At the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Prelude Concert Series

January 2009 Photos by Charles Chu

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Jackie

Violists and long time SuzukiPortland colleagues and friends, Elizabeth and Jackie represented their high school at the Oregon Music Educators Association (OMEA) state competition this month, both delivering outstanding solo performances. Elizabeth will go on to the final round, having won a placement as a violist and soprano vocal soloist. This event will take place at the University of Oregon in Eugene, on May 2. Good Luck Elizabeth!

For directions and more information about this event, go to http://www.osaa.org/solo/

Early Childhood Education -- Infants through age 4

I am happy to let you know that four new Early Childhood Education music classes will begin in the New Semester during the week of January 5, 2009.

A Suzuki Baby Class for infants through 3 year olds starting 1/7/09 - Wednesday mornings from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Three Age 3-4 Early Childhood Classes for both Cello and Violin:
-cello class: Monday evenings starting 1/5/09 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
- violin class (morning): Friday mornings, starting 1/9/09 - 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
- violin class (evening): Friday evenings, starting 1/9/09 - 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

The Cello classes will be taught by cellist and Suzuki trained teacher Valdine Ritchie Mishkin. Please see her bio at http://suzukiportland.com/cello.html

Suzuki Violin, Viola and Cello lessons for all ages are available in the regular SuzukiPortland Program. You can read about it at SuzukiPortland.com. Individual lessons are arranged at mutually convenient times; the corresponding group classes are on Tuesday evenings from 5-7 p.m.. The cello program is in a growth phase, so there is substantial opportunity to participate. There is also a theory class for children age 9 and up who play any instrument.

New Rudiments Theory I Class

Announcing a new Rudiments Theory I class on Mondays from 6-7 p.m., taught by Valdine Ritchie Mishkin. Class is open to all students (minimum age 11), regardless of your particular instrument or playing level. The cost of the class is $250 for the semester (15 classes) including course materials.

The class will cover all of the necessary tools for understanding the 'mathmatics' of music and how to write it. Rudiments theory is an important part of every student's musical education!

E-mail Valdine at valdineritchie@hotmail.com for more info, or call 971-255-1729.

Autumn Suzuki Workshop with Judy Weigert Bossuat

Judy Weigert Bossuat, Suzuki Teacher Trainer and Clinician, will be giving a workshop to violin and viola students on Saturday November 8, 2008 that will include Group Classes and Master Classes.

For more information about Ms. Bossuat please go to http://www.csus.edu/stringproject/teachers.htm

Mixed Violin & Viola Group Classes will be held at the Multnomah Arts Center 97688 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland 97219.

Time: 11:00 am: Pre-Twinkle - Prepetual Motion
11:45 am: Allegretto - Lully Gavotte

Two one-hour master classes will be held at the SuzukiPortland studio at 1:30 and 2:30 pm. and will be limited to 4 violin or viola students per class.

Cost: Group Class only -- $18
Master Class only -- $22
Both events -- $40

Please contact Cynthia Scott -- scottcynthia.vnva@gmail.com for more information.

The event is being sponsored by the SuzukiPortland Violin, Viola, Cello Studio: SuzukiPortland.com, and, the Metropolitan Suzuki School: scottcynthia.vnva@gmail.com

Maia will present her Book 5 Viola Graduation Recital

Maia will present her book 5 Viola Graduation Recital at Brooks Hill Historic Church, on the corner of Cornelius Pass Road and Skyline, on Sunday October 5, 2008, at 4 p.m.. For more information, please contact Catherine@SuzukiPortland.com

A VIOLA OF THE FUTURE

Elizabeth (and of course her parents!) commissioned David Rivinus, the innovative and extraordinary modern viola maker to make this beautiful Pellegrina for her. Elizabeth stands at 5'. This instrument is opening a new world of viola repertoire to her, where the ratio of instrument size : body size once made it prohibitive.

David Rivinis writes, " A frequent cause of injury to... violists is something called supination. From the player's perspective supining is the need to stretch the left elbow as far as possible toward the middle of the body. This action causes muscle spasms in the neck and left shoulder, it pinches nerves up and down the arm and in the elbow, and it results in a posture that stresses the tendons in the left forearm and hand, often causing them to swell. The most important innovation incorporated into... (the Pellegrina) is the one that allows the player to supine about five degrees less than on traditional instruments... It is accomplished by simply tilting or banking the fingerboard so that the lowest string is put within the player's comfortable reach". The asymmetrical design is "the key to solving, acoustically and ergonomically, many of the problems that have plagued string players--especially violists--for centuries". Rivinus goes on to teach players that a traditionally designed large instrument only causes large physical ailments, and that a large sonority does not need to come from a conventionally shaped instrument; it can be found "by stretching" the instrument in areas that won't interfere with the mechanics of playing. This new shape allows the player to produce an "expansive tenor sound which is generated by [the] unusually large body [of the Pellegrina]... yet to the player, it feels like an undersized viola. It's unconventional shape allows for unprecedented ease of shifting into the upper positions". Other innovations include a lighter overall weight, extra sound holes, and a different bridge design.