Well, it’s that time again. Time to break out the shorts, enjoy sleeping late, and more time to practice your instrument! And in preparation for the summer of getting ready for those winter auditions, what could be better than working on your technique by taking lessons? Whether you’re a student preparing for that All South Jersey audition in December, or an adult who’s always wanted to try for the first time, I’d be happy to help you reach your goals. I provide anywhere from 30 minute to 1 hour instruction for students of all ages and ability levels. In addition, I’m also pleased to offer a FREE half-hour introductory lesson!

To find out more information, including scheduling and pricing, please feel free to call at 609-707-2465 or e-mail at andrew.lesser@yahoo.com!

Hello everyone!

I’m happy to announce that the final concert of our second season at the Philadelphia Wind Symphony will be held on Sunday, May 19th at 3:00 pm in the Levitt Auditorium at the Gershman “Y” Theater in the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. We will be guest conducted by Dr. John Pastin, who serves as the Director of Bands at Rowan University.

The concert will showcase the following works:
David Maslanka – Give Us This Day
Camille Saint-Saens/arr. Singleton – Danse Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
Ernst Toch – Spiel, Op. 39
Vincent Persichetti – Psalm for Band
Claude Debussy/arr. Sparke – The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
Percy Grainger – Molly on the Shore
Claude T. Smith – Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Cesar Franck/arr. Stauffer – Le Chasseur Maudit 

Directions and more information can be found at The Philadelphia Wind Symphony’s website at www.philadelphiawindsymphony.org.

I’m looking forward to seeing you there!

- Andrew

Well, once again, September is upon us, and the sounds of pencils sharpening and notebook paper turning is filling our schools all over. Reading, writing, and arithmetic may the core subjects of our nation’s priority, but don’t forget about the arts! While more and more arts programs are being relegated to fewer and fewer schools, or simply being eradicated from entire districts, it’s comforting to see so many students getting interested in participating in chorus, band, general music, and other musical activities that truly enrich their lives. The joy of practicing an instrument or working on singing that next chorus tune is certainly better than sitting on the couch watching TV or playing video games. Not only does music require multitasking, higher-level thinking, and dedication, it’s also incredibly fun! So if your music program is in danger of being cut, there are a number of ways that your voice can be heard. Organizations like the National Association for Music Education (NAfMe) and the New Jersey Music Teacher’s Association (NJMEA) are always doing their best to show schools just how important music is in a child’s life, and simply visiting their websites can give you information as to how to support your local music program. As the great Greek philosopher Aristotle once said: “Music has a power of forming the character, and should therefore be introduced into the education of the young”. More than two thousand years later, that statement still holds as much truth now as it did then”. So get as much out of the beginning of this school year as possible and get involved in the arts. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

- Andrew

Hello all!

I would like to cordially invite you to the next concert of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony: “Visions” on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00 pm at Levitt Auditorium in Gershman Hall, located at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Our program will include:

Early Light – Carolyn Bremer
Angels in the Architecture – Frank Ticheli
Noche Sabrosa – Al Blatter
Fanfare and Flourishes II – James Curnow
Hymn to a Blue Hour – John Mackey
Symphonic Songs for Band – Robert Russell Bennett

Please visit http://www.philadelphiawindsymphony.org/ for more information, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

The second concert of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony will be held on Sunday, March 4th at 3:00 pm in Caplan Hall, located at the University of the Arts in Center City. Directions and ticket information can be found at www.philadelphia windsymphony.org.

Program:
Overture to “La Forza del Destino” – Verdi/arr. Lake
Symphony No. 3 – Giannini
Children’s March: “Over the Hills and Far Away” – Grainger
Mandalen Landscapes – Sparke
Scenes from “The Louvre” – Dello Joio

Greetings, all!

I am happy and proud to announce the Inagural Concert of the newly formed Philadelphia Wind Symphony, of which I serve as Principal Clarinet. The concert will be held on Sunday, December 4th at 3:00 pm at the Levitt Auditorium in Gershman Hall (University of the Arts – Philadelphia). Tickets are $10 at the door and $5 for seniors and students with valid ID. Here is our concert program:

Barber – Commando Overture
Jenkins – American Overture for Band
Lauridson/Reynolds – O Magnum Mysterium
Holst – First Suite in E-flat
Reed – Russian Christmas Music
Zaninelli – Three Dances of Enchantment

Our conductor is Virginia Allen, a third-generation conductor who currently serves on the faculties of Julliard and the Curtis Institute. Please visit our website at http://www.philadelphiawindsymphony.org/index.html or like us on Facebook to keep up with news, updates, and concert info. I’m looking forward to seeing you there!

I recently had the opportunity to take over the music program at the Wilbur Watts Intermediate School in the Burlington City School District. I teach 3rd through 6th grade General Music, and I see over 500 students in 20 classes each week for about 45 minutes each class (that’s a lot of names to remember! ). This September, I will be able to affect my class in any direction I wish, and using the models and advice of successful music educators, both local and national, I am finding that there is a common thread that is growing more apparent in what may be called “classroom-based” music classes, as opposed to performance-based classes such as band, choir, or orchestra. Music educators in the 21st century are taking the initiative, many because of new district and state level goals, to incorporate technology in their classes. As a member of “Generation X” (those born between 1960-1980), I was present for the birth of the “Age of Technology”, or basically the advent of the internet and other tools of mass communication. Though I’m only 32, I still get looks of disbelief from my students when I tell them that I grew up without internet, cell phones, cd’s, or even video games (I started with an Atari). I took my first computer class when I was a senior in high school, nowadays many kids work with computers before they even start kindergarten! As such, the world of education (and the world in general) is becoming much more technologically-based, and it is this trend that we as educators must embrace if we are to keep the interest of our students and move our craft into the 21st century.

Because school districts are now making more resolutions to have classes taught with technological resources, music and other “specials” are no exception. However, I soon found myself a little overwhelmed with the daunting task of choosing which resources to explore and implement in my class. I wasn’t interested in turning my class into a tech lab, but I did want to use software that kids could understand and enjoy while learning music in a way that would foster creativity and academic achievement. Fortunately, there are some really great organizations whose function is to assist educators in incorporating technology into their programs. Two groups in particular that have really helped me are Soundtree, (www.soundtree.com) the educational division of Korg, and TI:ME, (http://www.ti-me.org/) or Technology in Music Education. Both groups gave me recommendations for which software to use in my classes based on the demographic, number of students in each class, and what I wanted to accomplish through instruction and performance. Their representatives will speak directly with you to assess your needs and goals, and they’ll also give suggestions for funding prospects.

Let’s face it, even though school districts say they want more technology in the classroom, fine arts classes are sometimes left behind. My school in particular has SmartBoards in every class, except in the Art and Music rooms. And until the fine arts are tested on the NJ-ASK or HSPA tests, there may always be an issue getting these types of materials in the music room. However, there are several ways of finding funds externally that can get you the resources you need to start incorporating technology into the classroom. A book I’m fond of is called Finding Funds for Music Technology, by Dr. Thomas Rudolph. You can find it on the Soundtree website, and it’s very helpful for locating sources of external funds from various sources, including local, state, and even national-level donors and grant corporations. I’m still in the process of acquiring funds for the materials I need (I really want a SmartBoard), but I know that ultimately, my students will be the ones who benefit.  Whether you’re a first-year teacher, or have been teaching for decades, the fact remains that students respond more to technology-based resources at any grade level. For us to adapt to the changing needs and interests of our students, we must adapt our educational practices to a new level as we travel through the 21st century.

A few weeks ago, I came across a YouTube video showing an incredible performance of a young girl from China playing Richard Clayderman’s “Souvenir D’enfance”. Normally, this would not warrant such a strong reaction, but under the circumstances, this particular performance is nothing short of austounding. If you look carefully, you will notice that the performer has no fingers on her right hand. Zheng Guigui, a 19 year old from Henan Province, was born without them due to a genetic defect. Even more amazing is the fact that Zheng has only been studying the piano for about three years. This is a perfect example of how powerful indomitable spirit can be to a willing heart. It really makes us think about all the times we feel unmotivated to do something just because we feel it’s too difficult, or because of the fear we feel should we fail. In music, and in life, we have to be willing to fall on stumbling blocks if we are to learn the skills to help us success. Even Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors of all time, went through over 1,000 failures in the making of his electric lightbulb. When asked how he persevered through all those failures, he humorously replied, “If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.” If we allow ourselves to lose our fears and believe in the power of what we can do when we believe and work hard to achieve our goals, then nothing can stop us from succeeding. After all, nothing is impossible to a strong mind and a willing heart.

Thinking of the NJASK test my students will be taking early next month, I remembered an old quote I learned years ago: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. Of course, I’m not one to believe in luck, but I do believe that the opportunity to succeed is out there for those who not only look for it, but also are prepared when opportunity finds them. My school is scheduled to administer the NJASK tests to all our 3-6 grade students, and I’m sure the teachers, parents, and adminstration will be wishing them “good luck” before they begin. We all know that it is not luck that will determine how well they do, but how much they have been prepared by their teachers, and how much they have prepared themselves by studying and completing their assignments.

As a musician, the first thing I think of when I hear the word “test” is the synonym “audition”. By now, college auditions are in full swing and students are auditioning all over the world to get into the conservatory of their choice. Whenever I was about to take an audition, the idea of preparation meeting opportunity always stuck in my head whenever my competition would wish me a courtesy “good luck”, whether they meant it or not. I thought, since the opportunity of getting into this school had already presented itself, all I had left was my preparation. Since I had absolutely no control over how my competition were to perform, all I could focus on was how great I could make myself. I learned that if I went into an audition knowing that I had prepared 100 percent to the best of my ability, then I gained the confidence to do my best no matter what happened. Of course, I didn’t always have a great audition, but since I knew that had nothing to do with lack of preparation, I left without any regrets.

As both a performer and an educator, I can say without hesitation that preparation is the key to a successful audition. The other advice that I’ve learned over the years is during an audition, don’t think! All the thinking you do should be done during practice, so by the time the audition comes, you should be able to perform on instinct. Many people start second guessing themselves when the real pressure of the audition is upon them, as opposed to the more relaxed environment of the solitary practice room. Speaking of which, performing the audition material in front of other people also is a good preparation tool. Finally, enter the audition room with the attitude that if the worst happens, it’s really not the end of the world. Doing poorly at an audition can only serve to instruct on what we can do to make the next audition better. Many symphony orchestra members comment on how they lost many auditions before they won their position. The key is no matter how hard things get, don’t get up! Perseverance, preparation, and confidence are all essential for a successful performance. So get out there, do your best, and enjoy the journey!

My new piece, Castle Overture, is a 5 minute, Grade 3+ piece reminiscent of the Medieval tales of knights and castles that your students will fall in love with. Also on the list for Spring Concert pieces is The Labyrinth, a Grade 5+ powerhouse currently published with Musica Propria. Snow Through a Window is also available through Kjos Publications for those of you who can’t get enough of winter! Check out the Compositions link to listen to these pieces!