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Our HS Piano Class: Nora Sullivan, Audrey Haynes, Jacob Bellatti, Nick Garcia, Carina Kee, Tristan McKay, Riley Boone, Conor Kresin, Joanna French, Xiao Lu, and Patrick DiMarco. Not pictured: Kristin Gjelsteen
Dear Parents and Students of DSA Piano,
Welcome back! I hope that all of you had an enjoyable, restful, and reinvigorating Winter Break. I'm sure we all have enjoyed the last few days with the warm weather and pleasant westerly winds. It's nice to see the ground again!
I've been very pleased with the progress and performance of our students this year. Both recitals were outstanding. Classroom work has never been better. We've had excellent student presentations, well-written papers, high test scores, and significant improvements in student participation, punctuality, and attendance. Thanks to our students, and thanks also to our parents who stand firmly behind our students and their progress. The success of our department is a result of your effort.
I have two concerns. First, HS students have not been performing enough in class. To remedy this situation, I've added a classroom performance requirement to grading criteria already in place. Please check the Piano Department website for this requirement. In a nutshell, all students will be required to perform twice in the classroom before each recital. Second, I'm concerned about the accompanying requirement that affects all HS and MS students. Many students have completed this requirement already; however, please be aware that this is a significant portion of the student's final grade. Students must take the initiative to find their own performers, and please remember that all students must perform with their soloists in the piano classroom to receive credit. We want our students to be involved with the other music departments and to be involved in the offerings of DSA generally. Remember also that students can earn significant extra credit for accompanying performances beyond the minimum requirement.
Dr. Tamara Goldstein has invited the HS piano department to attend and to perform at the Piano Celebration at Metro State again this year. This is a great honor for us. Last year's celebration was an excellent learning and performing opportunity for our students. We thank Dr. Goldstein for her continued interest in DSA Piano.
Again, welcome back!
Denver School of the Arts
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STUDENT RECITALS AND OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
ANNUAL BANQUET AT CINZETTI'S--Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.--Please RSVP to Mr. Lassen.
Unless otherwise noted, all DSA Piano recitals take place in the DSA Concert Hall and begin at 7:00. p.m. There is no admission charge for these recitals; however, donations are accepted. Suggested donation is $5.
Winter Recitals
MS: Monday, Feb. 25
HS: Tuesday, Feb. 26
Spring Recitals
MS: Monday, May 5
HS: Monday, May 12
Senior Recitals
Patrick DiMarco: Saturday, May 3, 3:30 p.m., Concert Hall
Audrey Haynes: Wednesday, May 7, 7:00 p.m., Concert Hall
Joanna French and Xiao Lu: Saturday, May 10, 5:30 p.m.,Wells Music Company
Remember that it is required that each of our piano students attend at least once Senior Recital.
RECORDED PERFORMANCES OF OUR RECITALS
We will have CD's of our recent recitals available again this year. Please let students know if you'd like copies. The cost of the CD's will remain $10, with all proceeds going to our Piano Activity Fund.
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PARENTS GROUP
Parents Group Information
DSA Piano Parent Meeting, September 25
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POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND EXPECTATIONS
CLASSROOM RULES
Students are required to adhere to DSA rules. Please familiarize yourself with these important rules.
Rules for the Piano Room
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Piano students will receive credit for attendance and promptness. Expectations can be found in this link:
Piano Attendance Policy
THE JURY
The jury is the most significant aspect of the student's grade. Please familiarize yourself with the requirements of our juries and the adjudication form.
Jury Requirements
Adjudication Sheet
THE STUDENT PRESENTATION
Each student will give a presentation about a musical subject of his/her choice. Please use the following link for the grading criteria for this presentation:
The Student Presentation
CLASSROOM PERFORMANCES
All students are required to perform regularly in the classroom. Please consult the following link for explanations of this requirement.
Classroom Performances
CONCERT ATTIRE
Our recitals at DSA are semi-formal events. Please dress accordingly.
Concert Attire
ACCOMPANYING/ENSEMBLES
All piano students at DSA are required to participate in ensemble work at least twice a year. HS students may accompany in major concerts with the band, orchestra, or one of the vocal ensembles. Additionally, all students can perform as an accompanist with other DSA students in order to fulfill this requirement and must perform with their soloists either during our class period or in one of our piano recitals. Students are encouraged to do additional accompanying or ensemble work and will receive extra credit for DSA performances. Pianists are expected to find their own soloists, but if necessary, music instructors can assist students in meeting this requirement.
Accompanying/Ensembles
GRADING CRITERIA
Grades in the piano class are determined by several factors, the most important being the jury and the recital. For an overview of grading criteria, please use the following link:
General Grading Criteria
RUBRICS FOR PERFORMANCE TESTS
General Rubric for Scarlatti Sonata
General Rubric for C.P.E. Bach Sonata
General Rubric for Haydn Sonata
RUBRIC FOR HS PAPER
HS Paper, due Oct. 17
TESTS
HS Theory Quiz
SENIOR PROJECTS
The general requirements for our Seniors vary slightly from our standard requirements. Seniors and parents of seniors should familiarize yourselves with these variations.
Senior Projects
DSA offers our Concert Hall as a venue for student recitals. Students should reserve the hall early in the year for Spring performances through Mr. Castillo's office. Seniors should familiarize themselves with Recital Guidelines.
Recital Guidelines
SYLLABI FOR THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR
Please use this link to access the syllabus for the First Semester (HS)
HS PIano Syllabus -- 2007-08
HS PIano Syllabus -- Fall, 2007-08
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AUDITION PROCESS FOR 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR
The Piano Department at DSA actively seeks talented students to enroll in High School and Middle School programs. Prospective DSA Piano Majors may find information pertaining to the audition process by using the following link:
Auditions -- 2008-2009 School Year
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Celebrations and Accolades
Ilych Rivas and other members of the HS Piano Class were recently featured on KCEC television. Ilyich will be conducting Brahms' Academic Festival Overture with the Jefferson Symphony on March 30. Congratulations to Ilyich!
Thanks to Jennifer and Riley Boone, who sposored a performance of many of our students at Evergreen Estates. Thanks also to the students who participated in this valuable, community service event.
Jacob Bellatti and Patrick DiMarco performed at the Westin Tabor during the cocktail/ silent auction portion of the evening for the annual Zarlengo Foundation ball which raises money for schools for learning disabled students. Proceeds of their performances went to the Haven School.
Vianes Rodriguez was a winner in the 23rd Annual Festival Auditions sponsored by the Music Teachers Association of the Suburban Northwest in affiliation with the Colorado State Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association. This competition is for intermediate and advanced level students only. Each participant prepares one piece from a required stylistic period and a second piece from a contrasting stylistic period. The required stylistic period, which is different each year, was Baroque.
Nora Sullivan is participating in Peace Jam, a significant learning and service activity at DSA. Peace Jam studies and contributes to worldwide activities that concentrate on political strife and instability.
Several of our DSA Piano students participated in a benefit concert, the proceeds of which were donated to the Colorado Haiti Project to begin a music program for the 700 students at the St. Paul School in Petit Trou de Nippes, Haiti.
Jacob Bellatti was selected by taped audition to perform at an honors recital at the Suzuki Institute in Beaver Creek. Jacob performed Gershwin's First Prelude at this recital. Congratulations to Jake, and thanks for his representation of DSA Piano at this prestigious event.
A group of our DSA students presented a recital as a fundraiser for a memorial to Max Kresin at Wells Music Company on Sunday, June 3. The performance received excellent reviews from members of the audience. Our thanks go to these students for their contribution to the Kresin family.
Fiona Collins received a 1+, the highest possible rating, on her piano solo in the 12th Annual Emily Frisby Foundation for the Arts Solo and Ensemble Festival on May 26, 2007. She also attended the Colorado Suzuki Institute in Beaver Creek and was selected to perform in the special "Pianists as Partners Concert" in both Ensemble and Accompanying catagories. She also performed a solo, a duet, and a collaborative piece with a professional violinist in the Piano Celebratory Concerts. June, 2007. Congratulations to Fiona!
Alumni News
Petra Pashkova, fs, will be studying piano in Scotland next year. Petra attended DSA during the 2003-04 school year.
Abigail Fine, '06, will be a Sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ian Barber, '05, will be a Junior at Indiana University, where he is studying with Andre Watts.
Tristan McKay, '07 will be entering NYU this year.
Nick Garcia, '07, will be entering CU this year.
Alex Thomas, '07, will attend Metro State this year.
Please send any news of our alumni to Mr. Lassen at DSAPiano@aol.com
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Use these links to familiarize yourself with what we study in the piano classroom at DSA:
Syllabi for the year 2006-07
2006-07 Syllabi
Syllabi for the year 2005-06
2005-06 Syllabi
Syllabi for the Year 2004-05
2004-2005 Syllabi
Syllabi for the year 2003-04
2003-2004 Syllabi
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