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Orpheus Overture - August 2018

8/23/2018

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Letter From the Directors

WELCOME BACK!

WHAT A SUMMER!!! I can’t believe it is almost over, I know that every year it goes by fast, but this one just seemed to fly by for us. Between going to Carnegie Hall, planning our 15th Anniversary Concert at One World Theatre and record enrollment everything zipped by.

Words can’t express how proud I am of the students I watched perform at camps, summer recitals and Carnegie Hall.

The level of achievement and explosive learning in camps and regular lessons has been so gratifying to see.  I am also so impressed with the professionalism and quality of our teachers every day. All this summer I have seen teachers meeting and sharing lesson plans, giving helpful hints and attending workshops.

Now it is time to turn our attention to Fall Lessons, which begin the week of August 20th. We have so many exciting events coming up including the One World Theatre show mentioned above, Fall Friendship Concert, and much more!

Our current teachers are all at or almost at capacity, which means we have had fun interviewing some of the top teachers from around the country to come teach for us.

Check out some of the awesome new teachers we are adding this Fall in this newsletter and at our teacher page online.

Thanks for the awesome summer and thank your for making music with us!

Klondike and Wendy

Staccato

  • Fall Semester begins August 20th! Spots are filling up fast, call today to register!
  • Orpheus students performing 15th anniversary show at One World Theatre!
  • Registration for Fall Musicianship classes is open! Call today!
  • Orpheus student, Casey, featured in Austin360! Congrats, Casey!

Events Calendar

AUGUST

18  LAST DAY OF SUMMER!

20 Fall semester begins!

SEPTEMBER

16  Parent Education Class

16  Adult Impromptu

17-22 Parent Teacher Conference Week

25 Parent Education Class

29 Performance Classes 2pm, 3pm, 4pm 

OCTOBER 7  15th Anniversary Concert at One World Theatre!

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS!

Emma C. Home Concert!

Kenny T. Home Concert!

Is Your Teacher Full?

GUITAR

Brendan    7 spots

Douglas    Friday, Saturday

Jon     After school spots open!

Stephen    4 spots

Jesse    7 spots

Klondike    Full

PIANO

Valeria    2 spots

Olivia    1 spot

Joyce    4 spots

Gordon    3 spots

Ruth    3 spots

Leanna    2 spots

PIANO (cont.)

Bora    3 spots

John    Full

Wendy    Full

Georgia    Full

VOICE/PIANO

Skye    Full

VOICE

Stella    2 spots

Chelsea    After school spots open!

VIOLIN

Xavier    1 spot left

Anna    4 spots

Orpheus at Carnegie Hall!

LEE!

Lee has been a great example of showing what consistent work and dedication can accomplish. He has improved a great deal over these past few months and is currently working on new and challenging repertoire.  His recent accomplishments include performing a home concert, as well as having completed the 50 days of practice challenge.  Keep up the good work Lee! -Jon (Guitar Instructor)

I enjoy playing the guitar, especially for other people. I often play at school for my class. I am also in the Anderson High School choir, learning to play the guitar and read music has helped me with my singing. Learning to play the guitar has been challenging, however after working hard and performing well it makes me feel proud! -Lee

 

MALKA!

Malka is an example of a student who is always striving to incorporate music into her life. Just three years ago she walked into the doors of Orpheus for her first piano lesson, and now she is playing literature by great classical composers. This summer, Malka traveled to Carnegie Hall to showcase her year long project of performing a Bach Prelude with accuracy, style and grace. I am so proud of the small everyday decisions that Malka makes in her piano practice that have resulted in big results as the years have passed. -Georgia (Piano Instructor)

Music is my passion makes me happy every time I play piano. I love playing and trying new things every day and I love classical piano pieces. My favorite composer is J S Bach When I play his songs, it feels like I am in preschool world. - Malka

LUCIA!

Lucia is one of my hardest working students and always comes prepared to all of her lessons regardless of how busy or tired she is. She is always doing her exercises and technique and takes pride in hearing herself improve. She is going to do big things in Violin! -James (Violin Instructor)

Ever since I was two years old I wanted to play the violin. When I was six, I finally started playing. Now I am eleven and my love for music keeps on growing. Mr. James has been an exquisite teacher and always pushed me to do the best I can possibly do. -Lucia

 

MILAAN!

Milaan is a wonderfully talented and curious musician. He is always prepared, and consistently asks for more challenges in his lessons. Milaan is very bright and he makes sure that all mistakes are corrected, both of him and myself. Milaan has taken an interest in composing, and will often compose various pieces each week in addition to his normal practice. I am extremely proud of the progress we have made together, and I look forward to our lessons in the future. -Doug (Guitar Instructor)

I like learning new songs. I like my guitar teacher. -Milaan

FUN FACTS!

  • Anna has two cats, River, and Kingsley. Kingsley’s favorite food is toilet paper!
  • Anna has a major sweet tooth (but she likes salty snacks too)!
  • As a teenager, Anna volunteered at the local zoo in Jackson, Mississippi where she loved to play peek-a-boo with a blue and gold McCaw named Nari.
My favorite thing about teaching is how much I learn from it; the more I teach the more I learn. My ongoing goal is to always practice, motivate, and improve, and I am excited to share that mutual goal with you and fill the world with beautiful and inspiring music! -Ms. Anna​ 

Hello! My name is Roshan Khan but everyone at Orpheus and all my friends know me as Rosie. I’m a graduating senior, I’m sixteen years old, and I’m going on to quadruple-major at UT Austin in Plan II Honors, Economics, Government, and International Relations and Global Studies. I hope to go into politics as well as to become a novelist. I’ve been a piano student at Orpheus for five years and learning music has been such a big part of growing as a person; for me, the journey has been everything. Though I started piano lessons at age eleven, which may seem late to some, my amazing teachers (Ms. Megan Matthews, Mr. Bernie Brink, and Ms. Georgia Sears) have turned me into an independent and lifelong musician. Orpheus also gave me opportunities to perform at concerts, and gave me the courage to play in my school’s talent shows and festivals. I held a private senior recital in April to perform over an hour of selected repertoire, and with my graduation from high school and from Orpheus, I would like to say a sincere thank you to all the teachers and friends I’ve met, and I’m looking forward to college!

CONGRATULATIONS ROSIE!

Musical Journey Milestones!

Congratulations to these students for achieving great things in their musical education!

Level 1

Emma C.

Ethan E.

Austin C.

Sonja D.

Sammie P.

Tommy K.

Audrey L.

Natalia N.

Marc-Olivier M.

Gen M.

Aaursh A.

 Level 2

Itzel M.

Level 3 

Nicholas H.

Sophia B.

 Level 4

Allen L.

 Level 5

Molly C.

Level 6

Aylin T.

Himeer J.

Mei Yin S.

Welcome New Students!

Lily

Madeleine

Hadley

Stella

Cate

Prince

William

Savannah

Liam

Jessica

Genevieve

Cassius
Posy

Brayden

Mila

Maylee

Nicholas

Emma

Helena

Zhe Yu

Dean

Henry

Ella

ORPHEUS ACHEIVES RECORD HIGH ENROLLMENT!

Due to our high enrollment we will not be hosting an Open House this Fall! 

If you have friends interested in signing up, please have them call IMMEDIATELY to get a spot while they last! We are offering $50 off enrollment for the rest of August so that we can start the semester with full enrollment in all our classes!

Call 512-231-8999 today!

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Texas Guitar Competition

7/26/2018

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Picture
Picture
​Congratulations to Orpheus Students Mei Yin Steadman and Aaron Baldauf for their achievements at the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival! Mei Yin placed first in the Youth Division I and Aaron placed third in Youth Division II. We are so proud of you!
Going to the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival was a great experience. It helped me focus and learn how to practice well because I wanted win and do my best when I played and I wanted to feel good about myself in the end. Even better than winning was the feeling I got when the judges came up to me individually and told me how well I played guitar." Mei Yin Steadman, Age 12
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The True Benefits of a Well-Rounded Music Education

4/24/2018

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Most of us believe deeply in the power of music and want our children to enjoy music in their lives in one way or another.  The benefits of music study are so well publicized now that a higher percentage of parents are giving their children music lessons than ever before – and for good reason:  Music has already been shown to have a positive impact on so many areas of development and new studies touting its benefits seem to come out nearly every month.   

But is that all music is?  Just another tool to get ahead in never-ending race to be the most advanced kid in class?

Whatever happened to making music because it is beautiful, or because it brings meaning to a special event or to enjoy the company of a few a good friends? 

Or because it connects us to who we are as a people?

One of the most powerful memories of my childhood is that of attending summer music camps with other kids my age. Spending 3-8 hours a day working out our favorite songs, learning music from other cultures, being exposed to new ideas about how to improvise or compose – all of these things left an indelible mark on my personality not just because they were beneficial, but because I was enjoying learning them in the company of kids my own age.

I can also remember the excitement of learning to play music from cultures completely foreign to mine and knowing that I was learning something powerful and indescribable about that culture that I could not get from books.

As a music teacher and academy director, I want each of my students to draw on the power of their own musical heritage while also broadening their musical tastes.  This is why we ask every student who signs up for lessons at Orpheus Academy of Music if there is any cultural and personal interests in music that we should consider when teaching them.  This is why all our classes are based on “real music” from around the world, rather than watered-down “teaching tunes.” Most importantly, it is why our students love music so much and remain dedicated over such a long period of time:  Children don’t quit an activity that connects them to their world in a meaningful way.

Whatever your background or musical interest, I hope you will give your child the gift of learning music in a manner that both deepens their experience of life and connects them to their peers and their culture.

Dr. Klondike Steadman is co-founder (along with his wife, Wendy) of Orpheus Academy of Music.

Ready to Sign Up?  Call us at 231-8999
​
Or Click Here to Get a Call Back
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April & May, 2018 Newsletter

4/2/2018

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Dream Big!

At the Carnegie Guitar Orchestra Rehearsal last Saturday I noticed something very strange: Several of the students were performing a difficult technique that nobody had taught them. I had briefly asked for a very staccato bass, but
then waved it off knowing that we they were too young to pull off the complicated thumb maneuver required to play and stop a bass note on guitar. But a few tries later every single one of them was doing it beautifully! That is the power
of setting a big goal. When the motivation to do something is high enough, you find a way.
 
And I have been seeing breakthroughs like this all around Orpheus lately. Not just from the students that are going to New York, but so many students that have set an amazing goal and are going for it: Frances Huffaker who composes something new every year for the Composition Book; Aaron Baldauf, who worked hard and got into every guitar program to which he applied (and will be going to UT!); The amazing performers who put in the extra rehearsals to prepare for the Friendship Concert this past April; Everyone who completed the 50 Days of Practice; Everyone who is giving a Musical Journey Concert or making a CD. All of you are changing who you are and inspiring others to do the same.
 
I want you to start thinking about what big project you can do next that will change your paying forever. Pick something you can pour your heart into. Something that is a stretch, but that, if you work hard, you can play with exceptional beauty and expression.
 
When we dream big, we push ourselves to grow in ways we could not have imagined otherwise. I have come to realize that it isn’t the achievement itself or even learning to enjoy the process of getting there (as we are often told): It is the
change we effect in ourselves by reaching, stretching, failing, getting back up and reaching again.

Dr. Klondike Steadman
 
A Review of Sight-Reading ipad apps from a student's perspective:
 
#1: Music Tutor

The reason why I think Music Tutor Is the best is because It gives you the 5 bar lines and it puts a note on any one of them and you have to look below at the letter options and see which letter it is. When you choose the right letter note, it plays the next note out loud. It shows you the letters of the scale and you put which letter it is. You are timed and you can see your score at any time. And after you are done you can review the ones you missed.
 
#2: B Flat

This app is very similar to Music Tutor. You can do all the same things but you can’t review what you missed. It still shows you what you missed but you can’t review the specifics.
 
You only know that you got it right or wrong. It my opinion it is a very good app, but not as good as Music Tuner.
 
#3: Treble Trainer

This app has 12 levels and each one has different piano key groups including sharps and flats. Each stage is timed and you get a point for each one you get right. You may drop down if you don’t win enough points. You advance forward
for winning a lot of points. There is an average and high score for each player. This app isn’t as fun because it is hard to improve a lot to advance. Also, the illustrations are limited to piano keys, not guitar strings.
  
#4: SRMachine
 
This app shows a piece of music and starts with an audible metronome beat. Then the music starts and you just have to follow along and play aloud. I could not figure out how to vary the difficulty or pieces offered.
 
#5: GuitarsightreadingWO

This app was the worst one I looked at. It has a guitar arm & string but the directions of how to do anything are not helpful. When you touch a spot on the guitar neck where it has a smiley face lit up, it will show you the name of the note with the tone and also how it is written on the treble clef. In my opinion, it is not very helpful.
 
- Griffin age 9
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October 2017 Newsletter

10/2/2017

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Orpheus Academy of Music October 2017 Newsletter
In this Newsletter:
Orpheus Spooktacular, students of the month for October and November, becoming a Music Jedi and much more!!

A Letter from the Directors:

Wow! Thank you for the Best Fall Ever!

I don’t know if it is the awesome weather, the excitement over our 15th Anniversary Celebrations, or what, but we have NEVER had three months in a row of record break- ing growth like this: 61 new students in August, 48 in September and 18 in October. All record highs for those months! According to the recent registration forms, most of that growth is due to referrals and “on- line reviews.” Thank you to all of you that have given us 5-Star Reviews on Google and Yelp recently giving us more 5-star reviews than any other music school in Austin. I hope you are as excited as I am about the performances we just had (Spooktacular, Performance Classes etc) and the ones coming up (Musical Journey, Friendship Concert, etc). Beyond the concerts at Orpheus, probably the most memorable concerts are those that are unique to each child: Home Concerts, Public Concerts, CD’s and even just playing for friends and family over the Holidays. The goal of music is to bring us together in joyful sound – let us express that every day!

Thank you for making music with us! Klondike and Wendy

 

Important Dates!

Closed for Week of Thanksgiving November 20th - 26th Please note that we are closed for the full week of the Thanksgiving break. All group classes and lessons will resume on Monday, November 27th.

Adult Impromptu Sunday, December 3rd 4pm Please join us for our last adult impromptu event of the Fall semester! Friendship Concert Information! Dress Rehearsal Sunday, December 3rd 3pm - 7pm Performance Sunday, December 10th 3pm & 5pm Last day of lesson for Fall Tuesday, December 19th Closed for Winter Break Wednesday, December 20th - Tuesday, January 2nd. No lessons or group classes. Schedules will resume on Wednesday, January 3rd

Students of the Month for October & November

Junna C. - Piano

The hook that music has left on me, expressed through piano, has been one of the reasons I still pursue music relentlessly, despite my crowded schedule. I don’t do what I do because my parents force me, I genuinely get absorbed in the art called music, a mesmerizing phenomenon. -Junna

Junna is a busy high school student who has been playing the piano for many years. Despite her hectic schedule (academic studies, debate team, track team...just to name a few), Junna still manages to prac- tice regularly and makes progress every week. It has been a great pleasure for me as her piano teacher to see her maturing into a whole musician and enjoys her life.   -Joyce, Piano Instructor

Effie C. - Piano

I enjoy playing music because it’s fun and relaxing. I also get to share my experiences with my instruc- tor. Ms. Joyce has been my instructor for a little over four years. I started when I was six years old, and now I am about 11 years old. I enjoy swimming, reading, playing piano, and especially sleeping. I keep practicing songs until they are good enough so I can start a fresh one. Ms. Joyce is always entertaining when I get to my lesson and fun, that is why I enjoy piano.

-Effie

Effie practices her assigned pieces diligently and doesn’t get frustrated if she needs to continue working on a piece for weeks. Her positive attitude and commitment to excellence are not only going to help her become a good pianist, but also succeed in life. -Joyce, Piano Instructor

Audrey C. - Violin

The thing I like most about music is that I learn about new things. Sometimes I learn things fast! I am grateful that Mr. James has taught me the skills to learn music on my own. -Audrey

Audrey has been consistent in her preparation for lessons. I am extremely proud of the progress she has made and have seen her mature, especially recently. She is making beautiful sounds on the violin and displaying technique that really makes me proud. I can’t wait to see her progress continue this year! - James, Violin Instructor

Kenai P. - Piano

I like music because it is fun. I like music because it is entertaining. I like writing music in musician- ship class. -Kenai

Kenai is an excellent student who practices mindful of his goals. He has grown musically and artisti- cally over his time at Orpheus! He has presented a home concert, as well as finished a CD. He has also participated in many recitals and the friendship concert. I look forward to his future musical endeavors!

-Skye, Piano Instructor

Sophia B. - Piano

I love music because it’s fun to listen to and I really enjoy improvising. My teacher Ms. Wendy makes it especially interesting. I like it when she gives me pieces that are from movies and TV shows that I watch.  -Sophia

Sophia has been studying piano at Orpheus for almost 4 years! She always brings a great attitude and a curious mind to her lesson. Sophia is very consistent in her preparation for lessons and it is very reward- ing for me to see her mature in music. She has participated in many Orpheus recitals, performed a home concert, recorded a CD and is now preparing for her first Musical Journey Level 3 Public Solo recital. I can’t wait to see what Sophia will achieve next!

-Wendy, Piano Imstructor

Three Things You Can Say During Practice

Sometimes I feel my daughter isn’t giving her best effort at practice. Perhaps she is rushing through things, repeating mistakes without even noticing or simply putting a piece away after just one seemingly half-hearted run through. At times like these I have come to realize it is usually best if I stay clear of giving unwanted advice, otherwise I am in danger of creating an unhealthy, negative relationship around music. I have to admit, though, sometimes I actually can’t stand it and I feel I just HAVE to say something. In those cases, I have found that I am more likely to provoke a positive response if I refrain from being critical and, instead, try to pique her curiosity (and mine as well). Many successful parents I have talked to express a similar approach: Asking questions about the piece rather than giving advice can lead to a happier interaction. So here are three things you can say when you feel your child isn’t giving their best effort but you don’t want to fuel a power struggle:

1. “That’s a nice piece. What’s your favorite part of the song?” 2. “I really like the way you are connecting with the music in this part. How are you doing that?” 3. “That’s an interesting piece. I wonder if we can learn anything about the composer or the origin of the piece on the internet.”

Approaching the situation with curiosity and an open mind often allows our child to respond in kind and begin to have an interest in doing their best. Even if it does not result in immediate improvement, exploring what we love about the music can open up the door for the teacher to address these issues in the lesson and increases the willingness to put in the hard work to get better over time.

Musical Journey Milestones

Orpheus Spooktacular!!

What is a mummy's favorite type of music? "Wrap" music!  Our annual Spooktacular event is a fang-tastic time for friends & family. Students get to see pirates, ghosts,, witches and more perform their spookiest songs! Check out some of the photos from this year.

Welcome New Students!

Please be sure to welcome all the new faces at Orpheus this semester! We’ve had a record enrollment and spots have been lling up quickly. We are so happy to see our musical family grow and look forward to a very exciting year! 

Tristan T Thomas T Aran T Suhan T Caleb T Vincent V Evan V Grayson V Nico V David W Shanaya A Ishaan A Milaan A Ali A Aarush A Campbell B Cooper B Lillian B Logan B Jules B Daisy S Avaneesh S Drew S Alaric S Isabelle S Cameron T Alex R Cate T Austin T Sophie T

Arjun E

Esha R Allie R Ana R Camila R Ines R Eli R Ila R Luke S Sarah S Samson S Natalia N Kian N Lyla O Siena P Jude P Roman P Chloe P Justin P Krish R Arjun R Gabriella K Jettie K Ji Woo K Young K Alex K Izzy K Ines L Jessica L Erin L

You can find pictures & videos of students, articles, announcements & more at our social media links below!

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August/September 2017 Newsletter

8/1/2017

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Orpheus Academy of Music August/September 2017 Newsletter

A pedestrian on Fifty-seventh Street, Manhattan, stopped Heifetz and in- quired, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” “Practice!” Heifetz replied. 

In this Newsletter:
New Musical Journey trophies, students of the month Graydon and Joshua, notable Carnegie Hall debuts and much more!!

A Letter from the Directors:

Dear Students,

I don’t know about you, but the start of Fall is always the most crazy-busy time of the year for us. Between getting our daughter settled in middle school, getting all the new schedules of students and teachers under control and (it never fails) one or two completely unfore- seeable events (somehow each of our HVAC systems found a time to go out in the past month, despite each being under five years old!). This year, though, is extra busy for all the right reasons:

1) We have broken our single-month enrollment record with over 50 new students! 2) New Musical Journey Trophies for each level – no additional cost! 3) CARNEGIE HALL, 2018! Every faculty member is out-of-their-minds excited to be part of this momentous occasion. The number of students interested in going is almost scary. Carnegie Hall is the concert venue for classical musicians, with a Carnegie Hall Debut often marking an artist’s entry into the ranks of international level performers. Check out some notable Carnegie Hall debuts – including the Beatles! – on page 3 of this newsletter. Beyond all the excitement, we are still focused, above all, on the highest quality music education available anywhere in the country. We continue to improve our lessons, Musi- cianship classes and ensembles through training with visiting experts, research and your input. Every single one of our 22 amazing teachers is returning to Orpheus this year (Mr. Devin has decided to continue to teach on Saturdays) and the community and sense of col- laboration will take lessons to eleven (sorry, musician joke). We thank you for making all of this possible through your amazing commitment to the transformative power of music.

Thank you for making music with us! Klondike and Wendy

Upcoming Events!

Performance Classes Saturday, September 2nd

2:00pm (5-10 years) Piano/Voice

3:00pm (5-10 years) Piano/Voice | Guitar

3:00pm (all ages) Violin

4:00pm (11-Adult) Guitar | Piano/Voice

Parent Education Classes

Sunday, September 17th 3:00pm

Tuesday, September 26th 7:00pm

Open House 2:00pm | Saturday, September 9th Carnival of the Animals Concert 3:00pm | Sunday, September 10th Carnegie Hall Registration 8:00am | Saturday, September 16th Adult Impromptu 4:00pm | Saturday, September 9th Piano Faculty Duet Concert 3:00pm | Sunday, September 24th 

Students of the month June and July 2017!

“Graydon is a bright, dedicated student. He’s made excel- lent progress in piano lessons and works hard to learn his pieces. He’s never satis ed until he’s done his best. He even goes above and beyond his weekly goals and learns pieces he’s interested in like ‘The Eyes of Texas’ He’ll be taking the Musical Journey test in the fall, and I’m ex- cited to see how much we’ll learn together this next year.”

-Olivia, Piano Instructor

“Miss Olivia is nice. I like learning new songs. I love playing piano for both the feeling of accomplishment for mastering a new piece and the thrill of performance.”

-Graydon Tanner, Piano Student 

“Joshua has been taking music lessons at the Orpheus Academy since the Spring of 2017. Joshua is the student of the month be- cause he has shown a tremendous drive for music, which is evi- dent through his great practice and lesson ethic. He hasn’t missed a single lesson all Summer! He has even created a dice game so he can practice his scales. I am extremely very proud of him. Congratulations on being the Student of the Month at Orpheus!”

-John, Piano Instructor

“I’ve always loved listening to music. This year I decided that I wanted to learn how to play the piano. Someday I want to write and play my own songs!”

-Joshua Fox, Piano Student.

New Musical Journey Trophies

We have new Musical Journey Trophies for each level that a student completes! These beautiful new markers of your achievement are on display in the waiting area and are covered by your annual activities fee. 

Faculty Retreat!

Our annual Faculty Retreat is a time for the teachers to come together and inspire each other to reach for ever-new heights in music education. Each year we consider a topic that inspires us by breaking into small groups, listening and sharing and then reforming with a new group. This year got the use a beautiful conference room overlooking Lake Travis and with these vistas to inspire us as we discussed ways to make Orpheus a more musical place for our students. One point many agreed on was the importance of understanding what creates enthusiasm for each student. With each student’s qualities in mind, we can craft a joyful musical experience unique to that student. 

 
Notable Carnegie Hall Debuts 

December 19th, 1893 – Dvorak’s New World Symphony gets it’s rst hearing.

November 14, 1943 – Leonard Bernstein steps in for Bruno Walter (who had the u) to conduct the New York Philharmonic. With no time to assemble the orchestra for a rehearsal, Bernstein met only brie y that morning with Walter to review the scores. He did not even own the proper formal wear and had to lead the concert in a gray business suit. The concert was broadcast nationally to great acclaim and the 25 year old Bernstein became an overnight sensation.

February 12, 1964 – The Beatles perform two concerts in one day. While in New York for the rst time, The Beatles appeared three times on the Ed Sullivan Show—and played Carnegie Hall twice in one day. Their concerts paved the way for other rock artists at Carnegie Hall, including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and Billy Joel.

June 29th, 2018 – Orpheus Academy of Music – will you be there?! 

Congratulations to our Musicianship Maestros! 

Please congratulate these students on completing all 3 years of Advanced Musicianship! With this honor they have received a scholarship and a trophy. 

Veronica Hodapp    Carter Luppino     Anne Zimmerman
Asa Shepard     Gustavo Brooks
Welcome New Students!

Please be sure to welcome all the new faces at Orpheus this semester! We’ve had a record enrollment and spots have been lling up quickly. We are so happy to see our musical family grow and look forward to a very exciting year! 

Abby D George G Kalki P Ashok P Sonja D Daniel L Aubrey M Ashton M Nell F Rohan E Emma A Kaiya J Joana E Daniel E Leire E Daphne G Natalia R  Beckett H
Arjun E Alex D Edie T Ella T Julia H Lucia M Marc M Tessa F Ryan D Nathan C Samantha P Sarah M Jessica L Nicole P Esha R Arjun R Nico V  Di W

2013 Yulong Guo Soloist Classical Guitar, with a cedar double top, an ebony fretboard, Indian Rosewood back and sides, and an armrest. Comes with its original hard-shell case.

$3000 512-680-1954 | 512-659-6030

   
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June/July 2017 Newsletter

6/1/2017

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Orpheus Academy of Music June-July 2017 Newsletter

A Letter from the Directors:

Dear Students,

Talk about a Magical, Musical, Summer! It seems hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear something amazing - either at Summer Camp Concerts, Home Concerts, Musical Journey Public Concerts, Summer Recitals, Faculty Concerts or as part of  various festivals that our students have been performing at around the state and country!

This is the wonderful creativity of summer - a time when we can explore the many diverse aspects of music making that we don’t have time for during the hustle and bustle of the school year. Last month, Making Music Together (formerly “Chamber Music”) and Improvisation and Composition had some amazing performances in which students worked intensely for a week to bring their artistic collaborations to fruition. The results were stunning - but the process was even more important: The skills of listening, creating, keeping a steady beat, matching your sound to another musician (to mention just a few) carry over immediately into our solo playing. After those camps, we had World Music and Broadway, which helped expand our musical Universes and bring drama into our playing. We have had many students travel out of town and out of state to participate in world-class Music Festivals and Camps from Baylor, to Texas State to Fullerton, CA! All this and more is what makes summer my favorite time of year to be a teacher at Orpheus!

Thank you for making music with us!

 

2017 Summer Events!

Performance Parties Saturday, July 22 Piano/Voice Party: 2 & 3 PM Violin/Viola Party: 3 PM Guitar Party: 3 PM 

Older Students Party: 4 PM

Adult Impromptu Sunday, July 23 4:00 PM 

Student Recital Sunday August 13 2 PM, 3:30 PM, & 5PM

To be held at Highland Park Baptist Church.

Fall Semester and Musicianship Classes Return: Monday August 21st! 

Summer Camps Still Open:

Choir Camp 7/24-28 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Intro to Guitar 8/7-11 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Students of the month June and July 2017!

“My name is Frances Huffaker, an I have been playing the piano for nearly 6 years. My teacher, Skye, has been helping me prepare for my Musical Journey public concert so I can pass Level 4. I like that the pieces I am playing are very unique and different. Piano gives me a chance to express myself in a different way. I am excited to show off all my hard work at the concert!”

-Frances Huffaker, Piano Student.

“Frances is an extremely dedicated student. Even though her family was in the middle of moving, she woke up early in the morning and practiced on a keyboard on the floor so she was ready for the friendship concert and her public concert in May.  She is always prepared has met her goals for practice each week.”

-Skye, Piano Instructor

“I like to play the piano because I like to learn new songs and I like to make up my own songs too. I think music sounds really nice! Ms. Pangji is a really nice teacher and helps me to learn a lot.”

-Everett Teffer, Piano Student “Everett is a lovely student with great enthusiasm and curiosity to music. I am very impressed with his well preparation in each lesson, and am proud of the accomplishments he has made in music making through this hard work. He will have his first Music Journey test soon...good luck and have fun, Everett!” -Pangji, Piano Instructor

Musical Journey Milestones

Check out our awesome students’ recent Musical Journey Milestones!

Dog of the Month: Rio!

My dog, Rio is wonderful! Rio is a 7 month old Lab Ridgeback mix. He has beautiful hazel eyes and caramel fur.  He was adopted recently from right here in Austin. He is amazingly calm and well-tempered for a dog his age. He enjoys long walks, greeting strangers, being chased, and cuddling! You can find him sleeping on the couch all day and chewing up my favorite shoes. We love little Rio!

Jayne (Administrative Staff)

New Orpheus Staff: Jayne Wick!  

Hi there! My name is Jayne Wick. I grew up in Michigan, and I have lived in Austin for about 7 years! I love to play guitar, sing, write, paint, and sew! I’m excited to work in a creative environment surrounded by music every day. In my spare time I like to hike, slack-line and try new forms of art! An interesting fact about me is that I preform stand-up comedy around Austin. I'm happy to be a part of the Orpheus family, and I would like to thank everyone for being so welcoming!

Refer a friend & you could win

free tuition!

Refer a friend to Orpheus and when they sign up for lessons & mention your name, both families will be entered to win! All participants receive 1 FREE lesson!

Drawing held Tuesday, August 15!

Summer Camp Pics!

Ms. Liz and her choristers get their groove going in Choir Camp
A bit of silliness between rehearsals in World Music

Orpheus Around the Country

Mei Yin playing with the student guitar orchestra (center)

“This summer I had the pleasure of attending the Guitar Foundation of America festival and competition in Fullerton, California. Though I didn’t place in the competition, that was only a minor part of the experience. During the festival, I also got to participate in a guitar orchestra with fellow competitors and other guitarists from around the world. On top of all of that, I attended technique workshops practi- cally everyday with some of the most renowned guitarists: Matteo Mela, Lorenzo Michel, and William Kanengiser. At the end of each day, there were amazing concerts too. All in all, going to the Guitar Foundation of America festival was a incredible and memorable experience.”

-Mei Yin Steadman, Orpheus Guitar Student

Xingyi and Veronika practicing in their dorm room at Texas State

“I had a tremendous summer of learning new techniques, play- ing in an orchestra and meeting tons of great professors that had traveled all over the world for competitions, and learning different types of music. At first I thought there was going to be only one other violist but there wasn’t! I’m still glad I attended this camp, in a orchestra it sounds wonderful to hear all the string instru- ments come together and perform.

-Xingyi Zhu, Orpheus Viola Student

Michael (far left) playing percussion at the Baylor University Band Camp

“What made my experience special was that the entire week was focused on music. The instructors were nice, patient, understand- ing and gentle and took the time to allow us to learn the music and encouraged us to explore our limits.” -Michael Vetter, Orpheus Guitar Student

We are working out the details for a 15th Anniversary Concert/ Celebration that will be unlike any other. Will you be there? Look for details August 1!

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April 2017

4/3/2017

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Orpheus Academy of Music April 2017 Newsletter

A Letter from the Directors:

The beautiful sounds of the Spring Friendship Concert are still ringing in our ears but already it is May and we are on to thinking about Summer! Thank you to all the amazing performers and to all of you who supported them and gave so generously to CASA of Travis County. To- gether we have raised over $2,000 to help the volunteers who support abused and neglected children in our community.

Summer is the best time to pursue our deepest dreams while we have a brief respite from the daily grind of homework and school. Pick a new goal with your teacher, start a new instru- ment, invite a friend to form an ensemble or band. Best of all, explore new and exciting top- ics and skills through our summer camps! For younger siblings, parents and friends that are thinking about starting music lessons, consider a few reasons summer is the best time to start:

1) Starting in the summer allows the student to have greater focus on their newfound passion without the distraction of schoolwork.

2) It is generally a good idea to try to limit the number of new experiences a child must adjust to at one time. While many kids do start with us in the Fall, they face the additional challenge of a new school or grade, while getting used to learning a new instrument.

3) Summer flexibility can allow students to schedule more frequent lessons to ensure a great start!

This year we are hosting a special Summer Open House for New Students June 3rd from 2-5 PM! Please tell your friends and feel free to drop in!

Summer has always been a time when we get to do the things we want to do rather than just the things we have to do. Let music be one of those things!

       -Klondike & Wendy

 

Call today! 512-231-8999 3918-C Far West Blvd

Important Dates:

Performance Classes May 6  2:00 & 3:00 (5-10 yrs.) 4:00 (11 yrs.-adult)

Musical Journey Tests May 13-14

Last Day of Classes! May 27

Summer Open House June 3rd 2:00-5:00

50 Days of Practice Party June 4, 2017, 2-5:00 p.m.

Summer Camps are Filling up Fast!  There’s still time to sign up for some of our most beloved camps.  Check out our complete camp listings at orpheusacademy.com/summer-programs 

Music From The Inside Out 

Ages 6-12 June 19th-23rd, 1:00-4:00

In this dynamic movement camp, students engage with music in fun and new ways to become better all-around musicians. Awesome for students of all levels! 

Composition & Improvisation

Ages 8-14 Camp #1: June 5-9th, 1:00-4:00 Camp#2: June 10-14th, 1:00-4:00

Students work together in small groups to compose and improvise their own music! Great for creative musicians! 

Students of the month April 2017!

"I love music because it makes me feel happy. I like playing piano while my sister Leire and my brother Daniel dance and sometimes sing the songs I have learned. My piano teacher Mijung helps me a lot, she is awesome! I love music!" -Joana Echave "Joana is a talented young musician! She has grown tremendously within a short amount of time. It was possible because she enjoyed playing piano and practiced hard! I am so proud of her passion for music. It has been a great joy for me to have her in my studio!" -Mijung, Piano Instructor

"My name is Maggie Lee. I have been playing the violin for almost 4 years now. I really like expressing myself through music. Mr. Xavier inspires me to do my best every week. I'm looking forward to attending chamber music camp again this year." -Maggie Lee

"My pick for Student of the Month is Maggie Lee. She is my most patient and diligent student, two traits that are not always present in young student-musicians. Her joy for playing the violin is more than obvious; she arrives to her lessons with a bright, positive energy and eager to play for me what she has practiced that week. Maggie's calm nature and studious concentration have allowed her to accelerate her progress on her violin and I look forward to seeing her violin playing continue to grow." -Xavier, Violin Instructor 

Orpheus Trio Takes First Place at Brownsville Guitar Competition!  In March, a trio of Orpheus guitarists, Himeer, Aylin, and Mei Yin, made the five hour trek down to Brownsville for the annual Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition. They competed first thing in the morning and came in first place! They opened with the traditional Irish tune “The Leaving of Liverpool” and then moved onto their concert piece, “Kalimba” by Jorg Kindle. Afterward they attended a workshop on how to play fast scales with the renowned flamenco guitarist “Grisha.”

2nd Piano Master Class with Dr. Bruce Lin  We were lucky to have another Master Class with Dr. Bruce Lin. Dr. Lin holds degrees from University of British Columbia, Westminister Choir College of Rider University, and West Virginia University, and he is currently on the keyboard faculty at the University of the Incarnate Word and Texas Lutheran University.

Musical Journey Milestones

Check out our awesome students’ recent Musical Journey Milestones!

Musical Journey Tests Are Coming Up! 

In just a few weeks, our students will participate in Musical Journey Tests! The Musical Journey is a unique, leveled achievement system that promotes creativity and high standards through clear goals in performance and musicianship. The Musical Journey Tests assess a well-rounded set of musical skills and measure our students’ growth over time, as well as developing their self-confidence! Completing the Musical Journey Projects has proven to be a transformative experience for each and every one of the many students who have taken part in the program. Students will be allowed to re-take any portions of the exam where they need improvement.

The tests will consist of two parts, each of which takes about 10 minutes.

1. A performance judge will evaluate the students on their expressiveness, technique, and sight reading.       The student will play at least 2 pieces and do a few exercises for the judge.

2. A musicianship judge will evaluate the student’s development in rhythm, pitch, and other musical concepts.

Testing will take place on May 13-14th (Saturday & Sunday). Registration ends Wednesday, May 10th! 

50 Days of Practice Celebration!

Our students have been hard at work again this year doing the 50 Days of Practice Challenge! To celebrate all their hard work, we are having a party for all of those who finish the challenge. The celebration will take place at Emma Long Park, Picnic A, on Saturday, June 4th from 2 - 5 p.m.! Come join us!

Check out our annual Student Composition Book!

Our students have been working on their very own original compositions all semester. Take a moment to check them out in the Orpheus Academy’s Annual Student Composition Book! The book is a collection of compositions by our students of various ages.

 
 
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"Fi" or Fa Sharp Ear Training Video

11/8/2016

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In this video we explore the note "Fi" or Fa Sharp. Please print out the worksheet before watching the video. (Apologies for my scratchy singing in this one!).
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"Si" or So Sharp Ear Training

10/16/2016

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In this video we practice the note "Si" or So Sharp in the context of leading to the note "La" in minor keys.  You may download and print the worksheet here. Remember you can pause the video and rewind as many times as you need to be sure you have learned the melody before you write it out.
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