Andrew Lesser Music

Philadelphia Wind Symphony – “Visions”

Andrew Lesser — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:08:37 +0000

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!

A Brief History of Music – Part IV: Chant in the Middle Ages I

Andrew Lesser — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:23:29 +0000

Hello again, and welcome back!

Well, so far we’ve covered the early beginnings of music history, including before recorded time, in the Egyptian Society, and in Ancient Greek antiquity. Now we’re going to fast forward the clock to the fall of the Roman Empire and discuss the music in the early Middle Ages, particularly in the category of chant. We’ll also talk about one of the earliest known women composers in history, Hildegard of Bingen. Not only was she an accomplished composer, but she also saw visions which brought the highest members of the clergy to seek her insight and wisdom. Her story is in the Composer Profiles link listed below. Enjoy!

A Brief History of Music – Chapter 4: Chant in the Middle Ages, Part 1
Composer Profiles: Hildegard of Bingen

In other news, I’ve just been published once again in the current issue of Tempo Magazine with my article “Be in Tune With Your Body”. You can read the article by clicking the link on the right marked “Health and Wellness”. Enjoy!

A Brief History of Music – Part III: Music of Greek Antiquity

Andrew Lesser — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Hello again!

It’s been a while since I published another edition of “Music History – The Cliff Notes”. This time, I hope you enjoy this brief discussion on Music during the rise of Ancient Greece, circa 800 -B.C.E to 500 A.D., right around the fall of the Roman Empire. Feel free to use it as you wish, maybe it will help all you music majors in college, or even some of you high school students who would like to get a leg up on your music history. Either way, I’d love to hear what you think, feel free to send me any comments!

You can download the document here: Music of Antiquity

Philadelphia Wind Symphony Concert – Sunday, March 4

Andrew Lesser — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:09:17 +0000

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

A Brief History of Music – Part II: Music of Ancient Egypt

Andrew Lesser — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:02:40 +0000

Seasons Greetings!

I hope the holiday season is bringing the spirit of joy and happiness to you all, especially if you’re all done your holiday shopping! For me, this time of year really makes me think about all the gifts I have been given in my life and how I can better show my appreciation. Being a teacher and working to shape young minds is something I consider an honor and a privilege all year long. It is for that reason why I started this little “Cliff Notes” of Music History project. If you’re like me, then writing things down in your own words can greatly help you understand a topic. I hope that this project of mine can assist all of you that could use a little assistance with your Music History classes, or stimulates the rest of you who are just looking to understand how music got to be where it is today. This new post, entitled “Music of Ancient Egypt”, is the second chapter in our journey through Western Music History. My thanks to Dr. Christine Sezer, whose seminar “A Journey Into Ancient Music” at last year’s NJMEA Convention was extremely helpful and informative. Hope you enjoy it!

Click on the link below to access a PDF version of A Brief History of Music – Part II: Egyptian Music
Egyptian Music

The Philadelphia Wind Symphony Inagural Concert

Andrew Lesser — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:04:27 +0000

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!

A Brief History of Music – Part 1: Music of Antiquity

Andrew Lesser — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:24:58 +0000

Greetings, all! Forgive me for not posting for quite a while but I’ve been quite busy with a little thing called getting married and having a wonderful honeymoon in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Unfortunately, some of the video files I tried to post on this website were a tad too large, so I posted them to my Facebook page, which you are free to view if you request me at “andrewlessermusic.com”.

Otherwise, I have been working on another project for some time that I’d like to begin sharing with you bit by bit. I’ve always been fascinated by music history, and I wanted to sort out and make an amateur “summary” of what I’ve learned. The main purpose not only being for my own continuing education, but to give the opportunity for music students to have a kind of “Cliff Notes” into the many different facets of the history of Western music.

The first entry I will be posting will appropriately be at the beginning of our recorded study into music history, known as “Music of Antiquity”. I hope you all find it interesting, and I always appreciate your comments and insights as I continue to post more profiles on historical eras and individual profiles of composers and influential figures in music history.

Click on the link below to download “Music of Antiquity” in PDF format:
Music of Antiquity

Into the 21st Century: Technology in Music

Andrew Lesser — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:48:08 +0000

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 True Champion of Indomitable Spirit

Andrew Lesser — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:36:26 +0000

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.

Auditions: Prep, Prep, and More Prep

Andrew Lesser — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:26:12 +0000

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!