CMC Notes Newsletters

CMC Notes Newsletter – June 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. CMC Spring Recitals 3. Summer Lessons 4. Summer Camp 5. Fall Re-Registration 6. Teachers’ Upcoming Gigs & Releases 7. Lost & Found 8. Featured Student 9. Featured Teacher 10. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Sunday, June 2nd: CMC in-person recitals at Array Space   Tuesday, June 4th: Registration Deadline for RCM August exam session   Sunday, June 9th: CMC online via Zoom and in-person recitals at Array Space   Saturday, June 15th: last day of Musical Preludes classes: parents are invited!   Saturday, June 29th: Last day of lessons for the school year   Tuesday, July 2nd: first day of summer lessons   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar CMC Spring Recitals Our spring recitals are fast approaching!   SUNDAY, JUNE 2nd: In-Person recitals at Array Space, located at 155 Walnut Ave.   SUNDAY, JUNE 9th: Online recitals via Zoom, and In-Person spring recitals at Array Space, located at 155 Walnut Ave.   We are so looking forward to hearing our students perform! Those who have signed up will be receiving an email with our recital programme a few days prior to your recital day. Summer Lessons SIGN-UP FOR SUMMER LESSONS IS NOW OPEN!   We highly recommend continuing lessons during July & August, even if it’s just a few, so that our students don’t lose what they’ve worked hard for this past year!   Please complete our summer lessons form that has been emailed to you – if you didn’t receive one, please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com.   NOTE: For summer, time slots are on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your summer lesson day & time now! Summer Camp! SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS STILL HAPPENING: A FEW SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:   A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration!   Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $295/week.   Week 1: July 8-12, 2024 (spots available!)Week 2: July 15-19, 2024 (spots available!)Week 3: August 12-16, 2024 (FULL!)   Please click HERE for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week! Fall Re-Registration Every spring, students are invited to reserve their lesson day & time for the fall by re-registering. Our Re-Registration deadline was May 1st. If you didn’t re-register but would still like to continue lessons this fall, please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com and our Registrar can let you know your teacher’s fall availability.   IF you do not plan on continuing lessons this fall, please let us know by emailing our office at cmc@cmccanada.com, thank you so much! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Wanda Wanda will be singing with her choir, Singing Out, at the following event:   June 15th, 3:00pm AND 7:30pm at the Glenn Gould Theatre, 250 Front St. West: True Colours: A Pride Concert   Click HERE for details.   Alida CMC teacher Alida has 2 upcoming events with The Nathaniel Dett Chorale!   1. June 3rd, 12:00pm at Roy Thomson Hall: Choir & Organ Concert Series. Free admission!   Click HERE for details.   2. June 11th, 8:00pm at the Luminato festival at Koerner Hall: And Still We Sing…Missa Afro-Brasileira: A Syncretism of Voice and Dance   Click HERE for details. Saba CMC teacher Saba has an upcoming event:   June 29th at Array Music: “From Persian Gardens to Tango Streets” – Persian whispers meet Tango’s passion in a night of music and hope. Join us for a journey through struggles and triumphs.   Click HERE for details.   Enjoy! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com!   PLEASE NOTE: any remaining items at the end of June will be donated, so to please claim your items prior to June 29th!!! Featured Student! Egan (Guitar) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 4 years old at the RCM   2. Why did you choose your instrument? My dad’s music tastes greatly influenced mine and his love of 70’s rock impressed me. This is to the point where I wanted to recreate some of these timeless songs with one of the most iconic instruments of the era.   3. What do you like most about your teacher? Brandon is not only a teacher but a friend. After spending so many years of my life with him we’ve created a solid relationship with a comfortable learning environment. Brandon knows my learning style and what pieces will pique my interest. I feel like we truly understand each other and for that I am grateful. 4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Over the years I’ve played many classic rock songs from bands like Pink Floyd, The Eagles, The Beatles, and many more but in a way, they are all fairly similar. That is why in my last year at the CMC I am truly broadening my horizons and learning Partita in A minor by Bach and transcribed by Brandon for electric guitar. It sounds amazing and it has so much interesting theory behind it. I never knew I could play these classical songs on an electric guitar and this just shows how endless the possibilities can be on any instrument.   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? If I could play any other instrument it would be the drums. Playing and learning music changes the way you experience it in day-to-day life. By learning guitar, whenever its presented in music I focus on it and have more of an appreciation because I can notice some of the intricacies of what is being played. By playing in a band I find this theory applies as well. I understand the effort it takes to play music with others and I also have more fixation on some of the other key instruments such as bass, keys and drums.

CMC Notes Newsletter – May 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring Recitals – Info 3. Summer Camp 4. Fall Re-Registration 5. Teachers’ Upcoming Gigs & Releases 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher 8. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Wednesday, May 1st: TODAY is the deadline for submitting your Re-Registration form for the fall! Reserve your fall lesson day and time by completing the fall Re-Registration form that was emailed out in April. Contact the office at cmc@cmccanada.com if you did not receive one. Friday, May 3rd: Spring Recital sign up starts! An email with a sign-up form will be sent to all of our students – please complete by May 15th! Wednesday, May 15th: Deadline for Spring Recital sign-up form! (will be emailed out on May 3rd) Saturday, May 18th: Lessons are still ON as scheduled, but no Musical Preludes classes scheduled today! Monday, May 20th: CMC is CLOSED for Victoria Day!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Spring Recitals – Info! SAVE THE DATE: Our CMC Spring Recitals!   Below are the dates for our CMC spring recitals – mark your calendars! PLEASE NOTE that our recital sign-up form will be emailed to you on May 3rd, with a due date of May 15th!   Recital participation is completely optional, but we encourage our students to take advantage of this opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment, to develop a musical goal to work towards and achieve, and to show your loved ones what you’ve learned so far!   For our adult students 18+, we have a separate in-person adult recital which will take place on June 2nd at 3pm.   SUNDAY, JUNE 2nd   IN-PERSON at Array Space: 10am: cello recital (students of all cello teachers & our Suzuki cello group class) 12pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers, choose from 12pm or 1pm) 1pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers, choose from 12pm or 1pm) 2pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 3pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 5pm: guitar/drum recital (students of all guitar/drum teachers) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass teachers)   SUNDAY, JUNE 9th   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) Summer Camp! SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS STILL HAPPENING: A FEW SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:   A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration!   Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $295/week.   Week 1: July 8-12, 2024Week 2: July 15-19, 2024Week 3: August 12-16, 2024 (FULL!)   Please click HERE for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week! Fall Re-Registration! Every spring, students are invited to reserve their lesson day & time for the fall by re-registering.   A Re-Registration form was emailed out to you last month, and you have until the May 1st DEADLINE (TODAY!) to complete it.   Please email the office at cmc@cmccanada.com if you didn’t receive an email in April.   Spots will be opened to new students or students requiring a change in their schedule after the re-registration deadline, so please ensure you reserve your spot by May 1st by completing the Re-Registration form! IF you do not plan on continuing lessons this fall, please let us know by emailing our office at cmc@cmccanada.com, thank you so much! Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Alex CMC teacher Alex has an upcoming event!   –May 3rd, 8:00-10:00pm at Sellers and Newell: Money House Album Release.     Alida CMC teacher Alida has an upcoming event with Echo Women’s Choir!   –Sunday, May 5th, 3:00pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity: “O, Sister!”   Details can be found HERE.     Chris CMC teacher Chris & his partner Tara recently released a new EP, check it out here:   https://tarakannangara.bandcamp.com/album/extraordinary-people     Enjoy!!! Featured Student! Sean (Violin) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 8 years old.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? Seeing a showy violin performance at one of Mooredale’s “Music and Truffles” shows.   3. What do you like most about your teacher? Elizabeth has very good analogies to explain musical concepts.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Czardas by Vittorio Monti   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? The double bass.   6. What else do you do in your spare time? I like snowboarding, biking and indoor rock climbing.   7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Jonathan Crow, Stefano Landi   8. What do you like most about CMC? It’s a tight-knit community. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! Sarah Steeves (Cello, Piano) 1. How old were you when you first started music? 3 years old.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? I feel like the most like myself when I’m playing or teaching the cello, so I wanted to keep doing that.   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? The Ton Beau String Quartet and Sinfonia Toronto   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? Getting to know my students and figure out how to best help them learn   5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? Pick one thing to focus on. Maybe it’s memorizing your recital piece. Maybe it’s learning the rhythm in the B

CMC Notes Newsletter – April 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring Recitals – Info 3. Teachers’ Upcoming Gigs & Releases 4. Lost & Found 5. Featured Student 6. Featured Teacher 7. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Monday, April 1st: Lessons are still ON! Thursday, April 18th: Fall Re-Registration forms will be emailed out to complete before our May 1st deadline! Monday, May 1st: Deadline for Re-Registration forms for the fall: reserve your fall lesson day & time by re-registering by May 1st! (forms will be sent on April 18th)   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Spring Recitals – Info! SAVE THE DATE: Our CMC Spring Recitals!   Below are the dates for our CMC spring recitals – mark your calendars! PLEASE NOTE that our recital sign-up form will be emailed to you at the beginning of May.   Recital participation is completely optional, but we encourage our students to take advantage of this opportunity to perform for an audience in a supportive environment, to develop a musical goal to work towards and achieve, and to show your loved ones what you’ve learned so far!   SUNDAY, JUNE 2nd   IN-PERSON at Array Space: 10am: cello recital (students of all cello teachers & our Suzuki cello group class) 12pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers, choose from 12pm or 1pm) 1pm: violin/viola recital (students of all violin & viola teachers, choose from 12pm or 1pm) 2pm: voice/winds recital (students of all voice & wind teachers) 3pm: adult recital (all instruments & voice for students 18+) 5pm: guitar/drum recital (students of all guitar/drum teachers) 6pm: guitar/ukulele/bass recital (students of all guitar/ukulele/bass teachers)   SUNDAY, JUNE 9th   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) Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Alex CMC teacher Alex has 2 upcoming events!   1. April 4th, 8:00pm at the Burdock: Action Forever Album Release.   2. Apr. 28/29, 8:30pm at the Rex: Dan Pitt Quintet.   Enjoy! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Student! Sabrina (Cello) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? I was 3 when I had my first cello lesson. I was 4 when I started lessons with Sarah.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? My mom chose it for me but now I like it.   3. What do you like most about your teacher? I like that she’s funny and kind and patient.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Right now my favourite is Bourrée (G. F. Handel)   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? I would like to play Piano.   6. What else do you do in your spare time? I like swimming and gymnastics and ice skating. At home I like to watch TV, practice cello, reading, and playing. And board games!   7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? My teacher Sarah.   8. What do you like most about CMC? I like that they have books I can read if I’m early for class. And the recitals, because I can hear what other students are playing. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! Alida Doornberg (Piano, Voice) 1. How old were you when you first started music? I think I was about 5 years old when I started Music for Young Children classes which I can still kind of remember. I started singing in choir when I was 6 years old, and music has been in my life ever since!   2. Why did you want to make music your career? I was always really encouraged by my family and mentors growing up to follow my passion for singing. After graduating form an arts high school where I focused on vocal music, it felt natural to continue with post secondary studies in Voice Performance. University provided some of my first experiences with teaching music so I could start to develop a career and share my passion with others.   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? I recently joined the Nathaniel Dett Chorale which is a professional choir that focuses on Afrocentric music, currently celebrating their 25th anniversary as an ensemble. I also help lead a community choir called Echo Women’s Choir, which has been around for over 30 years, and focuses on folk music from around the world.   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? The best thing about teaching is giving students the opportunity to express their individual personalities through a song. I believe that music is an outlet to express the range of our emotions in a healthy way, and improves our mental health, so I feel lucky to help facilitate that for the students. 5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? The small building blocks of daily practice are necessary so you can really enjoy playing music and feel you are expressing yourself through your instrument. I tell students to build the practice in to their routine at the same time everyday – maybe after school or after dinner. Also setting a timer to keep you focused is a great tool!   6. What do you like to do in your spare time? When I’m not singing or playing piano I like to spend time with my cat Annie and work on crafts. I usually like sewing crafts but right now I’m working on a diamond painting.   7. If you could go anywhere

CMC Notes Newsletter – March 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 3. Featured Student 4. Featured Teacher 5. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates March 10 – March 17: March Break!!! CMC is CLOSED. No lessons or classes all week. Enjoy your time off!   Monday, March 18: Lessons and classes resume as normal   Friday, March 29: Good Friday! CMC is CLOSED, no lessons or classes!   Saturday, March 30: Lessons are ON today, but no Musical Preludes today!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar 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 Lee’s Palace on Saturday March 9th at 9:00pm.   Tickets are $32.10 (including fees).   Click HERE for tickets and more information. James James has a couple of upcoming gigs in Toronto!   The first one is on March 8th and 9th8:00 – 10:30 pm, featuring the James Griffith Quintet at The Jazz Bistro.   The second one is on March 14th8:00 pm – late, where he will be playing with Marmalade at Collective Arts Toronto Taproom.   Enjoy! Featured Student! Jack (Viola) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 12 years old   2. Why did you choose your instrument? I was inspired by my sister who started playing the viola at school and I wanted to try it out for myself. I enjoyed it and decided to try some private lessons at CMC with Michael Sproules (love that guy!)   3. Do you have a favourite piece to play? The Viola Concerto in G Major by Telemann   4. What do you like most about your teacher? He’s really patient and understanding. He’s very encouraging and wants me to succeed. And he’s a really good performer himself.   5. Who are some of your musical inspirations? My mom, my viola teacher and listening to other young musicians performing at high levels.   6. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? Probably violin so I could play melodies in orchestral music as there are more pieces written for violin.   7. What do you like most about CMC? The close community, the impressive musicianship of the teachers and the comfortable environment.   8. What else do you do in your spare time? I like to play video games but also play hockey and baseball.   9. Anything else you would like to add? As my time as a student at CMC draws to an end as I will be attending university in the fall, I look back on the improvement that I made over these last 6 years. I am grateful for the opportunity to have studied music with Michael and look forward to coming back in the summers to continue my growth as a musician. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! Luan Phung (Piano & Improv, Guitar, Electric Bass, Ukulele, Recorder) 1. How old were you when you first started music? 3 years old.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? Apart from my love of music in general, I had a passion and drive to want to create and inspire, and music was the language I knew I could do that with!   3. What do you enjoy most about teaching? I love getting to know my students because each of them are so cool and unique in their own way! I also love to see how my students improve and progress over time!   4. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? Don’t feel like you have to practice a long time to improve. You can have a very short and focused practice routine and feel a sense of accomplishment.   5. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? Because I freelance my guitar to various projects as well as collaborating within the creative music community, I play with many artists, groups, and ensembles!   6. What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to train my dog Korra! We do various dog sports and have won titles in those sports! I also like to watch cartoons and anime and I enjoy boxing for fitness!   7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? I would travel either to eat food OR to see animals. Somewhere in Asia to eat street food and probably Africa to see animals!   8. Anything else you want to add? Remember that music is important! If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! 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 Blog Posts CMC Notes Newsletters CMC Notes – November 2024 2024-11-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – November 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – October 2024 2024-10-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information! 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – September 2024 2024-09-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – September 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Make-Up Lesson Policy Change 3. Musical… Read More CMC Notes – August 2024 2024-08-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – August 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. Suzuki Cello Group… Read More CMC Notes – July 2024 2024-07-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – July 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Thank You for Another Wonderful Year!… Read More The Importance of Musical Interest: Insights from Louise Hung 2024-06-15/ The Importance of Musical Interest By Louise

CMC Notes Newsletter – February 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Summer Camp Registration & Discount! 3. Lost & Found 4. Featured Student 5. Featured Teacher 6. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Saturday, February 17th: Lessons are still ON as scheduled, but NO Musical Preludes classes today! Monday, February 19th: CMC is closed for Family Day! Tuesday, March 5th: Deadline for registration for the May/June Session of RCM Exams  Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Summer Camp Registration & Discount! SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN: EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!   Music & Art Creations Summer Camp:   A magical fun-filled week for 4-7 year olds with music, art, movement, drumming and instruments exploration! Monday to Friday from 9am to noon, $295/week. SAVE $25 by registering before February 14th and pay $270! Week 1: July 8-12, 2024 Week 2: July 15-19, 2024 Week 3: August 12-16, 2024 Please click below for more information or to register – space is limited to only 8 students per week! Learn More! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Student! Mae (Voice) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? I was about 7 or 8.   2. Why did you choose your instrument? I always loved singing as a kid!   3. What do you like most about your music teacher? When I’m in class, I feel like I can do anything if I put my mind to it. If I make a mistake, it’s no big deal, it teaches me how to improve and grow. Gwen taught me how to grow into my own voice. She always creates a positive and safe environment, and is the most amazing and supportive vocal teacher. I am so glad I was able to be her student.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? I sang Halley’s Comet by Billie Eilish in 2022, and it was a great piece to learn and work on my dynamics.   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? I’ve played many different instruments, but I’d love to try electric guitar and bass.     6. What do you like to do in your spare time? Music is my main passion. At school I study music every single day. I have also joined a gospel choir and I’m the lead singer of my band! Other than music, I work at a nature centre. I love teaching all generations about our wonderful earth and everything it has to offer.   7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Some of my favourite musicians are Laufey, The beatles, Frank Ocean, Radiohead, and many more. I love all their different styles and I try to contribute that into my music.   8. What do you like most about CMC? I’ve been at CMC since I was a kid and it has always been such a fun part of my life! I have loved performing in different recitals and getting to learn new music styles and develop my skills as a musician. It has given me so many opportunities as a musician and I am very grateful. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Teacher! Hiro Suzuki (Guitar, Ukulele, Electric Bass, Piano, Drums) 1. How old were you when you first started music? I began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. I remember liking singing and whistling even before that. Around the age of twelve, I started learning guitar and drums.   2. Why did you want to make music your career? Music has always played a central role in my life. As a kid, I enjoyed taking piano lessons to learn how to play on my own, all while having other passions. Growing up in Japan, I initially wanted to become a manga author. However, after joining a band and experiencing the joy of playing music with others, I decided to pursue a career in music.   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? I’m playing with my own jazz quartet, a Latin duo with Camila Lozada, a jazz fusion band called Dennim Quack, and various other musicians.   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? It’s rewarding for me to help my students have fun playing music and overcome their musical challenges. Connecting with my students through music is even more so!   5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? Listen to music you like or go enjoy live music to get inspired and motivated to play. After that, you’ll want to practice to recreate the great musical moment you had 🙂 Also, don’t feel pressured to practice for a long time – playing just for a minute every day makes a huge difference in your playing. 6. What do you like to do in your spare time? I play music, cook, hang out with my friends, and watch Netflix shows with green tea on my side.   7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Iceland. The otherworldly scenery almost doesn’t seem like it’s on Earth, and the music there is beautiful. I’ve been there once and would love to go back sometime.   Anything else you want to add? I’m so grateful to be a part of the CMC family. Thank you to everyone who makes this community such an encouraging and positive space! 🙂 If you’re interested in my music, my EP ‘Overseas’ by Hiro Suzuki is available on any streaming platform, such as Spotify. You can also support me by purchasing the hi-res music files on Bandcamp. If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! 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

CMC Notes Newsletter – January 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals Concluded! 3. Lost & Found 4. Featured Student 5. Featured Teacher 6. Parkdale Community Foodbank 7. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates HAPPY NEW YEAR! We are so excited to resume lessons in 2024 with you all!   Monday, January 8th: First day of lessons for the new year Tuesday, January 9th: First Suzuki cello group class for the new year   Tuesday, January 9th: Registration Deadline for In-Person Piano RCM Exams for April 2024 Session (April 15-20)   Saturday, January 13th: First Musical Preludes classes for the new year   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar Winter Recitals Concluded – Congratulations! Congratulations to all of our students who performed at our Winter Recitals in December!!!   You were all fantastic and we hope to see you perform again at our Spring Recitals in June! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Student! Ashton (Guitar) 1. How old were you when you first started music lessons? 5 yrs old.   2. Why did you choose the instrument you currently play? I chose the guitar because I wanted to be like Stewart from The Minions. I was 5 at the time.   3. What do you like most about your music teacher? Luan is cool cause he can play a bunch of different instruments, he is always really nice & he always chooses great music.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? I love all the music I’ve been learning   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? Piano 6. What do you like to do in your spare time? Play soccer, watch soccer & draw soccer. Basically anything soccer.   7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Mcap Steve   8. What do you like most about CMC? I love that music that is always happening here Featured Teacher! Max Bornstein (Drums) 1. How old were you when you first started music? I was 11 years old when I got into playing the drums, and 14 when I got into playing the guitar. Later on I picked up the bass, started writing songs, and I’ve always loved to sing!   2. Why did you want to make music your career? I saw the movie That Thing You Do! which is a MUST SEE for any musician! It made being in a band look so cool, and I wanted to have that much fun. Playing live for an audience is an amazing feeling, and I adore recording too. It’s a really enjoyable challenge to try and create the best version of a song possible that people will know forever!   3. Which groups are you currently playing with, if any? I’m currently playing in four different bands – Ark Identity, Jay Feelbender, Sunday Service, and Party. Each of them is so different, and playing with these groups really gives me a chance to play a little bit of everything I know how to do.   4. What do you enjoy most about teaching? I really enjoy seeing a student have that moment of “Oh, I got it!” and then they play the idea on their instrument smoothly. I love seeing people learning how to play the music they enjoy, focusing on meeting a goal, and smiling too!   5. Some students have challenges with consistent practicing. What advice would you give them? I always tell my students if you can get a SHORTER amount of time every day, preferably at the same every day, that makes a huge difference. The more you play and meet your goals, the longer you’ll want to play, but start with 10-20 minutes a day!   6. What do you like to do in your spare time? Besides playing music, I love watching documentaries, and going for walks.   7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Of places I haven’t been before, I would love to go to Australia since I’ve heard amazing things. Of places I have been before, I’d love to visit New York again and explore! If you are interested in being featured in our CMC Notes, please email us at cmc@cmccanada.com! Parkdale Community Foodbank – Thank You! Thank you to everyone who donated items to our collection for the Parkdale community food bank! 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 Blog Posts CMC Notes Newsletters CMC Notes – November 2024 2024-11-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – November 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – October 2024 2024-10-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – October 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals: Information! 3. Winter Recitals:… Read More CMC Notes – September 2024 2024-09-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – September 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Make-Up Lesson Policy Change 3. Musical… Read More CMC Notes – August 2024 2024-08-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – August 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Musical Preludes 3. Suzuki Cello Group… Read More CMC Notes – July 2024 2024-07-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – July 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Thank You for Another Wonderful Year!… Read More The Importance of Musical Interest: Insights from Louise Hung 2024-06-15/ The Importance of Musical Interest By Louise Hung   Through my experiences so far as a music educator, I have… Read More CMC Notes – June 2024 2024-06-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – June 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. CMC Spring Recitals 3. Summer Lessons… Read More CMC Notes – May 2024 2024-05-01/ CMC Notes Newsletter – May 2024 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Spring

CMC Notes Newsletter – December 2023 In this issue 1. Important Upcoming Dates 2. Winter Recitals – Schedule 3. Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! 4. Parkdale Community Foodbank Donations 5. Lost & Found 6. Featured Student 7. Featured Teacher 8. Give the Gift of Music! 9. Birthdays this Month Important Upcoming Dates Sunday, December 3rd: CMC winter recitals day 1 of 2   Sunday, December 10th: CMC winter recitals day 2 of 2   Saturday, December 16th: Last day of Musical Preludes before our winter break!   Saturday, December 23rd: Last day of lessons before our winter break!    December 24th to January 7th: Winter Break – Happy Holidays!!!!!   Monday, January 8th, 2024: First day of lessons after the winter break!   Click HERE for our private lesson 2023-2024 CMC School Year Calendar! Winter Recitals – Schedule 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 ups are now closed, but feel free to come and support your fellow students as they perform!   Here’s the schedule for our Winter Recitals:   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) Any questions? Please email Wanda at wanda@cmccanada.com Teachers Upcoming Gigs & Releases! Wanda Wanda (along with one of our CMC adult piano students, Hannah V!) will be performing with Singing Out, Toronto’s largest LGBTQQIA+ choir, at their winter concert on:   Saturday, December 2nd at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.   Both matinee and evening concerts take place at East End United Church, 310 Danforth Ave.   Click HERE for more information or to purchase tickets! Sonya Sonya has an upcoming concert with Oakville Choral. The event will take place at St. John’s United Church on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, at 3:00pm.   Details:   SOUND THE TRUMPET Oakville Choral celebrates the music of G. F. Handel! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2023, 3:00pmSt. John’s United Church, 262 Randall St., Oakville   Click HERE for tickets and more information. Elizabeth Elizabeth has a couple of upcoming concerts at Koerner Hall!   The first one is Christmas Oratorio with Toronto Choral Society, Koerner Hall, December 1st.   Next is Handel’s Messiah with Tafelmusik, Koerner Hall, December 14, 15, 16, and a Messiah Sing-Along on December 17!     Alida Alida has 2 upcoming events!   Alida will be singing with Echo Women’s Choir for their concert on Sunday, Dec. 3rd at 7:30pm at the Church of the Holy Trinity for their concert “Love is the Greatest Gift.” Click HERE for more info!   Alida will also be performing with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale on Friday, Dec. 15th at 8:00pm at St. Andrew’s Church for the program “An Indigo Christmas.” Click HERE for more info!   Enjoy! Collecting for Parkdale Community Foodbank! During the month of December, CMC collects food and essential items to donate to the Parkdale Community Food Bank. PCFB feeds over 3000 clients monthly, with a mission to ensure barrier free food, with choice, dignity & respect for all. With the impact of COVID-19, help is needed even more.   Please consider bringing items to CMC to donate (for our in-person students) or, if you can, donate directly to the Parkdale Community Foodbank by visiting https://www.pcfb.ca/donate or by clicking below. DONATE NOW! Lost & Found If any of these items are yours, please email cmc@cmccanada.com! Featured Student! Edith (Piano) 1. How long have you been taking music lessons? About 12 years.   2. Why did you choose the instrument you currently play? For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to play piano. I played recorder as a child, even taking private lessons, but it didn’t cut it for me.   3. What are the benefits you feel you get from learning music as an adult? It forces my brain to work in different ways. It is also excellent to develop coordination between both hands. For those into mindfulness/meditation, playing a musical instrument is a good way to be in the moment.   4. Do you have a favourite piece to play? Hard to say. However, I really like to learn/play baroque pieces, especially Bach’s compositions, because both hands tend to be equally difficult.   5. If you could play any other instrument, what would it be? It depends. Harpsichord because of my love of baroque pieces, but I have to add cello among strings, clarinet/saxophone among winds, bass in a rock band.   6. What’s a fun fact about yourself that you’d like to share with us? I am a volunteer braille transcriber (i.e., I transcribe print documents in French or English braille) for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. I don’t know music braille yet, but would like to learn one day. 7. Who are some of your musical inspirations? I wish I could play Bach like Glenn Gould. I am also fascinated by musicians or bands who managed to evolve and remain relevant over a long period of time—the David Byrne/Talking Heads, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Daniel Bélanger, Serge Gainsbourg are the first that come to mind.   8. What do you like

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