HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 1

Providing the skills for lifelong enjoyment of music

Heritage Music Academy Newsletter Summer 2014 Vol. 1. No. 2

Contents

What’s New?

Monthly Recitals

June Recital

Congratulations!

Summer and Fall

Registration for

returning students

Summer Camps

RCM Examination

Preparation and

Support

Students of the

Month

Community Events

Group Programs

June/July

Promotions

Teacher of the

Month

Sheet Music & Books

Featured blog article

Musical games

School Calendar

We are pleased to welcome Mr. Richard Sliva (BA, ARCT (Piano Performance), Piano and Music Theory)

and Ms. Mary Wei (M. Mus. Ed, ARCT (Piano Performance)) to our school. Richard is currently working

with senior theory students in preparation for intermediate theory examinations in August. Mary will be

starting to teach piano students on Saturdays.

Heritage Music Academy hosted monthly recitals in April and May. Our recital in April featured Donna

(violin) and Andy (piano), as well as faculty performances by Susana, Alan and Agoston. Our May recital

was a full house! We had 7 student performances including Grace, Elaine, Sanuthi, Marcus, Donna,

Mariam and Emmanuella, 2 guest performances, as well as faculty performances by Agoston, Alan and

Jana. Our monthly recitals will resume again in September. We welcome all students, families and

faculty to join us for our monthly recitals on the last Sunday of each month from 5-6pm. There is no cost

but sign-up is required. The monthly recitals are a wonderful opportunity to get additional performance

opportunities especially for students preparing for competitions and examinations. They are also a good

way to introduce young students to performing in a smaller group setting. Students and families are also

encouraged to come out and listen – performing is optional.

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 2

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Highlights from our monthly recitals. Please visit our Facebook page“Heritage Music Academy” for photos and videos from

all our events.

Our end of year recital will be held on Sunday June 15th, 2014 from 2:30-4:30pm at Unionville

Presbyterian Church (600 Village Parkway, Unionville). There is no cost for this event. All students,

friends and families are invited to attend. There will be a charity raffle with proceeds going to The

Centre for Dreams – a local non-profit organized committed to helping people with intellectual

disabilities.

The following students have completed the Heritage Music Explorers I Program in May: Sophia, Krystal,

Karsen, Emmanuella, Ella, Andrew and Madeline. The Heritage Music Explorers I program is a keyboard-

based class that prepares young children (ages 4-6) to the fundamentals of piano playing. Keyboard skills

are augmented with various musical activities. Students also enhance their musical learning through

singing. All students participated in a small recital at the end of the program. The class was led by Rena

Lu. After completion of this program, students have the opportunity to continue in our Heritage Music

Explorers II program or may choose to begin private lessons.

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 3

Highlights from our Spring group programs: Heritage Music Pioneers and Heritage Piano Explorers.

While most students continue lessons throughout the summer, please let us know soonest if you will be

away for all of part of the summer session. Please note that there may be some changes during the

summer period in teacher scheduling as well. During the summer session we are also pleased to offer no

limit on the number of rescheduled lessons (24 to 48 hr notice is required) as we do understand that

families may be away for certain time periods. Please note though that all make-up lessons for the

summer session must be completed before the beginning of the fall session.

For students that will be away for July and August and are planning to return in September, your

registration payment (fall tuition) must be received by June 30th for the fall session. This is really

important for our planning as well as ensuring that you receive your preferred date and time for lessons.

It’s still not too late to register for our summer camp programs! We offer day camps for children ages 6-

12. Before and after care is also available. All of our camp programs are run on-site at the school. All

camp programs are run by qualified staff. Our music camps are run by our teaching faculty.

July 7-11, 14-18: LogicFusion Technology Camp ($350/wk)

Campers can explore various programs ranging from building structures and gearing with Hands-on

Robotics, game designing with GameFusion Studio, and problem-solving with Computer Programming.

July 21-25: Heritage Music Camp ($249)

Students will receive instruction on the piano and/or violin, work in ensembles, learn about

musicianship, sing in a choir, learn about music history and even compose their own music.

Jul 28-Aug 1: Technology Camp + Music ($350)

A joint venture of LogicFusion and Heritage Music Academy. Students will be exposed to all things

digital - robotics, movie making, stop motion animation, game design and digital music production.

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 4

Are you preparing for a Summer RCM practical exam? Would you like the experience of being evaluated

before the big day? Heritage Music Academy offers “mock” practical examinations on-site. These

sessions are conducted by senior teachers who have extensive experience with the Royal Conservatory

of Music Examination system. All sessions are conducted in our large recital room on the Yamaha grand

piano. Students will be given both written and verbal feedback. Fee is $35 current HMAI students ($45

for non-students).

Heritage Music Academy has a number of experienced accompanists that are available to accompany

students for examinations, concerts and festivals. Please inquire about these services.

What instrument(s) do you play? Owen: Piano Natalia: Piano How long have you been taking lessons? Owen & Natalia: We have been taking piano lessons since January

2014. What do you enjoy most about music lessons? Owen: I enjoy listening to the music. Natalia: I enjoy playing jingle bells. I also like playing and practicing music because the songs are so amazing. What’s one important thing that you’ve learned from your teacher? Owen: The most important thing that I have learned is focusing on my pieces and trying to concentrate. Natalia: Curve my fingers. What’s your favourite music? Owen: The Funny Snowman Natalia: Jingle Bells, Fur Elise, Let It Go What are your hobbies? Owen: I love to play soccer, travel on trips, and watch TV. Natalia: I like to do rainbow looms, travel on trips and watch TV.

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 5

Several faculty members had the opportunity to attend and support the 2nd Annual Gala for Giving

Markham Fundraiser on April 24th, 2014. This is an annual event that helps numerous Markham

organizations and charitable groups that provide invaluable services to children, seniors and those with

special needs in our community. Heritage Music Academy is also a proud supporter of Cherish – a

Markham organization that provides services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Highlights from our 2014 community events. Violinist Agoston Tamas performs with the

Ontario Philharmonic at Koerner Hall. Agoston has also performed with Jacques

Israelievitch (former concertmaster of the TSO) and the Koffler Chamber Orchestra in

recent concerts at York University, and performed Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Pickering

last month.

The following program will be beginning in the first week of June: Heritage Music Pioneers (ages 3-4). A fun and education group class which introduces children to music through listening, exploring various instruments, musical crafts, games and activities. All classes are $99 for 9 weeks. Additional materials may be required. Program offerings are dependent on enrolment. Please contact us for further information about any of our upcoming classes. We are in the process of finalizing our fall programs. Our proposed group classes will include Heritage Music Pioneers, Heritage Music Explorers I and II, and Heritage Violin Explorers. We also offer adult group piano and guitar classes. Please visit our website for the most current information.

Refer a New Student and Get One FREE Private Music Lessons: When you refer a new student

to HMAI, who registers for private lessons, you will get one free lesson. Please inform our

administrator when you refer a new student or have the new student mention your name at the

time of registration.

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 6

Cecilia earned an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Toronto in 2007 and an Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science from Seneca College in 2010. In the past 5 years, she has worked as an instructor therapist (IT) for children with autism and/or developmental disabilities – at small private centres, as well as large government-funded agencies, including Kinark and Geneva Centre. Through these opportunities, she

has gained extensive experience in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles and individualized programming. Music has always been a parallel interest in her life. Vienna is her favourite city. Having almost completed her piano studies herself, Cecilia has been teaching piano and music theory to beginners since 2010. Through the Heritage Music Academy, she hopes to continue building on her career as a piano teacher, in helping students – including those with special needs – reach their full potential.

1. Who is your favourite composer/piece of music? Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” – because it’s so elegant and energetic! Always brightens my day, especially when it comes on the radio while I’m stuck in traffic. 2. How do you motivate your students to succeed? Sometimes I let students pick a ‘fun’ piece of music that they would like to learn alongside their standard (more ‘technique-building’) curriculum – I’ve had requests ranging from “Phantom of the Opera” to “Star Wars.” It keeps them interested, engaged and motivated to practice more!

3. How did you become interested in teaching music? / Why is learning music beneficial? When I was working as an instructor therapist for children with autism, a parent found out that I play the piano and asked if I could try teaching her 5-year-old with autism. Even though this child usually showed little interest in his environment and communication, he was able to fly through piano lessons with extreme focus and engagement. It was then that I realized how piano lessons can be a great way to help students with autism build on their social skills, motor skills, creativity and confidence!

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 7

Heritage Music Academy is affiliated with the largest music distributor in Canada. We are happy to offer

a large selection of discounted sheet music and books to our students and faculty. All current students

enjoy a minimum of 5% discount off the cover price of our music books and sheet music. We are able to

order 1000s of print music selections at great prices.

To get ideas of books that you may be interested in, local music store websites provide good lists of on-

line inventory. We are also happy to provide advice regarding music books especially if you’re unsure

about the level of difficulty and suitability of certain collections.

How to order music through HMAI: Please contact us in person, via email or phone to inquire about

specific collections. We do keep a limited stock of popular selections at the school. All other books and

music will be ordered directly from our publisher. All such orders will require payment in full at the time

of order. All books and sheet music are final sale.

Popular Selections:

Junior Hanon - A slight condensation of

Hanon's first exercises. The simplification in layout and range make the exercises appear less difficult to a young student.

List price 10.99 – HMAI price 9.99

The Dozen a Day books are universally recognized as one of the most remarkable technique series on the market for all ages! Each book contains short warm-up exercises

to be played at the beginning of each practice session. Preparatory to level 5.

List price 5.99 – HMAI price 4.99

Frozen – Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Songs include: For the First Time in Forever * Frozen Heart * In Summer * Let It Go * Love Is an Open Door * Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People * and more.

Easy Piano – list price 17.99 HMAI price 15.99;

Big-Note Piano – list price 15.99 – HMAI price 13.99

Disney - Violin Easy Instrumental Play-Along Book with Online Audio Tracks - Songs include: The Ballad of Davy Crockett * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Candle on the Water * I Just Can't Wait to Be King * The Medallion Calls * Mickey Mouse March * Part of Your World * Whistle While You Work * You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! * You'll Be in My Heart (Pop Version).

List price 11.99 – HMAI price 9.99

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 8

Written by J. Lok. As with every discipline, consistency is key. It’s no surprise that students’ reading and math levels drop over the summer holidays. We could also compare learning music to exercising. If you’ve been working out regularly for the past 10 months and decide to take 2 months off, would you expect to be in the same shape when you resume exercising? The same thing is true for learning music. You (and your child) have worked hard over the year and achieved many learning goals, with two months off, you can imagine that there will be a lot of catching up to do. Let’s talk about two common reasons why students or families choose to stop lessons during the summer session:

1. Saving Money Unfortunately, many families might not realize that there really is no cost-savings with taking the summer off. During two months of infrequent or no practicing, students will definitely “lose” much of their skill and technique and will have to relearn these things when they resume lessons. So in fact, if you are paying to have to relearn a skill, you are indeed wasting and not saving money. If it’s truly not possible to continue with formal lessons over the summer, try to incorporate some regular practicing as often as you can. That way, you (or your child) won’t be too far behind by the fall and will have an easier time adjusting to regular lessons and practicing once again. 2. Needing a break You and your family have had a really busy year. You’re planning to get away for a few weeks and then giving yourself (or your child) a few weeks of “rest” before September. Stopping lessons and more importantly, not practicing is especially problematic for students that have a difficult time practicing regularly and progressing. Having had two months off and needing to relearn material may in fact lead to additional frustration and demotivation. If you’re a parent of young children learning music, it’s often a struggle to get them to practice regularly. Trying to make it part of their daily routine often leads to greater success. I know for my own child, even missing a day or two of practicing makes it that much more challenging to get back into our regular routine. In the end, even if you’re unable to continue lessons over the summer, try to commit to playing through your pieces a few times a week. Consider picking up a “fun book” to play over the summer. Try to incorporate music into everyday activities. Maybe have a small summer concert for family or friends. Music is most meaningful when shared and enjoyed with others! What’s nice about summer music lessons Summer is generally a more relaxed time of the year. Without the constraints of school and many other activities, the summer can be a great time to maintain your musical skills and even learn some more fun repertoire, maybe learn a duet to play with a friend, or get a head start on preparing for future RCM exams or competitions. However, whether you choose to continue in the summer or not, stay in touch with us. We’re always happy to provide encouraging practice tips or recommend a fun new book to try. Wishing you all a safe and happy summer!

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 9

Be a musical word sleuth! Find the missing words by naming the notes.

On Father’s Day, we show our ___ ___ ___ how special he is.

I don’t want to get out of ___ ___ ___ today.

The police officer has a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

I forgot my ___ ___ ___ in the ___ ___ ___.

Every ten years is called a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

The hamster got out of his ___ ___ ___ ___.

My sandwich has ___ ___ ___ ___, ___ ___ ___ and ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

HMAI Newsletter Vol. 1 No.2 10

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2014/2015

September – New Group Classes

Begin

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

October

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

November

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

December

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

January - New Group Classes Begin

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

February

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

March

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

April

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

September 28 –

Monthly Recital

Monday September 1

– Labour Day (School

closed)

Monday October 13 –

Thanksgiving Day

(School closed)

October 26 –

Monthly Recital

November 3 – RCM

Winter Session

Registration Deadline

November 30 –

Monthly Recital

December 12 & 13 –

RCM Theory Exams

December 14 – Fall

Recital (TBC)

December 25, 26 –

Christmas Day,

Boxing Day (School

closed)

January 1 – New Year’s Day

(School closed)

January 6 – RCM April

Session Piano Exam Deadline

January 19-31 – RCM

Practical Exams

January 25 – Monthly Recital

Monday February 16 –

Family Day (School closed)

February 22 – Monthly

Recital

March 3 – RCM Spring

Session Registration

Deadline

March 29 – Monthly Recital

Friday April 3 – Good Friday

(School closed)

April 13-18 – RCM Piano

Exams

April 26 – Monthly Recital