Schmidt-Rogers Blog

Junior Festival 2012

2011-11-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

November 2011 http://nfmc-music.org/cms/publications/junior-divison

Dates for Junior Festival: March 24 & 25, 2012, University of San Diego. For maps and directions, go to http://www.sandiego.edu/about/visit_campus.php. Founders Hall and Camino Hall will be on the campus map.
Deadline for applications: Postmarked March 2, 2012, $20.00 per category, per student

This year we will offer the Theory Exam at 1:00 pm on March 24th. Check out sample free tests at the website above for an extra $5.00.

For Festival Applications (JR-3-8) for students and for Festival Rating Sheets (JR-3-9) to take to the auditions on March 24th & 25th, go to the website above.

Dues were supposed to be in by Nov. 1, 2011. Send your dues to Don Darney, 647 N. Delaware, San Mateo, CA 94401

Problems: Deborah Ertenbeck at deborah@twopiano1.com

LETTER TO PARENTS February, 2012

Dear Parents,

Junior Festival will be held on March 24th and 25th , 2012 at the University of San Diego, Camino and Founders Hall. Directions are below, but detailed directions may be obtained from their website at http://www.sandiego.edu/ . Deadline for entry is March 112nd, 2012-postmarked and the fee is $20.00. Make out the check to your teacher. If you would like to take the Theory exam, that will be $5.00.
Bring with you your nicely dressed child, two Evaluation Forms-Rating Sheet for Festivals, JR-3-9 supplied by your teacher or obtainable online at Federation of Music Clubs/Publications http://nfmc-music.org/cms/nfmc-publications/, and his/her music marked with measure numbers and open to the correct pieces (no copies please) about 10 minutes before the assigned recital to sign in.
Your child will either be in the French Parlor in the front of Founders Hall or Rm. 153 in back of Camino Hall. They are side by side on Marion Way (http://www.sandiego.edu/maps/). As a courtesy to the other participating students, please remain for the entire 50 minute recital. Two judges will listen to the students and write comments. These comments will be available from your teacher the following week. All parents and friends are welcome at the recitals. Federation rules state that no photography or videotaping is allowed during the auditions.

Lea Schmidt-Rogers
Chair, Junior Festival

Halloween Recital

2011-10-25T08:47:00.001-07:00

Biography

2011-09-05T18:53:00.000-07:00

Lea Schmidt-Rogers teaches piano and organ in the San Diego area. She also presently substitute organist in the region. A graduate of Indiana University with an MM in Piano from the University of Hawaii, Ms. Rogers has been the staff accompanist at the U. of H., taught at Southwestern College, and been the organist at Foothills UMC and La Mesa First UMC.

Newsweek's Article on Creativity

2010-08-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/the-creativity-crisis.html

Student Recital

2010-06-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

Practice Techniques for the week

2009-02-17T10:35:00.000-08:00

Practice Tips for the Week

1. Sight-read 3 songs before you begin your assigned pieces.

2. Play a scale to look at your hand position, listen to tone, learn
the keys that your pieces are in. Start with C Major and G Major

RH: 123123412312345
LH: 543213214321321

3. Practice the pieces that you like least first. Save the best for
last. Look at the difficult parts of each piece first. Try practicing
the last page first.

4. Play each piece at least 3 times.

5. Practice going through the difficult parts.

6. In one session, practice timing only, then dynamics

Piano Tuners

2009-01-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

A piano should be tuned about once a year. By the time your child says that the piano is out of tune, it has long been an unsatisfying experience to play it.

Here are a few good tuners.

Ralph Miyashiro-(619)594-1775
James McEvoy-(619)291-4400
Lee Hintz-(619)442-8088

Practice Techniques

2008-05-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Practice Techniques

Remember that discipline is not a dirty word. The gift of discipline is a lifelong present to your children. Practicing an hour everyday will not make them hate the piano. On the contrary, the better they play, the more they enjoy music.

Assignments:
There are many ways to practice a piece. Here are just a few suggestions:

1. Get warmed up with a scale to check hand position- five finger or in octaves, according to your ability.
2. Begin 8 measures, then 16 measures, etc. from the end of a song, instead of always beginning at the beginning.
3. Play the piece at least three times a day. If it is a difficult song, try playing only 2 m., 4 m. 8 measures at a time, but repeat these numorous times.
4. Play the scale of the piece first and the I,IV, V chords. If you are more advanced, arpeggios and scales in 4 octaves for speed.
5. Break the piece into left hand and right hand practice.
6. Create your own music. Improvise for at least 5 minutes a day.

Just read new music for the fun of it. Listen to a lot of music. Try Leif Ove Andsnes, piano,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmc-Ga8R3gA

Youtube

2008-01-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

The latest Youtube

Handel: The Harmonious Blacksmith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2xyIXG5ARE

Scarlatti

G Major, K. 471

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cmGCzXdzFc

G Minor, K. 426
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogilpzBzO5o

Sonata in D Major, K. 96
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2W3urYvrVY

Older uploads
E Major- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04qq-Hxt-Eo
G Major- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOtMjOkIzWU
A Major http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnI1zaKted0&feature=user

For some sonatas on the Sonata list for December

Kuhlau- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZYZ0uCyuq4

Diabelli- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg9tza0FfhU

Clementi Sonatina, Op. 36, No. 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZmjD6l0ol8

Khachaturian Sonatina, 1959 for Piano
1st Movement- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtTNRSclxt0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdnMjLTHacg
Last movement- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enJ0tYeDh40

Martha Argerich, Scarlatti Sonata, K. 141
Vladimir Horowitz-Scarlatti Sonata, L.23
Also, Gustavo Dudamel, soon to be the conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic has some dynamic performances on Youtube.

Youtube References

2008-01-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

Kuhlau Sonatina- Op. 51, No. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHoP5VVzUlc

Bach: Prelude in C Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRBV1WMJtI4

Fur Elise-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD3HprWM96A

Ovation 3, Vandall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZWCrtpM5G0

Bach, Minuets in G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRtyGwW6scs (Guitar)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSxG2BIBs9I

John Williams: Imperial March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyfzRaUEwqE