Here's Anna Zandvliet receiving her Silver Medal for achieving the highest mark in Grade 2 piano across Canada with the Canadian Conservatory of Music. Way to go Anna!
Our piano has arrived!
After months of searching, we are thrilled this beauty arrived today! A Yamaha U3 with a warm and rich tone. Satisfies both the pianist in Beth and the sound engineer in Mark.
Landscaping at StarBird
Landscaping continues at StarBird. We're building retaining walls with rock from around the property. Thankful to the farmer who made rock piles all those years ago, by horse and stone boat, as we use our tractor to pull them out of the bush. We made the wire baskets by hand and are carefully selecting and piling the rocks within.
Travelling to Summer Sizzle
Summer Sizzle here we come! Making our way to Yorkton, SK by air and jeep with these wonerful women from Ontario: Norine Broomhead, Marg Livermore, Beth Hamilton, Martha Hill Duncan, Debra Wanless, and Kathy Anderson. Beth will be presenting a workshop for music educators and will be working with 15 students in a group composition class.
rev-o-lu-tion Published in Northern Lights Duets
Beth is thrilled to have her piano duet rev-o-lu-tion selected for the Canadian National Conservatory of Music's publication of early intermediate duets! The book will be released at Summer Sizzle and will be available for purchase in August from www.debrawanlessmusic.ca . Congrats to fellow Canadian composers: Nicholas Fairbank, Carolyn Garritano & Keri Puckrin, Susan Griesdale, Ruth Watson Henderson, Andrea Neustaeter, Maryanne Rumancik, Ernst Schneider, Judith Snowdon and Irene Voros!
End of Year Piano Recital
Three proud teachers! June Recital shared with teachers Connie and Carol and over 50 students. We enjoyed solos, a mother-daughter duet, singing, original compositions, and poetry. Well done everyone! And below, Brennan at her first recital. She proudly played Boogie by Debra Wanless.
Examining in Montreal with CNCM
Well over a hundred pieces were performed at Canadian National Conservatory of Music performance exams in Montreal today. At one point I caught myself writing "you handeled with confidence". Handel-ed..! One tired and very happy examiner. Well done everyone.
Summer Sizzle 2016 - Yorkton, SK - Aug 11 & 12
Such an honour to be presenting at Summer Sizzle alongside this incredible lineup of composers and pedagogues. Thank you Canadian National Conservatory of Music for the opportunity.
Double Duo @ Grey County Kiwanis Festival
One happy teacher with one happy double duo - that's two grand pianos played by two sets of siblings. This team played Somewhere Over the Rainbow arr. by Joanne Bender, a beautiful arrangement played beautifully :) Gold winning performance at Grey County Kiwanis Festival of Music. Well done!
Highest Mark Across Canada - Congrats Anna!
Congratulations to student Anna Zandvliet for receiving the Canadian National Conservatory of Music Silver Medal for the highest mark in Grade 2 piano across Canada.
StarBird winter
Piano Pattern Detectives
Macy is a super pattern detective! We used coloured dots for each pattern. We love Tally-Ho Trot by our friend Jen Smith Lanthier (Debra Wanless Music)
Playdoh fun in piano lessons
We LOVE playdoh! It's great for building dexterity and fun to roll & pat into new musical concepts like quarter notes and half notes.