Fall String Festival 2023
Sorry, we are no longer accepting more students.
We have an exciting festival in store for teachers, parents, and string students from Twinklers to advanced levels.
Festival Date: Nov. 4, 2023, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (optional master class lessons start at 9:00 a.m.)
Location: Mt. Ararat MIDDLE School & Orion Performing Arts Center, Topsham, ME
Registration Deadline: Oct. 22, 2023
Scholarship Application Deadline: Oct. 10, 2023
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Guest Violin Instructors
Aimee Morrill Briant
Aimee Morrill Briant graduated with a BA degree in violin performance from the Hartt School of Music (Hartford, CT). She completed her long-term teacher training from the Suzuki pedagogy program at Hartt, where she was a student of Linda Fiore, Teri Einfeldt, and Brian Lewis, and has continued her training with short courses led by such teachers as Ronda Cole, Joanne Melvin, Carol Sykes, and Carrie Reuning-Hummel.
A Maine native and “Suzuki kid” herself, Aimee began violin at age three with Clorinda Noyes. She started her first violin studio in 1996 and has taught in Bangor, ME, East Hartford, CT, and at the Suzuki School of Newton in Newton, MA. She moved to northern New Jersey in 2006, where she started the Crescendo Suzuki Studio.
She is a coordinator and teacher at workshops throughout the US and Mexico, past director of the New Jersey Suzuki Workshop, and faculty at the New England Suzuki Institute. She is an energetic chamber musician and freelances as an orchestral and chamber musician.
Carlough Faulkner-Carroll
A sought after clinician who is known for her ability to connect with children, Carlough strives to help students reach their full potential and to enjoy the process with them. She is on on the faculty of the New England Suzuki Institute and the New Jersey Suzuki Workshop, and has taught at numerous other workshops.
In addition to performance degrees from New England Conservatory and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was a winner of the School of Music Concerto Competition, Carlough has pursued long-term Suzuki teacher training with Teri Einfeldt as well as short courses with Ronda Cole, Edmund Sprunger, and Ed Kreitman among others. She also has received training from Dorothy Jones in Suzuki Early Childhood Education, a curriculum for newborns through three year olds.
Carlough has served as the director of the Massachusetts Suzuki Festival, and the President of the board of Suzuki:MA (the Massachusetts Chapter of the Suzuki Association of the Americas.) She has pursued a passionate interest in world music and has brought that music to share with her students.
Offerings
Violin, Viola, & Cello Group Classes. For students from beginning to advanced.
Fiddle Classes. Students of all abilities will learn fiddle tunes and play for a contradance after lunch. Special fiddling class for advanced fiddlers.
Contra Dance. Great for the entire family, including beginners.
FUN Music Theory. For non-music readers, this is a fun introduction to note reading and rhythms.
Chamber Music/Orchestra. Music readers in Books 3-4 will play in a chamber orchestra. Students in Book 5 and up will have chamber groups with coaching. Music will be distributed after the registration deadline when we know the makeup of the ensembles. Registrants will be notified.
Optional Master Class Lessons. Student shares a 50-minute lesson with other students at a similar level taught by excellent teachers. Each student plays individually for the teacher and also learns by observing other students at a similar level in their same class. Students should have a fairly well-polished piece prepared to play for the teacher. Students in Bk. 1 get 10 min. per student, Bks. 2 & 3 get 15 min, Bk. 4 get 20 min, and Vol. 5 & up get 20 min. This optional enrichment begins at 9:00 a.m. and is open to students of any level.
Performance 3:00 p.m. in the Orion Performing Arts Center adjacent to the middle school. This is a casual performance of music played at group classes and chamber music sessions. Students can wear everyday clothing. No tickets required.
Parents of Young Students Should Plan to Attend with them: Students need to move locations for each period of the day and need to be supervised.
Scholarships
MSA members are eligible for partial scholarships based on financial need. The application deadline for this is Oct. 10, 2023. Print and complete the application form at this LINK.
MSA Membership (required for Tuition Discount)
Only $20/year for a family.
Become an MSA member HERE.
Registration
Deadline: Oct. 22, 2023 FULL. NO MORE STUDENTS ACCEPTED.
Registration Form: Use this LINK to register. Pay online using credit/debit, PayPal, or Venmo.
If you have any questions or problems, contact msamusic@gmail.com.
Fees:
$60/student for MSA member families; $90/student for non-members.
Optional master class lessons are $20/student for MSA member families; $25/student for non-members.
Photos will be taken at the festival and might be used (without names) for publicity.
No refunds.
Festival Repertoire
Use this LINK to see repertoire for the group classes and fiddle class. Students should come with Suzuki music well reviewed. Learn as many of the fiddle tunes as you can. However, they will be taught during the fiddle class, including easy parts for less advanced students.
There are two levels of small ensembles/orchestra: one is for music readers in Books 3 & 4, and the other is for students in Books 5 & up. Our faculty will choose very fun music for these groups. Printable music for these groups will be sent to families after the registration deadline, so students can learn learn it ahead of time.
2023 Festival Chamber/Orchestra music LINK. Use this link to print your music.
Students in Bk. 3 & 4 will learn two pieces and do not need to memorize them.
For "My Pretty Partner," please learn both parts.
For "La Rejouissance," Bk. 4 violinists learn Violin 1, and Bk. 3 violinists learn Violin 2.
Food
Families should provide all their own food and drinks for the day. There will be a 30-minute lunch break.
Schedule
Here is the basic festival schedule. We hope parents will attend the brief MSA member meeting at 1:35. This is a chance to connect with other MSA parents and teachers and help build a strong organization for our kids.
Fall String Festival Schedule, Nov. 4, 2023
9:00-10:00 a.m. Master Class Lessons (Optional for extra fee)
10:00-10:50 Group Classes
11:00-11:50 Fiddling
Teacher/Parent Discussion
12:00-12:30 LUNCH
12:30-1:20 Contra Dance (all students and parents, learn how to dance)
NEW Adult Group Class (for parents who play and teachers) CANCELLED
1:30-2:20 Rhythm Activities Bks 1-2
Chamber Orchestra Bks 3-up
1:35-2:15 MSA Membership Meeting (parents, teachers, board)
BREAK
3:00-4:15 Performance EVERYONE on the Orion Performing Arts Center Stage
(includes each chamber group and a play-down with all students)