Cassandra List Music Academy

31/01/2024

https://slippedisc.com/2024/01/what-kind-of-parents-make-their-kids-play-piano/?

From Psychology Today: … A recent study in...

11/01/2024

Happy New Year to all my students and families, past, present and future!

I have opened up some more teaching slots this term, so if you know of anyone looking for piano or clarinet lessons, please do pass on my details.

I’m also starting a new venture! The area that most students struggle with is understanding music notation, so I’m starting a fun group class on Saturdays from 11-12, which aims to teach new students the basics of music reading without having to deal with the pressures of playing an instrument at the same time. This will be a 4 week course initially, aimed at key stage 1 age students and their parents.

Send me a message if you’re interested to know more!

07/12/2023

https://fb.watch/oNh_CFjeWp/?

11/07/2023

This is definitely applicable to music lessons! Never let your child quit on a bad day.

27/05/2022

Male voice choirs are a new challenge for me! I've just started conducting the Welwyn Garden City Male Voice Choir and this is my first ever concert with them!

Come along and see us in action, and raise some money for a great charity at the same time.

Local gents, we are always on the lookout for new voices, so if you fancy coming to try the choir out please get in touch. They're a great singing group who like their beer! Thursday evenings in WGC

16/01/2019

Concert review – Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra/Eduard Topchjan/Sergei Khachaturian at the Konzerthaus, Berlin- 28 November 2018

The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra triumphed under the baton of Eduard Topchjan at their sold-out concert, hosted by the Armenian Ambassaor in Germany and attended by Armenian’s president, Armen Sarkisyan. The concert, at Berlin’s Konzerthaus, was given to commemorate composer Aram Khachaturian’s 115h birthday. Playing to a packed hall, and with celebrated soloist Sergei Khachatryan, the orchestra’s long awaited Berlin debut surpassed expectations.
The concert opened with a stylistic interpretation of excerpts from the composer’s Spartacus ballet suite. The orchestra showed a lightness of touch and responded immediately to the almost imperceptible gestures by Topchjan.
Sergei Khachatryan’s performance of Khachaturian’s infrequently performed violin concerto was virtuosic. He galvanized the orchestra and the audience with his energetic and powerful rendition, bringing an unmistakably Armenian interpretation to Khachaturian’s colourful melodies. After a swift and incisive first movement, he expressed the doleful tone of the Andante sostenuto with impassioned playing, before dashing off the joyous last movement with zest and virtuosity, not forgetting an extraordinary cadenza.
After the interval we were treated to a powerful and compelling performance of Shostakovich Symphony No.5. Under the clear and concise baton of Topchjan, the ANPO evoked the raw and brutal atmostphere of Stalinist Russia.
Topchjan’s forceful intent was demonstrated from the first stroke of the baton – the strings elegiac in nature, yet with a cold steel underlying brutality, delivering the initial canonic figure with intensity. Topchjan’s 18 years of training this orchestra has produced a cohesive and distinctive string sound that he controls with minimal yet effective gestures. The woodwind excelled in the dreamlike final passage of the first movement.
The Scherzo had an almost Mahlerian nature to his rendition; Topchjan encouraged the horns in their raucous rendition of the Landler. There was a sharp bite to the pizzicato strings, and the concertmaster’s solo was cheeky and coquettish, creating the intended spirit of irony.
The Largo was, by turns delicate and passionate. This was played with pathos, and again the woodwind shone, with especial credit to the mellifluous tones of the oboe and flute. Topchjan’s interpretation felt more meditation than lament, until we reached the flute melody, accompanied by hushed tremelando strings, where Topchjan created a desolate, lonely soundscape.
Topchjan’s choice of tempo for the finale was a high adrenalin march that surged ahead, The orchestra showed itself to be capable of virtuosic playing. Particular credit should go to the blazing brass section, especially the trombones, who gave a bravura performance .
Overall this was an intense, electrifying performance, which encapsulated the despair of Shostakovich’s political and artistic struggle. The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra are definitely an orchestra to watch.

25/05/2018

30/12/2017

https://www.facebook.com/teachpianotoday/posts/1621312814581934

Great way to remember chord inversions

Timely... and a super helpful visual! ⛄️🎵

23/11/2017

Why music? Because of all this, but especially this last paragraph

02/11/2017

If your kids are into jazz, this is an excellent concert to take them to. The Wigmore Hall in London is an intimate venue that allows you to really feel part of the performance.

We welcome back the EFG London Jazz Festival in a dynamic showcase of jazz music; this interactive concert introduces families to new sounds from across the genre. Performed by internationally renowned singer Ranjana Ghatak, alongside bass player Liran Donin from Mercury Prize-nominated band Led Bib...

25/10/2017

I often get asked about the optimum age for starting piano lessons. Every child is different, so here's a handy guide to see if you think your child is ready. If you would like a free, no-obligation assessment then please contact me.

24/10/2017

My old band! Brilliant to see them in the charts, and what a fantastic version.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has put together a new album that sees some of Aretha Franklin's best work given new arrangements, that were recorded and produced at Abbey Road Studios. A Brand New Me: Aretha Franklin With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is being released in November.