AMBASSADOR
DECEMBER 2014
Director’s Column By Pat D’Ercole Upcoming Events Saturday, December 13, 2014 Marathon on the Road (see inside article) Sunday, December 14, 2014 Solo Recitals Michelsen Hall, 2:00 and 3:30 pm Friday and Saturday, January 9‐10, 2015 Collaboration Weekend Saturday, January 17, 2015 ASC Open House 9 am – noon Saturday, January 17, 2015 Marathon, 9 am – noon Saturday, January 17, 2015 Solo Recitals Michelsen Hall, 2:00 and 3:30 pm Saturday, February 14, 2015 Marathon, 9 am – noon Sunday, February 15, 2015 Solo Recitals Michelsen Hall, 2:00 and 3:30 pm Saturday, March 28, 2015 Marathon, 9 am – noon Sunday, March 29, 2015 Solo Recitals Michelsen Hall, 2:00 and 3:30 pm The Season of Giving is upon us! Musicians probably know this as well or better than most. Music of any kind, but particularly the music of the “season” plays a large part in creating the joyful environment, one that is of hope, peace and good cheer. Certain musical traditions are a large part of religious services such as a service of lessons and carols, and our families have musical traditions as well. For example, in my family after Christmas Eve dinner, those who played instru‐
ments led the singing of everyone’s favorite carols. Years ago, one of my students told me that she and her two brothers woke her parents up on Christmas morning by playing carols on their violins outside their parents’ bedroom door. Every year, too, there are traditional performances of Handel’s Messiah and The Nutcracker ballet. In larger cities these last the entire month of December. So this is the time of year that musicians are in great demand. There are lots of gigs to be had – formal and informal, paid and volunteer – many opportunities to share the gift of music that we have been given. After all, that’s why we practice, that’s why we make music. We make it to give it away. When I first came to teach here at the Aber Suzuki Center, I would give a full recital nearly every year. Before each of those recitals Miss Aber would remind me that I was giving a gift to the audience and the process was just like those special art projects we did for our parents in kindergarten. We chose what we wanted to make and then crafted it with all the skill we could muster at the time. No matter how it turned out, when we presented it, our parents seemed to think we had given them a diamond or a piece of gold. They showed grateful appreciation with smiles and hugs and kisses because they knew how much love we had put into it. A musical performance is like that kin‐
1
dergarten gift. Like the little drummer boy, at what‐
ever level we are capable, we need to give the gift of music this season, give the gift of ourselves, the gift of love. Many families and the ASC faculty did just that on No‐
vember 8 and made our Music of the Masters Scholar‐
ship Fundraiser a great suc‐
cess, raising $7,000 for need‐based scholarships. Thanks to all who shared their musical talents, who supported the event by vol‐
volunteering time or treasure or who advertised the event to another. We are also grateful to our alumni who attended, performed and spoke so eloquently about the effect of music in their lives. Special thanks to the MoM Committee for all of their hard work and attention to detail. There was great excitement after the event with comments like, “This was the best ev‐
er!” “Great food.” “All of the music was so well‐done and entertaining.” “I was surprised by the very gener‐
ous door prizes.” “The complementary glass of wine was a nice addition.” To share the gift of music and spread holiday cheer, we’ll be taking the December Marathon on the road. Each of the instruments areas will hold their Mara‐
thon at a senior care cen‐
ter. For more details, please refer to the article on page 5. If you need a little motivation to add yet one more event to an already crowded schedule, read Dr. Tim’s article, Music Miracles for inspiration. One of our alums, violinist Roy Meyer, will share his gift of music on December 16. He invites all of us to a free recital to celebrate Beethoven’s birthday. He and some friends will present an evening of chamber mu‐
sic at the Chestnut Center for the Arts in Marshfield. As you can see, we are not lacking for opportunities to give the gift of music to others or to be the audience who receives the gift. Music is about sharing. Sharing is the theme of the season and the good news is that we can have it all year‐round. Musical Miracles By Tim Mutschlecner This time of the year it is easy to think of things to be grateful for; a warm house during the ‘arctic blast,’ the relative ease and safety we go through our day, com‐
pared with much of this war‐weary world. During this time, as we share our gift of music with others, it is good to reflect on what an amazing gift it really is. Cellist Phillis Young captures something of this through her sense of wonder: The miracle that human beings can reach beyond their physical realm and express their inner beauty through music. The miracle that sound waves travel and that living creatures have ears to receive them and minds to in‐
terpret them. The miracle that, with a hank of hair attached tightly to the ends of a stick and drawn across a string, one can evolve from a hollow box some of the most glori‐
ous sounds known. The miracle that these sounds can be for more than just pleasing tones, that they can take on personality, character, and a spiritual beauty. The miracle that people have been given a body with the ability to move and to develop meticulous skills, a mind able to direct and to remember, and a soul to guide the operation so a meaningful combination of sounds can be brought forth from an instrument. The miracle that people have the gift of imagination within their power, the ability to feel emotions, and the motivation to express them. The miracle of being able to learn, to give and to share. The miracle of love. As the eloquent words of the two Suzuki alumni from the Music of the Master event bore witness to, the experience of studying music in a nurturing and stimu‐
lating environment teaches many skills that extend far beyond musical ability on a given instrument. Listen to these familiar words from a well‐known poem, in light of what we do as parents, students, and teachers: 2
Sources: The String Play, by Phyllis Young Children Learn What They Live, by Dorothy Law Nolte Joys and Sorrows, by Pablo Casals …If children live with encouragement, They learn confidence. If children live with praise, They learn to appreciate. If children live with fairness, They learn justice. If children live with security, They learn to have faith. If children live with approval, They learn to like themselves. If children live with acceptance and friendship, They learn to find love in the world. Celebrate Beethoven’s Birthday with a Chamber Recital by ASC Alumnus Roy Meyer and Friends Aber Suzuki Center Alumnus, violinist Roy Meyer, will perform a chamber recital in honor of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birthday on Tuesday evening December 16th at 7:30 pm, at the Chestnut Center for the Arts in Marshfield Wisconsin. He will be joined by pianists Joseph Hauer and Garrett Ross and cellist Alison Rowe. Come and celebrate! The concert is free to the public and all are invited. Roy Meyer began violin lessons at age four with Kyoko Fuller, at ASC, then known as the American Suzuki Talent Education Center (ASTEC). Roy made his solo debut with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra in 2005, playing Henryk Wieniawski’s second violin concerto. In 2012, Roy completed a B.M. in violin performance with the supreme guidance of Professor David Perry at University of Wisconsin‐Madison. More recently, Roy graduated from USF with his M.M. Currently, Roy is pursuing a certificate in advanced string studies from NYU under the tutelage of Greg Fulkerson. In addition to his private studies, Roy enjoys performing chamber music. Past ensembles have included USF's Presidents Trio, 2013, and UW‐
Madison's Perlman Trio, 2012. Roy has performed in master classes conducted by Wu Han, Malcom Bilson, and Wendy Sharp. With an especially passionate nature for orchestral repertoire, Roy has enjoyed being a member of the Sarasota Orchestra, 2013‐present, Orlando Philharmonic, 2013‐present, Madison Symphony Orchestra, 2008‐2012, Dubuque Symphony, 2009‐2011, and Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, 2003‐2007. Roy also participated in USF and UW‐Madison Symphonies holding positions of concertmaster, principle second, and principle violist. Additionally, Roy was concertmaster of the Round Top festival orchestra in 2013 and attended the festival in 2009 and 2011. Pianist Joseph Hauer, from Appleton, Wisconsin, completed his undergraduate studies at the Oberlin In our lessons we learn, not so much how to play mu‐
sic as how to be human. Pablo Casals was able to capture something of the transcendent wonder of every person who enters the world in words that remind me very much of Suzuki’s belief in humanity: Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe ‐ a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children in school? We teach them that two and two are four and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them…do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the world there is no other child exactly like you. In the millions of years that have passed, there has never been another child like you…and look at your body ‐ what a wonder it is! You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel ‐and when you grow up, can you then harm another who is like you – a marvel? You must cherish one another. You must work, we all must work, to make this world worthy of its children. The love of one’s country is a natural thing, but why should love stop at the border? We are all leaves of a tree, and the tree is humanity. Parents and students, as you make the effort to get out to performances such as the ones at Highrise Manor, Oakridge Senior Living Center, the Portage County Health Care Center, and Edgewater Manor, think about how uniquely music reaches across the divisions of age and experience to touch our common humanity. 3
versity in Saint Paul, MN with a BMus in Performance where he won first prizes in the Solo and Concerto Competitions. Conservatory with Professor Peter Takács. He has at‐
tended the Golandsky Institute Summer Symposium at Princeton University, PianoSummer at New Paltz, New York, and Pianofest in the Hamptons, and performed at the Houston, MN Chamber Music Series the past two summers. His performances have been broadcast statewide on Wisconsin Public Television and Wiscon‐
sin Public Radio. Hauer is pursuing a Masters in Piano Performance at the NYU Steinhardt School of Music with Eteri Andjaparidze, where he holds a position as Adjunct Instructor of Piano. His other interests include jazz piano, Russian, racquetball, and snowboarding. Alison Rowe, cellist, is currently a student of Colin Carr at Stony Brook University and a recipient of the Staller Scholar Award. She graduated in 2014 with her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance under the tu‐
telage of Chicago Symphony cellist Richard Hirschl. She held a tenured position in the Madison Symphony Orchestra for three years, while studying with UW‐
Madison professor Parry Karp. She was a member of the Civic Orchestra, the training orchestra of the Chi‐
cago Symphony where she played under conductors Jaap van Zweden, Cliff Colnot, and Riccardo Muti. As a soloist, Alison has performed Britten’s Second Cello Suite and Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces with Sahun Sam Hong on the Rising Stars Series in Green Lake, Wiscon‐
sin. This was the result of the music director hearing her perform the Britten Suite on Wisconsin Public Ra‐
dio as a winner of the Neale‐Silva Young Artists Com‐
petition. She has also performed the Saint‐Saens Cello Concerto in A minor with the Heart of England Orches‐
tra in Leicestershire and Samuel Barber’s Cello Concer‐
to with the Roosevelt University Chamber Orchestra in Ganz Hall in Chicago. Toshio Takahashi’s Path to Suzuki Flute – Part 2 By Sarah Lange A pivotal moment occurred in Toshio Takahashi’s life upon hearing a recording of a flutist, Marcel Moyse, which led him on a radical journey to study the flute. Moyse was formerly Professor of Flute at the Paris and Geneva Conservatories. He was a legendary flutist, musical pedagogue and producer of many teaching books. Moyse’s legacy continues to profoundly influ‐
enced flutists today. This is Part 2 of the story of how Takahashi went on a quest to find Marcel Moyse. In Part 1 of this series, Takahashi had convinced Shin‐
ichi Suzuki, a violinist, to teach him, as he could find no flute instructors in the area at the time. During one of their lessons Suzuki asked Takahashi whether Moyse was still alive. Takahashi didn’t know. He as‐
sumed he might have died already; but, after making inquiries, he found no news in Japan or from Europe. Takahashi concluded that most likely Moyse was still living and guessed he would be somewhere in the United States. Thus he embarked on his journey. In 1966, Takahashi arrived on a one‐way flight in Los Angeles. He quickly made connections with people by responding to advertisements to play in churches and at parties, which he did free of charge. One connec‐
tion secured him a place to stay by becoming a care‐
taker of a vacant home. In a few months he made an‐
other connection with a man who would schedule concerts for him to play and earn money. A performance brought him to Philadelphia, where he met with the “god of American flutists”, William Kin‐
caid, and had a lesson with him. During their session Kincaid mentioned the Marlboro Music Festival, ex‐
plaining how it was started by Adolph Busch, violinist, Rudolph Serkin, pianist and…Marcel Moyse, flutist. This was the information Takahashi needed. Once Takahashi was back in his hotel, he called the operator to see if there was a phone number for Mar‐
cel Moyse in Marlboro, VT. He learned that there was, nearby in Brattleboro. His heart pounded as he dialed the number, Mrs. Moyse answered and informed him Pianist Garret Ross enjoys an active career as a soloist and chamber musician. This year, he performed along‐
side cellist Ruth Marshall for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series at the Chicago Cultural Cen‐
ter and also started The Annual Chamber Music Series in Houston, Minnesota. Ross has also recently per‐
formed in various venues in NYC, including Steinway Hall and Loewe Theater. Ross has performed and stud‐
ied at the Aldeburgh Festival, Banff Centre, Interna‐
tional Keyboard Institute and Festival, International Festival‐Institute at Round Top, AmerKlavier Institute at Steinway Hall, and PianoSummer at New Paltz. Cur‐
rently, Ross studies with Eteri Andjaparidze at NYU's Steinhardt School where he also serves as adjunct fac‐
ulty in piano. He completed his Master of Music de‐
gree at the University of Minnesota with Alexander Braginsky. In 2008, Ross graduated from Bethel Uni‐
4
American Suzuki Journal 18, no. 3 (Fall 1990): 21. McCutchan, Ann. Marcel Moyse : Voice of the Flute. Portland: Amadeus Press, 1995. Marcel Moyse Society. “About Marcel Moyse”. Ac‐
cessed November 20, 2014. http://moysesociety.org/?page_id=11 Rea, Stephanie Jeanne. “The Suzuki Flute Method: A History and Description.” DM doc., The Florida State University, 1999 that her husband just had a gallstone operation and would be home the next day. Takahashi had finally tracked down Moyse! The following day, Takahashi called and Marcel Moyse answered. Takahashi explained that he was a Japanese flutist, had crossed the Pacific Ocean and the American continent, and was now in Philadelphia. He confessed he had no recommendation or introduction letter, but he would like to study with him if possible. Moyse’s response was, “Why not?” The next day, he took a train to Brattleboro. Finally, nine years after hearing that “ringing tone” broadcasted from a Tokyo music store that had changed the course of his life, he met Marcel Moyse. Takahashi continued to perform on the east coast and visit Moyse for the next few years. It was the begin‐
ning of a great mentoring friendship. It allowed Takahashi to observe and absorb Moyse’s approach to playing flute, which was to convey expression with honest musical interpretation that also reflected what was in the performers heart. Moyse said, “I long ago observed that the real beauty of the sound comes from the generosity of the heart.” In 1968, Takahashi returned to Japan and met with Suzuki, who suggested he try to write a Suzuki flute book. After two years of examining, sequencing and trialing it with his students, Volume 1 was published. Takahashi ultimately wrote 11 volumes of Suzuki Flute School. Much of what Takahashi learned from Suzuki and Moyse is incorporated in these books. In 1978, Takahashi and his students were invited by Margery Aber to teach at the American Suzuki Insti‐
tute. This was made possible by a grant written by Jennifer Burton and which the Wisconsin Arts Board awarded. It was the first introduction of the Suzuki Flute School in the United States. One of his students, an eleven‐year‐old Takeaki Miyamae, performed a complete recital. His tone, articulation, range, dynam‐
ics, phrasing, good intonation, dexterity and confi‐
dence affirmed the integrity of the Suzuki flute meth‐
od. Now, with great anticipation, I am looking forward to working with new students and continuing Suzuki flute instruction at the Aber Suzuki Center beginning Janu‐
ary 2015. References Kasckow, Ruth. “An Interview with Toshio Takahashi”. December Marathon Goes on the Road to Senior Centers By Jennifer Burton Holiday cheer is the theme for the December Marathon. We will be singing and playing for senior citizens across the city on Saturday, December 13! Please arrive at the loca‐
tion listed below for your instrument 20 minutes early for tuning and set up. If your family has students who play on two different instruments, there should be ample time for you to attend both events. We will wear our red ASC t‐shirts, or another red shirt. If you’d like to bring some cookies to give as treats to the seniors, you are welcome to do so. Place them in a cheerful bag and bring them to the concert. Here are the locations for all groups: Piano and Harp: Highrise Manor, 1300 Briggs Court, Stevens Point (near the old Sorenson’s Floral shop). Perform from 9:00 – 9:45 am. Cello: Edgewater Manor, 1450 Water Street, Stevens Point, from 10:00 – 10:45 am. Violin and Viola: Oakridge Senior Living Center, Sand‐
piper Drive at Amber Avenue. Park on the Amber Av‐
enue side and go to the dining room. Perform from 10:15 – 11:00 am. Guitar: Portage County Health Care Center, 825 Whit‐
ing Avenue (corner of Water Street and Whiting). Per‐
form from 11:30 – Noon. 5
notified. If you need to cancel your child’s lesson for any reason, it would be helpful to the teacher if you leave a message on his or her voice mail, rather than the Suzuki general number. Voice: Stevens Point Care Center, 1800 Sherman Ave‐
nue, Stevens Point, from 2:15 – 3:00 pm. Repertoire for the violin, viola and cello concert will be: The blue Christmas Kaleido‐
scope book: Joy to the World, The First Noel, Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Good King Wences‐
las, Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful), Up on the Housetop, We Three Kings, Away in a Manger, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Angels We Have Heard on High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentle‐
men and Deck the Halls. The pink Christmas Kaleidoscope book: Silent Night, Lo How a Rose, O Little Town of Bethlehem, The Friendly Beasts, The Holly and the Ivy, Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear and Here We Come A‐Caroling. Suzuki repertoire: Book 1: Key of D Major: Twinkle Variations, Lightly Row, Song of the Wind, O Come Little Children, Allegro. Key of C: Minuet 1. Book 2: Key of C: Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus and Handel Bourree. Key of G: Hunter’s Chorus. Book 3: Key of c minor: Gavotte in c minor. Repertoire for all other concerts will be given to you at your lessons. Some Christmas Kaleidoscope books are for sale at the Suzuki office. Student News Thank you to the students who played for the Wiscon‐
sin Music Teachers Association State Convention on October 24 at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point: Berit Borgnes, Samantha Carlson, Trevor Carlson, Tony Garbacz, Anna Hahn, William Hahn, Supriya Keefe, Evan Koelemay, Annina LeCapitaine, Julia Storch, Roisin Willis, Megan Yang and Olivia Yang. Hats off to Ann Marie Novak, collaborative pianist for the Troubadours, and to all the teachers who led or as‐
sisted students at the event: Jenny Burton, Rosalie Gilbert, Mary Hofer, Ann Marie Novak and Tom Yang. Alexandra Lee performed Handel Bourree, Gossec Gavotte and Gavotte from Mignon for her third grade music class in Marshfield on October 19. Julienne Verbrick performed patriotic songs and other pieces on her violin and mandolin at the Veterans Day Luncheon at the Town of Rome Hall in Nekoosa on Tuesday, November 11. Frederick Van Tiem was Principal Violist for the WSMA Middle Level Orchestra. Natalie Berk played several pieces on her violin with her parents, Stacey and David, at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum of Art in Wausau on November 13. Bravo to the ASC students who sang or performed two pieces for judges at the SPAMTA Fall Festival on No‐
vember 1 at UW‐Stevens Point. Piano students in‐
cluded: Katla Anderson, Toren Anderson, Samantha Carlson, Trevor Carlson, Tony Garbacz, David Gui, Anna Hahn, William Hahn, Supriya Keefe, Evan Ko‐
elemay, Jeffrey Leek, Katya Leek, Drew Nelson, Em‐
ma Nelson, Lucia Stephani, Natalie Van Tiem, Megan Yang and Olivia Yang. Violin and viola students were: Revyn Abbott‐Beversdorf, Anna Hahn, William Hahn, Faith Kluck, Alexandra Lee, Max Malek, Rachel Mar‐
ten, Nathaniel Meadows, Hope Stephani, Lucia Stephani, Carolyn Storch, Julia Storch, and Jace Yesse. Thank you to Lois Babcock, Ann Marie Novak and Ka‐
Weather Cancellations During times of severe winter weather, the local me‐
dia will be notified if UWSP is closing to the public. Information will also be available by calling University Information at 715‐346‐0123. In the event you hear that the University is closed, you can assume the ASC program is also closed, however the University closes to the public only under the most extreme weather conditions. If the University is not closed, whether or not to reschedule lessons due to the weather is up to the individual teacher. If we feel there is a need to cancel a Marathon or re‐
cital due to severe weather, the local media will be 6
ren Stephani for serving as collaborative pianists for the string students. Hip, hip hooray for the students who performed at the Music of the Masters on November 8: Revyn Abbott‐
Beversdorf, Katla Anderson, Finn Borgnes, Sophie Emerson, Lydia Ensminger, Sam Ginnett, David Gui, Anna Hahn, William Hahn, Jocelyn He, Supriya Keefe, Annina LeCapitaine, Alexandra Lee, Soren Luther, Annelise Odders, Adler Simons, Julia Storch, Jane Story and Victoria Tillotson. Thanks to Ann Marie Novak and Dave Story, collaborative pianist and bass‐
ist, respectively, for the Troubadours, the viola en‐
semble, Dr. Tim’s string quartet and to all the teachers who led groups: Jenny Burton, Rosalie Gilbert, Mary Hofer, Tim Mutschlecner, Ann Marie Novak, Oscar Soler, Merietta Oviatt and Tom Yang. from the Stevens Point Area Music Teachers Associa‐
tion. Mary Hofer and Judy Meyer were coordinators of the SPAMTA Fall Festival at UW‐Stevens Point on Novem‐
ber 1. Jenny Burton, Ann Marie Novak and Tom Yang assisted at the event. Rosalie Gilbert performed a concert for harp and choir with the UWSP Choirs on December 1. She performed with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra on December 6 and 7, and with the Marshfield Symphony on December 12. November 2014 Graduations Katla Anderson, Piano Book 3 Koppány Bodor, Cello Book 4 Alex Chen, Piano Twinkles Ruixue Du, Voice Book 1 Abishua Kealiher, Violin Book 2 Supriya Keefe, Piano Book 3 Rachel Marten, Violin Book 3 Macy Nystrom, Piano Twinkles Aidan Simons, Viola Book 3 Dinesh Traynor, Cello Book 9 Isaiah Vang, Piano Book 1 Nehemiah Vang, Violin Twinkles Logan Vayder, Guitar Book 2 Ronan Wolfe, Violin Twinkles Faculty News At the invitation of Professor Molly Roseman, Ann Marie Novak lectured in the UW‐Stevens Point piano pedagogy class on Monday, November 3 at UW‐
Stevens Point. Her topic was, “Suzuki Piano: The Method and the Philosophy.” Jenny Burton was a violin clinician at the Suzuki Asso‐
ciation of Minnesota String Workshop on November 23 and 24 in Minneapolis. Merietta Oviatt is the temporary acting Principal Viol‐
ist of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra. Jenny Burton, Mary Hofer, Ann Marie Novak and Tom Yang attended the state convention of the Wis‐
consin Music Teachers Association on October 24. Ms. Burton received a scholarship to attend the event 7
Christmas Carols
For those who are interested in learning the most popular Christmas Carols,
below are the keys and starting notes.
For Cello, Violin and Viola
Carol
Key
Starting Note
Away in A Manger
Joy To The World
Jingle Bells
G Major
D Major
G Major
O Come All Ye Faithful
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Silent Night
Deck the Halls
Angels We Have Heard On High
The First Noel
O Christmas Tree
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
G Major
G Major
G Major
C Major
G Major
G Major
D Major
G Major
G Major
G
D
"Dashing" D
"Chorus" B
G
D
D
G
D
B
For Piano
#
F
D
D
Cello String
& Finger
Violin/Viola
String & Finger
D4
A4
Open D
A1
D4
Open D
Open D
D4
A4
A1
D3
Open D
Open D
D3
A3
Open D
A1
D3
Open D
Open D
D3
A3
A1
D2
Open D
Open D
Carol
Key
Starting
Note
Finger
Jingle Bells
Joy To The World
Away In A Manger
Silent Night
The First Noel
Deck the Halls
C Major
C Major
C Major
C Major
C Major
C Major
E
C
C
G
E
G
3
5
5
2
3
5
Happy
Holidays
8