Tag: viola

Rochester Cello Society and Hochstein School of Music and Dance Welcome Ms. Haley for October Workshop

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The Rochester Cello Society and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance announce Strategies for Parents of Instrumentalists, a special event with Lauren Haley on Saturday, October 5th from 1:15 – 2:45 pm at the Hochstein School in Rochester, NY. All are welcome to attend this free workshop, which will include an intermission.

From Sandra Halleran, Founder of the Rochester Cello Society:

“The Rochester Cello Society and the Hochstein School of Music and Dance welcome Lauren Haley, renown author of Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation and Talent through Music. Lauren will give a session to Rochester’s parents of instrumentalists. Any parent who wants to learn strategies for supporting their young musician is welcome. Topics will include: the power of parents (and effective communication), developing practice routines that *really* stick, and helping young musicians and their families prepare for peak performance (competitions, auditions, etc!)

This workshop is FREE and will take place in the Hochstein Recital Hall.”

LHS Featured on The Music Educator Podcast!

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We’re delighted to share our recent collaboration with Greg Childress and The Music Educator Podcast! Mobile users, click through to your browser to view links and listen to Episode 14: The Power of Parents! The Music Educator Podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Top Tips for Holiday Practice

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With all the approaching excitement (is it Christmas yet?!), it can be a bit tricky to maintain musical momentum and get in that holiday practice! I’m delighted to share my recent article, Top Tips to Spur Musical Progress Over the Holidays, in collaboration with The Local Moms Network (Sugar Land).

Happy practicing, everyone!

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Christmas duets, anyone? Mini Nathan and Lauren. Minnesota, circa the early ’90s! 

LHS Studio Spotlight: Molly

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Molly H.

This week we’re speaking with Molly H. on what it took for her to make the top HS Region Orchestra (Symphony) just one year (!) after starting viola. Molly began playing the violin at age 6 and often leads The Sugar Strings in their performances around Sugar Land. In addition to playing violin and viola, Molly runs her own piano studio for young musicians.

You study three instruments in addition to your academic subjects! What’s your best piece of advice for other young musicians who want to pursue multiple areas of expertise? 
Enjoy it! Don’t let your music just become a grade or a requirement. I feel the most accomplished when I can share my skills and bring joy to others!

How do you balance nerves and confidence in auditions and performances? 
Before the region audition, I put positive affirmation statements on notecards, to tell myself I was prepared and would do well! At the audition, tried to block out all the other players and focus on being mentally prepared. At performances, I try to enjoy the music as much as I can and trust my muscle memory and all the hard work I put in!

Leading up to your audition, what was your practice schedule like?
When the music first came out, I made goals to have much of the music memorized fairly quickly. About a month from the audition, I increased my practicing to at least two hours a day. It was definitely challenging, but I found a drive within me. I had worked so hard, I couldn’t just give up! I knew that every minute I worked could be the difference of getting in or not.

Does your viola have a special story behind it? Tell us your favorite things about your instrument and why you chose it. 
I really like my viola’s rich tone and, since it is only 14 inches I can switch between violin and viola. It’s an antique made in 1893 and I enjoy thinking of all the people who have heard it played!

What new pieces are you looking forward to adding to your repertoire this year?
I am looking forward to adding both viola and violin peices this year! I am currently preparing Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata on my viola.

Audition Season is Here + a NEW Local Resource!

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https://thesugarlandmoms.com/4-easy-ways-to-boost-audition-performance-for-orchestra-kids/

Happy Fall, Y’all!

HS Region Auditions will be this Saturday, October 13th, and MS Region Auditions will be next Saturday, October 20th. To celebrate these exciting auditions and help everyone prepare, I’ve teamed up with the Sugar Land Moms Network for an article sharing my audition prep tips! https://thesugarlandmoms.com/4-easy-ways-to-boost-audition-performance-for-orchestra-kids/

Sugar Land Moms is a new go-to site for families and is a chapter of The Local Moms Network, https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com. It’s a great resource for everything from local event calendars, arts and activity resources, and parent interviews to deals from nearby businesses.

In LHS news this week, we’re extra proud of Anika, who as principal viola in her Dulles orchestra will perform a solo in tomorrow’s orchestra concert. We’re also absolutely thrilled for Jordan, who (in the top group at Travis) has started coaching viola sectionals for a lower ensemble and has her own principal viola solo coming up!

 

 

 

Welcome Back, Sugar Strings Chamber Ensemble!

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Welcome back, Sugar Strings! After their fabulous summer performances, the Sugar Strings are ready to begin rehearsals for their Fall/Winter 2018 Season and we’re excited to see what they have in store for us!

From left to right: Molly, Kathryn, Daelyn, Anna, Kyle, Lauren
Molly and Daelyn speaking with their audience
Kyle
Kathryn greets an audience member
Daelyn introduces herself to residents at Clayton Oaks
Lauren
Molly
Molly speaks with new friends at Clayton Oaks

Photos by Damon Cross.

Kids Aren’t Lazy Reaches #1 Best Seller and Takes the #1 New Release Spot in TEN Amazon Categories!

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We’re absolutely thrilled to post that on its second day of sales, Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music (PDP, 2018) became a #1 Best Seller (see below) and reached the #1 New Release spot in TEN Amazon categories, including Music Instruction & Study, Psychology Education & Training, Gifted Students Education, Parent Participation in Education, Education Research, String Instruments, Baby & Toddler Parenting, Musical Instruments, Violins, and Music Techniques.

If you haven’t ordered your own copy yet, here’s a link! Kids Aren’t Lazy on Amazon.com: http://a.co/0braSwH Processed with VSCO with av4 preset

 

Best Sellers Rank

 

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Kids Aren’t Lazy Tops the #1 New Release List in SIX Amazon Categories!

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We are so excited to share with you that Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music (PDP, 2018) is the #1 New Release in the following Amazon categories on its first day of sales!

Music Instruction & Study

Parent Participation in Education

Psychology Education & Training

Gifted Students Education

Baby & Toddler Parenting

Violins

Follow this link to order your own copy!

http://a.co/6rZQBhM

 

Music Instruction & StudyNew Release Psychology Education & TrainingNew Release Parent Participation in EducationBaby&Toddler ParentingNew Release Gifted Students EducationNew Release Violins List

LHS Musicians Accepted into Houston Youth Symphony!

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We are delighted to share the happy news today that all four LHS musicians who auditioned for the Houston Youth Symphony have been accepted! Congratulations to Christian (viola), Archana (violin), Catherine (violin), and Elizabeth (violin)! The 2018 – 2019 season will be Christian’s first year in HYS, Archana’s second, and Catherine and Elizabeth’s third. We are so proud of their wonderful accomplishments in an especially competitive audition year!

Additionally, Catherine and Elizabeth have been accepted into the top orchestra at Dulles MS, where they will begin 6th grade this fall. Christian and Archana will perform next spring at Carnegie Hall with the Clements HS orchestra. Thrilling news all around!

 

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Evelyn Lam, Catherine, Ms. Haley, and Lizzie

 

 

Introducing the Sugar Strings Chamber Ensemble!

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We are so excited to introduce the Sugar Strings Chamber Ensemble! Sugar Strings was formed in Fall 2017 and kicked off their first season with a dazzling holiday tour that included concerts around Houston and Sugar Land. You might have caught their spring program a few weeks ago at an event for the Sugar Land Art Center and Gallery! Sugar Strings is looking forward to welcoming three new ensemble members this July for their summer engagements. We’ll keep you posted on this page with more of their upcoming performances!

Sugar Strings Chamber Ensemble
(from left to right) Lauren, Molly, Kyle, Anna, and Kathryn

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Performing at the Methodist Hospital in Sugar Land (Anna, Lauren, Molly, Kyle, and Kathryn)

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All smiles! Anna, Molly, Kyle, Lauren, and Kathryn