Winter recitals at The Lane School of Music are next week. Our students have been preparing for months! We aren’t kidding! It takes that much time to set yourself up for a successful performance. Rebecca and Zara are here with five tips to help you get ready for your next recital. They have advice on choosing repertoire and outfits, practicing and de-briefing with your teacher.
Book a free trial lesson: www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
Rebecca and Zara are back with more interesting instruments! This week we are learning all about the clarinet. And no one is better to give us the ins and outs of this member of the woodwind family (and a few of its cousins) than Kelly Sanchuk. Kelly is a multi-instrumentalist hailing from Saskatchewan. She is also one of The Lane School of Music’s fabulous instructors. She teaches us all about reeds, when kids can start clarinet lessons and how learning recorder at school is setting you up to be a skilled woodwind player.
Book a free trial lesson: www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
The Hockey Sweater is a Canadian children’s book by Roch Carrier. It tells the story of a boy in Quebec who gets the wrong jersey in the mail and is forced to play hockey with a group of Montreal Canadian’s fans, while repping the Toronto Maple Leafs. In February, The Toronto Symphony will be presenting this book in concert form. How cool is that? The conductor of this show, Trevor Wilson is here to tell us all about this marriage of sports and classical music. We chat about why this story resonates with Canadians, how a book becomes a concert and what to expect when you watch this musical hockey match on February 5th.
Buy tickets for The Hockey Sweater: https://www.tso.ca/concerts-and-events/events/the-hockey-sweater/
Learn more about Trevor: https://trevorwilsonconductor.com/about/
Watch The Hockey Sweater short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hka6mVkszq0
Music is a big part of any celebration, and the holidays are no exception! We have created a list of holiday musical classics to make your season even more merry and bright. It includes classical, jazz and pop music inspired songs and shows. Watch and listen live or cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy at home. How will you be adding music to your holiday traditions this year?
This is our episode all about The Nutcracker: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/single-post/the-nutcracker-episode-12
Watch at home:
The Nutcracker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR_Z1LUDQuQ
Handel's Messiah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR0cEOTpYSk
Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fh133ZO1AE&list=PLEpZan9S2GOFesp-gJqsdD80a7zoaflHa
The Snowman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AIhMpdpzbg&t=144s
The music world is VERY small! Today’s guest is extra special because she is the parent of one of Rebecca’s former violin students and a fellow music studio owner. Rhonda Hanson is a music teacher and soon to be accredited music therapist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At her music studio, she runs a very important and unique program called Sing It Girls. Sing It girls helps female identifying adolescents develop confidence and community through singing. Rhonda tells us all the whos, whys and whats of the program as well as how music therapy can help other demographics of people.
Visit Rhonda’s website: http://www.setthetone.ca
In this episode Zara steps down from hosting duties to be a KQTM guest! She is joined by soccer teammate and Lane School of Music student Norah to compare playing sports and taking music lessons. From an outside perspective they may seem to have no connection. But, both involve winning, practicing, scoring, building skills and teamwork. They often look different in each activity but these important life skills are prominent in both.
Sign-up for a free trial lesson: http://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
Tania Miller believes that anybody can be a conductor, just like her! Tania grew up in small town Saskatchewan and now conducts orchestras all over the world. She even conducted Rebecca in the RCM orchestra 15 years ago. And no, her job does not involve driving a train. She shares with us what the conductor does up on the podium, what the white stick is for and why anybody can be a conductor.
Learn more about Tania: https://taniamiller.com
If you’re in Toronto between October 14th and November 4th, head over to The Four Seasons Centre to see the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Carmen by Georges Bizet! Carmen is one of the most well-known and commonly performed operas in the world. It is a tragic love story, full of earworms and a very energetic children’s chorus. In this episode Rebecca goes solo to interview two members of the children’s chorus Lee and Leo. These young singers are members of the Canadian Children’s Opera Company and take centre stage in this new COC production.
Learn more about the CCOC: https://www.canadianchildrensopera.com
Get tickets to see the COC's production of Carmen: https://www.coc.ca/productions/23489
Fall lessons are back in full swing! How did you prepare over the summer? Did practicing not quite fit into the summer schedule amongst beach days, soccer games, and camping trips? It’s always ok to take some time off, but here is some advice to re-start practicing after a long break. Rebecca and Zara have three easy tips to get back to music making at a gradual pace.
Book a free trial lesson in-person in Toronto or online from anywhere: http://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
Welcome to season 3 of Kids Q The Music! We are getting ready to bring you another year of musical adventures. To kick off this season, Rebecca and Zara are reminiscing about their favourite episodes (remember all the “fluffy noises” when our LSM students came up with new definitions for the word tutti?) and making a wish list of who they want to interview in upcoming episodes. Who are you most excited to hear from? Conductors? Performers? Composer? Kids? If you have a suggestion for a guest (or YOU want to be a guest) send our content manager an email: mairi@laneschoolofmusic.com
Season 2 of Kids Q The Music brought us tons of laughs, helped us discover new and interesting music, and allowed us to meet very talented musicians from across the country and abroad. In this episode, Rebecca and Zara are revisiting five of their favourite moments from the past year. (It was so hard to choose only five!) Did your favourite musical adventure make the list? What do you think, should we come back for a third season?
We often think opera singing is for grown-ups only. It requires advanced technical skills and a deep understanding of music and languages. But did you know there have been tons of roles written for children? Very famous examples are the Three Spirits from Mozart’s The Magic Flute. The Spirits, played by children, help guide the main character, Tamino, on his quest to save the princess. Nine-year-old singer, pianist and mega opera fan Emma Moreau recently sang the First Spirit with the Canadian Opera Company. Emma shares her experience working with professional opera singers, upcoming auditions, and sings the Spirit’s solo for us. Watch out for her name in lights!
Learn more about the COC's production of The Magic Flute: https://www.coc.ca/productions/23090
The Musical Terms Trivia Show is back for a second round! This time it’s a violinist party. Rebecca and Zara are joined by Siobhan and Corinne to give fresh definitions to four musical terms. These Lane School of Music students are experts when it comes to following musical directions. They know when to cut violin strings, how to whistle a song from your soul, and how to point a pink piano with their pinky while drinking pink lemonade. If you aren’t sure which terms these definitions belong to, you better get listening!
Book a free trial lesson: http://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
You know the saying the show must go on? No matter what happens backstage or onstage, musicians must present their performance to the expectant audience. While events that could de-rail a performance are, for most musicians, just a scary thought that never comes to fruition; Lane School of Music violin student Brooksley experienced this firsthand. Moments before her recital performance, one of her violin strings snapped! With some quick thinking and very impressive performing skills, she still managed to serenade the audience without anyone knowing what was happening behind the scenes. Brooksley shares the whole story of what happened that day and gives a redemption performance of Etude.
Book a free trial lesson: http://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
Kids grow quickly, but unfortunately their instruments will always stay the same size. There comes a point when your mini musician isn’t so mini anymore and will have to say goodbye to their best musical friend. This is what happened to two of the Lane children just a few weeks ago. Zara has a new violin named Kevin or Bob (name pending) and Charles is now playing the brother of his former cello, Chenry II. Rebecca and Zara have tips on how to make the breakup a little easier, the signs that your child needs to upsize, and what to expect when adjusting to a larger instrument.
Visit The Sound Post: http://www.thesoundpost.com
Book a free trial lesson: http://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
Have you ever met an opera singing bassoonist? Rebecca and Zara have, and she’s only nine years old! Olivia Pady is a quint (mini bassoon) player and member of the Canadian Children’s Opera Company’s principal chorus. The CCOC works in collaboration with the Canadian Opera Company, allowing its young members to perform in professional operatic productions. Olivia recently sang the role of Marcel in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Fantasma, composed by Ian Cusson. In this episode, she shares her favourite part of the rehearsal process, what it’s like working with a professional opera company, and what happens when your veil doesn’t fit quite right. Oh! And if you have a question about the bassoon, Olivia is the girl to ask!
Learn more about the CCOC: https://www.canadianchildrensopera.com
Learn more about Fantasma: https://www.coc.ca/productions/fantasma
Rebecca, Zara and special guest co-host Chirps have complied a playlist guaranteed to make you fall in love with classical music. Get ready to be transported to outer space, the forest, a carnival, and into a beehive by orchestral scores, narrators and familiar melodies. These five pieces are sure to be loved by kids and parents alike!
Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLewNH9OW3Bx_ln0dZN4KKehwbr3FDiJbA
Peter and the Wolf Ballet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQb5UA93VrI
Have you ever fallen out of your practice routine? It happens to every musician at some point, and it can feel cumbersome to get back on track. If this sounds like you, take this as a sign that April is your month to get back on track. (Especially if you are a Lane School of Music Student trying to become a practice star during practice month!) Rebecca and Zara share five pieces of advice to help you get practicing back on track. These tips are easy and fun ways to make practicing part of your daily routine again.
Download a practice chart:https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/_files/ugd/9f09eb_aaaa4cb3c0ee45968658ed5b091f791c.pdf
Our Top 10 Practice Games: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/single-post/our-top-10-practice-games-episode-23
Where do you find musical inspiration? For artists, simply looking up to the sky can stimulate the creative juices. Many musicians have been inspired by birds, rainbows, stars and the sun. For Halifax based-pianist Jennifer King, her musical inspiration comes from the moon. Jennifer has released two solo piano albums O Mistress Moon and O Mistress Moon: Canadian Edition. Both feature pieces that have a relationship to the environment, specifically the moon, space and nighttime. She chats about choosing music for the albums, working with composers, and what it means to be both a collaborative and solo pianist.
Twilight Hour Animation: https://youtu.be/fOjVxHBMbsw
Learn more about Jennifer:
Website: https://www.jenniferkingpiano.com/
Instagram: @jenniferkingpiano
Facebook: Jennifer King Piano
Follow her on Spotify and YouTube: Jennifer King Piano
Writing and producing an opera is no small feat. It marries the art of music and theatre, so it’s nothing without a gripping storyline! In this episode, Zara is re-writing the plots to three popular operas, based their title, main characters and a single plot point. The first, is the story of a prince named Tamino who turns the world into cheese. The second, a love story about an evil boy who does karate. And finally, a composer and his friends making music on a piano named Tenor.
Highlights from each Opera:
Die Zauberflöte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuBeBjqKSGQ
L'Enfant et les Sortilèges: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWPpsMPLgrY
Ariadne auf Naxos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_xRW4FQGQM
Student’s enrolled in the Claude Watson Secondary Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School have the unique opportunity to focus their studies on visual or performing arts. Those students who successfully audition as music majors, are taught by Deborah Pady. Deborah joins us this week to discuss how she teaches and inspires her students to compose and the program’s exciting partnership with local Toronto ensembles. She even inspires Zara to compose an opera about cheese that results in an exclusive, one-woman performance for our listeners.
Watch the full performance of Adrian Thornton-Mark’s Birth Certificate: https://youtu.be/EpQv6tqXSbM
Hear more of Adrian’s compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtZDRzlzz8oTjQTCRzqjneg
Learn more about the Claude Watson Arts Program:
Website: http://www.claudewatson.ca/
Facebook: Claude Watson Arts Program – Earl Haig
Instagram: @ehclaudewatson
Zara has finally realized her greatest dream, playing the piano! After many Kids Q The Music guests advocated for playing both violin and piano, Rebecca won mom of the year but signing her young violinist up for piano lessons. They discuss what to expect at your first lesson, the difference between online and in-person lessons and what kind of piano to buy when you are just starting out. Check back later to see how practicing two instruments goes at the Lane household.
Want to try out piano lessons too? Book a free trial lesson: http://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/trial
Rebecca and Zara are joined by another mother-daughter musical duo in this week’s episode! Patricia Ahern is a baroque violinist who plays with the world-renowned, Toronto based orchestra, Tafelmusik. Her daughter, Liliana Mahave, is a music major in the Claude Watson Arts Program at Earl Haig Secondary School and is already making a name for herself as a composer. Liliana shares her compositional process from early childhood to now. (She has come a long way from writing piano pieces about elephants and caterpillars!) While Patricia gives advice to all the musicians raising musicians.
Liliana’s award-winning composition for piano trio, Baile Diabólica de Tontín will be premiered by the Bedford Trio on March 19th, tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/immersed-tickets-184993489507
Watch Patricia and Liliana play together (video begins at 20:17): https://youtu.be/OD7TwI19LEg?t=1217
If are a long-time listener of Kids Q The Music, you know Zara has been wishing with all her might for a piano. Well, her wish came true and has opened a new door of musical exploration. We are thrilled to introduce Zara Lane, composer. Zara discusses the compositional process and techniques, and even performs her own pieces. Her current catalogue of works includes The Thirsty Brother (title pending), Night on Stage, Danger: Lost in the Forest and an untitled piece that she needs your help naming!
Four-year-old Jialiang Zhu just wanted a piece of birthday cake and ended up with a piano. It was a happy accident though! Jialiang is now a professional pianist based in Toronto and is the only pianist in her piano trio, The Bedford Trio. Don’t worry, she clears up that confusion for us! She shares with us how the trio formed, what kind of music they play and gives some practice tricks for all the budding pianists out there.
The Bedford Trio is performing the concert “Immersed” on March 19th at 8:00 pm at Ernst Balmer Studio. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/immersed-tickets-184993489507
Watch The Bedford Trio play Katharine Petkovski's Piano Trio No.1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGNCpHRK8S8
Learn more about Jialiang:
Website: https://www.jialiangpiano.com
Be sure to check out her lecture recital on Chinese art song: https://www.jialiangpiano.com/recordings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jialiangzhu_arts/
Learn more about the Bedford Trio:
Website: http://www.bedfordtrio.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bedford_trio/
This week we are joined by a violinist, composer, photographer, cat lover and movie star. Oh! Did we mention this is just one person? Alice Hong is a musician who wears many different hats, and being a musician is what granted her all these opportunities. Alice is a member of the Edgewood String Quartet (who get to play for 1000 candles twice a week), a composer of beautiful classical music and a photographer and videographer who helps other musicians in their businesses and careers. She even rubs elbow with The Rock in a new Netflix movie. We are starstruck!
Check out Alice's composition (featured in background of this episode) l'oiseau qui entend l'appel du vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJFG0kihf5Y
Learn more about Alice:
Website: https://www.aliceyhong.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicehong__
Learn more about the Edgewood String Quartet:
Website: https://www.edgewoodstringquartet.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgewoodstringquartet
Find a Candlelight Concert in Toronto: https://feverup.com/toronto/candlelight
In the olden days, it was common to have a name inspired by your career, class status, or place of birth. But what else can a name tell you about someone? Maybe their wealth, favourite food, or species...? In this episode Zara creates biographies of lesser known composers based only on their, very interesting, names.
Hildegard von Bingen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei88J4lERbk&t=111s
Erich Wolfgang Korngold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDyjPB_AEBU
Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymc99Gd7YY8
Engelbert Humperdinck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n85kl5qQLc
George Butterworth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFgDOBpx160
Inspired by a local youth string orchestra, Tanya Charles Iveniuk has been on the path to "making it big" as a freelance violinist since the age of 10. (She's definitely made it!) On her way to Carnegie Hall, she stopped by to answer some hard-hitting questions for us. Why do violinists have to stand when they play? Why do performers get flowers? Should we throw candy at our favourite musicians? She also helps us shake the winter chill with a performance of Vivaldi's "Summer."
Watch Tanya Perform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c871QoEa7Lc&t=535s
Learn more about Tanya:
Instagram: @tangramci https://www.instagram.com/tangramci/
YouTube: Tanya Chales Violin https://www.youtube.com/c/TanyaCharlesViolin
Learn more about the Odin Quartet:
Website: http://www.odinquartet.com
Instagram: @odinquartet https://www.instagram.com/odinquartet/
Facebook: Odin Quartet https://www.facebook.com/odinquartet
YouTube: Odin Quartet https://www.youtube.com/c/OdinQuartet
The Nutcracker ballet is a beloved holiday classic all over the world. E.T.A Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” paired with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score, bring holiday dreams to life. Each year the National Ballet of Canada produces a spectacular production of The Nutcracker that includes rollerblading bears and the spectacular National Ballet Orchestra. This week, we are joined by the orchestra’s assistant concertmaster Dr. Lynn Kuo; who has played over 500 Nutcrackers with the National Ballet! She shares her favourite moments in the show, a few backstage secrets and what it takes to make the Nutcracker, musically, come to life.
Connect with Lynn:
Websites:
www.lynnkuo.com
www.violinwithdrlynn.com
Socials: @violynnkuo on IG/FB
www.Instagram.com/Violynnkuo
www.Facebook.com/violynnkuo
www.YouTube.com/lynnkuo
Learn more about the National Ballet of Canada's production of The Nutcracker:
www.national.ballet.ca/
Do you have a mini musician in your life who needs a special holiday gift? Well, we have a few ideas for you. Form sparkly rosin to symphony tickets, these gifts are guaranteed to bring holiday cheer, and music, into your home!
Magic Rosin: https://www.thesoundpost.com/en/store/accessories/violin/rosin/magic-rosin
Manhasset music stands: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/manhasset-symphony-music-stand--assorted-colors/j42292000001000
Musical Books: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/single-post/musical-book-reviews-episode-32
More Ideas: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/single-post/2017/12/06/best-gifts-for-musical-kids
Zara's guide to musical terms is expanding and this time she brought along some friends. We have gathered some of the brightest and most creative minds The Lane School of Music has to offer for a musical terms trivia show! Pianists Vivianne and Mirei, and singer Norah are ready with lemon toast, nocturnal animals, and modelling clay to give fresh definitions to five musical terms and to battle it out in a game of opera or cheese.
Donna Rhodenizer is a composer, songwriter, performer, multi-instrumentalist, and elementary music specialist. She is known for her imaginative and humorous compositions for children. (If you've ever done a Royal Conservatory of Music voice exam, you may have sung one of her songs!) With Donna, we discuss why learning to sing is so important and how much fun it is to compose music about dinosaurs and dragons!
Learn more about Donna's Music:
Website: https://donnaandandy.com
Red Castle Publishing: https://www.redcastlepublishing.com
The Full Voice: https://www.thefullvoice.com
Special offer "Celebrating 25 years of Donna & Andy Making Music": https://donnaandandy.com/celebrate-25-fun-years-composing-performing-and-recording/
CDs for kids: https://donnaandandy.com/donna-and-andy-cds-for-the-whole-family/
Donna's instrumental music: https://donnaandandy.com/donna-rhodenizer-2/
Learn more about RCM exams: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/single-post/exams-are-not-scary-episode-18
We use music in our day-to-day lives to relax, motivate, learn and have fun. But music can also be used to help heal and strengthen our bodies and minds through music therapy. Music therapy uses music to help reach non-musical goals such as movement and communication (and much more) with the help of a music therapist like Mia Clow. This week Mia teaches us how music can help to reach these non-musical goals, what happens in a music therapy session and how music therapy can help kids like you!
Connect with Mia:
Email: mia.lighthousemt@gmail.com
Website: lighthousemt.com
Instagram: lighthousemusictherapy
In Honour of Remembrance Day, we sat down with Dr. Michelle Boyd, professor of musicology at Acadia University. Wait a second! Shouldn’t a doctor be working at a hospital, not a university? Well, Dr. Boyd is a very special kind of doctor. She holds a PhD in musicology making her an expert in music research! Her job is to research how music relates to our society and culture. This has led her to creating the “Singing in Flanders Field Project.” The project explores how musical settings of the poem, “In Flanders Fields,” changes our interpretation and experience of this iconic poem. Take a listen to hear more about Dr. Boyd’s research as well as 2 (out of at least 150) settings of “In Flanders Fields.”
“In Flanders Fields” by Christine Donkin, performed by The Acadia University Singers (publisher Graphite Publishing)
“In Flanders Fields” by J.D. Wells, performed by Paula Rockwell and Dr. Michelle Boyd
Learn more:
Digital Lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZujHheZkag
Project Website: https://singinginflandersfields.acadiau.ca/welcome.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/singinginflandersfields
Instagram: @flandersfieldschoir
Sheet music and repertoire books are covered in special instructions, often written in unfamiliar languages. It’s difficult to memorize them all, so Zara is here to assist you. What’s an anacrusis? Obviously, it’s when you invite your friend Ana over to play before practicing. Have you ever seen the term da capo? It’s just a friendly reminder that Christmas is coming, and your dad could really use a new cap as a gift! Did you play the schnell section with a snail? These are just a few examples of what Zara has provided in her guide to musical terms.
Example of recitativo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVB5r-ui-C8
Sign up for a free trial lesson: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/online
Happy Halloween! Our treat…or maybe trick for you this year is a selectin of spooky classical music. (Sorry, we already ate all the chocolate). There is a deathly dance, a marching band of witches, a familiar but frightening organ fugue and a few monsters on a mountain to get you into that creepy, crawly Halloween mood. Did we scare you?
Hear the full performances:
Danse Macabre by Camille Saint- Saëns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0glOYQBlSA
Night on Bald Mountain by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: https://youtu.be/SLCuL-K39eQ
Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Johann Sebastian Bach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnuq9PXbywA
In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r__Dk4oWGJQ
Sign up for a free trial lesson: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/online
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a concert you could carry around in your pocket? Something small, and compact that you could listen to anywhere? Science hasn’t quite come that far yet, but musicians Rory and Emily have come up with the next best thing! Rory McLeod, violist and Emily Rho, pianist are co-directors of Pocket Concerts. They have created a new concert model were music, storytelling and conversation come together. Pocket concerts are intimate shows, performed in alternative venues like cafes, salons and your front porch. Rory and Emily share how they organize their concert series and why Pocket Concerts are perfect for kids!
Learn more:
Website: https://www.pocketconcerts.ca
Facebook: Pocket Concerts
Instagram: @pocketconcerts
Twitter: @pocketconcerts
It's been over a year since the last Rebecca Reads! If you didn't catch them last summer, Rebecca and her kids read a musical book each week on The Lane School of Music Facebook page. Now, very special guests Charles and Thomas Lane, are here to help Rebecca and Zara review their favourite musical books. They have books about piano playing bears, cats who compose and even a man who eats instruments. You are sure to find something new to add to your summer reading list!
The Lane family's favourite musical books:
Mole Music
Written and illustrated by David McPhail
The Bear and the Piano
The Bear, the Piano, the Dog, and the Fiddle
Written and illustrated by David Litchfield
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
Written by Barbara Garriel
Illustrated by John O'Brien
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed
Written by Leslea Newman
Illustrated by Amy June Bates
Because
Written by Mo Willems
Illustrated by Amber Ren
Sign up for a free trial lesson: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/online
Pianos can fall out of tune for a variety of reasons. Playing it too much, not playing it enough or changes in the weather are the most common. But what do you do when this happens? Buy a DIY kit on Amazon? No way! Call your friendly neighbourhood piano technician. Michael Janes is a piano technician who has tuned pianos from Dubai to Newfoundland and everywhere in between. This piano expert offers us insight on all the hows and whys of piano care, what happens when a mouse makes their home in your instrument and reminds us to be very careful when using umbrellas during sing-alongs.
Connect with Michael:
Facebook: Mike Janes
Email: mcjanespiano@gmail.com
From “Invasion of the Ant Colony” to writing operas for the Canadian Opera Company, Ian Cusson has been telling stories through music since he was 8 years old. Ian is a Canadian composer of opera, art song and orchestral works who is heavily influenced by his Métis roots. He shares how he tells stories through sound, the benefits of brushing your teeth and joins Zara for the inaugural game of opera or cheese!
Hear the full performance of "Dodo, mon tout petit" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOcZBLMctTQ
Learn more about Ian:
Website: www.iancusson.com
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/ian-cusson
Instagram: @iancusson
Suzuki, Star Wars, and Zoom don't seem to go together. But, Lane School of Music violin teacher Adrian Irvine found a way for them to blend together in perfect harmony!.. Literally. Adrian is here to share how a Suzuki violin group class can still play together in a Zoom recital and make it really fun for both the students and audience. All it takes it takes is a little technology, a couple of movies themes, and a group of enthusiastic and adaptable violinists!
Mystery Mashup: https://youtu.be/D57QUGS4_2M
Mission Impossible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2TD5kugODM&t=1s
Sign up for a free trial lesson: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/online
So many instruments, so little time! Sometimes it's hard to decide which one we want to learn. Lane School of Music student Shaila knows how that feels! She was one of Rebecca's very first violin students, is currently a voice student at LSM and is soon to be a pianist too! Shaila shares how transitioning between instruments has helped her excel in each one by building invaluable musical skills. We even get to hear these skills in action during a show-stopping performance of "Tomorrow" from the musical Annie.
See Shaila perform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYHI-wJa2Tw
Sign up for a free trial lesson: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/online
Lane School of Music students have become experts in the art of virtual performing over the past year. At the beginning of June, 325 students performed in 12 recitals over Zoom, to display their hard work and talents to family and friends. In this episode, Rebecca and Zara interview two students who gave stellar performances. Pianist Sadie, reveals what happens when a virtual performance doesn't go as planned and how to incorporate your furry friends into a recital video. Then, cellist Linus explains how recital preparation works when you come from a very musical family.
Watch the performances:
Sadie winter recital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzPX4pcTWuQ
Sadie Encore 21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhkZCDOapvo
Linus Encore 21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQN8a-YdocQ
Sign up for a free trial lesson: https://www.laneschoolofmusic.com/online
Non-profit, volunteer run arts organization Fuse, believes art is for everyone.
We at Kids Q The Music fully agree! Rebecca and Zara sat down with two of Fuse's directors, Breanna Lalonde Director of Marketing and Roland Kessler Director of Community Engagement, to talk about their mission and recent projects. They broadened our idea of what an artist is, taught us how they work to make the arts accessible and gave us the behind-the-scenes secrets of making an opera movie.
Watch Hansel and Gretel: The Movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVEAPgDv0qM&list=PLC7NwtHarRw3HnEQ1g3qvVwmViGy5QdpP
Learn more about Fuse:
Fuse is a non-profit organization run by volunteers that believe in art in our community, and that art should be for everyone. We're dedicated to making the arts more accessible and breaking down the barriers around creating, sharing, and experiencing art. Learn more at fuseart.org or find us on social media @fuseartorg.
Fuse on Instagram
Fuse on Facebook
Fuse on Twitter
Fuse on YouTube
What is music? How should it make us feel? What should music written today sound like? These are the questions contemporary composers are trying to answer…and so are Rebecca and Zara. This week they learn that music can sound like an epic movie scene or like an animal jumping on the piano. They also discuss if singers need a melody and if rubber ducks can be musical instruments.
Watch the performances:
City Noir by John Adams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Eq1undkHKI
Waltz from Five Piano Pieces by Arnold Schoenberg:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJTe75BUuPY
Sequenza III by Luciano Berio: https://youtu.be/-35JhNrTmR0
Water Walk by John Cage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXOIkT1-QWY
4'33 by John Cage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWVUp12XPpU
The world is full of interesting instruments! We are sure you can name tons, but some are less common than others. Join Rebecca and Zara as they see and hear five instruments they’ve never heard of and you probably haven’t either. Some are very old, some come from far away islands, and others are just a little wacky.
Learn more about these instruments:
Tenor Cornett: https://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/instrument/lizard
Balinese Gamelan: http://www.gamelan-bali.eu/pitch_and_tuning.html
Theorbo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVabz8LneI4
Glass Armonica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEKlRUvk9zc
Theremin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
How do you become a professional clarinettist? It’s not just about being lucky. It takes a ton of practice and a bit of bravery! In this episode Rebecca and Zara interview clarinettist Sean Rice about his journey from school band to The Juilliard School to this day to day life as a member of one of the world’s top orchestras; The National Arts Centre Orchestra.
Hear the NACO play: https://nac-cna.ca/en/orchestra
Check out Sean's podcast: NACOcast
St. James Town Community Arts provides musical opportunities for kids in the community of St. James Town right here in Toronto! In this episode, Rebeca and Zara chat with one of St. James Town’s senior voice students Thaanya. She gave us the ins and outs of online voice lessons (as a student and teacher) and how music will help her in dreams of becoming a doctor. She even shares a gorgeously sung Italian aria with us before Thaanya and Zara dominate at ‘Pasta or Composer.’
St. James Town Community Arts is hosting their second virtual fundraiser, The Sunny Side of Our Street, on June 17th. It will feature performances by the children’s choir, instrumental students, drama program, and more!
Learn more about SJTCA here: https://stjamestowncommunityarts.org
Head to https://upperbeachesmusic.com/podcast to ask your music questions and Rebecca and Zara just might answer them on an upcoming episode!
To practice or not to practice? This is often the question students and parents ask as the school year comes to an end and summer draws nearer. Should our instruments go on vacation with us? Should they hibernate for an entire season? Will my instrument be upset if I don’t play it for two whole months? Rebecca and Zara breakdown three options for summer practicing and reveal which is the best to keep you and your instrument happy!
To book your free trial lesson, visit www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online
We’ll be honest, sometimes practicing isn’t fun. Repeating the same thing over and over until we get it right can be boring. There must be a way to spice things up... Don’t worry! Rebecca and Zara are here to save the day! We compiled a list of our top 10 practice games that you can try at home. From poetry to cars, from colouring to obstacle courses, there is something on this list for every little musician to enjoy!
To book your free trial lesson, visit www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online
What makes practicing fun for your child? Games, stickers, movement? And what makes practicing fun for you? Maybe a big cup of coffee? Violin teacher and practice expert Christine Goodner believes when both student and parent are enjoying practice time, it makes for more successful music making! In this episode Christine share some tips and tricks to make practicing fun for all involved!
Find more practice tips from Christine:
Website: http://suzukitriangle.com
Instagram: @suzukitriangle
Practicing looks a little different for everyone, even sisters! This week we chat with piano students Sophia and Audrey, who are famous at Upper Beaches Music School for their wonderful practice habits. They share with us why they love practicing and what to do when practicing gets a little tricky. These pianists are literal practice stars!
To book your free trial lesson, visit www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online
We all carry around an instrument every hour of every day. It’s not very heavy and you are born knowing how to play it. Guess what it is yet? Your voice! Whether you sing in the shower or on the operatic stage, you are a singer! In this episode Marcia Whitehead, professional singer, author, and Goddess of Operations at Upper Beaches Music School, shares her journey to vocal recovery.
Learn more about Marcia:
Website: www.tooquiettoquit.com
Facebook: Too Quiet To Quit
Instagram: @marciawhiteheadsings
Marcia’s opera picks for kids:
Hänsel und Gretel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqt8M5ePBBc
La Cenerentola: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeVezYX1m6M
L’enfant et les sortilèges: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFeI8FH1zjw
What do bells and green screens have to do with playing in a brass quintet? Are trumpets trying to take over the world? These are just a few questions Jay Austin, French hornist of Hogtown Brass, answered for us. He even gives Zara her very first brass lesson using a silly but familiar sound…
Watch Hogtown Brass perform Valley Views by Cait Nishimura: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hekCEptgYO0
Check out more from Hogtown Brass:
Website: www.hogtownbrass.com
Podcast: Hogtown Hangs
YouTube: @hogtownbrass
Facebook: Hogtown Brass
Instagram: @hogtownbrass
Learn more about composer Cait Nishimura:
Facebook: Cait Nishimura Music
Instagram: @composer_cait
Did you know music students take exams outside of school? Don’t worry, they are a ton of fun! Your hosts Zara and Rebecca chat with violinist Eloise about Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams, how to prepare for one and what happens on exam day. And we end with the trickiest game of pasta or composer yet that will leave you hungry for a bowl of alfredo!
Find out more about RCM exams: https://www.rcmusic.com/learning/examinations
Think you want to take an exam someday? Book a free trial lesson to find the perfect teacher to help you prepare: https://www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online
What makes a good bassoonist? Definitely someone who likes to blow up balloons with their instrument! Professional bassoonist Kristin Day tells us that many people have seen bassoons before but don't even know it! Could this be true for you?
Find Kristin on Instagram @bassonday to watch her blow up a balloon with her bassoon!
Online lessons are in full effect at Upper Beaches Music School and these three students want to tell you why they are fun. Whether you live in Vietnam or Toronto, online music lessons can be fun and interesting if you have the right teacher!
To book your free trial lesson, visit www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online
What goes down must come up- or is it the other way around? String players make a big deal about the direction their bow is going. Does it matter? Listen to find out!
You can play the piano by pressing the keys, OR you can play it like Andrea Lodge does. By plucking and strumming the keys inside the piano, Andrea makes some very interesting sounds that are very different from what we are used to hearing from a piano.
To learn more about Andrea, visit www.andrealodge.com
Our recent recitals at Upper Beaches Music School were a major success. We interview three students- Stella, Arthur, and Charlotte- to find out what made performing this year both terrifying and exhilarating.
To book a free online trial lesson at Upper Beaches Music School, visit www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online
What makes a composition "good?" Composer Emily Hiemstra explains what she will be looking for in her composition competition for solo viola.
Learn more about Emily at www.emilyhiemstra.com
To submit a composition for Emily's competition, visit https://forms.gle/Td3D1v3hUYFTUBAx6
The cello is the closest instrument to the human voice, and Mary-Katherine is going to show us why. Plus, you get to play it sitting down. Zara and Rebecca are sold!
What instrument is the closest to the human voice? What makes the cello the best instrument ever? You'll never guess what name Mary-Katherine is thinking of giving her cello.
Colin and Liza of Music by CandL have teamed up to make a fun and entertaining music curriculum that's ready for online use, and we want to know how they got those clever cartoon creatures, Larry and Beary, onto the screen with them.
To watch an episode of Music by CandL, visit www.musicbycandl.com
You can also find Music by CandL clips on YouTube! Visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_qUj6ttbo3exE0w7sf9IIQ
Can kids play the flute? What’s a small flute called? The answer isn’t as obvious as we thought! Katherine Watson fills us in on flutes, piccolos and TOOTS (no, not the stinky kind, the flute kind)!
Look at Toots here: www.nuvoinstrumental.com/products/toot/
To learn more about Katherine visit www.katherinewatsonflute.com
For a picture and recipe of cavatelli pasta, visit www.marthastewart.com/1067359/homemade-cavatelli
To take flute lessons with Katherine, book a free trial lesson at www.upperbeachesmusic.com/online (she also teaches piano lessons!)
How do you learn to be creative? Jennifer Burford teaches us how, and shows us how we're already improvising all the time! This episode gets VERY silly at times, so be warned!
Here is the link to Alice Kanack's website (originator of this Creative Ability Development method for teaching improvisation): kanack.org
To learn more about online improvisation group classes with Jennifer, visit
www.jenniferburford.com
Have you ever played a scale that wasn’t major or minor? Did you know there are women composers writing fresh music for the violin? Suhashini Arulanandam introduces us to two wonderful pieces for solo violin, written just a few years ago by Reena Esmail and Jessie Montgomery.
Contact Suhashini here: www.harmonyviolinstudio.ca
Listen to Suhashini's violin/ cello duo here: www.tadioliduo.com
Learn about Reena Esmail: www.reenaesmail.com
Learn about Jessie Montgomery: www.jessiemontgomery.com
Learn about the Sphinx Organization: www.sphinxmusic.org
Can kids play the harp? Professional harpist Kristen tells us how this fascinating instrument works and what it has in common with an oven mitts. Plus, some beautiful harp playing that have us shopping for our own harpsicles.
Links:
- Image of a concert grand harp: https://www.harp.com/product/style-23-gold-concert-grand/
- Image of a harp in the case (it totally looks like an oven mitt!): https://www.harp.com/product/transport-3-pc-cover-set-lyon-healy-concert-grandlarge/
- Harpsicles for kids: https://harpsicleharps.com/
To connect with Kristen for harp lessons, visit www.harpnoise.com
How do musicians memorize pages and pages of music, and what happens if they forget the notes during a performance? Moira explains her tips for memorizing music and how her ensemble, Dévah Quartet, performs from memory.
Links:
Watch the full clip from Devah Quartet: https://youtu.be/N9-Xxw04UGU
Visit Dévah Quartet's website: www.devahquartet.com
Why do we get butterflies in our stomach when we perform? Violist and performance anxiety expert Emilie helps us get calm before we play for others. She also performs an unusual piece of music that is meant to test the limits of the performer.
What sound does a cat make when you play it on the violin? This week we're chatting with Rezan Onen-Lapointe of Rezonance Ensemble www.rezonanceensemble.com) and we're guessing which animals she's imitating on her violin. You can hear more from Rezonance at their upcoming online concert, "Birds, Bees and Rustic Revelry" on January 23. Visit rezonancerustic.eventbrite.com for online access!
We had a hard time finding a good link that shows the difference between baroque bows and modern bows, but this website does a pretty decent job: https://www.violadamoresociety.org/en/viola-damore/bows
Have you given your instrument a name? How can you read music for both hands of the piano at the same time? And what are those things on the floor that are attached to the piano? Zara and Rebecca talk about all these things and more on this episode.
Links:
Have you ever wondered what conductors are doing up at the front of the orchestra? Are they just waving their arms around? What about a composer? How do they know if their music sounds good before anyone has even played it?
In this episode, we'll talk to conductor Andrés González, composer Iman Habibi, and bass student Noah from Play on Philly about how they make music come to life.
Links:
To listen to the entire piece composed by Iman and performed by Noah and other students, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAq5_cNqM98&list=PLc-NUlT-x5WvWON0UoLZEaDkM6xC1Cy1r
Rebecca Lane and daughter Zara Lane of Upper Beaches Music School talk to musical performers, conductors, composers, and kids like you to ask them the questions you've always wondered. Classical music is for everyone (especially kids!) and it's interesting and fun when you ask the right questions.