Archive for September, 2007

fairy tale recital

recital poster

you are invited to a

fairy tale recital

music inspired by fairy tales and poetry

with pianists Nicole Dyson-Smith

Steve Elmore

and Megan Decker

Saturday, October 6th at 7:00

Galichia Auditorium in the Upper School at Wichita Collegiate

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   click here to view a map:

http://www.wcsks.com/about-campus_map.php

(The building is easy to find.  Enter the Collegiate campus from Webb Rd. near 13th, and it is the first building you will come across.)

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Here is the recital program:

Three Preludes from Book II……………………..Claude Debussy

I. ……….”the fairies are exquisite dancers”

II. ….ondine

III. …..fireworks

(performed by nicole)

Mother Goose Suite, for piano duet………………..Maurice Ravel

I.  Pavane for a Sleeping Beauty

II.  Tom Thumb

III.  The Empress of the Pagodas

IV.  A Conversation between Beauty and the Beast

V.  The Fairy Garden

(performed by nicole, steve, and megan)

Tiger……………………………………………………….Henry Cowell

(performed by nicole)

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this will be an unconventional recital, with costumes, projected film images, fairy-tale narration, and colorful pieces.  i have designed the recital to be exciting for children, piano students of all ages, and parents.  this is a great opportunity for all of my students to see their teacher perform!  i would love for you and your family to attend.

nicole

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the poster above was drawn and designed by my husband orion.

Piano Recital Etiquette, or What to do when you attend a Classical Music Concert

Before the recital begins you should:

  • go to the restroom if you need to
  • talk to your friends
  • turn off your cell phone (or ask your parents to turn theirs off!)
  • look at your program (a program is the sheet of paper you receive when you arrive, which lists the pieces about to be played)

Here’s how to enjoy the music once the recital starts:

  • some people like to watch the pianist play.  Notice how the pianist uses their fingers, hands, wrists, arms, legs, feet, and even their head and face!
  • other people like to close their eyes and just listen to the music.  Your imagination will make shapes, like bugbears and landscapes, when you do this.

Here are some important points to remember:

  • once the music starts, it is essential that you do not talk or make any noises with your voice or anything else.  Here are 3 reasons why:  1.  other people are trying to enjoy the music, and you don’t want to distract them.  2.  the pianist can hear you, and they are trying to concentrate on performing.  3.  it is rude, dude!
  • You should clap only after each piece is completely finished.  Sometimes this is confusing, because some pieces are divided into different movements with a pause in between them.  Do not clap until all of the movements are finished.  If you are not sure, look at the pianist.  The pianist will stand up and bow when the piece is finished.
  • if you absolutely must leave the auditorium during the concert for some reason, please exit quietly between pieces rather than in the middle of a piece.

After the recital, if you want to, you may congratulate or say hello to the performers.  You might tell them what your favorite piece was, or what you enjoyed most about the performance. 

Mother Goose stop-motion animation

While doing some research for my upcoming Fairy Tale Recital, I came upon this charming film:

It was created by Ray Harryhausen, who also made the creatures in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and Clash of the Titans.