Our “Caring for Our Oceans” Winter Recital was beyond all expectations! Dr. Carol Anne Clayson, Senior Physical Oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, spoke to us about being a pianist AND a world renown scientist. Her talk, our brilliant cover art, Heather’s banner, the students’ program notes which they wrote and shared, the serenity of the James Library, the beauty of the ocean pieces — all contributed —but it was mostly the sincere, heartfelt playing that made the night spectacular. And afterwards, everyone got a whale cookie and a Madeleine, freshly-baked by Ngoc Dupont, mother of three students performing! Thank you Eliza, Allie, Micah, Christian, Naomi, Linux, Thisbe, Lauren, Winter, Liam, and Clayton!
On November 18 and Dec 2, 2023, All the High School, Middle, and Elementary School students from the studio played in a South Shore Music Teachers Association Playathon to benefit Father Bill’s and MainSpring shelters. Over $2500.00 was raised through these two events. Here are the photos os participants. Your efforts o offer your music for a worthy cause is wonderful! “Music for Good” is the social action component of the Alison S. Barr Music Studio. There will be another project offered in the spring and Awards Posters given out in June 2024.
**Our “Caring for Our Oceans” Theme has connected much of our repertoire study and special projects
**Several students participated in South Shore Music Teachers Association Potpourri Recital in October
** Our Group Class theme was “Improvising Our Oceans!”
**Allie was featured piano soloist with Norwell High School Wind Ensemble, playing Eric Whitacre’s “Seal Lullaby”
** We had some exciting reunions with former students: Rebecca now at Boston University, Andrea, Nicole, Matt and Sarah, and PJ and fiancé Katelyn, who asked me to marry them in November 2025. T
**”Noel Trio” performed at Cornerstone Memory Care
**We had 100 % participation of High School and under students in two Playathons, to benefit Father Bill’s Place/MainSpring House shelters, raised $2200.
**Our studio was decorated with an ocean theme for the fall and in holiday splendor in December
**Student honors: Micah was accepted into Sr. District for voice and Eliza was accepted into Jr. District. on clarinet
* *Liam has been working on a composition entitled “The Water Sorcerer,” with Kevin Michael Sullivan
Sadly, our studio said “goodbye” to Jim Gish, wonderful adult student, commemorated with the white floral bouquet sent by student Joanne in New Zealand.
We’re looking forward to Group Classes, during the week of Martin Luther King Holiday, and our Winter Recital, to take place on Friday, January 19, 2024, at the James Library in Norwell at 6:30 p.m. We are thrilled to have a distinguished Guest Speaker, Dr. Carol Anne Clayson of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Students are preparing their own “program notes” to present, all about their ocean-themed pieces. Stay tuned for more goings-on from this very active and engaged studio!
Happy Fall! I’m thrilled to welcome you back to the studio and to welcome new students! I know your travels have taken you to beautiful places! I was busy this summer – summer teaching, presenting a talk at National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, leading Midsummer Adult Piano Retreat at Endicott College, and volunteering at YES Academy in Beirut, Lebanon, a cultural exchange summer music program for students in the Middle East. Here’s a photo of our May 2023 Recital and also a slideshow of my experiences in Lebanon:
If you are in the High School and under category, we’ll be dedicating time to “Caring for Our Oceans,” and, for Adult Students, your new theme is “Technique is Exciting!” In any case, it promises to be an amazing year!
