Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons. You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
A new academic year is upon us and we have lots to share with you! Please drop by any time to register for your fall classes. All students, whether new or returning are required to fill out a registration form for 2010/2011 and pay a 4 lesson, or in the case of groups a one month deposit, plus an annual registration fee. If you have the time to come in the morning, you might find it easier, and have less of a line up at before things start to get busy in the afternoon.
OPEN HOUSE – September 18, 2010
Plan to join us for our annual Open House on September 18, 2010 from 11 AM to 3 PM and bring a friend! There will be mini lessons, demonstrations, a chance to meet the Conservatory faculty and talk with them about studying music. In addition, our sponsor, Tom Lee Music will have an instrument “petting zoo” on site, so you can try one out! There will be prizes and refreshments too, don’t miss out!
CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars…
Sept 7 First Day of Classes
Sept 8 Fiddle Groups Begin
Sept 13-17 Most other groups begin (check with instructor)
Sept 18 Open House, bring a friend!
Oct 11 Thanksgiving – No lessons, office closed
Nov 11 Remembrance Day – office Closed
Dec 24-Jan 3 Winter Break – Office closed
Jan 29, 2011 Winter Recital – Location TBA
Feb 7 André Laplante in Concert
Feb 8 TBConfirmed - André Laplante piano Masterclass
Mar 25-27 Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp
April 22 Good Friday – No lessons, office closed
April 25 Easter Monday – Office closed
May 15 Showcase 2011 at the Port with Silent Auction
May 23 Victoria Day – Office closed
May 27 Last day of Suzuki classes
June 4 Spring Recital and Awards Ceremony
June 24 Last day of classes
NEW KINDERMUSIK CLASSES START SEPT 15
All classes will be held Wednesday mornings this year. Specific Kindermusik questions are best emailed to Miss Nicky, at nicolepercussion@gmail.com. Classes run September 15 to January 12, 2011. There will be no classes October 13, December 22 or December 29.
Village (0-18 mnths) with caregiver - 9:45-10:30am
Zoom Buggy! — Swoosh, vroom, and clickety-clack your way through this delightful unit. Babies and adults will dance, sing, and play instruments to the theme of being on the go. Chug around the room to the song “Little Red Caboose,” hold on tightly while “Riding in the Buggy,” and dance your way to “Zoom-e-oh!” Engage in playful activities such as infant massage, lap bounces, exercise, and quiet time.
Dream Pillow — This title alone brings images of rocking, cuddling, singing, and lulling to sleep. But leading up to sleepy time are many upbeat and playful activities. Babies and Adults will swirl to a dreamy cloud dance “Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland.” They’ll also play baby appropriate instruments to “Aiken Drum,” and “Sarasponda.” Favorite nursery rhymes like “Wee Willie Winkie,” and “Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling,” are sprinkled throughout the classes. It’s easy to weave many of the class songs and activities into your families’ daily routines.
Our Time (1.5-3yrs) with caregiver - 10:30-11:15am
Milk & Cookies — Make everyday home activities and chores easier and more fun with music! Cook and sing to “The Muffin Man”; dust and clean to the original song “In My House”; get ready to wash clothes to the delightful poem “Washing Machine”. Baking cookies, eating cupcakes, blowing on hot cross buns, wiggling like jelly, going grocery shopping and making tea are all represented in familiar as well as new songs. Move, play, and sing together in developmentally appropriate activities created just for 1 ½ to 3-year-olds. Capture the familiar and new moments of the day and learn how music can impact your toddler.
Imagine That! (3.5-5yrs), caregiver(s) attend last 15 minutes of class - 11:15am-12pm
Hello Weather! Let’s Play Together! — Sunshine, rain, snow, thunderstorms, and more in this imaginative and delightful weather-related musical adventure. Preschoolers create storm sounds with a drum to “Wild Storms,” jump in pretend puddles to “Mud Puddle Jump,” throw pretend snow-balls to “Snowballs,” and sing along to “Colors of the Rainbow.” With weather as our learning theme, preschoolers will explore musical styles that range from Opera to American folk, and become more self-sufficient in a creative musical environment that integrates music, pretend play, storytelling, movement, and more.
NEW REGISTRATION DATABASE
We are pleased to announce that we have a new on line registration database provided by Museminder. As a result we will be asking for a bit more information on your registration form this year. Please bear with us as we implement this system which we expect will provide our students and faculty with increased accessibility to accounts and other sharing of information! More to come…
THE LAST NEW STUDIO IS ALMOST READY
Studio 7 is almost complete! Although we had some setbacks we are in the final stages of the renovation and the studio will be up and running on September 13. Help us launch our new studio at the Open House on Sept 18th.
NEWS FROM YOUR FACULTY RE: START DATES
Harp with Marilyn Rummel
Nanaimo lessons begin Tuesday Sept 7th. Kids GROUP begins the following Tuesday at 3:20, and every Tuesday thereafter except for Sept 28th. Adult GROUP begins Thursday 9th (1:20) and runs every two weeks.
Fiddle Groups with Trish Clair
Please refer to the Nanaimo Fiddlers Web site at: http://web.me.com/nanaimofiddlers/Nanaimo_Fiddlers/Class_Notes.html
Foundation Orchestra with Veronica Wagner
The Orchestra meets every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 and it will start on Thursday, September 9.
MUSICAL THEATRE
SEUSSICAL JUNIOR! with Katy Bowen-Roberts
Katy Bowen-Roberts is producing SEUSSICAL Junior! this year at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. The class will focus on vocal, speech and musical theatre techniques, movement and choreography, improvisational skills, character development as well as discussions regarding the props, set and costumes. It will end with a final performance of the show at the Nanaimo Entertainment Centre for family and friends in June. Tuition is $450 for the full year plus script fees. This is a very popular program which runs this year on Tuesday evenings from 6PM – 8PM and is for students ages 6-14.
NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA (August 4 & 5, 2010)
"Nanaimo was one our favourite stops" was the response of the National Youth Orchestra musicians after their very successful Canadian tour. On August 5th 2010 the National Youth Orchestra had a chance to come back to that favourite stop and it was their only one on the island! It was a total success and the performance was heart-stopping, especially with 90+ musicians on stage! Our own Veronica Wagner sat in on one piece as she was once a member of the Orchestra.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Many students completed exams over the summer. Check the October issue of Chordial Notes for more…
NCM FACULTY NEWS
Katy Bowen-Roberts stars as Eliza in Ubetcha Production’s My Fair Lady at the Port Theatre September 23-26. Don’t miss our beloved Musical Theatre teacher in this show where she gets to play the “role she always dreamed of.” Break a leg, Katy!
Christine McMahon, one of the Conservatory’s voice instructors has a new Web site, and it looks great! Check it out at: http://www.voicealivenanaimo.com
Marilyn Rummel has been working hard on the World Harp Congress 2011, July 24 - 31. Program is pretty much done, with over 150 performers - not including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra! Registration should open towards the end of September with good bargains for early registrants. http://www.worldharpcongress2011.com Volunteer opportunities abound - call for volunteers will go out October 1, but you can let Marilyn know in advance if you want to help.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC CREDIT may be available for students who are pursuing music lessons and Royal Conservatory of Music examinations at the grade 8 level or above. Check with your local School District (#68 in Nanaimo/Ladysmith) to find out more.
PARKING – please note that we have a parking lot in the back of the building for student use.
TOLL FREE NUMBER – The Conservatory has a toll free phone number for our out of town students:
1-877-754-4611.
THANK YOU
¨ Donna Laing and Leslie Mathews, for all their work on the billets for the National Youth Orchestra
¨ To all of the people agreed to billet the young musicians while they were in town. We understand that they really liked having home-cooked meals and a chance to do their laundry, and some even got to play music with their host families.
¨ Mike Herald, from Herald Engineering for the report we need to get the window installed in Studio 7
¨ Garry McKevitt for coordinating the renovations on Studio 7.
¨ Bill Costin for teaching at the Conservatory for so many years!!
¨ Pat Wills for continuing to look after our front garden.
¨ Peter Bowen for cutting down the fennel in the back yard in the spring.
