Καλημέρα

hey blogger whats up?

Jongo

 

Απο τον Βραζιλιάνο συνθέτη Paulo Bellinati

scale

scale of  c,In Greece we call it σκαλα  which mean ladder.so its scale of c for USA and do scale for whole europe inckuding Greece

hush

Teacher Zita's Bio

Zita in the "Piano Lab" at the Community Music Center

Portland, OR USA

My name is Zita (Like"Rita" with a Z) Jefferson.  I love piano!  I began studying at age 3.  My father taught me to play on a rickety old Gulbranson upright.  Most of the ivory had chipped off, and I remember seeing the letters of the notes written in bright orange crayon on the keys. I was so tiny, I had to sit on a Sears Roebuck catalog!

I took to the piano right away, especially note reading.  However, I was a very shy, timid child and suffered from paralyzing stage fright. This would cause me to forget portions of piece in recitals.  We were required to memorize our pieces.

  When I was 14, I moved to Texas to stay with family. I studied with a fabulous, kind woman in Waco. Her name was Mary Schlottmann. She treated me like a person and didn't focus on my mistakes. I thrived under her guidance and won many awards that year.  I moved back home to Vancouver, Washington to go to high school, but I never forgot my teacher, and how I overcame so much of my fear with her gentle, positive approach. It is her I model now that I teach.

I went on to study piano performance at Portland State University..  I suffered again from stage fright and anxiety. I managed to obtain a BA, but didn't pursue a musical career immediately.  I ended up going into Massage Therapy. I enjoyed the work, but felt something was missing.

In1990, after the birth of my daughter, I found myself drawn back to music. I was attending a small church.  They heard I played the piano and asked me to play for the service.  I became a church pianist and played every Sunday.  My stage fright eventually diminished and practically vanished.  I believe this was because I was in a supportive environment and played regularly. Plus, having given birth and entering the world of single parenthood, I was becoming fearless!

Soon, I was being asked to teach.  One thing led to another and here I am 20 years later!  I teach group piano classes at the Community Music Center (read about this incredible haven for budding musicians here:  communitymusiccenter.org).  I also teach privately in my home studio.  In addition, now that my children (I have a 22 year old daughter, and 19 year old son) are grown, I am reinspired to practice regularly and am performing more than ever!  I find it is the nourishment I need.  I accompany the Francis Street Singers choir and the Portland Peace Choir. I am a church pianist at Calvary Presbyterian Church and I have a trio group with a clarinet and cello friend.  Also, I am performing with my friends Anya Kalina and Miranda Bradley, both singers. We are forming a goup we are thinking of calling the Starving Divas.

As a teacher, my main goal is to share my love of music and to give my students the tools they need to be able to release the music they have inside them. 

My private studio is full for spring term, but you can get on my waiting list by going to:

teacherzita.musicteachershelper.com

I am currently learning the guitar by Skype with my friend and co-blogger Nikos! :)

I

hey

Schubert Impromptu Op 90 No 3

Another piece I am working on. I love Brendel's rendition. :)

Italian Concerto Movement III

And the master Glenn Gould, playing the 3rd movement at warp speed! :)

Italian Concerto Movement II

But I like the Richter plays the 2nd movement.:)

Italian Concerto Movement 1

Hey Nikos:  This is one piece I am working on. I like the way Schiff plays the first movement.   :)

Teacher Zita's New Website

Spring in Portland, Oregon, USA!

Now that I am on spring break from the Community Music Center and spring is around the corner (we hope -it actually snowed in Portland, OR USA yesterday!), I am finally getting organized!

I have a new website that will be especially useful for my bookkeeping and for private students.  So if you are one of my private students, I will be updating your information (phone number, address, email).  Then if you like, and it is ok with your parents, I will give you a user name and password. You can log onto my site and log your practice hours for the week - I LIKE this feature! :)

I am just setting it up, but if you want to take a look, the address is: https://teacherzita.musicteachershelper.com/

Stay tuned for more!

have a good day

hello

Trying to play fast is not the solution. When you playing first you do that with your mind and after with your fingers. It's better to play 1000 times until you made it than the rest of your life

night night

tell me a song

Dilermanto Reis

Spot Work

My students are preparing for their end of the year recital in May.  This is an exciting time for students and their teacher, me! :)  Each student was encouraged to thoughtfully pick a piece (I would play several) that they love and would enjoy practicing.  Now we are getting to the point where the notes and rhythm have been learned and we are working on phrasing and expression. 

However, there are always places that give them trouble.  I call these spots "speed bumps".  Many students tend to practice the same way. First they play their scales and then they take out their recital piece and play it from the beginning. When the get to the so-called "speed bump", they grimace and sigh and say something like "wait", or "no" and then go back to the beginning and do it again hoping the speed bump will just disappear!

There is a better way!  I work with them to isolate these spots.  We often mark them with a pencil, a star or an arrow or something.  I encourage them to sit down and just practice that spot, very slowly.  They can do this several times a day for however long - even 5 -10 minutes. Hands separate practice is especially effective.

Then when they have conquered the spot, go back to the beginning and play through.  See if the speed bump has been smoothed out.  More speed bumps may emerge!  Repeat the process. :)

I am pleased to see several students using this method on their own. Way to go!! :) 

Good night Portland

water and wine (aqya y vinho)

Anya is also singing this song by Cilea.  AND Renee Fleming will be in concert in Portland tomorrow night! So, I thought it would be appropriate to post this. Enjoy! :)  Z

I am honored to be accompanying my friend Anya Kalina, Soprano in a concert at the Community Music Center this Sunday, March 18th at 4:30.  We had a fabulous rehearsal earlier this evening I always leave inspired after working with her.  She will be singing this song by Rossini with her friend Miranda Bradley. :)  Gorgeous! Z :)

one of my favorites

maybe its funny but i have to say good morning!!!after all its 6:44

http://www.communitymusiccenter.org/


Here is a link to the Community Music Center where I teach group piano. I will be mentioning it a lot, so you might be interested in taking a look at what it's all about. A wonderful place for nourishing young musicians! :) Z

I am working on this movement of the Beethoven Clarinet Trio with my friend Jules on clarinet and Jonathon on cello. We are planning on performing it for the faculty fundraiser concert in May at the Community Music Center. It is breathtaking - so lovely. We joke that Beethoven was very happy the day he composed this! 

Z.

its time

i think its time to publish what are we know better than blogs an email!!!what else TANGO
Roland Dyens performs his masterpiece tango en skai

thank God we made it

after few hours some wrong email,passwords and different blogs we made it!!!!!

Welcome friends! :)

Since our big topic is music, I'd like to start this first post by asking you all a question. What is music?

I usually ask my students this question in the new beginner's piano class I teach at the Community Music Center. I usually begin with a story:

So, boys and girls, what if we were sitting here in class and we heard a strange sound outside the window. We look outside and there to our surprise, lodged in the big oak tree, is a small spaceship! And before our eyes, the door pops open and a little green (or purple, or use your imagination!) alien steps out.  He walks right through the window into our classroom!

He speaks! "Earthlings, I have been sent to study your planet. Tell me, what are you doing here?"

So we tell him we are in class to learn about music.

"Music!", he exclaims. "I have heard about this thing. What is music? Do you eat it?  Can I take it with me in my spaceship to study it back on my home planet?"

The students then attempt to describe music to the alien.  Someone usually blurts out, "You hear music!"

So the alien goes over to the piano and pounds on the keys, "Ah music!"

The kids then giggle and say "No! That's not music!"

So then I go to the piano and play a piece, like Fur Elise by Beethoven, or the Star Wars theme.

"Yes!"  The kids say, "That is music!"

So how is this different from the sound the alien was making?

We talk about patterns, and organizing the sound.  Usually someone talks about how music makes you feel happy or sad.

Or how music can tell a story.

So my question to you, dear readers is: What is music to you?