Dec 20 2024
We had a massive power outage in Caulfeild and Eagle Harbour, but miraculously under God's grace, the church had power and the recital went on as scheduled. While the music was the highlight for the parents, it was the Genoise chocolate cake, speculaas, and raspberry candy canes that made the day for the students.
Feb 17 2024
Students dressed to impress and volunteered their Sunday afternoon to play their solo and ensemble pieces for the residents at Hollyburn Retirement House. The event was well-received and we have been reinvited to play again in the summer.
Dec 5 2023
Our annual piano recital featured many popular Christmas duets along with the our favourite Classical sonatas. Playing in front of our peers can have a big influence on our goal and motivation. Our pianists are equally good singers so we concluded the concert with a classic winter song, "Walking in the Air" by Howard Blake with Miss Salmon conducting.
Nov 29 2023
Recital preparations are underway and we had our first rehearsal this weekend. Inspired by last year's recital which included an impromptu choir, we had a special guest conductor join us this year to give us a few tips on singing this week. I was pleased to see the students having fun with the exercises and singing in pitch. Our piano duet players are sounding stronger this year, renewing their understanding of how important sustaining the beat is with a different partner this year. Learning together keeps the students accountable to their daily practicing. Persevere, practice, and keep rehearsing!
Sept 28 2023
Our #CaulfeildPiano T-shirts have arrived! Order yours today by email!
Sept 3 2023
Did you know that learning the piano can improve memory? - particularly, verbal memory. Private piano lessons can help build good habits like focus and perseverance. Learning a music instrument helps stir our imagination and creativity, activating all parts of our brain to preserve our brain elasticity which helps us adapt to new situations, learn and problem solve.
May 26 2023
Our Spring Piano Recital was an exposition of tunes from around the world and we featured some 4-hands and 6-hands piano pieces. This term, the students worked collaboratively, and faced their fear of syncopated and dotted rhythms together with their duet partners.
Jan 7 2023
We had a festive student recital in Caulfeild with a very good turnout despite the snow in the forecast. Some children played their favourite Christmas tunes while others demonstrated their musicality in their classical pieces. The adult students performed for each other with the highlight being the Sugar Plum Fairy duet for four hands. At the end of the recital, we had some enthusiastic parents sing on stage. Thank-you to all the students who performed that day.
July 27 2022
We had a fantastic student recital at Steinway Hall in London, UK yesterday. I hope this trip will inspire and plant a musical seed of ambition to my students: think BIG and long-term and that everything is possible with hard work. Thank-you for achieving your personal best at the piano yesterday and parallel to what they say with wine: music ages over time. Be patient.
This trip also brings back countless memories from my youth, when I was a student at the Academy. I met the late Hamish Milne at the Banff Music Festival after my audition at the Academy. I played Beethoven’s Pastoral Sonata, Liszt’s Vallée d’Obermann and Chopin’s terrifying Winterwind étude. Hamish was an important mentor during my early days in the big capital of London. Sometimes we had gatherings in his home and I remember playing on his refurbished Steinway piano at his home in Wimbledon which reflected his warm and wondrous personality. Hamish became a dear friend and he introduced me to the quaint English countryside and I dragged him to concerts at the Southbank and Barbican. I also became close friends with Aysedeniz Gokcin who is now a big influencer on YouTube and Nadav Hertzka, a poetic classical pianist originally from Tel Aviv who is now living in Manchester. These friendships and memories are priceless.
July 7 2022
Congratulations to SM for obtaining a Gold certificate in his Grade 3 Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Study pieces in the 2022 BC Conservatory of Music (BCCM) Festival. SM started learning the piano with me at the age of 3. His favourite sports are skiing, soccer, and mountain climbing. As an outdoor enthusiast, he loves helping others and his dream is to become a fire fighter one day. To follow the BCCM Music Festival, students can find the schedule in this link: https://bccmusic.squarespace.com/schedule
