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Originally delivered on 2/10/2025 7:01 pm

SUBJECT: Music Monday 02.10.25 Final Week before Midwinter Break!

                                                                                                                                                                                                          image by freepik  

Monday, February 10, 2025
Message from the Reps

                                                                                                                                    image by freepik  

Happy Monday, Music Families!

We hope you had a lovely wintry weekend.

Congratulations to all of our instrumental and vocal students who were involved in Rising Stars! Spectacular job, all around!


Music Studio General Meeting

Please join us for our next general meeting, which will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 7:30 pm via Zoom. We will be joined by AP of Music, Ben Schott. If you have questions you'd like for Ben to address, please send them in advance to music@laguardiahspa.org.

Meeting ID: 873 7448 2536

Passcode: 727977

Celebrating African American's Achievements & Contributions in Music

                                                                                                                                     image by freepik  

Otis Blackwell: Songwriter & Musician

Otis Blackwell, a Brooklyn NY native, was born February 16, 1931 and died of a heart attack on May 6, 2002.

Otis was considered to be one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. Although he was a songwriter and musician whose work greatly influenced the rock and roll genre, he was not well known by the public. His earliest successes as a songwriter came in 1956 with the hits Fever (Peggy Lee) and Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley).

Blackwell wrote songs that made millions for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dee Clark and many others; however, the music that he performed himself never made the top 40 charts. He composed more than a thousand songs, which amassed world wide sales of close to 200 million records. While under contract dispute with his publishing company, he wrote under the pen name John Davenport.


Awards & Honors

1986 - Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

1991- National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Hall of Fame induction

2010 - Ahmet Ertegun award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 

2022 - Blues Hall of Fame induction


Song Compositions

All Shook Up (Elvis Presley)

Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley) - song inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame 2002

Breathless (Jerry Lee Lewis)

Fever (Peggy Lee) - song inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame 1998

Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis) - song inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame 1998

Handy Man (Jimmy Jones, Del Shannon, James Taylor)

Hey Little Girl (Dee Clark)

Let's Talk About Us (Jerry Lee Lewis)

Nine Times Out of Ten (Cliff Richard, Ral Donner)

One Broken Heart For Sale (Elvis Presley)

Paralyzed (Elvis Presley)

Return to Sender (Elvis Presley)


                                                                                                               image of Otis Blackwell aaregistry.org  

Take a Break...

Wishing everyone a restful midwinter break and safe travels for all of the vacationers!

Music Monday will return on February 24, 2025.

CONNECT WITH US

We'd love to connect with you, and the easiest way for that to happen is with a Membership Tool Kit account! Did you receive this newsletter in your inbox? If the answer is yes, congratulations, that means you've already created an account and subscribed!

If you haven't, you can create an account using this link: MTK (Membership Tool Kit) and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the communications you'd like to receive from your Music Studio under the SUBSCRIPTION tab. It's the absolute best way to stay in-the-know for all things music!

You can also join the LaG Music Studio WhatsApp chat. While this is not officially endorsed by, or part of the PA or LaGuardia, it is a way for parents to connect and get questions answered from other parents. Your Music Studio Reps and other board members are also in the chat and will happily answer questions. We're here to help!


Blurb From Ben

Dear Music Studio Families,


I will make a special guest appearance at the Music Studio PA's general meeting on Thursday, February 13th, via Zoom. I'm happy to join you and answer any questions you may have. 


To our Music Studio Senior Families and Students :

We are in the home stretch of your 2025 Music Commencement Assessment. The two remaining sections are the Reflective Essay, due February 28 and the NYSSMA solo audition on March 21/22! If you missed my email about this, please click the link below to find all of the information that you need to complete the Reflective Essay and submit it by 2/28.

2025 Music Commencement Assessment Reflective Essay


Please do not hesitate to contact me at Bschott@schools.nyc.gov if you have any questions or concerns.


Sincerely, 

Benjamin Schott

Assistant Principal - Music


Don't Forget!

**2024-25 MUSIC STUDIO PERFORMANCE CALENDAR**

(click the above link to access)

Click Here For Tickets


February 2025


February 13 - Music Studio General Meeting via ZOOM, 7:30pm

Special Guest: AP of Music, Ben Schott. Email your questions to music@laguardiahspa.org

Meeting ID: 873 7448 2536

Passcode: 727977

February 14 - Show Choir Valentine's Day Singing Grams (click the pink link to learn more)

February 17 - February 21, 2025 - Midwinter Recess

February 28 - BSU Showcase, 6PM




**If you would like to automatically download the performance calendar to your phone, click here: Performance Calendar.

This works for both IOS and Android.

Calendar download for smart phone provided courtesy of Karina Tabacinic, from our Music Studio Board.**


Music Studio Funding Appeal
The Appeal That Lasts All School Year!

We continuously work to raise money all year long. Why? So the next cohort can start the year off strong. 

The Music Studio thanks you for your continued donations and support for our students and studio. Your donations assist in covering the many expenses of the Music Studio, which in turn helps our students. While we work to continuously support our students and teachers, we definitely cannot achieve this without your help. These necessary funds are used to purchase the music our students perform, workshops, master classes, professional development, accompanists and so much more.Just click the photo to donate. 


Click HERE to read our fundraising letter - WE NEED YOUR HELP!!


Summer Camps & Programs

*Click on the camp logos to the left to view their pdf information booklets.*

*Click on the camp logos below to be taken directly to their websites to learn more.*

Camp Ballibay

The #1 rated arts camp in the Americas since 2011! Read 75 Reviews

Rated 4.8/5 on Facebook! Read 85 Reviews

Sarah Galante (she/her/hers)

Camp Director

1660 Ballibay Road

Wyalusing, PA 18853

570-746-3223

Sarah@ballibaycamps.com

https://www.campballibay.com/

New England Conservatory

Jenna Driscoll (she/her)

Program Manager

Theory, Composition, CMA, Jazz, Early Music, 

Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Voice & Summer

290 Huntington Avenue

Boston, MA 02115

617-585-1761

jd7393@necmusic.edu



*DISCLAIMER*

The LaGuardia PA does not endorse nor recommend any of the above organizations. Summer Camp/Program listing is provided simply as a means to share information with our Music Studio Community.

Post Secondary Resources
FIND YOUR BEST POST SECONDARY MUSIC SCHOOL

Get all the details you need for your best music school choice, from audition requirements to financial aid and career help - and what makes each school unique.

Click the photo to download the 2024-25 Guide to Music Schools.

View the guide online HERE.

Searching For Colleges & Conservatories

Big Future

Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL)

College Navigator


Researching Art Careers

  • Talk to others in the career you are interested in. Shadow them. Find out where they studied and what they did to work in their career.
  • Talk to your studio teachers
  • Try an internship or volunteer somewhere
  • Does it match the values that are important to you? Ask yourself is it a calling? Would you still do it if you didn't get paid? Are you passionate about it?
  • Look at the data in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) and on LinkedIn
  • Does the career require graduate school?

OOH Handbook Guide

Music Careers (article)

Musicians & Singers

Music Directors & Composers

Sound Engineering Technicians

Actors

Art, Drama & Music Teachers, Postsecondary


Other College Resources
Other Opportunities


NEW YORK YOUTH SYMPHONY

If you know someone who might be interested in joining our Jazz Ensemble or learning how to write their own Musical Theater songs, this is the perfect opportunity for them to check out our programs.

Jazz Ensemble - RSVP HERE

Sunday, February 16th, 6-8pm
Sunday, April 6th, 6-8pm:
Open Rehearsal 

Open rehearsals will be a fun opportunity to jam with the current NYYS musicians, learn more about the program, and work with Jazz Ensemble Director, Michael Thomas!


Musical Theater Songwriting - RSVP HERE

Wednesday, March 19th, 6-8pm: Prospective Student Night

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our program, chat with current students, and have a Q&A session with Director, Michael Kooman.

***(the above link isn't working; please contact NYYS directly)***

New York Youth Symphony

110 West 40th Street, Suite 505, New York, NY 10018-8517

(212) 581-5933



SOUND + SCIENCE

Sound+Science is actively recruiting high school students to join its 2025 cohort.

Sound+Science is an innovative after-school program, research lab, and community in NYC for high school students interested in exploring the unique and deep connection between music, science, and technology. Through a unique curriculum, participants will explore modules like ‘The Hidden Codes in Electronic Music’, ‘From Hip-Hop to AI’, and Music Improvisation and the Evolution of the Mathematics of Computation Sound+Science, revealing the profound connections between music, technology, physics and mathematics.

Participants can look forward to Masterclass Lectures, where industry experts shed light on the confluence of music and technology and the Studio Labs, which provide a hands-on environment for participants to apply their knowledge, fostering creativity and collaboration.

Student Applications

Questions?


THE BOWERY JAZZ MESSENGERS

The Bowery Jazz Messengers is a band of 7th-12th grade musicians who perform regularly for the NYC homeless community at the Bowery Mission, the oldest mission in the U.S, providing food and shelter to millions of NY neighbors in need.

They are looking for young 7th-12th grade jazz musicians to join the program and perform at the Bowery Mission on a monthly basis. Each year as older students graduate, they look to bring in younger players, and are currently looking for bass, keyboards, sax & trumpet. Click here for more information


THE BLOOMINGDALE SCHOOL OF MUSIC - CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

Advanced Chamber Orchestra for players at NYSSMA Level 5 and higher.  This ensemble meets Thursdays at Bloomingdale, from 4:30 to 6 PM.  Click here to apply

As part of Bloomingdale’s chamber music program, they offer to match students with other instrumentalists at their level, and provide expert coaches from Bloomingdale's outstanding instrumental and vocal faculty.  Here is a link to the Chamber Music Program page, which describes how to sign up to be matched for chamber groups.

All inquiries about these programs can be directed to clchu@bsmny.org


VOICE ACADEMY NYC

Voice Academy NYC, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, offers a range of vocal training options, including private one-on-one lessons, group classes, custom workshops, onsite corporate singing lessons and vocal performance coaching for all levels, from beginner to professional. Our expert coaching staff will not only improve your voice but also prepare you for auditions, showcases, recording sessions, musicals or any live performance across various musical styles.

Our instructors are seasoned professionals with decades of experience on Broadway, as singer-songwriters, composers, pop/rock starts, jazz artists and performing musicians. With such a wealth of expertise, you can be confident that you’ve found the right school for vocal training coaching, we also offer piano, sight-reading and music-theory lessons for all students.


Do you have additional resources to share with the LaGuardia Music Studio Community? 

Please email us at musicstudiocomms@laguardiahspa.org



*DISCLAIMER*

The LaGaurdia PA does not endorse nor recommend any of the above organizations. Resource and Opportunity listing is provided simply as a means to share information with our Music Studio Community.

Upcoming Events on the LaG School Calendar
Tuesday, February 11
Respect For All Week
4:30p SLT Meeting
Wednesday, February 12
Respect For All Week
6:30p PA General Meeting (Remote)
Thursday, February 13
Respect For All Week
7:30p Virtual Music Studio General Meeting
Saturday, February 15
Building Closed
Sunday, February 16
Building Closed
Monday, February 17
Midwinter Recess (Schools Closed)
Tuesday, February 18
Midwinter Recess (Schools Closed)
Wednesday, February 19
Midwinter Recess (Schools Closed)
Thursday, February 20
Midwinter Recess (Schools Closed)
Friday, February 21
Midwinter Recess (Schools Closed)
Saturday, February 22
Midwinter Recess (Schools Closed)
Building Closed
Sunday, February 23
Building Closed
Thursday, February 27
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
Friday, February 28
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
4:00p Senior Art Show #1 Opening Celebration
6:00p BSU Showcase
Saturday, March 1
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
Women's History Month Begins
11:00a Senior Art Show #1 On View
Sunday, March 2
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
Monday, March 3
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
Faculty Meeting
Tuesday, March 4
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
Wednesday, March 5
Project Cicero Book Collection Drive
Monday, March 10
Student Voter Registration Drive
Current Music Studio Board Members


Instrumental Rep: Rebecca Sherman - music@laguardiahspa.org

Instrumental Rep-In-Training: Staci Abramsky Risman -instrumental@laguardiahspa.org

Vocal Rep: Barbette Leonard vocal@laguardiahspa.org

Vocal Rep-In-Training: Vanessa Enriquez

Corresponding/Communications Secretary: Tauheedah Yasin, Karina Tabicinic - musicstudiocomms@laguardiahspa.org

Recording Secretary: Laetitia Ducroux - musicrecordingsecretary@laguardiahspa.org

Assistant Recording Secretary: Abhilasha Mahan

Audit Manager: Rose Javier

Merchandise Director: Diane Vasquez - musicmerch@laguardiahspa.org

Assistant Merchandise Coordinator: Shira Eisenberg 

Fundraising Coordinator: Jennifer Richey

Volunteer Coordinators: Sherry Stuart Berman - musicvolunteers2@laguardiahspa.org

Sonya Houston - musicvolunteers@laguardiahspa.org

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