Our current students have won prestigious awards at the Steinway, Yamaha, and other competitions. Some have participated in competitions sponsored by the American Guild of Organists. Others compete in the Guild Auditions of the National Fraternity of Student Musicians.
We participate in every aspect of the musical life in our city. We are lovers of learning and lovers of music, especially music for the piano.
Practice Excellence!
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AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS!
The Piano Department of Denver School of the Arts actively seeks talented pianists to become part of our DSA family.
There is a mandatory pre-audition meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 6:00 p.m. in the DSA Library. Students will receive audition information and will receive an audition time at this meeting.
Please follow this link to learn more about the audition process for the Piano Department at DSA.
Auditions for the 2010-2011 School Year
Please join us!
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PTSO ** PTSO ** PTSO ** PTSO ** PTSO ** PTSO
Find your voice at DSA! The Parent Teacher Student Organization in conjunction with Mr. Kohut and the Collaborative School Committee will be having an open discussion to inform and hear your ideas.
When: November 17, 7:30 p.m.
Where: DSA Commons
Please plan to attend!
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Dear Parents and Students of DSA Piano,
Congratulations to our piano students for their very successful Fall Recitals. Please note the dates for our upcoming Winter Recitals, and plan to attend. Both classes are busy working on their recital pieces, classroom pieces and scales, academic work, and theory. Again, I appreciate the postive attitude and enthusiastic participation in all aspects of our classes. Remember that a good work ethic is essential for success.
Parents, please make sure that you are staying current with your student's grades. We have had several assignments that reflect class presentations and performances. I'm doing my best to stay current with grading, so you can have a clear understanding of how your student stands with his/her grades. Remember that a missing assignment will become a "0" after a reasonable amount of time. A student may turn in a late assignment that's marked "M", but after it becomes a "0", late work will not be accepted.
Many of our students have been participating in various community service ventures. Charitable causes have included Art Students League, Music for Haiti, the annual MTNA Spookathon, a recital at Rocky Mountain Village Estates, and the Childhood Cancer Foundation, among others. Thanks very much to the students who have contributed their time and talent to these worthy causes.
Please be listed in our directory! Contact Amanda at amandatrostenbloom@mac.com.
Thanks to the parents who are involved with PTSO. It is a school-wide goal that more parents are participating in our parent opportunities. Come to future meetings to keep current with DSA events and to have a voice in the decision-making process.
Thanks to the parents who helped with receptions and ticket sales at our recitals. Please contact me if you'd be able to help with ticket sales at subsequent recitals. We'll make sure that you get to hear your student perform, and parents who have assisted have told me that performing this valuable task is not difficult. All money collected at recitals is added to our activity fund.
Ted Lassen, Director of Piano Studies
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PIANO LESSONS
There are many outstanding private teachers in the Denver area. As with any service provider, it pays to "ask around" before making what might be the most important musical decision in your child's life. Remember that the best teachers have the best students and that DSA has some of Denver's best students. You are encouraged to contact the Denver Area Music Teachers' Association, which is Denver's local chapter of the Music Teacher's National Association. The DAMTA contact is Ms. Mishek, who is available at cd002332@mindspring.com or at 303.979.8655.
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STUDENT RECITALS AND OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
MS WINTER RECITAL -- Monday, Jan. 25, 7:00 p.m., DSA Concert Hall
HS WINTER RECITAL -- Monday, Feb. 1, 7:00 p.m., DSA Concert Hall
MS SPRING RECITAL -- Monday, May 3
HS SPRING RECITAL -- Monday, May 10
Admission for all DSA class recitals
Adults: $6
Children and DSA students: Free
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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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PIANO EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
The equipment requirements for the piano class are minimal, but please familarize yourself with the materials and equipment required for the piano classroom:
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PIANO SKILLS CLASS
Piano Skills Class meets every day during 4th hour. Please follow the following link to familiarize yourself with requirements, grading criteria, and other expectations.
Piano Skills Class
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POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS, AND CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS FOR MS AND HS PIANO MAJORS
MUSIC THEORY AND ACADEMICS
HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC THEORY
DSA High School music students participate in a Music Theory/History program each year. These academic courses prepare our students for advanced study at the college level. We understand that many of our students will choose not to pursue musical study at the college level, but DSA courses are designed specifically to prepare our student for college level study.
DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY--HS STUDENTS
High School students will participate in six Directed Independent Study units this year. Please use the following link to learn more about this unit.
HIGH SCHOOL ACADECMICS
Syllabus for HS and MS Students, 2009-10
MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC THEORY
Middle School students will be participating in a Music Theory class that will meet twice a week. Students will be assigned various teachers from the music faculty. Middle School Students will also participate in Music Theory, Music History, and Listening in the Piano Classroom.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMICS
Syllabus for HS and MS Students, 2009-10
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THE RECITAL
Students in DSA Piano will perform in three recitals each year. Our recitals usually occur in November, February, and May, but these times may vary according to unusual circumstances. Repertoire in years past has included Jazz, New Age, Chinese music, and, of course, the music of the Classics. Students have offered ensemble work, such as jazz trios or quartets, piano duos and duets, and other configurations that add interest to our presentations.
Please use the following link to read about our recital requirements:
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.
THE STUDENT PRESENTATION
Each Middle School 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:
CLASSROOM PERFORMANCES
All students are required to perform regularly in the classroom. Please consult the following link for explanations of this requirement.
CONCERT ATTIRE
Our recitals at DSA are semi-formal events. Please dress accordingly.
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/Ensemble Grading Rubrics
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:
PERFORMANCE TESTS
During the course of the school year, HS students will be expected to learn pieces assigned to them in the piano classroom. These pieces will serve as "tool pieces" so that students can better understand classroom lectures and presentations, and they are also meant to assist with sight-reading skill acquisition. Students can expect to learn four of these pieces each semester. The difficulty level will roughly reflect the level of advanced MS repertoire, but easier Bach Fugues and C.P.E. Bach Sonatas have also been included.
HS students will also be working on major and minor scales and other technical study this year.
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.
Please follow this link:
DSA offers the 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.
Please follow this link:
CLASSROOM RULES
Students are expected to adhere to DSA rules. Please familiarize yourself with these important guidelines for behavior.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Piano students will receive credit for attendance and promptness. Expectations can be found in this link:
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AUDITION PROCESS FOR 2009-2010 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 -- 2009-2010 School Year
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Celebrations and Accolades
Jacob Bellatti and Skyler Fennell recently performed at "Music for Haiti". Congratulations and thanks to these to musicians for their community service!
Sonja Storaasli and Riley Boone performed recently at the Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market. Sonja performed her recital pieces from the past year, and Riley performed with his band, Fresh Jefferson. Thanks to these students for their community service!
Jacob Bellatti has been accepted to this summer's Piano Academy at Indiana University. Jake is in the process of scouting potential schools for his college career. Congratulations to Jake!
Ilyich Rivas will be conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra this summer in a concert that includes Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony. Ilyich will be entering the Diploma program at the Peabody Conservatory next year. Congratulations to Ilyich!
Ezekiel Anthony recently participated in the NFSM's Piano Auditions (the National Guild) as part of the private studio of Jan Romero. Zeke did an outstanding job. The NFSM is one of the finest organizations for young pianists. Congratulations to Zeke!
William Thrussell has been awarded an AGO scholarship to study organ with Gwen Blumenschein this summer. Congratulations to William!
Alicia Barton and Carina Kee will both be attending CU next year. We are really going to miss these two fine musicians and two of the finest young people I've ever had contact with as a teacher. Good luck to both of you!
Hannah Joy Bloom was a Level 6 winner in the Foothills Music Teachers' Association Sonatina Festival, playing Mozart's Sonate Komponiert Wahrscheinlich 1783, movements 1 and 3. Congratulations to Hannah Joy!
The Piano Department at DSA enthusiastically supports the piano endeavors in our metro area and across the country. Please address your student accolades to Mr. Lassen at dsapiano@aol.com
Alumni News
Ilyich Rivas, fs, will be attends the Peabody Conservatory as a Conducting Fellow.
Carina Kee, '09, will attend CU this year.
Alicial Barton, '09, will attend CU this year, where she is majoring in Piano.
Patrick DiMarco, '08, is attending CSU.
Xiao Liu, '08, is attending Boston University.
Joanna French, '08, is attending Whitman College.
Audrey Haynes, '08, is attending Aurora Community College.
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 Junior at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ian Barber, '05, will be a Junior at Indiana University, where he is studying with Andre Watts. Iam recently won the piano concerto competition at IU, which afforded him the opportunity to perform with the IU Orchestra.
Tristan McKay, '07 is studying piano at NYU.
Nick Garcia, '07, attends CU, where he is majoring in Piano.
Alex Thomas, '07, will attend Metro State this year. He is studying Musical Production.
Lucy Moore, '06, attends Mills College, where she is majoring in Piano.
David McCarthy, '04, is majoring in Piano at the University of Puget Sound.
Spencer Rains, '04, is attending Metro State University, where he is majoring in Business.
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
Syllai for the year 2007-2008
HS PIano Syllabus -- Fall, 2007-08
Syllabi for the year 2006-07
Syllabi for the year 2005-06
Syllabi for the Year 2004-05
Syllabi for the year 2003-04
Syllabus for HS and MS Students, 2009-10