recital 2012

What All Teachers Should Learn from Jazz-Band Teachers

What All Teachers Should Learn from Jazz-Band Teachers

An article in Psychology Today by William Klemm, D.V.M., Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience, Texas A&M University.

So in a nutshell, the reason jazz students do so well is because their learning environment is built around:

• Passion
• Personal ownership and accountability
• Constructivism
• Social interaction
• High Expectations
• Reward

What age should my child begin music lessons--Bellevue School of Music

What age should my child begin taking music lessons?

Many parents wonder when is the right time for their child to start music lessons. The answer depends on these questions: What do you want from your child’s music lesson experience? Has your child expressed an interest in a specific instrument, if so which one? The answers will help you determine when to start.

Violin Student, Bellevue School of Music

Competition Day, North American Saxophone Alliance Young Artist Competition at ASU—Bellevue School of Music

Competition day, Saturday March 17th, has come and gone. I had wished to report a fairytale ending for Andrew Nelson, but because this is real life the hero in our story isn’t always victorious—these are the terms we accept in the pursuit of our dreams.

Andrew Nelson rehearsing Friday March 16, 2012
Herberger Institute of the Arts School of Music
Arizona State University
Bellevue School of Music

The trip to ASU--Bellevue School of Music

Five AM Friday, March 16th, the alarm wakens me in time to finish preparing for the flight to Phoenix; it’s the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference weekend and things are already in full swing at Arizona State University. Professional Saxophonists, College Professors and students are gathering for a wide range of events held every two years by the nation’s premier saxophone organization. Featured are five competitions for ages fifteen through twenty-six, showcasing the artistry of performers from High Schools and Universities throughout the nation. I’m attending the conference and coaching my private saxophone student Andrew Nelson, Andrew is a finalist in this years’ Young Artist Classical Saxophone Solo Competition to be held on Saturday afternoon March 17th at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts School of Music. As luck would have it the Nelsons are sitting across the aisle from me as I type.

All-State Wind Ensemble 2012

The All-State Wind Ensemble 2012, held on Monday February 20th in Yakima, featured sixty-three of the states' finest high school musicians under the direction of Marcellus Brown and is the premier All-State honor band. Of the four saxophonists chosen to perform, two were my students: Andrew Nelson 1st Chair Alto and Soprano saxophones, and Benjamin Zobel Baritone saxophone.

Although the concert began at 3:00 the journey began at 8:30 in Kirkland with my wife Jennifer and I gathering cold weather clothing in case we got stuck driving through the pass, dog toys and snacks for Koby our Bernese Mountain Dog mix, and of course our morning lattes as we wouldn't be able to function otherwise.

Morning Tonic :)

Bellevue School of Music Welcome!

Andrew Nelson
1st Place Eastshore Solo and Ensemble Festival 2012

Welcome to the Bellevue School of Music blog hosted by Robert H. Wilson! Here you will find a variety of posts on all things music and student related: view pictures of events that shape the musical lives of our students, read up on techniques to improve your performance, find recommended books to help you along your musical journey, stay current with school performances and more. Join the blog and ask me questions on a topic that interests you.

I look forward to sharing my experiences and hope you'll enjoy our journey together in search of musical excellence.