New Updated Calendar is now posted at the Virtual Newsletter

Did you know that the virtual newsletter posts the calendar for the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation events?  It is handy!  No more searching through 3000 emails to find it.  The calendar includes the dates for all meetings, recital deadlines,  recitals, competition deadlines and the updated competition weekend.   Go to the  Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation Virtual Newsletter and look for the calendar page in the right column.  While you are there perhaps you would like to offer some feedback to any of the articles published so far?  I would love to hear from you.

Ellen Johansen
Editor of the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation Virtual Newsletter

We all can improve our Organ technique

Upcoming Master Class with our Piano teacher Colleague, Joe Graziose

Words from Fred Barnett - Let's stop and think about what we are doing as piano teachers

  Our Higher Calling

As we go about our daily business of hopefully practicing, building repertoire, preparing students for recitals, NYSSMA, GUILD, competitions, developing sight reading, technique, interpretation, etc, just to name a few, one cannot help to sometimes wish to stop and reflect -

Is there a higher calling? Unequivocal answer: ABSOLUTELY!

If yes, is there, perhaps, some divine evidence of such a calling? Ditto!

Since childhood many of us have been inundated with reported signs of divine evidence, some perhaps fabricated, many clearly authentic: perfection of the universe, rising and falling sunsets, life itself, etc. And wouldn’t the divine creations of the Bachs, Beethovens, and Chopins during recent centuries and currently continuing also rate as nothing less than spectacular? Especially those whose time on earth never reached forty years?

The multi chaptered “Music and Its Secretive Influence,” by Cyril Scott, re-published in 2013, delves into such matters, even convincingly inferring that the music of the masters, the very music we teach, can be and often is construed as the voice of the Almighty.  Certainly recommended reading for music educators. Published by “Inner Traditions”

During this current and widespread malady of our era - inert “spectating” as never before - TV, the web, entertainment, sports, celebrity worship, etc. - what sets our SPTF apart is that our clientele are “doers and participants: our students.” As the great violinist, Isaac Stern, once mentioned in a chance encounter and chat again “hopefully some cultural achievement of note will somehow emerge in some pocket and hopefully escalate”

We are clearly on track and progressing in that direction.

 Fred Barnett

Job Opportunity

Michael Belajonas, long time faculty at SCCC has just opened beautifully renovated teaching space at 149 North Country Road in Port Jefferson.  Mike would like to bring in an experienced piano teacher qualified to teach through NYSSMA Level 6.  For further information, Mike may be reached at 631.363.0707 or by e-mail at belajom@sunysuffolk.edu.

The Well Balanced Pianist Announcement

The Well-Balanced Pianist
The Integrated Approach

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to tell you about a Well-Balanced Pianist program, New York 2015, that will take place at my house!

The Well-Balanced Pianist is an integrated program for piano study, for pianists at every level, that I founded and continue to direct. We have had weekend-long and week-long programs in Long Island, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Illinois since 2003. Since it is my dream program, I've included everything I think a pianist needs in order to improve in all aspects of playing and performing. I also have the privilege of choosing instructors whose work and integrity I respect.

Here are the details: we will meet in Stony Brook, NY from January 17-19. This session's clinics will focus on technique. Susan Nowicki and I will teach piano, and my own fantastic Feldenkrais (bodywork) instructor Sharon Oliensis will join us for classes and private sessions. We are also privileged to have the amazing certified and licensed Dalcroze Instructor Dorothea Cook teach us how to feel rhythm and meter through movement. Participants will have lessons, clinics, mindset discussions, an open forum for questions on technique, and a chance to play duets!

Enrollment is limited to 10 pianists (high school age and up) so we can provide personal attention and detailed intensive instruction. Obviously, space is limited, but I hope you or your students will consider joining us. The Early Bird registration deadline is October 15.

Please send any questions to me at tdybvig@gmail.com. And do feel free to forward this message.

Terry

Announcing - new Guild Chair For 2014 - 2014

We are lucky to be able to offer Guild to our students on Long Island.  It is programs like these that keep our students motivated.

Tamara Slobodkin is retiring from Guild chair and we thank her for keeping this valuable program going for many years.  Now we welcome Esther Chung Marks, who has volunteered as a Guild Chair to continue the good work of Tamara.  We are very grateful and appreciate her time towards this endeavor.