Therèse Ahlers Music Studio

Cello newsletter term 2 no 3, 22 June 2010

Dear Students and families,

The busiest term is almost over, and I’ve been planning to send out a newsletter for some time.

Firstly I would like to congratulate Hector Fitzsimons for playing his Book 1 graduation, as well as Vicki Reid and Flavia Edwards with their book 2 graduations. It is a great achievement to give a book recital to family and friends, or sharing your gift of music at a retirement home where musical events are always appreciated. I’m sure that the second half of the year will see several more book graduations for those students who are ready! Keep up the hard work and revision during the relaxing holiday time, especially revision of earlier pieces!

It was great to see so many of my students at the “Cellophonics” concert this past Sunday afternoon at the Tauranga Art Gallery. Wasn’t that simply wonderful! The rich, warm sound of a group of celli playing together (which we all do every week in cello group classes) and the incredible technical ability of both Eddie King and Santiago Cañón Valencia in their solo performances! We are incredibly fortunate to have someone like Santi (who has been learning cello for just over 10 years) playing here and serving as a wonderful inspiration to all cellists. We hope to have them back again soon to perform in Tauranga!

I discovered that 2010 is a year with 2 extra school weeks than what I have normally planned for in my 38 week teaching calendar. Due to an important family get-together in July in Ecuador, I decided to extend my July holiday in order to make the trip possible. For this reason cello lessons resume on 2 August, after my return.

I have however invited my ex-student Martha Read (who is currently studying at Waikato University, and also performed beautifully with “Cellophonics”) to give you all a group lesson on Saturday morning 24^th of July at Wesley church small hall. This will give you all an opportunity for review while I’m away. I am covering the cost of these group lessons.

The planned schedule is: 11.00 – 11.55am – Ann, Heather, Hector, John, Janaya, Samuel, Tania.

12.00-12.55pm – Alistair, Cornelia, Fieke, Flavia, Safira, Susan, Tara, Vicki

I have booked the small hall from 9.00am, so there is time for 4 half-hour private lessons before the groups. Anyone who would like to have a private lesson from Martha could contact me during the next 10 days and I will arrange that before the holidays. Her fee (as a student teacher) is $30 per hour ($15 per half hour lesson).

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are able to attend the group lesson and if you would like to book a private lesson. First come, first served … ( unless there are more than 4 students interested, and someone is happy to offer their lounge for Martha to teach in during the afternoon…).

I would also like to remind you of the remaining dates for this term:

• Performing arts participants: 27 June, Sunday: 1.30pm Greenwood Park retirement village, cnr. Welcome Bay & Ohauiti Rds.

For all my students there is the end-of-term concert:

• 30 June, Wednesday: 5.30 for 6.00pm Wesley Church. Bring a plate.

The Performing Arts take place in Baycourt. The cello quartet will perform on Friday 2 July at 1.30, and all other performances will be on Saturday 3^rd July and Sunday 4^th July.

Wishing you all a lovely winter holiday, which will provide everyone with a good opportunity to revise the first semester’s hard work, so we can move forward during the second half of the year. I’m very pleased with the progress and quality of work I have seen with all my students. I consider myself a very lucky teacher, to have such a vibrant studio.

Regards,

Therèse

Cello newsletter term 2 no 2.1  29 May 2010

Dear Students and families,

The newsletter I sent out yesterday was actually not complete, I discovered today. I was hoping for details of a few interesting concerts I wanted to bring to your attention, but I was still waiting for the details. I have them now:

This coming week on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2^nd of June, 7.00pm at the University of Waikato Music Department there are chamber music exams open to the public. Entry is $5. Martha Read, who started cello with me in 2000 when she was 8 years old and studied with me for 7 years, is one of the cellists performing in a trio. She is currently a second year student with James Tennant.

A week later, there are solo recitals at the same venue. Eddie King will be having his recital on the 8^th and Santiago Cañón Valencia on the 9^th. I hope some of you will be able to attend a few of these events, despite the fact that it is during the week and quite a drive away!

Regards,

Therèse

Cello newsletter term 2 no 2,   27 May 2010

Dear Students and families,

Term 2 is rushing by at a breath taking speed. I’m getting over a cold today and using the time to catch up on my neglected correspondence with you all!

Firstly I would like to remind you all that the enrolments for the Suzuki Winter Workshop are closing now. I’ve attached the information should you need it.

This term is very busy for the school-aged students as they are almost all enrolled in the Performing Arts competitions. I’ve arranged a few occasions for them to practise their pieces in front of an audience, which is part of the preparation needed to be ready for the performing arts event on 3 and 4 July.  These are the dates:

• 19 June, Saturday: 4-6pm first practice concert for students and parents at Fieke Noteboom’s venue, 547 Welcome Bay Road. Bring a plate to share for after the concert.
• 27 June, Sunday: 1.30pm Greenwood Park retirement village, cnr. Welcome Bay & Ohauiti Rds.

Hector Fitzsimons is having his book 1 graduation concert at 6.15 on Thursday 3 June at Wesley Church Lounge.

Vicki Reid will have her Book 2 graduation soon – to be held at Oaklands retirement home , the date and time to be announced.

I’ve also arranged a separate get-together for my adult students during Flavia’s book 2 graduation for some socialising and ensemble playing:

• Sunday morning, 20 June at 10.30, bring a plate to share for lunch. 625  Otamarakau Valley Rd, RD6 Te Puke. About 6kms down Otamarakau (turnoff on the Whakatane highway) where the gravel starts on the left. A long driveway about 1km, last house on top of hill.Tel: 5333252.

For all my students there is the end-of-term concert:

• 30 June, Wednesday: 5.30 for 6.00pm Wesley Church. Bring a plate.

Another date I would like to bring to your attention is Sunday 20 June 3.00pm, when the Cellophonics group (Waikato cello students) is performing at the Tauranga Art Gallery in Willow Street. Entry by Gold coin I believe…. This event is “not to be missed” if possible!

This is all for the moment! Have a lovely weekend!

Therèse Ahlers

Dear Students and families,

Welcome to the start of a new school year! I hope you’ve all enjoyed a wonderful holiday, especially the lovely summer weather during December and January (which has often been quite wet in past years) but with some heavy rain at the moment breaking the drought.

Cello lessons are starting this coming week, and I’m planning on keeping the timetable very much the same as last year with cello group lessons on Thursday afternoons (advanced group 4.00pm-4.45pm and Book 1 group 5.10pm-6.00pm) at Wesley church small hall and individual lessons at my home. Please let me know as soon as possible should the time for you individual lesson have to be adjusted. New students wishing to start may contact me to arrange a suitable time to meet.

It may be possible this year to form some cello ensemble groups of school-aged students for participation in the July Arts Festival and/or other festivals later in the year. I will contact the students involved individually.

I hope to run another Tiny Twinklers Suzuki ECE music class this term, so if you know anyone who would be interested, please let them know to contact me!

I am looking forward to another year of working with all my wonderful students. I’ve been very impressed with the progress of each student as well as your dedication, hard work, participation and enjoyment of the lessons, concerts and graduations. An important part of the musical journey is encouraging and supporting each other in your individual development – you are all different in the way you learn and express yourselves! Each person has different strengths: learning a musical instrument is a very broad and satisfying way of exploring one’s creativity, thought processes, physical co-ordination and many other skills. Music is, and has been through the ages, a very strong force to uplift and inspire people and for this reason I feel very privileged to be a classical music teacher.

I am in the process of creating a cello blog on my studio website, which you are welcome to visit. This is a new journey for me! The website is www.thereseahlers.com,  Please also see my revised schedule for cello lesson payments. My fee structure remains the same since my return to Tauranga in 2008, but I am re-introducing the option of 12 equal monthly instalments. This payment option (as an automatic bank transfer at the start of the month, which you can arrange with online banking or visiting your branch) has been a very convenient arrangement for most families in the past, as well as for me.

Looking forward to seeing you all this coming week!

Therèse Ahlers