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Comment on El Sistema in Canada – 2012 Update by El Sistema in Canada «

El Sistema in Canada « — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:40:53 +0000

[...] a directory of the major Sistema programs, was posted on February 16, 2012, and is available here. I’m somewhat surprised by this realization, but I’ve never seen a Canadian el Sistema [...]

Comment on We are the 18 by Orkidstra Ottawa announces Symposium and Simon Bolivar String Quartet Performance «

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:38:17 +0000

[...] to idea of something to which we are called, rather than just something we do) it is far more rewarding emotionally. And now Margaret, her program co-founder Tina Fedeski, and the Orkidstra program will step into [...]

Comment on And the most controversial thing I said in London Ontario was… by Orkidstra Ottawa announces Symposium and Simon Bolivar String Quartet Performance «

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:38:12 +0000

[...] of Margaret Tobolowska, Artistic Director of Orkidstra in Ottawa, just under a year ago at the Symposium in London Ontario. After introducing herself in the context of her role with Ottawa’a heralded el Sistema [...]

Comment on Thirty Minutes with Maestro Abreu by Jonathan Andrew Govias

Jonathan Andrew Govias — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:08:04 +0000

Glenn, if you’re successful in what you’ve set out to do, Maestro Abreu will seek out some time with you, this I’m certain of.

Comment on Thirty Minutes with Maestro Abreu by Jonathan Andrew Govias

Jonathan Andrew Govias — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:07:27 +0000

Cynthia, I asked him about some key elements of the Sistema experience that have not as yet been documented. I’ll be presenting my findings in Ottawa on March 31st, and will probably post a summary shortly thereafter.

Comment on Thirty Minutes with Maestro Abreu by Ms. Cynthia

Ms. Cynthia — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:08:11 +0000

I am hoping we will get to hear you discussion with Maestro Abreu soon. He was suppose to be on stage the first time I came up to an El Sistema event. I am very curious what thoughts he chose to share with an American audience.

Comment on Thirty Minutes with Maestro Abreu by Glenn Thomas

Glenn Thomas — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:59:20 +0000

Bravo Bravo Jonathan- a wonderful story of a mountain top moment with the close personal friend we all wish we had. Envy is not a good thing, and thank God I don’t suffer from it too much, but I’m all over this one-half hour. Thank you for taking the time to reflect with your heart and your head, capturing wonderful insight for us all. Makes me want to be just like him, and you.

GCT

Comment on Poison and Pedagogy – revisiting the purpose of movement in music education by Ms. Cynthia

Ms. Cynthia — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:28:39 +0000

Movement is a language and like language it is acquired from one’s environment. My youngest students are the least inhibited or mechanical. When I get the youngest children moving it is so infectious that even my older students can forget themselves. Something to be said for inter-generational learning.
Even when I work with older students I have them put down their instruments, as those movements are so frozen by their normal practice, and pick up a manipulative, scarf, ball or what ever is available. Students can move to their bowing, move to their breathing with the object, what ever concept you want to incorporate. Since there is no fear of dropping or breaking the instrument they are free to exaggerate their motions. My students have accepted that when learning a new piece, at any level of difficulty, this is the accepted way they will warm up for it, daily. Musical language is moving and breathing so we must start by preparing the body. It is through this type of daily active listening that the habits of movement begin to appear in their playing. It is very difficult to obtain a noticeable impact on their playing in one day as expressive movement requires internalization as much as, if not more than any another musical skill they will learn. Training for the core of their musical sensibilities as appose to something novel or peripheral.
Hope this encourages anyone else out there with a desire to teach more musical movement to bravely persist in their pedagogic exploration and experimentation.

Comment on The Why of Sistema by Music and Murder «

Music and Murder « — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:01:14 +0000

[...] with massive “crackdowns” that invariably focused on the most disadvantaged. Once again, the roots of social unrest are not merely the existence of poverty, but the magnitude of the gap between the best off and the [...]

Comment on Poison and Pedagogy – revisiting the purpose of movement in music education by Jonathan Andrew Govias

Jonathan Andrew Govias — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:29:58 +0000

Cynthia, your experience is all too common unfortunately. As a horn player, I often played “off the leg” and was also scolded by the rest of the section for the sin of moving. As a conductor I’ve asked youth orchestras to incorporate some motion, but the concept is so alien they simply refuse or say they will, then cop out. No courage, no confidence.

Jesse Rosen of the League of American Orchestras tells a great story about his time with the Seattle Symphony when he received a letter from a child who had come to an education concert, asking why the musicians were all so sad. Out of the mouth of babes…