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2009-2010 Composer Schedule

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July/August 2009

In this issue:

John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa is known as “The March King” because he wrote the most popular marches of all time. If you go to a 4th of July parade or concert, you will almost certainly hear a Sousa march.

Fun links:
Listen to “The Stars and Stripes Forever”
Fun stuff about the Marine Band
More music from the Marine Band 


Summer Fun:
Summer is the perfect time to be outside. Summer music festivals offer a wonderful way to relax while listening to some great music. Events at a festival may include concerts, rehearsals, master classes, or lectures. Many summer festivals have outdoor concerts where you can spread a blanket and enjoy a delicious picnic. Once the music starts, lie down and take in the beauty of the sights and sounds around you.

Here are some famous summer festivals for classical music:
Aspen Music Festival, Colorado
Eastern Music Festival, Greensboro, N.C.
Interlochen Arts Festival, Michigan
Musica Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, California
Ravinia Festival,  Highland Park, Illinois
Tanglewood, Massachusetts

Look for a summer concert series near you at:
http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/960 

We would love to hear about your summer with music! Write about your experiences at music festivals or camps. Maybe your town has a band performance in a park. We will print the most interesting stories. Deadline: September 15. Email them to pe@instrumentalistmagazine.com

Marches
A march is a piece of music with a strong rhythm played by a band. Marches are often performed at parades, pep-rallies, or graduations.

Marches in classical music:
The Turkish March (Rondo Alla Turca), third movement of Sonata in A major, K. 331 by Mozart. To hear a performance by a 13-year-old boy go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF8E7Lt4hYI

Pomp and Circumstance – by Edward Elgar is played at most graduations. Listen to a performance conducted by Elgar in 1931: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxqFdcZz974


Key Signatures
You should learn how many sharps and flats are found in each major and minor key signature. Test your knowledge with this quiz. First identify what the sharps or flats are - what letter name, then identify what major and minor key goes with those sharps or flats. (Click to see the answer.)

Quiz
1 sharp:
a. which sharp  b. major key  c. minor key
2 sharps: a. which sharps  b. major key  c. minor key
3 sharps: a. which sharps  b. major key  c. minor key
1 flat: a. which flat  b. major key  c. minor key
2 flats: a. which flats  b. major key  c. minor key
3 flats: a. which flats  b. major key  c. minor key

Bonus: When there are no sharps or flats, what are the major and minor keys?  Answer

 

 


Piano Explorer 2009 Composition Contest Winners

    This year we again saw a fantastic response to the contest. Hundreds of students worked very hard and submitted some outstanding compositions. Congratulations to all who entered. The winners are divided into two age groups - 10 and under and 11 and up.

    We encourage students to submit compositions throughout the year for possible publication in Music Corner. We also love to receive musical jokes, drawings, questions, poems, etc. Send them to Piano Explorer, 200 Northfield Road, Northfield, Illinois 60093.

Younger Division
1st Place: Jana Heady
2nd Place: Bowen Jiang
3rd Place: Jesse Curran
Honorable Mention: Ruby Litaker, Fletcher Curran, Danae Price

Older Division
1st Place: Chloe Durham
2nd Place: Gregory Smith
3rd Place: Ian Anderson
Honorable Mention: Benjamin Burke, Nicole Jack, Trenton Durham

For more information and the winning pieces check out the May, July, and September issues.


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