Education News

Piano Lessons for Mother’s Day? Online Course Helps Mom Destress

Source: Edward Weiss
April 30, 2011

Mother's day is rapidly approaching. Usually, the gifts given are flowers and chocolate. But it doesn't have to be. At least not according to pianist and online teacher Edward Weiss. Weiss owns and operates a website that teaches adults how to create their own music at the piano. And not just any music, but something called 'new age'—a style that's been around for over 25 years and that many women adore. When asked why so many women take his course, ...

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International Day of Hand Percussion in Philadelphia

Source: Michael Ricci
April 28, 2011

FIRST TIME EVER IN PHILADELPHIA: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAND PERCUSSION Artists and students celebrate rhythmic traditions from all over the world Presented by the University of the Arts in conjunction with faculty member and Master Percussionist Arturo Stable, on Saturday May 7th, Philadelphia celebrates the first day of Hand Percussion in the history of the city. The event will take place at the Caplan Recital Hall, located on the 17th floor of the Terra building, 211 S. Broad Street. Doors ...

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Peter Ponzol to Present Free Saxophone Clinic This Saturday, April 30 at Saxquest

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
April 26, 2011

Saxophonist and instrument designer Peter Ponzol is coming to St. Louis to present a free sax clinic at 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, April 30 at Saxquest. Though Ponzol (pictured) is an accomplished musician who's participated in more than 100 recordings and performed all over the world, he's perhaps better known for his work as a consultant and designer of saxophones and related products for companies such as Buffet Crampon and Keilwerth. The “saxophone guru" also has designed and marketed high-end, ...

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Usdan Center Receives Multi-Year Jazz Grant For New Program

Source: Reva Cooper
April 22, 2011

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, the renowned not-for-profit summer arts day camp whose Jazz Department was founded in 1986 by legendary jazz artist/educator Dr. Billy Taylor, announces a two-year initiative grant provided by the Rauch Foundation's Founders' Memorial Program, for a new program titled Sustaining American Jazz: Inspiring Young Artists and Audiences. Intended to stimulate jazz pedagogy and performance by young students, the program will include scholarships each year to promising high school students for summer jazz ...

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Fundraiser May 18, 2011 to Benefit Cuban-American Music Educational Exchange

Source: Two for the Show Media
April 22, 2011

NEW YORK—The Afro Latin Jazz Alliance announced today that it will host a fundraiser benefiting the Chico O'Farrill School of Jazz (COSJ) on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues) in New York City from 6PM-9PM. The evening will include performances by Arturo O'Farrill and the Chico O'Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Andrea Brachfeld and Phoenix Rising, and Aruán Ortiz and Camarada Urbana. The Chico O'Farrill School of Jazz is ...

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Herbie Hancock to Receive Honorary Degree from The Juilliard School at 106th Commmencement Ceremony

Source: Gloria Gottschalk
April 21, 2011

The Juilliard School holds its 106th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 20, 2011 at 11 AM in Alice Tully Hall (Broadway at 65th Street, NYC). Juilliard President Joseph W. Polisi presents honorary degrees to four outstanding artists. The recipients are:

Composer and conductor John Adams Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and producer Herbie Hancock Actor Derek Jacobi Choreographer Twyla Tharp

Mr. Adams will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree. Mr. Hancock also receives an honorary ...

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New Ear Training Games at Theta Music Trainer Make Music Theory Fun

Source: Steve Myers
April 21, 2011

Theta Music Technologies has unveiled three new innovative games for music lovers, along with a host of new features in the latest version of its acclaimed online ear training system Theta Music Trainer. A new personal feedback feature makes Theta Music Trainer the world's first online ear trainer that can respond to students individually based on the results from their music games. Theta Music Technologies today added three new titles to its growing collection of music skill games, announcing the ...

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Music Matters

Source: JazzINK by Andrea Canter
April 21, 2011

And in case we forget that music matters, there's an annual reminder staged by the MacPhail Center for Music in the form of their Music Matters Luncheon fundraiser. One of the nation's largest community music schools, serving well over 8,000 students from infants to centenarians, MacPhail is also one of the Twin Cities' oldest arts institutions, serving the community for 104 years. That's a lot of piano lessons, chamber ensemble rehearsals, faculty and student recitals, jazz camps, music therapy sessions ...

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