The STEP News

Simply Strings Benefit Concert

2009-01-12T00:31:00.005-03:30

On behalf of Gordon Stockwell:

Hello STEP Families,

This is an event you don't want to miss!!

Simply Strings is a Benefit Concert for St. David's Church featuring STEP faculty as well as some of the top string performers in Newfoundland.

Perfomers include

Duo Concertante - MUN professors Nancy Dahn and Timothy Steeves. Internationally acclaimed artists preparing for a winter 09 North American Tour.
The Atlantic String Quartet - Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra's resident string quartet. Alison Black, Nancy Case-Oates (STEP faculty), Scott Chancey(STEP faculty), and Theo Weber.
Dr. Nathan Cook - MUN cello professor and one/third of the Hot Earth Ensemble.
STEP Young Virtuosi - hot off their tour of England.
Richard St. Onge - MUN graduate cello student
Mattheiu Lacombe - MUN bass performance student
Kate Bevan-Baker - MUN violin performance student
Gordon Stockwell - STEP faculty, and MUN violin performance student.

Hosted by: CBC's Francesca Swann

This will not only be an amazing concert but also an excellent educational opportunity for STEP students.

When: Saturday, January 31st. 7:30pm.
Where: St. David's Church 98 Elizabeth Ave.
Tickets: available at Manna Bakery, Quintanas, Fred's Records, and the church office mon-fri 9-1.
Cost: $20 adults, $10 students/seniors.

Tickets are limited to 250 so don't delay!

Sincerely,

Gordon Stockwell
St. David's Music Director

In case of stormy weather

2009-01-08T23:38:00.002-03:30

Dear STEP families,

It's that time of year again - we're all bracing for The Big Storm, could be any day now! For the remainder of the winter, listen to CBC radio's Weekend Arts Magazine for notice of group class cancellation due to weather. Angela Antle, the host, is a STEP parent and is happy to make sure our notices get out. Thanks Angela! Group classes will go ahead unless you hear otherwise on the Weekend Arts Magazine; the STEP website will have a notice as well, but the first news will be on the radio. Weekend Arts Magazine is broadcast live, 640 on the AM dial. It's on air from 6-9:30 am Saturdays and Sundays.

Fiddle and Cello classes rescheduled

2009-01-07T19:39:00.001-03:30

ATTN Fiddle, Cello and Veracini students!!

I trust you all had musical and relaxing holidays. Our group classes are starting again this weekend. Our Young Virtuosi group is off in England playing wonderfully and have taken a few of our teachers with them. We have been unable to find teachers to replace Christina's or Julia's classes this weekend (they of course are irreplaceable!) so we have to postpone their classes until January 24th. A note will be sent with specific locations.

Julia Bowdring's classes - Walter McIsaac and Val Ryan Fiddle classes - POSTPONED to Jan 24

Christina Smith's CELLO classes POSTPONED! to Jan 24. STEP fiddlers will proceed with Evelyn standing in.

Heather Kao has been kind enough to stand in for Jennifer Johnson's classes and will teach Twinkling Stars; the Vivaldi and Veracini classes will be combined together in the Instrumental Room.

Young Virtuosi concert Saturday Dec 20th

2008-12-18T23:18:00.002-03:30

Last Saturday morning at the Christmas Play-In you heard a few snippets of some pieces the Young Virtuosi will be playing Saturday night, Dec 20th at 7:30 at St. Michaels of All Angels Anglican Church on St. Clare Ave. The group has worked very hard in preparation for this concert as their last performance before their trip to London, England in a little over 2 weeks time!

Our offer of 2 tickets for the price of 1 for Suzuki families is still available. You can reserve your tickets ($10 and $7 for students and seniors) by calling Janet at 753-8434 or purchase them at the door. Refreshments will be served after the concert!

Christmas Play-in Saturday

2008-12-11T15:46:00.002-03:30

Hello Everyone,

Just a reminder that tuning for the concert this Saturday will begin at 9:30 so please arrive early so we are ready to start by 10:00. The concert will take place at St. Mark's Church on Logy Bay Rd. The students are asked to wear something bright and those who are in the orchestra please remember to bring stands.
We are also having a potluck after the concert and ask that anyone with a last name from A-M bring desserts and N-Z bring a hot dish.

Note from the auction committee:

We have some easels left over from the auction. These are school quality and half price, all proceeds going to STEP. They will be for sale at the Christmas play-in.

See you at the Concert!

Christmas Concert Dec 13th reminder

2008-12-02T18:07:00.002-03:30

Hi everyone

The Holiday season has started! I just wanted to remind everyone that the date of the Christmas concert has been moved to Saturday December 13th. At the start of September it was listed as Dec.6 but it was moved in October to Dec 13th.

The concert is at St. Mark's Church on Logy Bay Road (at Newfoundland Dr). Please show up at 9:30 to tune so we can get started at 10am.

We have a big potluck afterwards and we ask everyone to bring something so we can have a nice social.

See you there!
Cheers
Evelyn

Alexander Technique

2008-11-09T18:21:00.002-03:30

On behalf of Chistina Smith:

Alexander Technique is a proven method for freeing the body of excess tension, which can have a limiting and even damaging effect on the body. Whether this tension is produced by playing an instrument, sitting at a computer, or simply the stresses of everyday life, Alexander Technique gives you the skills to free yourself.

Here is a URL with links to articles about the Technique.

http://www.alexandertechnique.com/musicians.htm#Information%20of%20General%20Interest%20to%20all%20Musicians

Trevor Allan Davies has been coming to St. John's to teach Alexander Technique for the past eight years. He will be available to teach from November 10 to 16. Lessons cost $50.00 and take place at 16 Maxse St. To book lessons, contact csmith@nfld.com or call 754-1330.

Christina Smith

csmith@nfld.com

Christmas Concert Date Change

2008-10-21T20:24:00.001-02:30

Please note that the date of the Christmas play-in has been CHANGED to Saturday December 13 at St. Mark's Church.
There is a 9:30 tune up for a 10am concert.

Thank you to all donors to STEP!

2008-10-21T20:22:00.002-02:30

On behalf of Alistair Bath, Auction Committee:

Hello to all the STEP members:

Our first fundraising event for the STEP program is coming together. Only several tickets left for this Thursday, October 23rd evening and lots of fantastic donations have been generously provided by many. A big thank you to everyone who has asked someone to donate something for the auction and to all of those who donated. This Sunday, Oct 26th at 1:30pm at St. David's Church on Elizabeth Avenue is our free Suzuki graduation concert, a great opportunity to showcase our children and program as all class levels will be playing as part of the graduation concert. Could I please ask all of you who have talked with the people who made donations to give them a call? Please thank them once again, and please invite them to the free concert so they can truly see how their kind donations have contributed to music education for children of all ages, ensuring that "every child can". I think this is a wonderful opportunity to share our music and program with all the generous people who have helped with our fundraiser. I encourage all members whether your child is graduating this year or not to please come out and support the other children.

Thank you.....

Alistair Bath (dad of Maria and Joshua and husband of Colette)

Natalie MacMaster concert November 26th

2008-10-17T01:01:00.002-02:30

Natalie MacMaster – winner of two Juno (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy) Awards for Best Instrumental Album, and named the Canadian Country Music Association's "Fiddler of the Year" - is coming to St. John's.

She and her husband, Donnell Leahy (another awesome fiddler) are giving a concert at Holy Heart Theatre on Wednesday, November 26. Tickets are available from the Holy Heart Theatre box office 12noon-5 Monday to Friday or by phoning 579-4424. Click on this link for the advertisement:
http://www.holyhearttheatre.com/calendar/NMDL_ad_StJohns.jpg

For more information on this amazing fiddler, check out her website:
http://www.nataliemacmaster.com/index.htm

--
Suzuki Talent Education Program
P.O. Box 23182
Churchill Sq. P.O.
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J9
Phone: 738-2277 - - - NEW NUMBER
Web Site: http://www.nfld.com/~step/ - - - UPDATED OCTOBER2008

Things to bring to STEP group class this Saturday

2008-10-17T00:58:00.002-02:30

Hello STEP families,

There's a lot going on lately at STEP and we're asking for your participation! Have a look through this list and take note.

TO BRING: Time to check schedule; Empty ice cream tubs; Wine, tickets etc. for auction

************************

Please come a few minutes extra ahead of time to check the updated schedule, available in the lobby Saturday morning and online very soon. As usual at the start of the year there are always a few minor re-schedulings to make everything run smoothly.

Please note that
1- Emile Benoit class starts at 11:30 not 11:45
2- STEP Fiddlers now starts at 12:30 not 12:45

There are room changes for Reading, Fiddle and Pre-twinkle classes, and may be others.

*********************

An ice-cream tub or two: yes, you read that right!

We're looking for ice cream tub donations for our early childhood class!

As many of you know we have an exciting new program this year for infants and toddlers. It is a class for 0-3 yr olds and we've had a great response of 12 little pupils and their parents. There is now a waiting list. The class, is based on the Suzuki philosophy and we've been having a great time singing and dancing and moving to drum beats etc but we're missing one element, little drums for little hands! We also stack them and count them in different languages.

I've looked all over the city and raided all the dollars stores to find plastic stackable tubs (at a reasonable price) to no avail. I've also started asking restuarants etc, but their tubs are huge! It turns out that the best ones are ice cream tubs or margarine tubs, but who has that many??? We need about 27 "drums" so that everyone can have one.

If you have an ice cream tub or two could you bring them to the desk when you arrive on Saturday? It would be a HUGE help! Or I'll just have to start eating ALOT of ice cream very quickly!

There will also be the CDs for that class available at the desk - they'd make a great gift for new parents for Christmas ($20).

Thanks in advance for looking in your cupboards!

-Evelyn

***********************

Auction things: Wine, Baked goods, Other donations, Ticket stubs you've sold, Money for same

At group class this Saturday, we will be collecting the wine and any donations for the auction next week - yes, we still need some more donations so anything you can contribute will be greatly appreciated

there are still some tickets left and they will be sold at group class
you can find the names of businesses already solicited for donations at the following website: http://stepdonations.blogspot.com/. This is to help ensure that a business does not get contacted twice.

If you have any questions or need ideas on what to contribute, please feel free to call or email me.

Those who have tickets, to please return the stubs and the money on Saturday also. It is important that we get the stubs back filled out and noted if the vegetarian option is chosen.

Janet Hewson will be there at 9:00 to take in the ticket money and stubs.

And thank you to everyone who has so generously contributed and helped with the auction. Your enthusiasm has been very motivating!

- Colette

Oh yes: don't forget your kids, their instruments, and smiles! See you all Saturday!

STEP Auction 2008 is announced!

2008-09-19T00:33:00.003-02:30

STEP Auction 2008

Thursday, October 23rd, 6:00pm

Clovelly Golf and Country Club Gazebo

Full dinner with wine

$40 single, $75 double

A night of fun and the opportunity to purchase unique experiences, original artwork, framed prints and many other items

Full tables, seating eight, can be purchased by VISA

For tickets, donations or questions, please contact

Colette Phillips at 437-6780

cmphillips@nf.sympatico.ca

Let's work together to ensure STEP remains a nurturing environment
for our children's musical education.

Our Suzuki Program - the Best Kept Secret

2008-09-16T21:54:00.001-02:30

Christina Smith, teacher with STEP for 26 years, has written an open letter to the membership and supporting community: Our Suzuki Program - the Best Kept Secret. Please read!

STEP Registration Form, Calendar of Events now available

2008-09-05T01:17:00.002-02:30

Hello STEP families,

Newly posted on the website are the REGISTRATION FORM and the CALENDAR OF EVENTS. Please print both before Saturday and read through them, and fill out the registration as much as possible beforehand. Spend your morning connecting with friends and listening to wonderful string players, instead of reading and filling out forms! Here are the links, which are posted on the front page of the website as well:

Registration Form: http://www.nfld.com/~step/documents/2008-09_Registration_Form.pdf

Calendar: http://www.nfld.com/~step/documents/STEP_Calendar_of_Events_2008-2009.pdf

Lastly, for parents of children under 3, there's a new article about Suzuki Early Childhood Education: http://www.nfld.com/~step/suzuki_ece.htm

See you all Saturday!

NEW Violin Music Reading Classes!!!!

2008-08-31T14:27:00.003-02:30

We are offering a new exciting class this year. All violinists from late book 1 through book 4 will be eligible for music reading classes. These classes will replace the theory classes and focus on reading music for your instrument. For beginner readers, we will focus on learning to read music. For intermediate students, sight-reading will be given to enhance their skills. Violists and cellists will be receiving reading instruction during their regular group class time.

While the Suzuki method focuses on learning by ear to begin your instrument, the ability to read music is of utmost importance to string players as they move on in their careers to orchestras, chamber music or just a favourite song they find in a book! The combination of strong ear and note-reading abilities is an unbeatable combination! Reading music is a skill honed over many years, so start early! At $2.77 per class this is a bargain that your child will always thank you for!

Next year this class will be compulsory for everyone. We highly recommend that EVERYONE take it this year so that no one is left behind! We’ll all be on the same page!

Public Performance Opportunities

2008-08-31T14:25:00.000-02:30

STEP is interested in providing public performance opportunities for our students of all levels and ages. We have been invited to perform by a number of community-based venues (i.e. day cares, schools, churches, nursing homes etc.). To facilitate this process we wish to build a list of families who are interested in performing at such informal spaces. Please email the artistic director Evelyn Osborne or sign up on the registration form, to be included in the list of potential performers. Thank you!

Stardust: Suzuki Early Childhood Education (0-3 years, infant/toddler)

2008-08-31T14:22:00.000-02:30

A NEW program for STEP!! This program is designed for parents and young children up to three years old. Consisting of one-hour classes during which parents and children sing, move and interact with instruments and other students, the benefits of this program are many. Suzuki ECE creates a safe nurturing environment that enhances the strong bonds between parent and children through music and development of early skills such as listening, a sense of rhythm/movement as well as socialization and a willingness to participate. Instruments are not required for this class but parents are essential! There is an additional CD, which must be purchased in advance of the start of the program. Contact us for more information.

Registration Day September 6th

2008-08-23T15:54:00.001-02:30

Sent on behalf on Evelyn Osborne, Artistic Director, to all our contacts. Apologies if you no longer want to be on our mailing list or if this is sent to the wrong address: please let us know.

Dear STEP membership and new families,

I hope you've all had a great summer.

Registration will be September 6 from 9-12 at the Arts and Culture Centre at Irwin's Court. To find this room, enter at the Box Office, go forward up over the few stairs to the central area and back down again to see the canteen on your right; keep going away from the Box Office to the old restaurant location (large curtained windows), turn left, and continue to the end of the hall. Application forms will be available there.

There will be a Play-in as well in the Upper Concourse, so, returning students, please bring your instruments to tune up at 9:30 for a 10:00 start. Wear your Suzuki shirt if you have one. Parents too: bring your own instrument and join the happy throng for a Twinkle or two, or however many pieces you know. For newcomers: a Play-in is a concert of a random selection of pieces from all levels of the Suzuki curriculum, each one played in unison by however many students have already learned that piece; those below that level, listen until a piece is called for that they can play. Come to listen, and you'll hear a great cross-section of the music your child will play throughout the years of study. The concert's free of charge and very informal: it's no more than an hour or so, so stay as long as you like, and feel free to ask any questions about the program, of the registration volunteers in Irwin's Court.

There will also exciting information about our upcoming year including a posh fund raising auction, a debut of a piece written just for STEP and other fun events!

Let's get a great STEP into the year! See you all on September 6!
Sincerely
Evelyn

Fresh Fiddles: concert by STEP Fiddlers and more

2008-08-02T14:39:00.001-02:30

Hello STEP families and friends,

This is an invitation to the kick-off concert of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention 2008: a concert of youth performers. The show includes

The Celtic Fiddlers

Charlotte-Anne Malischewski

Jadon Cormier

The Petty Rogues

Russells in the Corner

and our own STEP Fiddlers.

It takes place at the Arts and Culture Centre, Sunday August 3 at 2:30PM, and tickets cost adults $12, seniors and youth $6.

Also check out the other offerings at NAFCO: concerts, workshops, sessions, dances... the week is chock-full of all things fiddle. http://www.mun.ca/nafco2008/about/ Hope to see you there!

New information re: North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, August 2008

2008-06-20T17:19:00.001-02:30

On behalf of NAFCo:

The North Atlantic Fiddle Convention has posted new and detailed event information on the NAFCo web site at http://www.mun.ca/nafco2008 . There you can find a full list of abstracts for the academic symposium, line-ups for the daytime and evening concerts and information on the late night dances. Full ticketing information is now available too. NAFCo is the word's largest gathering of fiddlers, folklorists and fans of traditional music; it features performances and presentations by over 100 of the world's leading fiddlers and fiddle scholars - representing ten countries and over a dozen different regions of North America.

"Young Virtuosi" concert Saturday 2:00 PM

2008-06-20T17:16:00.001-02:30

From St. John's To Notting Hill! The Suzuki Young Virtuosi string ensemble has been invited to perform in Notting Hill, London, England in January 2009. Led by Jennifer Johnson, this is our top level Suzuki students ranging from ages 11-17. On Saturday, June 21^st, 2:00 at St. David's Presbyterian Church on Elizabeth Avenue, they will play selections from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Bach Double Violin Concerto, Paganini and more. Everyone is welcome to this free concert (donations will be gratefully accepted).

We are hoping to see many Suzuki families at the concert as well as a number of local music lovers. Jennifer Johnson and Co Co (playing solo) will be interviewed on CBC Radio ONE on the Weekend Arts Magazine on Saturday morning around 8:30. Please tune in.

Found in the Choral Room

2008-06-09T23:32:00.002-02:30

Found in the Choral Room after the final Group Concert - One silver earring - heart shaped. Please reply if it's yours.

Final Play-in Saturday: TUNE-UP AT 9:15 AM

2008-06-05T23:14:00.000-02:30

Hi Everyone! The end of year Play-in is just around the corner! In fact, it's on Saturday, June 7th in D.F. Cook Hall hall at the MUN music school. Concert dress is black pants with white or colored tops. Tuning call is at 9:15am (in the Instrumental Room) and the play-in starts at 10:00am. The tuning call is early so parents can come in to the hall by 9:30 and be seated to hear all about our exciting new fundraising initiative; below is a message with details from Jennifer Johnson. Dear STEP Families; The STEP Board and Teachers have decided to move STEP's fundraising in the direction of one large-scale fundraiser every year and away from several smaller events that bring in small amounts of money but still require a great deal of effort. We are fortunate that one of STEP's families personally knows Mr. Wayne Bartlett, professional fundraiser and auctioneer extraordinaire and that he has agreed to run our fundraiser for us this coming fall on the evening of October 23, 2008. The most important ingredient to the success of Mr. Bartlett's fundraising events is that every family gets involved to a small degree and is able to procure a minimum of two donations either in the form of goods or services that can be auctioned on the evening of our event. Each family will also need to bring at least one other person or couple not already involved in the Suzuki program to the evening's auction and dinner. The monies raised will go towards a STEP "Performance Fund" which will pay for exciting new opportunities for the students in our program. Examples of events that could begin to happen for us would be bringing in prestigious performers/teachers to give master classes to our students, doing exchanges with other Suzuki programs in Canada (there has already been interest in us from the Toronto and Guelph, Ontario programs as well as a Suzuki program in B.C.), purchasing performance costumes for our students and sending our students on performance tours. Wayne Bartlett has kindly agreed to come and speak to our membership on Saturday, June 7 at STEP's final group concert. He will explain in detail how his "recipe for success" works and the important role that each and every family can play so that we not only reach our fundraising goals but that so that the event itself (dinner and wine come into the picture!) is a fun-filled evening that we all look forward to each year. Please come early before 9:30 a.m. - to get the children into the Instrumental Room so they can be tuned with their group classes and then proceed to the Cook Recital Hall. At 9:30, Mr. Bartlett will begin filling us all in on the details of how we can successfully support the artistic aspirations of STEP for next year and the years to come! The concert begins at 10:00 a.m. Because it is so vital to the success of this fundraising plan that all families participate, it is very important that we are all there to hear the grand plan as outlined by Mr. Bartlett. See you all there!

STEP Play-in at the Avalon Mall

2008-05-21T22:28:00.002-02:30

Hello STEP families,

Here is the information about the play-in you heard mentioned in the last group class. Instead of the next group class on Saturday May 24th, we will all gather at the Avalon Mall for a play-in as we've done in years past. No sponsors required - this is a publicity event only. Please be onsite to tune up at 9:30; the play-in starts at 10:00. We play in the space in front of the Gap on the lower level. Cellists need to bring their chairs or stools.

A note to parents who play: have you learned Twinkles along with your child this year? Minuets? Gavottes? If so, bring your instrument along and join the group! Just like the children, you play whatever you can and model good concert manners for the pieces ahead of you. There's no pressure to be perfect, and it's a great feeling to play together with dozens of other players, even if it's just Taka-Taka-Stop-Stop. Let's all make a BIG sound together.

Tell your friends and families, and we hope to see you all there Saturday morning!

STEP Junior and Senior Orchestras Concert

2008-05-16T22:04:00.003-02:30

Hello STEP families and friends,

The STEP Junior and Senior Orchestras, under the direction of Scott Chancey and Sean Conway, will perform in concert on Tuesday, June 3, 4:30pm at the Salvation Army Temple on Torbay Road.

This concert will feature music from Harry Potter, The Polar Express, Zooster's Breakout, Bach's Brandenburg concerti, Diamond Music, and will also feature some young soloists performing works for soloist and orchestra ranging from baroque to traditional.

Admission is free. Family and friends are welcome. Students in Suzuki Book 2 and up (or equivalent) interested in joining the STEP orchestra in Fall 2008 should definitely come and see this concert!