Denver, Colorado, October, 20-21, 2012

Jeremy Dittus is doing some amazing work in Denver. Jeremy is the most recent USA Dalcroze "Diplome". That is to say, he is the only person in the past number of years to go to Geneva Switzerland, learn the secret handshake, and come home with the black belt of Dalcroze. He is using all of his well won super powers to make some great things happen in Colorado. 

I had the pleasure of working with many of his adult students, seeing him teach a group of elementary students (amazing), and sharing some very interesting hours talking about teaching and the future of our discipline. A very worthwhile weekend for sure. 

Many thanks to Jeremy and Michael for the hospitality, the great eats, and for sharing your students with me. I think your work in Denver is very special and a model for the country. 

Congrats!

As for my teaching this weekend....I think we were able to get it done. We talked a lot about playing more than just the notes on the page. Where is creativity? Where can you, the artist, be found in your performance? Why would someone spend hours (or lifetimes) in the practice room..... A very very nice group of "professional studies" students. 

So nice to meet you all!

Can't wait to hear about all of the good work in Denver in the future. 

Thanks to James & Emily Pieper for taking me to Red Rocks Ampitheater!

San Antonio, October 13-14, 2012

Many many thanks to David Frego at UTSA for inviting me to his campus and giving me the opportunity to teach his students. I had the pleasure of working with faculty, graduate students, and many undergraduate music students on Friday. They were so welcoming and absolutely up for anything. 

Saturday was a real Joy. I met the local chapter of the Dalcroze Society of America and we had a super time.  A great group of 16, ideal timeframe, ideal setting, ideal students. I think I am leading a charmed life. 

Many thanks to David and Jim for the hospitality. Hope to get to visit again soon. 

Texas DSA Chapter. good times.

Ashland University, Ohio Chapter of the DSA, September 22, 2012

Up at 5:AM to make the drive to OHIO! It was totally worth it. The adult crowd of 60 was a sweet mix of music ed students and professional teachers from the area. 

I also had the joy of teaching a demonstration class to a very talented local high school choir. Super kids, super director. 

Many thanks to Karen and Marla and Ron for a lovely day. Thanks for your great organizing and the overall wonderful vibe by you and your attending students. 

I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

What Happens in Las Vegas....

What happens in Vegas should really be bragged about!

Nevada's Desert Valley Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association really has some great mo-jo. There were about 65 teachers, most from the Las Vegas school district who showed up last weekend for a full day of Dalcroze work. They were just great. Full of energy, ready to have fun and to try out some new ideas. Such Fun!

It was wonderful to see some familiar faces from the Orff National Conference in Pittsburgh and even one good friend who came to the CMU summer workshops a few years ago. Many thanks to the organizers and to all of the new friends. Hope to see you again in Las Vegas and in Pittsburgh!

September 15, 2012

Yeah for Las Vegas Music Teachers! Thank you!

Akron Symphony Chorus

I am humbled to get to work with such a lovely group of musicians. 90 students ages 30-95. Some of these musicians were very agile and there were others with mobility challenges. Everyone was there to work and learn and make music. I was touched by your patience with me and with your great effort and musicianship. The 20-somethings of the world need to wake up..... Don't ever lose your curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Thanks Maria Sensi Selner and the Akron Symphony Chorus for a super afternoon!

Akron Symphony Chorus, August 25, 2012.

Let the games begin!

The fall is just about to start and the pace is just starting to feel real. I will be teaching in Akron, OH this coming weekend with the Akron Symphony Chorus and then to Las Vegas (Nevada's Desert Valley Chapter of AOSA), Ashland, OH (Ohio Chapter of the DSA), University of San Antonio, and finally in Colorado with Jeremy Dittus (Dalcroze School of the Rockies) all before the end of October.

On top of all of that, we start classes at CMU and at CAPA in a week! Can't wait to meet my new students!

Thanks to all of the CMU Dalcroze Workshop attendees!

Three weeks of steady hard work is HARD WORK! I am always so impressed with these adults who come from around the globe to work their tails off. It was such a strong and diverse group this summer. Many good questions, much insight, plenty of good will and good laughs. 

I can't wait to see everyone next year. 


Now 3 weeks off before we start a CRAZY 2012-2013 year. 

I have been invited to teach in 10 different cities in the coming school year. I am also conducting a production of the Lucas Foss (past CMU composition professor in residence) opera, Griffelkin at CAPA. This will be the 1st production of the full opera ever with a full cast of teenagers. Add a wonderful family, my 3 boys and the beautiful Melissa, and it is shaping up to be a very full, blessed life. 

Hope to see everyone in the Fall!

-Stephen

CMU Eurhythmics Workshops...2 weeks in!

The 37th Dalcroze Eurhythmics Workshops at Carnegie Mellon are cookin! What a privilege to be a part of this tradition. I would bet that it is the longest running Eurhythmics Conference in the country and we are so excited to be working with these talented and hard working professionals.

Performers, Teachers, Students...all working their tails off to improve their own musicianship and discover deeper truths in the art. Last week we observed elementary, high school, and senior citizen classes. This week we started the guided teaching experiences and are looking forward to the Certificate and License exams next week.

If you have not had the opportunity to study in such a compressed, intense, and joyful setting, you really should block out the time in your summer schedule and join us next summer!

(this was the crew except about 10 who could not make the picnic)

A little PR does not hurt...

The CMU School of Music wrote a little article and sent it out in their weekly e-newsletter referencing my TEDx talk. It was a nice article and there have already been some really touching notes from past and current students. I am truly blessed. Here a copy of the e-newsletter

Great day with the PMEA Singfest West

Thanks to the teachers and students of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, WEST, Elementary  Singfest! 5th graders for the morning. They were full of energy, full of great ideas, and really willing to work. I hope that I'll get to go back again in a future year. 

TEDxCMU video is on YouTube

The TEDxCMU folks finished the editing the videos fromt he day and posted them to YouTube.
Here is the link for those of you who missed it the 1st time around: http://youtu.be/44p5GHpef4I?hd=1

http://youtu.be/44p5GHpef4I?hd=1

Let me know what you think!

What a blast! TEDxCMU

It was a real privilege to speak at the conference and share the stage with the other inspiring speakers. Thanks to Jeesoo Sohn for the invitation.

Liam and I made the front page of the Carnegie Mellon newspaper. :)

The TARTAN: TEDx brings luminaries to campus

http://thetartan.org/2012/3/5/news/cmutedx

https://thetartan-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/edition/pdf/240/tartan_web_03-05-12.pdf

And here is another article that mentioned the day:

Technonlgy in the Arts

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/2012/03/tedxcmu-key-takeaways-for-the-arts/

Twitter comments from the day:

I'm speaking at TEDxCMU!

Gotta say, I am really honored to be a part of the TEDxCMU event on March 4th. I get 18 minutes to try to make sense of the entirety of aesthetic experience...ready, set, GO! ;)

You should apply for a ticket and come and hear the exciting speakers that are lined up for TEDxCMU 2012. tedxcmu.com

Can't wait....

Exciting news coming!

Can't tell you yet, but stay tuned. Very cool announcement to come February 10th. 

;) !

Lots coming up...

The next two months are looking like a marathon!

Tomorrow night we will be at the Chosky Theater on the Carnegie Mellon campus to see many of my students performing in "L'enfant et les sortilèges" by Ravel. There are only two performances left, Saturday, January 28 at 8 pm; and Sunday, January 29 at 2 pm.

I am conducting a full scale H.M.S. PINAFORE with full orchestra on February 23 and 24 at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. This production is in collaboration with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. OTP Guest Staging Director CT Steele has been in residence at CAPA since December. It has been a wonderful rehearsal period so far. The performances are February 23 and 24, 7:30 PM on the CAPA Main Stage.

The Carnegie Mellon Dalcroze Training Center IMMERSION WEEKEND is February 24 and 25! Herb Henke from Oberlin will join Annabelle Joseph, Judi Cagly, and me. We have students coming from as far away as Interlochen & Tennessee. There are demonstration classes planned with elementary and high school students. Looking forward to meeting everyone.