QUARTER NOTES - ONLINE EDITION - FALL 2011
Fall is Here!
Fall is here and now is the time we can look back and reflect on all the fun we had this summer. Vacations, summer camps, swimming and biking! Our Summer camp program was a great success where the campers had hands on experience with instruments and various types of music. Performances were held at the end of each camp to show parents and friends the exciting music they learned in a short period of time! Each performance was great! If you missed camp this year, be sure to save the dates now and register early for greatest savings. We recently uploaded a new video from all of the fun our students and teachers had this summer at laapa.com/camps!
If you haven't yet registered for Fall classes, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER! We still have a limited number of openings for music lessons and dance classes. Please call the school office nearest you for more information!
Ready to have fun playing in the Band?
The LAAPA Chorus, Rock Band, Jazz Band, and String Ensemble are currently recruiting new members! The goal of the classes is to provide students with real world experience performing with other musicians and of course additional stage experience. Classes are held each week for 60 minutes and focus on music that is fun and developmentally appropriate for the collective experience of the band members.
In addition to performing in our recitals, our student groups are asked to perform at local venues and events from time to time. The Northshore Jazz Ensemble recently performed at Coscino’s Pizzeria in Mandeville under the direction of Mr. John Clark and Mr. Thomas Tymphony. Pictured above are band members (from left to right) John Hajjar, Chris Koehl, Matthew Fuentes, and Liam McCauley. The String Ensemble at the River Ridge School of Music & Dance will be performing at “Gentilly Fest” this October under the direction of Ms. Christina Wilke! Students who are interested in joining an ensemble should have a basic grasp of their instruments but do not need to have experience performing with other musicians. Please contact the Front Desk for more information or to try out a class!
Christmas is Coming!
It’s hard to believe, but it’s time to begin preparing your piece for our December Christmas Music Recitals! Each year our Christmas concerts support a South Texas Mission in Batesville, TX, run by the Teresian Sisters. In this we can all celebrate the love and joy of the Christmas Season. Our LAAPA Family has been so very generous in the past. We remember the Teresian Sisters and the families they support who continue to be extremely grateful.
This year's concerts will be held Saturday, December 10 at Fuhrmann Auditorium in for the Covington and Mandeville Schools of Music and Sunday, December 18 at St. Martin's Solomon Theatre for the River Ridge School of Music & Dance. Further information will be sent out to all current students and parents later this month. Pictured above is a very happy family receiving some of last year's generous donations which included toys, clothing, and basic personal needs items sent by LAAPA parents, students, faculty, and staff.
Bring a Friend Week & Open House - October 17-22
Show your friends how talented you are! All visitors welcome...
Bring a Friend week is coming up so be thinking of a friend who would enjoy attending your music lesson or dance class to meet your teacher and observe what you do in your classes! It is fun and your friends will be impressed by your talent! Your friend is welcome to try out your instrument or some dance steps if they wish! Invitations are available now at the Front Desk!
Where is Your Teacher Performing?
Get out of the house and experience some of the best music and theatre performances in the Greater New Orleans!
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David Mahoney (drums) teaches at the River Ridge campus and plays almost every Friday & Saturday night at The Maison Bourbon Jazz Club with Jamil Sharif starting at 8:30pm www.davidmahoneymusic.com
Kate Withrow (violin) teaches at the River Ridge campus and performs every week with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. The schedule can be viewed at lpomusic.com
Josh Theriot (guitar, drums, piano) teaches at the Covington and Mandeville campuses and is performing at The Foundry on the Bayou in Laplace with is band Flashback on October 1st. 
Katherine McClain (voice, piano) teaches at the River Ridge campus and has a performance email group. If you would like her updated performance go to: www.broadwaydemo.com/katherinemcclainLagniappe Lessons from Our Faculty...
From Vitalie Gumeniuc - For sax and woodwind/brass players
· Always start practice with “Long Tones” exercises
· Set the metronome on 60 bpm & hold a steady pitch as long as possible going from pp to ff
· The above exercise should be done with “the Tuning CD” http://wix.com/rashwartz/the-tuning-cd
· Scales, arpeggios, MUSTbe played w/metronome
· Always play with full, warm, good sound!
From Matt Occhipinti - For All Programs
· To be effective practice needs to be done on a daily basis; use repetition with an attentive mind.
From Jack Pritchett - For All Programs
· Work on just a measure or two at a time during practice over and over. Do not play the whole song from beginning to end every time you sit down to practice!
Family Practice Time! The Stoltz family (pictured left) takes practice time seriously AND has fun doing it! Pictured here are students Sara Stoltz, Emilie Stoltz and future student Adam Stoltz.
Letter from the Director
Dear Parents, Students, Faculty, and Staff - I’d like to take just a moment to thank you all for everything that you bring to our Academy. As we begin another year in our 30 plus year history, it delights me each time I read Quarter Notes to continually see more and more student and faculty news and accomplishments.
Indeed, you should all be very proud! Education in the performing arts is truly empowering and will continue to benefit you all in so many different areas of life. I invite you all to take advantage of performing in our upcoming Christmas Recitals as just getting up on stage and performing is a true self confidence building experience like no other. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to roaming the halls and hearing lots of Christmas and Holiday Music being practiced! Sincerely, Ryan Cullen
Student News
Kate Rush recently performed the National Anthem on the violin at the Zephyr's game.
Katherine Corcoran sang the National Anthem at a Zephyr’s game in August.
Jonathan Payne will be attending Southeastern University and Loyola majoring in business music engineering.
Shakira Morgan recently attended American All-Star Camp at Nichols State University. She was selected American All Star and will be traveling to Rome with the American All-Star team during Thanksgiving.
Taylor Sims will be auditioning at St. Paul School for a part in Westside Story. Let’s all wish her luck.
The Clark Family
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The Clark family and their son Sammy and daughter Sophia both attend LAAPA’s Mandeville School of Music. Sammy has been taking violin lessons since 2009. He is a very good student and his teacher commented that Sammy keeps her on her toes! Sammy is awakened every morning by the music of Mozart - one of his favorite composers. Green and blue are his favorite colors and he loves to design buildings with his Legos™. Sammy has attended our music camps for 3 years and his sister joined him this Summer at the 2011 music camp. |
Sophia started taking piano lessons this Fall and practices very hard at home. She is motivated when her teacher gives her warm praises when she has a good lesson! At home, Sophia loves to play with her Barbie dolls and she likes to draw. Her favorite colors are pink and red.
Jeff and Claudia both love music and feel it is an important part of their life. They have introduced their children to many types of music especially classical. The Clarks did a lot of research on music schools in New Orleans and thought LAAPA was the best school for their children!
Meet the Staff
Katelyn Ashley, Administrative Assistant
Staff member, Katelyn Ashley, has been a great employee at the Covington & Mandeville Schools of Music for the last year, where she is always pleasant and ready to help. You’ll find Katelyn at the Front Desk of the Covington or Mandeville locations to assist you however she can. She loves tackling special, detail oriented administrative projects at LAAPA and is a hard worker.
Katelyn was bon in Annapolis, MD, then moved to Mandeville in November of 2010 shortly after being hired full time at LAAPA. Her favorite things to do are listening to music, hanging out with family and friends, going to concerts and watching movies. Her favorite part of working at LAAPA is listening to the students perform in the recitals! |
Northshore Staff member, Katelyn Ashley with her favorite Coca-Cola bear and of course her favorite soda!) |
Welcome to Our Newest Students!
A HUGE WELCOME to the following new students who have recently joined us! We are so happy that you’ve chosen to study at LAAPA. We know you will do great things this year! Allison Agena |
Sophie Clark |
Brooke Hunt |
Collin Pelitere |
New Referral Program at LAAPA - FREE LESSONS!
Enjoying your experience at LAAPA?
Refer a Friend and get a FREE Lesson! When you refer a friend to LAAPA and they register, you will receive a certificate for a 30 minute complimentary lesson—a $50.00 value! You may schedule a lesson in any of our numerous program offerings! There’s no limit as to how many FREE lessons you can earn! We’re so glad that you’re with LAAPA and this is just our way of saying THANKS!
Teacher Feature
Rebecca Posey - Instructor of Voice/Piano
During the summer of 2008, Ms. Posey performed the role of First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in Viterbo, Italy. She has been teaching voice and piano at LAAPA since 2008 and has loved every minute of it! Her hobbies include sewing dolls and doll clothes, reading, drawing and writing music. To help promote literacy and a love of reading, Rebecca writes and performs music inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series with her band. |
Rebecca Marie Posey’s lifelong dedication to singing and vocal performance is reflected in her numerous musical activities. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Southern Adventist University and her Master of Music from the University of Denver. Her performance credits include the roles of Edith in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, Mother in Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors and Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. Go Saints!
Pictured above is Alyssa Kerry our very own Junior Saintsation. She is a student at the River Ridge School of Music & Dance and takes piano and voice lessons.
Contact Us:
Covington School of Music: 985-590-4545
Mandeville School of Music: 985-674-2992
River Ridge School of Music & Dance: 504-738-3050
Email student news and article submissions for our next newsletter at quarternotes@laapa.com!
