| Students Inspired by Special "Master Class" With World
While displaying exquisite technique, the two virtuosos also took questions and offered valuable lessons about the craft of performance, the thrill of artistic expression and music's essential role in society and in a happy, meaningful life. He let his "voice" sing for him with several stirring selections: the opening clarinet glissando of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and a duet with Fisk of the folk song "The Ballad of Barbara Allen. "I wouldn't even talk to the girl," he said. This description of Stoltzman and Fisk's presentation to students from these under-served East Contra Costa County schools comes from a press release from the Diablo Regional Arts Association. The students came to the Lesher Center as guests of DRAA, the nonprofit partner of the Lesher Center. Stoltzman and Fisk were models of grace and good humor as they performed for students, answered their questions and shared their own artistic journeys. Fisk told the students he began playing because he had a younger brother with Down syndrome and his father thought it would be a good idea for the family to play music and sing with him. Stoltzman said he wanted to play music as soon as he heard the Rhapsody in Blue glissando. " First, he had to learn scales, notes and how to breathe in an entirely new and controlled way. DRAA covers the costs for students to see professional, top-quality music, theater, dance and visual arts programs at the Lesher Center. For schools to participate in Arts Access, at least 60 percent of their student body must qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches. Many hands shot up. I started dreaming about what the notes meant to me," he said. Each tried other instruments but settled on one, in part because each realized that to play music really well, he had to devote himself to one instrument. The duo also performed a work by Bartok and selections that highlighted American music roots in folk and jazz. "This is the expertise in a lifetime," said Mackenzie Knox, an alto saxophone player from Rancho Medanos Junior High, as she went into the theater. " . "I started to play music, and to play notes and more notes and more notes. We pass things on. Daniel Levenstein, director of Chamber Music San Francisco, helped make this concert possible, DRAA's Executive Director Peggy White said. "It's the sound our soul makes. " Stoltzman may be best known for this unusual rhythmic work that was scored for him to play live against 10 recordings of himself. "I've never heard anything like that before," Hillview sixth grader Nick Orlando said. When asked what kind of music they like, both said all styles. "That's the great thing about music," he said. "We're all only on this planet a little while, but music will keep going and going. Fisk added: "If you play music, you're doing something beautiful and worthwhile in the world. " A student had asked Stoltzman to name the most famous song he had every played: "Would you like to hear it?" he asked. "Yeah, we want to hear it!" students responded. Hillview Junior High School teacher Diane Klaczynski directs her school's beginning, concert and wind ensemble bands. She said many of her students, including recorder students, have never been to a concert before. Through its Arts Access School-Time Program, DRAA provides free tickets and transportation to more than 5,000 K-12 Contra Costa County students each year. "That's why we're here as a human race. That's what your parents do. |
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Students Inspired by Special "Master Class" With World
