Recording, Recording, Recording

The twins are both preparing for some stiff competition. Marshall will be sending audio versions of three classical pieces next week (one each from the Baroque, Romantic & 20th Century periods) for the first round of his competition. Shaylen is in the process of recording three video selections to submit to the first round of the Young Artists' Competition (harp).

We're so thankful to be able to record at Christ Church in Exeter on the lovely Lively-Fulcher pipe organ there (it sounds amazing!).

The priest at St. George's in Durham has been gracious to allow us to go in and record the harp in their lovely sanctuary. There are wonderful acoustics. You can listen to one of his selections here.

 You can watch one of her pieces here.

I love that I can add my microphone to the iPad! It does a great job & is pretty portable.

Evaluating. Should we do another try?

Sweet Musical Friends

We love dog-sitting our former piano teacher's dog, Piper. She's a good little American Dingo. I loved capturing this moment early this morning while Shaylen was practicing.

Harp Master Class

Shaylen had the opportunity this past week to participate in a Master Class hosted by Manchester Community Music School. The guest clinician was Natalie Severson. Natalie was very sweet & down to earth, so Shaylen enjoyed working with her immensely. Shaylen's harp was used by those students that typically work with a pedal harp and Natalie used it for her recital at the end of the Master Class. She said it had a lovely tone!

Shaylen's Winter Harp Recital

Vers la Source en la Bois by Marcel Tournier

Harp Concerto in Bb Major by G.F. Handel

Marshall's 2017 YOC Field Trip - Part 3

Our last stop for this year's field trip was at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. I could instantly tell why this one was saved for last. The room itself was impressive, but the organ...WOW.

This is an 1864 E. & G. G. Hook organ. We have an organ builder on the YOC Committee. He and his dad came with us and they were just one hair shy of shaking with excitement over this organ. It was neat to hear a bit of its history and then send the kids off for an organ crawl inside with the organ technician that maintains this beauty! The following pictures Marshall took with my phone (I opted to stay out).

You can see out into the hall in this picture.

Don't look down!!!

You cannot be afraid of heights inside this organ!

Marshall had been saving his Vierne piece for this final stop on the field trip. We knew it to be an historic and wonderful organ that needed a bigger piece. The co-chairs of the YOC were assisting Marshall with the stops...and I think they pulled all of them. It sounded phenomenal!

Marshall's 2017 YOC Field Trip - Part 2

Our second stop was the beautiful St. Joseph, Holy Family Parish in Worcester, MA. They not only have a beautiful historic building (it was shocking to hear that they were actually considering tearing it down years ago), but a beautiful 1928 Casavant pipe organ. It looked small, but the sound it produced was significant.

Marshall's 2017 YOC Field Trip - Part 1

Every fall, the Young Organist Collaborative organizes a field trip for the students to go and see, play, and explore some of the great organs in New England. This year's field trip was a phenomenal experience for Marshall. Because there are a lot of photos and a few videos, I will break this post into three parts, since we went and saw three separate organs.

The first organ was in Auburn, MA at the Pakachoag Church. It is a 1997 Dobson pipe organ. Isn't it beautiful?!?! It had a sweet sound to match. We had a special treat in that the organ builder himself was there to talk about it.

The Sands of Time Are Sinking

Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted Hymn Arrangement

Marshall's piano teacher started working with the kids on hymn playing techniques. This didn't seem too difficult for Marshall, so she posed a new challenge to him: create your own arrangement of a hymn you love. This is the fruit of his labor.

Work for the Night Is Coming