September 25th, 2023 Performance Studio and Music Appreciation Lessons Begin

Music is the best means we have of digesting time.

W.H. Auden

Start date is SEPTEMBER 25th – In-Person and Zoom.

At the Donnelly Music Studio, we understand that flexibility and convenience are key when it comes to music lessons. That’s why we offer both in-person and ZOOM options to cater to your needs. Whether you prefer the traditional face-to-face interaction or the comfort of virtual sessions, we’ve got you covered. Our lessons are typically 30 minutes long, but we also provide extended lesson periods for those special occasions when students are preparing for exams, recitals, or other noteworthy events.

True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the times.

George Gershwin

We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to welcome back our wonderful returning families and students, and we are equally excited to accept new students this year. Let’s make the world a better place with beautiful music!

Music Tells the Story – 2023

Conversely, what music do you think of when you see this picture? Debussy? Albeniz? Gershwin? Price? Bach? Mozart? Bartok? Yi? What story goes with the music?

Congratulations to four of my students who participated in the GCMTA “Music Tells the Story” recital held at Christ Episcopal Church, Columbia, Maryland on January 30th, at 12:30 pm.

What is the story you wish to convey to your audience as they listen to you perform your piece? As a musician, each piece you play conveys a personal story to you, and you in turn can convey that to your audience through technique and expressiveness, AND with words!

What story will you share for your performance piece? Notice how dynamics, phrasing, harmony, and melody help “tell the story.”

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Our HOLIDAY MUSIC 2022 MP4 file is ready! Click below to hear many lovely holiday songs performed by students in The Donnelly Music Studio, and pieces also performed by Ms. Donnelly. TECHNICAL NOTE: There is a delay on the first two slides (only the first two slides) that I have not been able to resolve, and there are a few ‘too hot’ mics, but we will work on resolving those technical problems in upcoming blog posts and recordings. You can set the slider to 1:22 to move past the delays and begin the slideshow. ENJOY!!!

Discovering Music by Indigenous Composers

I recently attended an MTNA webinar introducing Indigenous composers, presented by Diné composer and pianist, Connor Chee. The presentation was a sampler of the many Indigenous composer works that are available for piano pedagogy and performance, as well as works for ensemble, instrumentals, carrillons, electro-acoustic, and film scores. Utilizing the information from the webinar, I have selected a few youtube performances below and also provide a link to a website that may be used for information on Indigenous composers covering many different musical genres.

The diverse sounds and stories, their meaning as indicated by Indigenous composers and performers who can relate the particular pieces to their tribal traditions, and their overall value for performance practice and development of technique will render a very positive addition to a studio recital repertoire. Enjoy your review of the selections below.

Connor Chee, Diné pianist and composer, performing “Navajo Vocable for Piano No. 9“, “Sheep“, which has a clever video, and “Female Rain.”

Beverly McKiver, originally from Ontario, Canada, is a a member of the Lac Seul First Nation in Treaty Three. She teachers, performs, and composes music that combines Indigenous and Western Classical sounds and ideas. Her “Canadian Emblem Series” is a set of pieces dedicated to the flowers that represent each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories in Canada today. In this performance we hear “Mayflower” (Nova Scotia), “Lady Slipper” (Prince Edward Island), “Trillium” (Ontario), “Blue Flag Iris” (Quebec), and “Mountain Avens” (Northwest Territories).

Other artists you may wish to explore include: Melody McKiver, Jerod Tate, Jacqueline Wilson, Renata Yazzie, Louis Ballard, Raven Chacon, Dawn Avery, and Brent Michael Davis – for starters! For more information see: http://www.renatayazzie.com/north-american-indigenous-music-resources