Classical Music Conservatory

CMC Notes Newsletter – November 2023 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals – Information 3. Winter Recitals – Schedule 4. Winter Recitals – FAQs 5. RCM Exams 6. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 7. Featured Student 8. Featured Teacher 9. Give the Gift of Music! 10. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Friday, November 3: Winter recital sign up forms will be emailed out!   Tuesday, November 7: Deadline for RCM exam registration for Dec/Jan session – see more details in the “RCM Exams” section!   Written Theory Examination Dates: December 8 & 9, 2023 In-Person Practical Examination Dates: January 15-27, 2024 See below for winter recital dates!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Winter Recitals – Information CMC hosts 2 days of winter recitals for our private lesson students. We encourage all our students to perform, but participation is optional! We want this to be a positive experience for our students with a supportive, low-pressure atmosphere.   Our recital sign up form will be emailed out on Friday, November 3rd.   WHY PARTICIPATE: It’s an opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment Develop a musical goal to work toward and achieve! Show your friends and family what you have learned so far! PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT For our ONLINE recital strings, voice and wind students, if piano accompaniment is required, you will need to use a track.   For our IN-PERSON recital strings, voice and wind students, CMC pays for a piano accompanist to be at our recitals, but if you would like rehearsal time beforehand (which we highly recommend), you are responsible to pay for a minimum increment of 15 minutes of rehearsal time. Unsure if you or your child will need piano accompaniment? Speak with their teacher who will be happy to discuss with you!   Winter Recitals – Schedule SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 ONLINE via Zoom 10am: all instruments & voice for any teacher   IN-PERSON at Array Space 1pm: piano recital (students of Alida & Josh) 2pm: piano recital (students of Cheng-Feng, Chris & Erik) 3pm: piano recital (students of Neal & Michele) 4pm: piano recital (students of Luan & Mark) 5pm: piano recital (students of Hiro, James & Iris) 6pm: piano recital (students of Louise)   SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 IN-PERSON at Array Space 10am: cello recital (students of all cello teachers) 12pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers) 1pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers) 2pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & winds teachers) 3pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 4pm: guitar/drum recital (students of all guitar & drum teachers) 5pm: guitar/ukulele/bass recital (students of all guitar & ukulele & bass teachers)   NOTE: Students taking more than one less, or siblings, can sign up for the same time slot. All non-piano instruments must be on December 10th (for example, if one sibling takes piano and one takes guitar, please sign them both up for a guitar recital, since there will only be a piano set up on Dec. 3rd, with no mics or amps… etc, and no guitar teacher to tune your instrument)!   Any questions? Please email Wanda at wanda@cmccanada.com   Winter Recitals – FAQs Q: When is the recital sign up? A: Our families will be emailed a recital sign up form on November 3rd to complete.   Q: Can my child sign up for one recital time slot even though they take 2 instruments? A: YES – we accommodate our students so that it’s convenient for you! Similarly, siblings can sign up for the same time slot. Please sign up for the non-piano time slot if applicable.   Q: My child’s pieces are short since they’re a beginner – can they perform 2 pieces? A: NO – sorry! We limit it to one piece per student regardless of the length of the piece, to make it fair across the board. We simply don’t have time for all of our students to perform 2 pieces, so we need to enforce the 1 piece per instrument, otherwise our recitals would be endless. Thank you for your understanding.   Q: My child takes / I take online lessons. Can they / I sign up to perform at the in-person recital? A: YES. For online piano students, please email wanda@cmccanada.com and she can let you know the available time slots.   Q: My child takes / I take in-person lessons. Can they / I sign up to perform at the online recital? A: YES.    Q: Will there be a recital programme? A: YES – to be more environmentally friendly, we will have a digital programme with a QR code to scan to see the programme on your mobile device. We will have a limited number of printed programmes for those who need one. The PDF of the programme will also be emailed the day prior to the recitals.   Q: How much does the recital cost? A: Our recitals are FREE!!!   RCM Exams The deadline for RCM exam registration for Dec/Jan session is Tuesday, November 7.   The written theory examinations will take place on December 8 & 9, 2023. The in-person practical examinations will take place January 15-27, 2024.   Click HERE for more info about RCM examinations! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Chris CMC teacher Chris is featured on his wife Tara Kannangara’s new release, “Name Song” – click HERE to check it out! Click HERE for the music video!   Enjoy! Featured Students! Sinan (Piano) & Amaya (Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? Amaya: 5yrs Sinan: 7yrs   2. Why did you choose your instrument? Amaya, Sinan: our parents chose piano.   3. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Amaya: Every piece is fun. I like Dream Journey because it’s sad and unpredictable. Sinan: Family Guy Theme Song.   4. What do you like most about your teacher? Amaya:

CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2023 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 4. Featured Students 5. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Saturday, October 7: Private lessons are still on as scheduled but no Musical Preludes classes that day! Monday, October 9: No scheduled lessons today. CMC is closed for Thanksgiving! Tuesday, October 31: Happy Halloween!!! All lessons & classes are still on as scheduled – come to your lessons dressed up in your best costumes! Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Musical Preludes Our Musical Preludes classes are underway, but it’s still not too late to join!! ⠀ We added a new 9am MP Intro class for 3-4 year olds, and there is still space in our 11am MP Junior class for 4-6 year olds.  Fees are pro-rated for late starts, for the remaining classes.    Our wonderful teacher Sonya Harper Nyby is teaching the classes once again 🙂 ⠀ What is Musical Preludes? ⠀ Musical Preludes is a course designed to introduce your young child to the wonderful world of music, where they learn basic musical concepts and explore various instruments such as the violin, cello, clarinet, piano and more! ⠀ Musical Preludes classes are drop-off classes, with the teacher and students only. The course has a parent observation day where parents or caregivers come to class to observe what the children have been learning. We limit the number of students to a max of 8 children per class. ⠀ The ultimate goal is for our students to experience the joy of music. ⠀ CLASS SCHEDULE FOR 2023-2024:   Musical Preludes is a year-long course from September to June, with 30 classes total. ⠀ MP Intro (3-4 year olds): Saturdays 9:00-9:45am: still spots available! ⠀ MP Intro (3-4 year olds): Saturdays 10:00-10:45am: FULL ⠀ MP Junior (4-6 year olds): Saturdays 11:00-11:45am: still spots available! ⠀ COST: $750 for the year (option of 2 installments of $375). Pro-rated for late starts. ⠀ Click HERE for more info! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Alex CMC teacher Alex has 2 upcoming events! ⠀ 1. October 3rd, from 8:00-10:00pm: Tak Arikushi Trio at Sellers & Newell ⠀ 2. October 22nd & 23rd, from 8:30-11:00pm: Dan Pitt Trio CD Release Tour at the Rex ⠀ Enjoy! Featured Students! Kathleen (Cello) & Desmond (Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? Kathleen started at 9 years and Desmond formally at 10 years. ⠀ 2. Why did you choose your instrument? Kathleen: I was just a child when I heard the school orchestra play and I loved the warm tones of the instrument, and because I had long fingers and was tall, I was allowed to play a 3/4 sized cello!  ⠀ Desmond: Because the piano was always there in my childhood so I always played it without lessons, and I would write little songs, so it seemed like the right instrument to take lessons on.  ⠀ 3. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Kathleen: So far I am creaking along having not played since I was in my teens, so I don’t have a favourite piece yet – but Brenton is helping me find that as I find my footing.    Desmond: I like jazzy ones the best. ⠀ 4. What do you like most about your teacher? Kathleen: Brenton is passionate about the instrument and translates that well to me as his student.  ⠀ Desmond: Luan is very nice and he has a good balance between making things fun and quality learning, and he’s teaching me more and faster than I previously experienced with other teachers.   5. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Kathleen: My first cello teacher – Julia Bowkun, my husband and Stevie Wonder (among many, many others!).  ⠀ Desmond: Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel. ⠀ 6. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? Kathleen: Banjo.  ⠀ Desmond: Guitar. ⠀ 7. What do you like most about CMC? Kathleen: the community – it feels like a warm and welcoming place for me to muster up the courage to return to formal music instruction after so many years.  ⠀ Desmond: the people are nice. ⠀ 8. What else do you do in your spare time? Kathleen: be in nature, eat food of all kinds and travel everywhere!  ⠀ Desmond: build with Lego and make slideshows about favourite video games and TV shows. ⠀ 9. Anything else you would like to add? Desmond and Mama are very happy to be going to CMC together! We hope to play music as a family in future with all that we are learning! If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Birthdays this Month! October 1: Ethan S. October 1: Sonny H. October 3: Henry W. October 4: Graham R. October 4: Jessica K. October 5: Niamh T.-B. October 5: Ramona G. October 6: Esmé P. October 8: Laura C.-L. October 9: Lily N. October 10: Jono B. October 12: Eames T. October 14: Sagey N.-M. October 18: Sandra H. October 20: Tuula B. October 20: Inaayat K.-J. October 20: Luke L. October 21: Emelia H.-St.C. October 22: Liam S. October 22: Marcus B. October 23: Svea K. October 31: Niamh D. Facebook Instagram ©2023 Music Lessons Toronto, In-Person at our school or online Lessons Toronto, Music School Toronto, ON, Canada | 314 Roncesvalles Ave., Toronto, ON M6R 2M7, CA All Posts CMC Notes Newsletters Uncategorized RCM Exams – To Do or Not To Do? 2023-10-15/No Comments RCM EXAMS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW What is an RCM exam?   The Royal Conservatory Music (RCM) examinations are a… Read More CMC Notes – October 2023 2023-10-05/No Comments CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2023 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. Teachers Upcoming Gigs… Read More

CMC Notes Newsletter – September 2023 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. RCM 2015 Piano Rep & Etudes books – SALE! 4. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 5. Lost & Found 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher 8. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates WELCOME BACK! We are so excited to start the new school year with you all!   Monday, September 4: No lessons scheduled – Labour Day!   Tuesday, September 5: First day of fall lessons!   Saturday, September 16: Polish Festival on Roncesvalles from 11am to 11pm. Please note that Roncesvalles will be closed to traffic that day, so please allow more time for travelling to CMC for your lessons. Come visit our table outside CMC!   Tuesday, September 19: First day of Suzuki Cello Group class!   Saturday, September 23: First day of Musical Preludes classes (Intro for 3-4 year olds and Junior for 4-6 year olds)   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Musical Preludes We are excited for our Musical Preludes classes to resume in September, for 3 to 6 years olds! Our wonderful teacher Sonya Harper Nyby will be teaching the classes once again.   What is Musical Preludes?   Musical Preludes is a course designed to introduce your young child to the wonderful world of music, where they learn basic musical concepts and explore various instruments such as the violin, cello, clarinet, piano and more!   Musical Preludes classes are drop-off classes, with the teacher and students only. The course has a parent observation day where parents or caregivers come to class to observe what the children have been learning. We limit the number of students to a max of 8 children per class.   The ultimate goal is for our students to experience the joy of music.   CLASS SCHEDULE FOR 2023-2024:   Musical Preludes is a year long course from September to June, with 30 classes total. Sept. 23, 2023 – June 8th, 2024   MP Intro (3-4 year olds): Saturdays 10:00-10:45am   MP Junior (4-6 year olds): Saturdays 11:00-11:45am   COST: $750 for the year (option of 2 installments of $375)   Click HERE for more info! RCM 2015 edition Piano Repertoire and Etudes book sale! RCM 2015 edition Piano Repertoire and Etudes book sale: 50% OFF! Please purchase in our office! Did you know we have a bookstore in our office? If we don’t have a book in stock you’re looking for, we can check with our supplier to see if we can order it for you! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Brandon Brandon has an upcoming performance with his band “The Brokes”, a “The Strokes” cover band. The event will take place at the Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday September 30th.   This event will celebrate 20 years of The Strokes album,”Room on Fire”, where The Brokes will be playing the album front to back. They will then recreate the set The Strokes played when they played the Horseshoe in 2001. Tickets will be $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Should be a good one!   Click HERE for tickets and more information. Jacob Jacob has a few upcoming gigs in the GTA!   The first one is on September 7th, 8 to 9pm, featuring Jacob Chung Quintet at Toronto International Film Festival Opening Night StreetFest.   The second one is on September 8th, 8 to 11pm, where he will be playing with Andrew Scott Quartet at The Rex.   Lastly, he will be playing on September 10th, 5 to 6pm, with Carmen Spada Big Band at World of Jazz Brampton Jazz Festival.   Alex CMC teacher Alex has 2 upcoming events!   1. September 10th, from 9:30-11:30pm: Dan Pitt Trio CD Release – “Stages”. 2. September 29th, from 7:30-11pm: Triio CD Release – “Magnetic Dreaming”.   Enjoy! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Student! Constantin (Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? I was 5 years old when I first met my teacher, Ms. Louise for a trial lesson. Ever since then I have practiced piano every day.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? Initially the piano was too big and intimidating for me. I think I wanted to try guitar. But my parents encouraged me to give it a try. I remember that one of the first pieces that Ms. Louise made me play was a simplified, one voice version of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. I loved it. It somehow made sense that when you press the keys on the piano in a particular pattern, the music that comes out is beautiful. I love the piano today because it allows me to play a wide range of musical styles. My favourite style is jazz or fast, joyful pieces from any historical period or from any genre. But I also love that the piano allows me to play in school for my friends. Last year for the Spring concert in school I played the accompaniment for my class’s song, Cephaz’s On a Mange Le Soleil. Ms. Louise helped me learn it and play it in school. That was so much fun!   3. Do you have a favourite piece to play? I love something in almost every piece that I play on the piano. Last year, while preparing for the RCM level 3 exam, I learnt to play Christopher Norton’s swing piece In the Spirit. I think that this is one of my favourite pieces that I have played so far.     4. What do you like most about your teacher? My teacher is very kind and very patient with me. When something is too difficult and I am rebellious about learning it the proper way, she has a way of making me do the right thing. She takes time to laugh with me when I tell a funny story or be sad with me when I am sad. She makes