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Community Outreach Instruments in the Attic Music

IiA – A Violinist In The Making

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Jenna Day of Day Violins recently teamed up with Potomac’s Instruments in the Attic program to bring the joy of music to one very enthusiastic youngster, whose family was going through some hardship.

“I was at an instrument petting zoo event recently when a young boy named Nicholas and his mother came by,” said Jenna. “We started talking and I showed him several musical instruments. Throughout the two hour event, Nicholas kept coming back around again and again to the violins. He would patiently wait until I was done with another child and then eagerly smile at me and ask to try the violin again.”

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By the end of the event, it was clear to both Jenna and Nicholas’ mother that he was very interested in the violin. When Jenna epxressed that he should start lessons, his mother explained that because Nicholas’ younger brother had just been in the hospital and hefty medical bills were looming, buying an instrument was not an option at this time. Jenna immediately thought about the Instruments in the Attic program, with its mission to provide recycled used musical instruments to deserving young musicians. When Jenna mentioned the program to them, Nicholas said, “You mean, I could have a violin to play all summer?”

In fact, Potomac Arts Academy Director Libby Curtis  arranged to loan a violin to Nicholas for the entire year!

“Nicholas is thrilled! He spent the rest of the afternoon looking up music for the violin on YouTube and actually found some easy songs to follow allow with,” his mother said. “He was very intent on learning ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ and is actually pretty close! He is one excited kid!! Thank you so much for all you are doing to get him an instrument, it is truly appreciated!”

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Instruments in the Attic is such an amazing program,” said Jenna Day. “It provides instruments to children from all walks of life, who otherwise would be unable to experience the joy of music! Thank you, Instruments in the Attic and the Potomac Arts Academy for making another child smile!”

The Academy would like to thank Jenna Day for assisting us with helping to make Nicholas’ musical dreams come true, despite life’s challenges. We also give a heartfelt thanks to our generous community members who have donated their used musical instruments and funds for instrument repair. We hope you enjoy seeing your donations in action!

 

 

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Music

Faculty Feature: Jennifer Keller

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Teaching Artist Jennifer Keller has a thriving private studio of vocal students at Potomac Arts Academy, and she currently teaches our popular Kids’ Voice Group Classes! She is also an accomplished professional performer in the recital hall, on the opera stage, and as a choir member. Upcoming performances include a joint vocal/piano recital with pianist Martin Gallegos in June 2016. Learn more about Jennifer in our interview below:

PAA: How did you first fall in love with music?

JK: My first memory is coming up on the platform at church, taking the microphone from my mother, and finishing her solo – I don’t remember not loving music…it is ingrained into my soul.

PAA: Tell us about a teaching moment you had that was especially memorable.

JK: I love teaching. My best “Ah-ha!” moments come when I’m explaining something technical or musical to my students in a vocal line of a song and it becomes alive to me at the same time. I grow as a performer because I teach.

 

 

PAA: What are some unique things you do when you teach?

JK: I believe that singing is a whole body experience, and that every voice is unique. You can’t place everyone in the same box and that’s ok – we use balloons, stir straws, mouth exercises, breathing exercises, vocal exercises, stretches – really just anything to help and try to open the throat, relax the body, and produce free sound.

PAA: Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them.

JK: No pets yet, but three wonderful children. 🙂

To find out more about taking voice classes or lessons with Jennifer, please visit our webpage or call (703) 993-9889 for more information!

 

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Music

Masterclass with YOA Orchestra of the Americas

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On Saturday, February 27, a small group of Potomac Arts Academy string students and George Mason University undergraduate students gathered for a masterclass taught by four members of the YOA Orchestra of the Americas Global Leaders program.

Ten-year-old Mikaela started the masterclass by performing the Martini Gavotte from Suzuki Book 3 for Luciana Arraes.

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Luciana reminded us that a gavotte is a dance, and worked with Mikaela’s bow arm to help the music sound more like dance steps. The first two notes, which are upbeats, lead to the third, which is a downbeat. She helped Mikaela find more flexibility in  her bow hand and flick her wrist to lift the bow off the string for a lighter sound.

The Martini Gavotte, which is mostly in G Major, has a few accidentals which are always tricky for students to remember. Luciana pointed out how special these notes are, and that the changing harmonies give the performer the opportunity to be extra expressive.

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The next performer was eighteen-year-old Marina, who performed the exposition of the Kabalevsky Violin Concerto. She was coached by Jessy Dube, who worked with her on some unconventional ways to get a bigger sound and find more resonance. Violinists are used to doing sophisticated coordination with their arms, but using the lower half of the body is unfamiliar. Jessy encouraged Marina to ground her feet firmly, and to use her hips and legs to create resistance to push and pull sound out of the instrument. The trick, Jessy explained, is to move in the same direction as your bow when you want resonance, and to move in the opposite direction when you want a sustained sound.

The third performer was freshman viola student Sophie, who studies with Philippe Chao at George Mason University. She played the slow movement of a viola concerto for Gabriel Polycarpo, who worked with her on focusing her musical energy and on refining her vibrato. Gabriel said that music is a succession of energy, and that the preparatory motion BEFORE playing helps to concentrate the performer’s energy. He also had her practice doing vibrato without her thumb on the instrument to feel more freedom, especially in her fourth finger.

Finally Andrew, a senior at George Mason University and a student of John Kilkenny,performed an etude on snare drum for percussionist Marlene Sanchez. One often thinks purely of rhythm when it comes to percussion, but rhythm was the thing Marlene focused the least on when working with him. She helped him to think musically, in long phrases. She also brought attention to the breath: how when one breathes in the rests, the breath should be in time and in character with the dynamics and the mood of the piece. One other interesting tip she gave him was to think of every note having its own personality.

After the students finished performing, Marlene, Jessy, Gabriel, and Luciana performed a piece for the audience and led a discussion about their experiences as professional musicians and as members of the YOA Orchestra of the Americas Global Leaders program.

You can learn more about the YOA Orchestra of the Americas at their website.

To find out more about private music lessons at Potomac Arts Academy, visit our Private Lessons page.

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Events Music

Journey to the Islands This Saturday

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This Saturday, March 5 at 8pm in Mason’s Center for the Arts: Sway to the island rhythms as the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra transports you to paradise on the Caribbean shores. Imagine a warm island breeze beneath the palm trees with sounds of steel pans floating by. It’s a perfect winter getaway!

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This illustrious jazz orchestra is joined by featured steel pan virtuoso Victor Provost, a member of the Grammy Award-winning Afro Bop Alliance, and his ensemble for a program of Caribbean music. Washington City Paper’s “Jazz Percussionist of the Year” for the past five years, Provost has performed alongside Cuban jazz legend Paquito D’Rivera and his Panamericana Orchestra and was named the Art Ambassador to his home of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Don’t miss this incredible night of music filled with rhythmic island soul!

 

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Dance

Testimonies from SummerDance Students

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The evidence is in – SummerDance delivers! Recently, four former SummerDance participants revealed to Director Karen Reedy how their experiences with the program transformed their lives and helped them navigate their higher education decisions.

“The summer dance program played a huge role in deciding which direction I wanted to take my future; I wouldn’t be as comfortable pursuing a BFA if I hadn’t had previous experience taking the same classes I take now during the intensive,” said current Mason Dance sophomore Sydney Gorena. “The summer dance program offered me a safe and positive space to explore several different techniques that challenged my body and mind.”

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“Summer dance at Mason was an incredibly helpful experience to have had when making my decision for where to attend college,” said current Dance Major Beth Whelan. “The faculty at Summer Dance were enthusiastic, creative, and helped every dancer push their limits. After two weeks of dancing with Mason, I felt I had a good feel for the company as a whole and was inspired by the work ethic and prestige that was expected. My experience was challenging, motivating and a great way to cultivate not only my technique but my artistry before coming into the college scene. Summer Dance at Mason made me certain that I wanted to spend the next four years dancing here and I have not regretted my choice for one second!”

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“I would say that the biggest take away from the Mason Summer Dance program was not only being challenged technically and pushed out of my comfort zone, but also being surrounded by so many dedicated peers,” said Mason Dance student Tori Gray. “The positivity that surged throughout the participants was beyond powerful and gave me a glimpse of what the dance world is truly like. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that I made lasting friendships at the Mason Summer Dance program.”

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SummerDance alum Casey Landon, currently a Dance Major at Point Park University, summed it up like this: “I cannot thank you enough for teaching me so much about musicality and stage presence. Memories with you are ones I will never forget.”

 

 

This year’s SummerDance program is July 10-24, 2016. Applications with a $250 deposit* are being accepted now! If accepted, full tuition cost is $1,350 (includes deposit) plus $1,125 for Room & Board (which the majority of participants choose, as activities go from morning until night). Activities focus on ballet, repertory, modern and conditioning, plus students will each produce a solo audition DVD. The two-week intensive culminates in a student public performance in one of Mason’s professional theaters!

Reedy“While the snow is still falling and the temperatures are brisk, we are excitingly looking forward to July at Mason!” says SummerDance 2016 Director Karen Reedy.  “Don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about our program.”
Email: artofit@gmu.edu

 

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The Academy will be closed for Spring Break beginning Monday, March 25 and will re-open on Monday, April 1. We will be operating with limited hours. For any urgent requests, please call 703-993-9889.

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