Gabby has had a fantastic experience as a student in Da Capo. Her enthusiasm for learning to play piano is contagious! The Da Capo method has provided her with a comfortable, yet structured approach to learning. It has also given her the opportunity to play in front of groups, further building self-confidence.

This summer, while not in Da Capo sessions, she has chosen to play daily and is teaching herself new pieces -- she can't wait to get back to the fall session and show her teacher what she's done. Just yesterday, she insisted I sit by her while she played her new, favorite Beethoven piece for me.

It's pretty exciting as a parent to watch an 8 year old child embrace something with such a passion and I attribute that passion largely to her experience with the Da Capo environment.

After several years of a lay off, I sought out some help to get my voice back in shape for a major production, in particular for one of the most difficult songs in the musical theater genre. Someone referred me to Jeff Prillaman of the Da Capo Institute.

Not only did Jeff help me get my voice back in shape, he provided me some of the most relevant and direct feedback and coaching that I have ever experienced in my singing career. His method is firm, yet gentle; he is serious about vocal study, but relaxed.

The show was an amazing success and my performance was well received. I most certainly owe a large portion of this to Jeff and his expertise. I would recommend the DaCapo staff and program to any of my peers.

Da Capo is an incredible learning opportunity for young musicians.

The ability to experience the combination of private lessons, studio classes, recitals, and public performance is an amazingly powerful teaching methodology that is traditionally not available to a musician until college.

As an ex-professional musician I wish I had the Da Capo approach during my early years of development. I would have progressed faster, with less effort, and developed those all important interpersonal skills earlier in life.

The Da Capo approach benefits the student in non-musical ways as well helping the student become comfortable performing in front of large groups through a scalable approach that is considerate of the young student's development curve.

--Graphic from http://www.successandhappiness.net/

As the principal accompanist for Da Capo, I have a unique perspective. I have watched both operating ensembles, Animato and Bel Canto, grow in myriad ways since their inception last fall.

To cite a couple of examples as regards the children’s group, Animato, I was struck recently by a trend: the children would begin rehearsing before they were supposed to begin rehearsing. They were singing their hearts out on a song they were currently preparing and/or doing one of the games/activities that Tracee uses. I recall it happening one week recently and continuing to some degree or another. Also, I found it greatly rewarding when some of them would recognize the finer musical points and, e.g., the breaking of a phrase to breathe on a half-note or a final consonant was not sounding. Tracee would prompt the question but someone would supply the answer. “We breathed and broke the phrase” or “there was no ‘nd’ in ‘bound.’”

As for the adults, I am taken by the response of the more novice singers to Jeff’s instruction, particularly in the last few weeks before the Bel Canto concert in May. The overall ensemble seemed to take more individual ownership of each person’s role. Indeed, much of the growth in solidity of the ensemble can attributed to the spirit of the group. The fellowship quality is high. Jeff has the wisdom to foster a balanced rehearsal: hard-core instruction with get-to-know-each-other time. We are humans with personalities and not just sound machines.

Happily, and much to its benefit, Bel Canto has a director who recognizes that, and its members build upon that and have just a wonderful rapport with each other.
One other outstanding thought: I particularly enjoyed the opening fall concert of Da Capo during which the children of the audience stood around the organ to watch the pedal solo. Their curiosity and wonder at the instrument and my ability to demonstrate it yielded one of the more fulfilling performance experiences of my life. Even if none of those children take organ or become interests, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share my gift and skill in that particular manner.

As I reflect back on this first year of rehearsals, lessons, and performances, I am struck by the growth that has taken place across all levels. We truly are a community. Relationships have formed within enembles, teachers and students have bonded, and there is a high level of respect among students for the work that each has put in this year.

Thinking back on my flute student beginning lessons in January I am amazed by her progress. She came to Da Capo with a little piano experience and no idea of what to do with the flute. By the end of this session she is playing short songs with proper articulations and can answer many theory questions. She is confident and excited about her progress.

My progress as a student has been exciting to experience. Singing in Bel Canto under Jeff’s direction has really helped me to grow in my confidence as a singer. I have not had a tremendous amount of formal singing experience, just church choir really, and I felt a little out of my league when we began in the fall. Now I feel like I can hold my own and I am excited to see where it will take me in the future.

Studio classes are such a wonderful experience for students and teachers alike. The students are very supportive of one another and are learning to accept positive feedback as well as criticism. It is a friendly environment in which to gain experience performing for others.

From Vicki Welch, Mgr:
Our student concert at Ginter Hall South on Saturday morning, June 9, was greatly appreciated by the attending residents and their Activities Director, Sarah Griffin. As we spoke afterwards, I told Sarah about the other nursing home concerts we had given during our first year. I explained that while we offered a concert at HRBC so people in the community could come to us, we also took our students out into the community to share their music with people who are unable to come to us. She was impressed to hear that sharing music with the community in this way is part of the foundation of our mission. Sarah commented that in particular regard to nursing home concerts, how gracious it was of us to provide through music, a time of encouragement and solace to the often-forgotten nursing home community. Our students DO make a difference with their music!

Painting by student Mandy Hermann's. Displayed at Robious Elementary during school year

2006-7

Stunned, Inspired, Refreshed, Renewed, Excited, Intimidated, Overwhelmed, Humbled...

On a cold, rainy Friday night here in Richmond, the exquisite Westminster choir demonstrated a level of choral excellence and musicianship that is rarely heard in our local churches and schools. These young musicians, after 11 hours on a bus, engulfed the dinner provided for them in a short time, and then proceeded to amaze and inspire the crowd of ~500 attendees. Their presentation of Raua needmine "Curse upon iron" by Estonian composer Veljo Tormis presented the primal essence of man, in war, as we hurl our iron upon the world. Its energy evoked deep emotions in my soul and the use of vocal symphonic effect was most effective. A WWII veteran spoke to me during the first intermission, after the first round of standing ovations, and said that he had never seen or heard a piece of music present such a profound example of the urgency, terror and confusion of a battlefield. Closing their concert with John the Revelator by Paul Caldwell, the energy in the sanctuary was overwhelming and humbling at the same time. They are indeed at a special place, and they are blessed by their experiences. They blessed us by sharing that passion and discipline so expertly.

Our world is in desperate need of the excellence demonstrated by these musicians. Our art can make a difference. The quote below, written by Dr. Charles Hulin IV was presented as part of the opening remarks:

The Artists’ Perspective
Artists are interested in expressing the human condition. They are interested in all of life. As an art form, classical music explores every facet of the human condition: pain, passions, conflict, disappointments, as well as love, joy, peace, self-control, and much more. As music gives a broad picture of human experience, it provides a tremendous gift to the church. It shows something of the need for God in daily life outside the church’s walls. It also speaks of the presence of God wherever we find ourselves.

I was inspired and humbled by Bel Canto's generous time donations for the CARITAS event at HRBC last night. As we sang through the hymns and I listened to the joyous offerings of beautiful music by Bel Canto and the solo artists, I was burdened by our inability to do more for these people from OUR community. Thank you to all who sang, listened, and contributed.


Charles Hulin said...

Things I liked about the performance for Caritas:

1. Bel Canto folks and Caritas folks being together

2. Team work - each musician was prepared to offer what would best serve the occasion - vocal solos, instrumental numbers, background singing, etc.

3. Spontaneity - the willingness to be flexible and adjust the program, personel, and the way we performed each piece according to the feeling in the room at the moment - I think it would be a great experience to practice doing this more to develop deep sensitivity to the dynamics of performance and of performing together.

For those who want to know more about CARITAS, here's a paragraph from their website:

CARITAS (Congregations Around Richmond Involved To Assure Shelter) was organized in the early 1980's to respond to the huge unmet need for emergency shelter for homeless adults in the cold winter months. With its name derived from the Latin word for charity, today CARITAS is the largest emergency shelter program in our community. More than 170 faith communities provide over 37,000 nights of shelter. Our congregation-based model mobilizes thousands of volunteers annually.

I am working with one student who has made a terrific transformation over the past 6 months. I call this person the "Da Capo posterchild"! This student came to me with serious peformance anxiety issues. So afraid to share their music with others. Through support, encouragement, education, and passsion, this student has risen to each performance opportunity with fabulous results.

This person is excited to be a part of studio classes and end of session performances. This student is setting an example for their family and teaching their younger sibling piano. This student works hard week after week to meet and exceed their goals.

You can do it too! We all have the power to transform people/situations with our music. Don't ever be afraid to share who you are! We all are unique!