Here's a picture of us.
2012/12/24
My Piano Teacher is Back!
I am so happy! Marine, my regular piano teacher is back from Moscow. It's the best Christmas present I could have hoped for!
Here's a picture of us.
Here's a picture of us.
2012/12/23
My First Ballet Performance!
Today I had my very first ballet performance. I was a mouse in the Nutcracker! I'm so happy. We had a lot of fun. We played games in the studio while we waited for our time to go on. We could hear the orchestra where we were. They played beautifully!
We got in our costumes and we waited backstage for a little bit. I did some deep breaths just before our part and then when we were finally onstage I got to do my part. I couldn't see the audience at all though.
I loved the music!
I loved dancing!
I loved hearing the calls from the Stage Manager.
I loved the stage!
I loved the set!
I loved the musicians!
I loved the dancers!
I loved it!
I loved everything about it!
Here is a video from the National Ballet of Canada's youtube page about what it's like backstage.
My next performance date is Saturday, December 29th at 5:30pm.
Hope to see you there!
(For more info about my performance dates click here.)
We got in our costumes and we waited backstage for a little bit. I did some deep breaths just before our part and then when we were finally onstage I got to do my part. I couldn't see the audience at all though.
I loved the music!
I loved dancing!
I loved hearing the calls from the Stage Manager.
I loved the stage!
I loved the set!
I loved the musicians!
I loved the dancers!
I loved it!
I loved everything about it!
Here is a video from the National Ballet of Canada's youtube page about what it's like backstage.
My next performance date is Saturday, December 29th at 5:30pm.
Hope to see you there!
(For more info about my performance dates click here.)
2012/12/21
2012/12/20
Last class with my substitute piano teacher
Yesterday I might have had my last class with my substitute piano teacher. Her name is Christy and she's very nice. She really helped me prepare for my Basic Rudiments Exam. I can't wait to get my mark!
My regular teacher should be back from Russia this weekend. I can't wait to see her.
Here's a picture of me with Christy in front of her Christmas tree. It's so pretty.
Can you spot the treble clef?
2012/12/18
Dress Rehearsal
Today I had my dress rehearsal for The Nutcracker. We got to rehearse in our mice costumes on stage at the Four Seasons Centre. It wasn't with the orchestra though, we had a piano accompanist. I'm not sure who it was because I was focused on my part. The mouse costume has a little belly that hangs down to my legs. I had a little trouble coming out of the box while I was in the costume, but now I know what to do in the performance.
We spent most of the time waiting with our chaperone in the Karen Kain Studio. We played games like Connect Four, Go Fish, and Memory. We got to snack when we wanted to. We didn't get to see the rest of the rehearsal because it was really busy back stage.
The stage was all set up, and there were even paper snowflakes falling. It looked really cool!
If you'd like to see me in costume, you'll have to come to the performance!
Hope to see you there.
My performance dates are:
We spent most of the time waiting with our chaperone in the Karen Kain Studio. We played games like Connect Four, Go Fish, and Memory. We got to snack when we wanted to. We didn't get to see the rest of the rehearsal because it was really busy back stage.
The stage was all set up, and there were even paper snowflakes falling. It looked really cool!
If you'd like to see me in costume, you'll have to come to the performance!
Hope to see you there.
My performance dates are:
- Sunday, December 23rd at 1pm
- Saturday, December 29th at 5:30pm
- Friday, January 4th at 1pm
(The performance schedule is 'subject to change')
By the way, today was the 120th anniversary of the first performance of Pytor Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker in Russia. People didn't love it right away but people all over the world love it now.
National Ballet of Canada's Orchestra Rehearsal
Last night I had the most amazing experience!
I met David Briskin, the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of Canada. He let me sit in on their rehearsal for the Nutcracker. He invited me after I did a tour of the Walter Carsen Centre. :-)
When we got to the Four Seasons Centre, we sat in the Orchestra seats in the first row. During the break, we met David Briskin and he was very nice. He knows that I want to be a Conductor. He said it's good that I'm learning piano and violin and he also told me that I should listen to a lot of music.
I got to stand at the Conductor's Podium. It was amazing!
After the break, I got to sit in the Orchestra Pit! We were right by the percussion, close to the Celesta and Harp. We were behind the violins! The music was louder in the Orchestra Pit. You could even feel it through your feet.
What was cool was his instructions to the Orchestra. He could pick out when one section wasn't coming in at the same time as everyone else and he could tell if the dynamics of one part needed to change.
He also told the musicians that the tempo might need to change depending on the cast of dancers.
It was really great being there to see the rehearsal!
I'm even more excited about the Nutcracker now.
(I'll be a mouse in this year's Nutcracker. Click here for my performance dates.)
I met David Briskin, the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of Canada. He let me sit in on their rehearsal for the Nutcracker. He invited me after I did a tour of the Walter Carsen Centre. :-)
When we got to the Four Seasons Centre, we sat in the Orchestra seats in the first row. During the break, we met David Briskin and he was very nice. He knows that I want to be a Conductor. He said it's good that I'm learning piano and violin and he also told me that I should listen to a lot of music.
I got to stand at the Conductor's Podium. It was amazing!
After the break, I got to sit in the Orchestra Pit! We were right by the percussion, close to the Celesta and Harp. We were behind the violins! The music was louder in the Orchestra Pit. You could even feel it through your feet.
What was cool was his instructions to the Orchestra. He could pick out when one section wasn't coming in at the same time as everyone else and he could tell if the dynamics of one part needed to change.
He also told the musicians that the tempo might need to change depending on the cast of dancers.
It was really great being there to see the rehearsal!
I'm even more excited about the Nutcracker now.
(I'll be a mouse in this year's Nutcracker. Click here for my performance dates.)
2012/12/16
Beethoven's Birthday!
Today is Beethoven's Birthday!
Here are some of my favourite pieces by Beethoven
Beethoven's Triple Concerto
Happy Birthday Beethoven!
Here are some of my favourite pieces by Beethoven
Beethoven's Triple Concerto
I did a book report on "The Word's Greatest Composers - Ludwig van Beethoven" in October. You can read about it here. Beethoven was a really interesting person and he was an amazing composer. I'm glad we still have his music today.
Happy Birthday Beethoven!
2012/12/14
Finished in time!
I had my Basic Rudiments Exam today. I wasn't really nervous but I took some deep breaths at the beginning. I finished early, but I'm not sure how early I finished. I was checking when they said we had 15 minutes left. I had enough time to check and double check and triple check.
I hope I did well.
When I got home, Mom and Dad gave me a Lego set. :-)
Here's a picture
I hope I did well.
When I got home, Mom and Dad gave me a Lego set. :-)
Here's a picture
2012/12/11
My Basic Rudiments Exam
My Basic Rudiments Exam is this Friday!
I've been practicing a lot. My regular piano teacher has been away in Russia for two months now. When she found out that she wasn't coming back soon, she put us in contact with another teacher. I started working with her a couple of weeks ago. I've been getting good results on my practice tests and I think I will be able to finish the exam in time now and I'm not as worried about my spelling anymore.
I miss my regular piano teacher a lot but I like my substitute teacher too.
I've been practicing a lot. My regular piano teacher has been away in Russia for two months now. When she found out that she wasn't coming back soon, she put us in contact with another teacher. I started working with her a couple of weeks ago. I've been getting good results on my practice tests and I think I will be able to finish the exam in time now and I'm not as worried about my spelling anymore.
I miss my regular piano teacher a lot but I like my substitute teacher too.
2012/12/10
Landfill Harmonic Movie Preview
My Mom sent me a link to this video of this most amazing orchestra in Cateura, Paraguay!
They use instruments from recycled materials and they sound AMAZING!
Here is a link to the video on youtube.
In the video you can hear clips from Bach's Suite for Violincello No. 1 in G Major, Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons and the beginning of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
I can't wait for the full movie to come out!
Here is a link to their facebook page:
www.facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie
They use instruments from recycled materials and they sound AMAZING!
Here is a link to the video on youtube.
In the video you can hear clips from Bach's Suite for Violincello No. 1 in G Major, Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons and the beginning of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
I can't wait for the full movie to come out!
Here is a link to their facebook page:
www.facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie
2012/12/09
Nutcracker Rehearsal
Today we had a rehearsal at the Walter Carsen Centre for the Nutcracker.
The parents got to watch us rehearse. It was so much fun! There were lots of parents there and it was our first time doing our part in front of an audience.
Here's a picture of me climbing out of the box at the end of the bed. In the performance I'm going to be dressed up like a mouse.
Here's one where I posed for the picture.
I'll be performing on:
- Sunday, December 23rd at 1pm
- Saturday, December 29th at 5:30pm
- Friday, January 4th at 1pm
2012/12/07
Cee Lo Green and the Muppets!
It's so funny! I just blogged about the Muppet Show today! And I JUST found out about Cee Lo Green's new Christmas song with the Muppets called "All I Need is Love"
The Muppets
The Muppet Show was a cool show from when my parents were kids. It's not around any more but a lot of the songs are on youtube.
Here are some of the songs I like.
Songs with Rowlf the Dog:
Minuet in G Major
Here are some of the songs I like.
Songs with Rowlf the Dog:
Minuet in G Major
Rowlf the Dog with Victor Borge
2012/12/06
Country & Western
My other grandfather loved Country & Western music. Here are some of his favourite songs. Any time Mom hears these songs she thinks of Grandpa Pops.
He'll Have to Go by Jim Reeves
I Love You Because by Jim Reeves
El Paso by Marty Robbins
Hey Good Lookin' by Hank Williams
Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash
He'll Have to Go by Jim Reeves
I Love You Because by Jim Reeves
El Paso by Marty Robbins
Hey Good Lookin' by Hank Williams
Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash
2012/12/05
Dave Brubeck Tribute
Dave Brubeck was one of my grandfather's favourite artists. Here are some of my favourite songs of his, and I am sure that my grandfather liked them too.
Take the A Train
Take Five
Camp Town Races
Blue Rondo A La Turk
Someone To Watch Over Me
Take the A Train
Take Five
Camp Town Races
Blue Rondo A La Turk
Someone To Watch Over Me
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