If you've been following me for awhile, you'll know that every December my students play in a winter studio concert. This concert focuses on chamber music. Pianists are paired with partners to perform duets, and advanced piano students play along with string students in a chamber string orchestra. We perform without a conductor, and all arrangements are custom-tailored by me, myself, and I.
When I first started this, I thought, “What on earth have I gotten myself into?” It was a ton of work, I didn't have that much experience arranging at the time, and I was collaborating with another studio at arguably one of the busiest times of years, meaning scheduling was a nightmare. But, somehow, we made it through, and students have asked me every year since if we are going to do another winter concert.
I've not only honed my skills as an arranger, I've created my own library of music and learned a ton about teaching in the process. My students flourish when they get to choose their own winter repertoire. They learn quickly when it's a piece they recognize, and they work hard knowing they will be playing with others and don't want to let them down. Students have to work on listening skills, and we use backtracks during lessons and play difficult passages as duets as I play various other instruments with them so that when they get to our one and only rehearsal before the concert, they can quickly adapt to what they hear around them. Kids that might not know each other beforehand look forward to collaborating with their peers each year, and working with another studio has created a sense of community among these young music enthusiasts. Perhaps the most touching part is that they get excited to share this music with their families, and making music and playing it for others is really what it's all about. It truly is a special event.
Last year, some of our chamber string selections included an arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, so I plan to continue that route with an arrangement of Waltz of the Flowers. I am looking forward to starting an arrangement of Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, which many now associate with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We also played a medley of traditional Jewish songs in an arrangement called Jewish Festival, and one very talented student played the violin solo of Vivaldi's Concerto in A minor while her peers accompanied her.
I know that (as of yesterday) we're 4 months away from Christmas, but students need time to learn music! So if you're in a similar situation as me and need to start planning for your upcoming winter concert, why not check out my Holiday Arrangements? And, if you have any special requests, please let me know! I'm always looking for more ideas.