The book of music for the “Hunger Games” movie has been the exciting news of the studio this month! The students playing from this book have been learning how the composer sets the “mood” for each of the songs as the songs are background music to set the tone of the movies scenes, and not songs with words. For instance, the first song, Katniss Afoot, has a medieval sound and also has a few measures where the composer changes the meter to make the song a little unnerving. This has been a great study in the moods of music, and has been a very popular book.
There are so many benefits from playing a musical instrument, and here is an interesting article about how it reduces stress. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/19535.php
Lessons have been canceled on Saturday August 18th after noon, and also on Tuesday August 21.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Performance rehearsal Sunday Oct. 21 4:30-7:30
Celebration (performance) Sunday Nov. 4, 4:30-7:30
at the Houston Piano Company Recital Hall
http://www.houstonpianocompany.com/
Participation in the performance is optional, but I will assume a student is performing unless I am told otherwise.
Some of the advanced students have started choosing their songs for the performance. What a wide variety of music is going to be played! All of the songs are beautiful and you are going to enjoy them very much. Do not worry if your student has not started their song yet-beginner/intermediate students start closer to the performance since their songs are easier to learn and they would be tired of them by the performance if they started them this early. More details about the performance will be included in the Sept. newsletter.
On a personal note, here I am with my son Ben, who performed with the Cavaliers in Houston in July. He will be competing with the Cavies in the DCI Championships in Indianapolis in August.
Also my daughter Genevieve got a job using that Masters Degree in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is working for Annie’s List, an organization that trains college graduates in campaign work and then places them in a campaign of a candidate that is pro women’s rights. Her first candidate was in Fort Worth and won in the primary. She is now working for a candidate here in Houston, Ann Johnson, for the Nov. election.
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