"Practice Recital"

Riley played a short but intense piano recital last night. It was at his teacher's home and was only a "practice recital" so there are a few bloopers and minor edits in the video. He played a Bach Fugue, a Chopin Nocturne, an intense Capriccio by Brahms and concludes with the Rachmaninoff C# minor Prelude.  He's not due to perform the pieces until early February. 
Also, this past Tuesday, Veterans Day, was a lovely day though a bit overcast and we hiked up Bear Mountain (about an hour north of the city) so there are lots of new pictures on the website (click on any of the photos).

Max's very busy day

This past Wednesday, June 11^th, was a busy day for Max.  First he had “Field Day” at school, then I picked him up at 1pm in order to get to the MET where he was in the matinee of Cinderella,

then Miranda picked him up from the MET at 3:40 to go to a Ballroom Dance Competition on 45^th St. (he got a silver ribbon), then up to Trinity School where

he played two pieces on a piano recital, then right back to the MET for the evening show of Cinderella.  He handled the busy day like a pro!

Max and Riley in Recital

The last week of January was a busy week for the boys. They both played piano recitals. It was Max’s first recital in public.  He had played a solo recital (of 10 pieces!) at his teacher’s house earlier in November but this was in front of all of her students and their parents.  Max played two pieces, The Snowflake Rag (syncopation is not easy!) and Rage over a Lost Penny by Beethoven. He just started piano in September so he's doing really well!

He also got a new violin.  He had been playing on a 1/2 size instrument but he's been growing like a weed so we got a very nice 3/4 size violin. Our friend Ron, the concertmaster of the ABT Orchestra came over with new strings and adjustment tools and made the instrument sound fantastic.  Max is very pleased. Click on the photos to see the video performances.

Max was also chosen by his ballet teacher to be the student demonstrator at the ABT National Curriculum Seminar next week and was accepted and given a full scholarship to the ABT Summer Intensive program which starts the end of July and lasts 2 weeks.  Go Max!

Riley played two pieces as well. He started with a Debussy Prelude called Les sonts et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir (the sounds and perfumes swirl in the evening air) and finished with the Brahms Intermezzo op. 118 no. 1.

Then on Sunday he the first of three auditions for Summer Music Camps.  He played the Debussy, Brahms and finished with the Sinding Frühlingsrauschen.  He's competing against some talented kids and their "tiger moms" but he played very well and so we're hopeful.  

MAX PLAYS HIS FIRST PIANO RECITAL

After just 2 ½ months of piano lessons Max, age 9, gave his first recital.  His teacher, who is also Riley’s teacher, thought that since Max had learned 10 pieces he should have the opportunity to play them for a friendly audience!


On the way up to their teacher’s house Max and Riley were quite rambunctious and that spirit spilled over into the recital!

            

We are very proud of Max for such an amazing achievement especially since he’s also playing the violin, taking 3 dance classes per week, and enduring the travails of ELA test prep in the 4^th grade of the NY Public School system!

The new school year

School has begun for the year and both boys are loving their schools and teachers. Max is in 4^th Grade still at PS 87 which is close to our house and Riley has moved to a Junior High School called Delta. It’s uptown a bit so he takes a city bus there and back – by himself!  He’s growing up. Both boys are studying piano now and are both avid practicers!  Max is studying violin as well plus he takes ballet at ABT twice a week.

Miranda is teaching again this year at Ballet Tech which is in the same building as ABT so we are often in the same place though we hardly ever see each other there!  ABT’s season has not started but I’m arranging parts of the Verdi opera Ballo in Maschera for string quartet.  I’m nearly finished which is a good thing because the performances are October 18-20!

There is no touring for me this fall which is a great thing.  Nutcracker season is coming and I’m again doing the School of the Arts production in Winston-Salem.  This has the bonus of letting me see Mona several times while I’m there.  In February the travel begins – Pittsburgh, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Minneapolis, back to Pittsburgh, and DC.

Riley plays Granados, Mozart and Beethoven

After we returned from Italy, Riley had only about 10 days to get his music back into shape. We had been away for about 15 days and he didn't even see a piano while away. His teacher arranged for a "practice" recital at her home.  He played a Spanish Dance by Granados, the Mozart Variations on Vous dirai-je, Maman (or Twinkle, Twinkle), and the slow movement from the Beethoven Moonlight Sonata.

He also played a Rondo from a Mozart 4-hands sonata with his friend.

Two Recitals

Max and Riley both had Spring recitals. Max had a ballet recital class, his final class of the year, and Riley played several pieces at a soiree that his teacher organizes at the end of each year.

Max, the leader of his class and is used by the teacher to set the example. Riley plays a Scarlatti Sonata and a Chopin Prelude.

It's been a busy Spring so far.  We still have about 5 weeks of school left.

Loading into the MET!

  The boys helped me take some things down to the MET to get ready for the beginning of the ABT season. Riley played on every piano he saw and gave us a short recital in List Hall.  The concert grand in the orchestra pit was still locked as it had just been moved into place for tomorrow's rehearsal and Gala opening.

It was Mother's Day today and we started off with pancakes and a bike ride in Central Park!

Riley's Charlotte Recital

One of the most amazing things that happened in Charlotte aside from seeing all of the relatives was that Riley got to play on his great-grandmother's 1947 Steinway.  It was the first piano to come to Charlotte from Germany after World War II.  She was very proud of it. It's now with my cousin, Charlie Henley.  They had it tuned and fixed up for Riley's impromptu recital.

My mom and Aunt Tet were there as well and it was amazing to be seated in the midst of the musical atavistic line starting with my grandmother, Shessie, through my mom and me to Riley.  He played 4 pieces, two Mozart sonatas, a Scarlatti sonata and Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum by Debussy.  Here's the video: