All posts in “Bellaire”

October Newsletter

Enrolling Now!

October is the perfect month to begin fall music lessons.  Don’t miss your chance to join our phenomenal Academy with amazing teachers and performance opportunities. Call 713-858-9617 (West U) or 832-404-2299 (Bellaire) and ENROLL TODAY!

Vivaldi Stings and Vivaldi Voices – Performance

Congratulations to our students who performed at the Tahiri Justice Center Gala last month!  We can’t wait to see the Halloween performance of our Strings Group and Children’s Choir at Hermann Park on Saturday October 29th. Please come out to the Lake Plaza in Hermann Park at noon to view the performance and support our students!

Where will Vivaldi Music Academy go for the Summer 2017 performance?

Hint: It’s the busiest performing arts facility in the United States!

Stay tuned for our November announcement!!

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Costume Contest!

Show us your best, spookiest, funniest, outlandish, and cutest costumes from October 1st to November 1st. Share your photos with the hashtag  #VivaldiHalloween on your social media or email us your pictures to info@vivaldimusicacademy.com.

Participants will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card!

Winter Recital

Vivaldi Music Academy will be holding our Student Winter Recitals at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music on Sunday December 11 2016, Saturday December 17 2016, Sunday January 8 2017 and Saturday January 14 2017. Participation in recitals boosts confidence, provides goals, and builds new skills for students! Please speak to your teachers to ensure you are ready to participate.

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New Seasons Class Time!

Our popular Winter class for 4-6 year olds has a new time slot on Saturdays at noon. Sign up today and ensure your child has a head start in music education and great preparation for private lesson!

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Student of the Month

Guitar Student

Stella started her musical adventure with guitar in January with teacher, Sam Perez.  At the summer recital, Stella took the stage with her performance playing “Shake it off” by Taylor Swift – who is also her favorite musical artist. The advice she has for those who are interested in guitar, “play music that makes you the happiest!”

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

October 1st – 10 am Nov 1st : Submit your entries for Vivaldi’s Costume Contest via email or hashtag #VivaldiHalloween on social media

Monday, October 10th at 9 am: A link to Sign Up Genius will be emailed to students to sign up for the Winter recital

Saturday, October 29th at Noon: Vivaldi Strings and Choir perform at Hermann Park Lake Plaza

Friday, November 4th at 8 pm: Sign Up Genius for the Winter Recital will close.

Fall Recess:  Wednesday November 23rd-Sunday November 27th. Classes and lessons resume Monday November 28th.

Musical Journeys: Bonnie’s Path to Success

It’s never too late to start playing violin! Vivaldi Music Academy violin teacher, Bonnie Diggs, started her incredible musical journey around age 13 when her grandparents gifted her family with a violin. Most professional violinists begin at a much younger age however Bonnie’s curiosity and love for learning led her to a professional level in an incredible few years. At age 14 she taught herself the basics of how to play the violin and worked through the Essential Elements for Strings book on her own.

As she progressed, she realized private violin lessons would bring her playing abilities to the next level. After 6 months of lessons, her teacher suggested that she audition for the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra (GNOYO). Much to her surprise, she ended up in their top orchestra! Before she could take her place in GNOYO, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced Bonnie’s family to move to Florida.

In September of 2005, Bonnie received a letter from GNOYO informing her they were rebuilding the orchestra and invited her to rejoin them! She spent hours practicing every day and by December 2005, Bonnie had conquered multiple songs. After her first concert she was inspired to dedicate her time to mastering the violin. When the famous violinist Midori was not able to make it to a rehearsal Bonnie stepped in to play the soloist’s Mendelssohn violin concerto on short notice – an amazing feat! As she auditioned for three universities to continue her studies, Bonnie received a full scholarship to each university. Bonnie chose to attend Loyola University and for the first two years she was principal second violinist. She pushed herself to practice more until she became concertmistress!

Bonnie loves to mentor beginners as well as teen and adult students who pursue the violin as it reminds her of the age at which she started playing. She encourages her students to never shy away from performing. She believes music teaches students to build character, confidence, and self-esteem, and looks forward to being a part of your very own journey on the violin!

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Bonnie – Violin lessons

News & Notes – September Newsletter

Join the fun with Vivaldi Strings Performance Program and the Vivaldi Voices Children’s Choir! Sign up today!

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The Vivaldi Strings Performance Program serves as a perfect adjunct to private lessons in string instruments, exposing string students to the chamber music (small group) setting to develop self-sufficiency as well as teamwork through peer interaction. Focusing on various aspects of musicianship and designed to reinforce students’ learning in private lessons through collective musical tutelage, each student is motivated to practice as a valuable ensemble member.

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The Vivaldi Voices program offers Houston’s young vocalists, ages 6-10, the opportunity to light up the stage while learning the fundamentals of vocal technique. Our group voice faculty coach young singers to utilize their voices safely while singing popular songs from musical theater to the classics as well as today’s pop hits! The Vivaldi Voices look forward to performances in our biannual recitals as well as numerous performance opportunities throughout Houston.

We have exciting performances lined up for Fall 2016! Join the fun today!

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Tahirih Justice Center
Performance Opportunity

Vivaldi Music Academy is proud to participate in the Tahirih Justice Center’s Gala on September 17th. Our Vivaldi String Performance Group will have the opportunity to open for this charity event for women and children in need

From August 24th - 31st, we partnered with The American Red Cross to provide disaster relief for the 20,000 families displaced by the Louisiana flooding. This means that for one week, your check-ins helped support people affected by the flooding. If you would like to help more, please visit the American Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/.

Louisiana flood – Vivaldi Music Academy

Mark Your Calendars for the upcoming Winter Recitals!

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We are excited to have our students perform and see their amazing progress for the Winter Recital! Please discuss with your teacher if you or your child will be ready. Students must be approved by their teacher and enrolled in the Academy at the time of the recital in order to participate.

The Winter Recitals will be held at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University on the following dates:

Sunday December 11 2016
Saturday December 17 2016
Sunday January 8 2017
Saturday January 14 2017

Please be aware of the following additional dates:

Monday September 26th: Details including schedule and expectations for the recital will be   emailed to students

Monday October 10th at 9 am: A link to Sign Up Genius will be emailed to students in order to sign up for the recital. Students will be able to sign up for their teacher’s designated day/time slot(s) or any other day/time slot you prefer.

Friday November 4th at 8 pm: Sign Up Genius will close.

Where is Vivaldi Music Academy going next?

Stay tuned for our big announcement in October of our special Summer 2017 performance venue!!

#VivaldiGoesTo…

Referral Rewards – VMA – Houston

Congratulations to our Gold, Silver and Bronze Olympic referral winners in the month of August!

Thank you to: Natalie N. (Gold), Hannah & Benjamin T. (Silver), and Rohan P. (Bronze)!

WEST U
3914 Gramercy St. Suite B
Houston, Texas 77025
713-858-9617

BELLAIRE
5305 Bissonnet St.
Bellaire, Texas 77401
832-404-2299

Upcoming Events

Winter Recital – Shepherd School of Music, Rice University
Sunday December 11 2016
Saturday December 17 2016
Sunday January 8 2017
Saturday January 14 2017

Faculty Recital: Houston Baptist University
Saturday January 28th 2017

Refer a friend & receive a FREE LESSON! Or refer a friend for Vivaldi Seasons and receive $10 off and your friend will receive a FREE REGISTRATION (up to $45 value)

August Newsletter – Back to School Edition

Vivaldi Students' Summer Adventures

Venice, Italy | Vivaldi Music Academy Summer 2016 | Piano and Violin

Our students and faculty travelled to Venice, Italy for a recital of a lifetime at the Santa Maria della Pieta also known as Vivaldi’s Church!

Our West U and Bellaire locations are reaching capacity fast! Stay ahead of the game and book your back-to-school lesson times before all the popular after school times are gone!

WEST U
713-858-9617

BELLAIRE
832-404-2299

Stay tuned for the October announcement of where Vivaldi Music Academy goes next summer!

Check out how some of our students also spent their summer vacations:

Summer Adventures

A cultural experience as Arianna and Sebastian attend the Vienna State Opera!

Fun Summer | Vivaldi Students

Keeping cool in the Texas heat, Anisa and Reva spent time with their family!

Max Summer Adventure

Max had a blast at Legoland!

Simran – Vivaldi Student

Simran is all smiles in the San Diego sun!

Franciska-Vivaldi Student

Franciska was in California! She was excited to meet Mickey and Minnie at Disneyland!

NEW Sunday Classes for Seasons! Check out our new website for our early childhood music classes.

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To accommodate our youngest students, new Sunday classes are being added to the schedule in August. Check out our brand new Seasons website
www.thevivaldiseasons.com
and sign up for a FREE PREVIEW!

#VivaldiKids

Back to School Tips for your Child's Music Education

the back to school season can be hectic! Sometimes simply getting back into the swing of things takes some preparation. Here are some easy tips to ease the transition:

Lock down your schedule
Most kids respond well to consistent schedules, so use a calendar to ensure everyone knows what activities are expected each day. This includes both lessons and practice times! Also, consider including a reward system to help make the connection to consistent practicing and hard work.

Set expectations for practicing
Make sure everyone is on the same page!

Stay organized
Come to music lessons with all the essentials! If your child is especially forgetful, consider creating a checklist and posting it on the door.

Befriend your child’s music teacher
Our teachers encourage parents to sit in on at least the few lessons, which will help ease the anxiety and also allows you to get a feel for their teaching style. Communication is key, for everyone involved!

Don’t forget the practice journal
A practice journal can be an incredibly valuable tool, when both student and teacher are using it effectively. Sit down with your child and review the journal each week.

Referral Rewards – VMA

Congratulations to our faculty members on their recent promotions!

Matthew Gutwald (Director of Piano Pedagogy) and Sam Perez (Director of Guitar Studies) share their philosophies on music education and why they enjoy teaching at Vivaldi Music Academy.

Matthew Gutwald
DIRECTOR OF PIANO PEDAGOGY

On the first day of school, my 3rd grade teacher would play piano for our class to wake us up. I remember getting home from school that same and telling my parents that I wanted to learn how to play the piano. My grandparents gifted me the family piano, and I have not stopped playing since. Lessons and practice have taken me so many places I never thought I would get to experience. When I was given the privilege to perform at Carnegie Hall, I had truly achieved my dreams.

I absolutely love teaching piano because it is such a versatile instrument. Students are able to explore, experiment, create, and imagine infinite styles, sounds, and melodies. My philosophy for teaching piano is to build strong, well rounded fundamentals and habits that can be used universally for any genre of music that interest the students. Being trained as a classical pianist, I strive to expose my students and their families to music that they may not have heard, ranging from Bach to Prokofiev. My favorite thing about this job is the fact that every lesson is different. I get to be outrageous and make people laugh while they learn, build rapport, and see people grow and progress into artistic musicians.

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Sam Perez
DIRECTOR OF GUITAR STUDIES

My relationship with guitar began with my wonderful parents. When I was 8 years old my parents surprised me with a guitar from a Sears catalog. From that day on, my life has been an amazing adventure taking me to places I never thought possible. My perspective as a teacher is that the guitar is a very unique instrument, it is challenging and rewarding at the same time. Playing the guitar teaches children to think differently. I enjoy teaching kids to play the “classical” way because there are many developmental benefits. While harvesting fine motor skills, my students have learned to play anything from Taylor Swift to Bach. I emphasize sustainable playing by teaching students and parents that having healthy habits in our musical education will positively influence the rest of our lives. My favorite thing about my job is seeing people young and old grow in confidence as their skills develop on a weekly basis.

REFER A FRIEND

Refer a friend & receive a FREE LESSON! Or refer a friend for Vivaldi Seasons and receive $10 off and your friend will receive a FREE REGISTRATION (up to $45 value)

Vivaldi Seasons – Han

Our Vivaldi family is growing!
Welcome to our new staff and a new baby!

Amanda Rodriguez

I am so incredibly happy to join the Vivaldi Team! I’m excited to be around such talented individuals!
– Amanda

Gina Val Verde

I’m excited to join such a talented and creative staff, it’s great to be surrounded by like-minded people!
– Gina

April-Cantu

I’m so happy to be a part of the Vivaldi team and looking forward to meeting everyone! Let’s rock N’ roll!
– April

Colin and Family

Congratulations to our wonderful piano/guitar teacher, Dr. Colin Davis and his wife, Jenny, on their little bundle of joy, Adeline!

Causely – VMA

This August, you can help build a school for children in developing nations by checkin gin on Facebook at Vivaldi Music Academy! We’ve partnered with Causely and buildOn to help fight poverty  by providing access to education. Remember to add #bricks4schools when you check-in! For more information about this month’s charity, visit buildon.org For every check-in the Academy donates a portion to this month’s charity.

Roco Partnership

Vivaldi Music Academy is happy to announce our partnership with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra

Upcoming Events

Winter Recitals – Rice University
Dec 11th and Dec 17th (2016) & Jan 8th and Jan 14th (2017)

Faculty Recital – Houston Baptist University
January 28th, 2017

Vivaldi Music Academy Announces Carnegie Hall Debut for Students and Faculty!

Come join us in The Big Apple!

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Dear Students and Parents,

Vivaldi Music Academy is proud to announce our Carnegie Hall Student and Faculty Recital in New York City! The concert will be held in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, June 27th 2015 at 7:30 pm!

Students of all ages and levels are welcome to participate in the recital.

* It’s easy to register – just email us info@vivaldimusicacademy.com or call us at 713-858-9617 starting November 15th at 9 am.

* Registration will proceed on a “first-come first-serve” basis for the first 50 students. A non-refundable registration fee of $250 for one student or $300 per family will be due at the time of registration.

***NO EXCEPTIONS****

* Registration includes professional photos and video from the recital along with a group tour at a New York City landmark (to be announced).

The Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall performance is an amazing opportunity for our students to perform in one of the most prestigious venues in the world. Your child and family will have a great experience and many memories to cherish in the years to come.

Check out our link at http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2015/6/27/0730/PM/Vivaldi-Music-Academy-Faculty-and-Student-Recital/

Spots are limited and will go quickly! Please let us know if you have any questions and we’ll be happy to help you.

Happy Practicing!

Regards,

Zeljko Pavlovic, Director