Sunday, March 13, 2022 by Nina Belle Durr | Uncategorized

March 13, 2022

Well, the recital and festival are history and soon we will have spring break.  After spring break we will be working on preparing May Review pieces!  Each student should begin choosing his/her 5 pieces (actually, I will begin helping you this week to choose one of them, because it will be your May Recital piece).  All of the pieces except the May Recital piece can be pieces you have already learned, memorized and performed since September, 2021.  But you can also choose other pieces.  Each lesson in April we will work on those pieces to get them in shape so that by May 1st, you will be ready for me to record you playing them from memory in the studio at your lesson.  Once you have successfully performed and recorded all 5 pieces, you will be on the list to receive your May Review Award.

This Award has been a staple in my studio since I began teaching in Louisville while in graduate school.  I got the idea from a Louisville teacher I admired and kept it going in Georgetown.  Students all over Georgetown and Scott County have been earning their May Review Awards since I moved here in 1981!  I always look forward to helping you learn and relearn the music and recording you.  Start thinking about your pieces this week!

Sunday, March 13, 2022 by Nina Belle Durr | Uncategorized

Sunday, March 13, 2022 by Nina Belle Durr | Uncategorized

Yesterday was a very unusual festival day -- it was scheduled to start at 9 am and finish by 3:30 and then with the snow forecast, some parents didn't want to come in the morning, so morning students were moved to late afternoon!  That meant the for the most part, the older, more advanced students played before the younger less experienced students and in my head, I stayed confused all afternoon!  HOWEVER, the good parts were that all of you were flexible enough to make the change and also I didn't have to get up so early!  I rather liked it in the afternoon, but if we had had anymore students it would have gone on too late--it was finished at 6:30 pm.

All of the students, not just mine, did a good job, but I was especially proud of YOU! I believe you worked harder and more consistently than any other year and I was no aware of anyone being too nervous.  You al handled yourselves like pros--announcing your pieces and taking you bows.  Not every student did that and it made me proud that you remembered that bit of recital etiquette!

Also, you performed well!  Some had slight imperfections, but all played confidently and sounded like they had really practiced and knew their music well.  Thank you for your hard work.  Everyone gets to add 5 points to the points bank for festival, so that may mean some gold cups for some of you!  Well done "Master Musicians"!