Peery Piano Academy Blog

JULY 08
Peery Piano Academy CALENDAR
Habits Classes will be held during July on the following weeks:
July 7-11
July 14-18
July 21-25
July 28-August 1
The entire PPA calendar for 2007-2008 is posted on our website, www.peerymusic.com, ‘Mountain View’, ‘Calendar’

FALL ENROLLMENT
Coming up in August!  Look for emails regarding how to enroll during the following weeks:
Summer quarter students – 1st week of august
Returning students - 2nd week of august
New students - 3rd week of august

HABITS CLASS MAKEUPS AND ABSENCES
Absences and Makeup possibilities are posted on our calendar online.  Spots available are marked ‘(Student Name) Out’.  Any ‘Out’ spots that do not have a corresponding ‘(Student Name) In’ are available for makeups.  Please email Missi at info@peerymusic.com to let her know if and when you will be absent and what available spot you would like to take for a makeup.

STUDENTS RECEIVING THEIR PEERY CERTIFICATION…
Adam Reay Level One Muscular, Practical and Musical
Iris Kwok Level Two Practical
Cipriana Sorensen Level Two Musical

CONGRATULATIONS TO…
Christie Skousen and Irene Peery-Fox on their fabulous performance at the International Piano Duo festival.  The audience went wild for their playing.  Thanks to all the students who came and showed their support.  We hope you had a great time!

Henry Smolen and Caroline Wu will be participating in the International Piano Duo Festival held at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  They will be playing in recitals and masterclasses.  Good luck to Henry and Caroline.  Learn a lot and have fun!

Students passing the National Music Certificate Examination
FIRST CLASS HONORS
Jack Woll Prep B Practical
Charles Smolen Grade 1 Practical
Jiliane Saputra Grade 2 Practical
Christien Skousen Grade 2 Practical
Jessica Kur Grade 5 Practical
Luke Chui Grade 5 Practical
Henry Smolen Grade 7 Practical
Lynn Chui Grade 7 Practical
Jessica Kur Prelim Theory

HONORS
Amy Tsang Grade 7 Practical
Henry Smolen Grade 1 Theory
Caroline Wu Grade 1 Theory

The Following Students received 100% marks in the Players Level 2 Graduation Evaluation
MUSCULAR
Christien Skousen

PRACTICAL
Cyrus Cowley
Micah Richards
Christien Skousen

MUSICAL
Elyssa Bowman
Christien Skousen

PRACTICE PARTNER TIP
Do you have a tip that would help another practice partner?  If so please email Missi and we’ll post it in the next announcements.

FROM THE DIRECTOR
A great opportunity!  The Charles M. Schulz Museum would like to offer and our students (ages 18 and under) free admission to their newest exhibition, Schulz’s Beethoven: Schroeder’s Muse.

The exhibition runs August 16, 2008 through January 26, 2009.  It is the perfect opportunity for budding musicians to learn about the passion and tenacity of two great artists-Beethoven van Ludwig and Charles M. Schulz. It will also be a great opportunity for our students to learn about the history of Beethoven. Over 55 Peanuts comic strips, original Beethoven manuscripts, a reproduction of the 1795 Dulcken fortepiano, and strands of Beethoven’s hair will be featured in this exhibit. Audio wands will be available for our students to listen to Beethovenn’s masterpieces that are played by Schroeder in the Peanuts comic strips.

If you are interested in more information about this great opportunity please email Missi at info@peerymusic.com and she will put your name on an interest list for further information.

OF INTEREST…
The following quote is from George Li, a 12 year old pianist from Massachusetts.  George’s videos are all over YouTube and he most recently won 2nd place in the Junior Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition.  This is the quote he gave for the competition brochure.  Take special notice of his feeling towards practicing at the end of the statement.  During an interview on the Martha Stewart show George stated that he practiced around 4 hours a day during the week and up to 7 hours a day during the weekend.  If you listen to his playing this will become obvious fairly quickly.

“Music made by the piano masters reflects the soul of the universe.  Music played by the great masters has inspired all listeners, touched their hearts ad made them feel that the world is a better place for them to live in.  I have gone to concerts played by the world class musicians and watched DVDs and listened to CDs played by master musicians.  Many times, I felt touched and inspired by their music.  However, to make that kind of music, I need to acquire all the piano skills through unrelenting daily practicing and understand the music through studying  music theories [sic] and composition.  Therefore I really enjoy my practicing