HAWAII MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION JUNE / JULY 09

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Ka Leo Na Mele

Have you survived the busy Spring recital season? Have you just completed Guild or the National Music Certificate Program examinations with your studio? It’s time to take a deep breath and get ready for summer. As the temperatures rise, I find myself transitioning into a “summer schedule.” This is the perfect time of year to reflect on the last year of study and plan for the next for my students. Will it be this Beethoven sonata or that one? What new supplementary material or activities will I use with my beginning class? Are there any new composers or repertoire that will inspire my intermediate students? We, as music teachers, experience the seasons in such a different way. The seeds (the right seeds) must be planted early and the timing has got to be just right! I wish you a happy and productive summer as you plan for your planting season in your studio. I am happy to report that we enjoyed some time in a garden setting of another sort on May 21st. Fifteen HMTA members gathered for lunch at the Wai’oli Tea Room. We all enjoyed getting to see old friends and making new ones. We hope to create supportive professional and personal bonds for the membership in upcoming events. Your HMTA executive board is planning a September workshop/luncheon to focus on Independent Music Teachers Forum concerns. Please let me know if you have specific topics of interest. Just a gentle reminder to renew your HMTA membership if you haven’t yet! Your membership and participation is a vital way to stay in touch with our field as well as our local and national music communities.

Aloha, Helen

Photo above: Front row: Yumiko Demiz Yagi, Irene Friis, Carol Nakaganeku, Eiko Yano, Rosy Wang, Helen Chao-Casano, Christine Suehisa-Jang. Back Row: Jeannette Chun, Satoko Matsu, Sheryl Shohet, Julia Clark, Laurie Shinsato, Mark Russe", at the HMTA Membership Luncheon at the Wai’oli Tea Room.

Letter from the President

Photo: Helen Chao-Casano and Laurie Shinsato at the HMTA Luncheon.

In this IssueVolume 41, No. 4

Member News

Highlights from the Aloha International Piano Festival

Spotlight on Helen Chao-Casano

HMTA Convention Coming Soon!

Calendar of Events

HMTA Executive Board2008 - 2010

Helen Chao-Casano, President Kay Goshi, 1st Vice President/

President-ElectGlenn Nagatoshi, co-1st Vice President

Sheryl Shohet, 2nd Vice-PresidentChristine Suehisa-Jang,

3rd Vice-PresidentSusan Rudosky, Secretary

Eiko Yano, Treasurer Mark Russe", ParliamentarianBarbara Dyer, Past-President

HAWAII MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION JUNE / JULY 09

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The 4th annual Aloha International Piano Festival came to a close on Saturday, June 13th after a week of music making and learning at the Hawaii Convention Center. The entire event was spearheaded by the festival’s Artistic Director, Lisa Nakamichi, master teacher Martin Canin of the Juilliard School and his former students and now concert artists and college music professors Sean Botkin and Norman Krieger. They taught students, performed in concerts, judged competitions, and conducted workshops and master classes. Students attending the festival came from Hawai’i, Texas, Utah, and Japan. They took private lessons, participated in workshops and master classes, attended concerts, and competed in the solo and concerto competitions. All events were open to the public except for the private lessons. The concerts featured an array of talent from the opening concert on June 6 in which Lisa Nakamichi performed the Bach/Brahms Chaconne (for left hand), and Noriko Uenaka from Japan playing Schubert’s

Three Klavierstucke D.146. The 2009 festival competition winners also performed: T.J. Tario (High School) and Michael Steward from Utah (Young Artist). Included in the program was last year’s high school winner, Evan Lin. This year’s festival was a collaborative

event with the addition of Honolulu Symphony players Iggy Jang, Jim Moffitt, George Warnock, and Mark Votapek and Hawai’i Youth Symphony alumni Brad Shimizu and Selena Yamamoto performing with pianists Canin, Botkin and Krieger in an evening of chamber music on June 11th. In addition, the duo team of Susan Duehlmeier and Bonnie Gritton from Utah performed some

exciting music in the final concert on June 13th and were joined by Botkin, Canin, Krieger, and Mark Wong in the traditional festival finale ...”Stars and Stripes Forever.” See www.alohapianofestival.com for more details.

Congratulations to Joanna Fan (piano) and E$en Masaki (piano) who had numerous student winners in the recent Aloha International Piano Festival which took place from June 6-13, 2009 at the Hawaii Convention Center. See article below for more on the festival. Anthony Maroudas (piano) and Michael Russell (violin) presented a recital in Hilo on June 7, 2009. Sheryl Shohet (violin) was upside-down for the 15th World Suzuki Convention in Melbourne, Australia in April. She presented a teacher development topic, met many interesting teachers from around the world, and brought home a grand collection of new teaching ideas. One highlight was a series of teacher development courses taught by Hiroko Suzuki, Shinichi Suzuki’s niece (who studied with her uncle for many decades). Sheryl picked up some cute new expressions, toured the Sydney Opera House, enjoyed visiting a former student who is now a successful lawyer in Sydney, and saw kangaroos, koalas, platypuses, wombats, dingos, Tasmanian devils, and other amazing animals (at the zoo, not at the convention). She

never quite mastered choosing all the correct coins to quickly get onto the trams and subways without holding up the line. She wants to go back in a few years so she can perfect this skill. Daniel Padi$a (violin) is now a columnist for the Honolulu Examiner website: www.examiner.com/honolulu/Check out his article on the Nickelodeon at http://tinyurl.com/l5jnyn. Heejin Kang (piano) performed a solo piano recital at Orvis Auditiorium this past May to benefit the University of Hawaii Music Department. She also performed a solo harpsichord recital at Hawaii Public Radio’s Atherton Studio in June. Currently, Heejin is a doctoral candidate at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Wendy Yamashita (piano) will perform with Philip Gottling III (bassoon) and Kazutaka Shimizu (Flute) in an evening of chamber music at the Hawaii Public Radio’s Atherton Studio,

on Saturday, June 27, 7:30PM. The concert, entitled “East Wind, West Wind” will feature works by Donizetti, Taffanel, Yang Shaoyi, Villa-Lobos, Sabon, Nussio, and Jancourt. In addition, HPR’s Gene Schiller will narrate Umberto Bertoni’s “The Bear and the Nightingale.” Call HPR at 955-8821 for reservations. Admission: $25 General, $20 HPR members, $15 students w/ID. Address: 738 Kaheka St., Honolulu, HI, 96814.

Photos: (top) Iggy Jang, Martin Canin & Mark Votapek perform Dvorak’s “Dumky” Trio. (bottom) Martin Canin, Sean Botkin with students )om the festival.

MEMBER NEWS

ALOHA INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL

Photo: Sheryl at the Sydney Opera House.

HAWAII MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION JUNE / JULY 09

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When did you first know you wanted to be a musician and how did you come to know it?I started piano lessons when I was six, after begging my parents. I desperately wanted to learn how to play and be just like my big sister who was taking lessons. I have very distinct memories of “playing along with” a black asian lacquered music box when I was 3 or 4 years old. I thought the piano sounded great - maybe I had just stumbled upon the right pentatonic scale?!?

Who was the teacher or mentor who most inspired you when you were growing up and what did you learn (om that person?I have been very fortunate to have had so many wonderful music teachers in my life. My elementary music teacher, Pamela Brady, was a real spitfire. Although small in stature, less than 5 feet tall, she filled the classroom with energy and passion. I remember her standing on a chair and strumming her guitar and singing with the class. We always had so much fun! My high school band director, Paul Aldi, was also very influential. He gave me private flute lessons and encouraged me to play piano for the choir, the orchestra, and even the jazz band. As a member of the local symphony, he always made sure to give me comp tickets so I could listen to orchestral music live. I think the only reason I didn’t end up being a band director like Mr. Aldi was because of my piano studies with Frank Iogha at the Crane School of Music. Mr. Iogha was the consummate artist-teacher. He performed regularly and knew the literature inside and out! What I really learned was that he always gave 100% in his teaching, providing every student with a firm technical and musical foundation. He was really interested in providing the tools for the student to discover and create music for a lifetime.  

What was the first recording that you remember hearing or buying? What was its significance to you?My first piano teacher always loaned me recordings from her library, so when I was young I listened to all of Chopin’s solo piano works. When I was a young teen, after receiving my first paycheck from my illustrious food service job, I purchased a CD of Rachmaninoff playing Rachmaninoff. I had never heard Rachmaninoff play before and I remember finding the interpretation very inspiring.

What’s the most embarrassing moment you’ve had as a performer?Certainly, one of the most embarrassing moments I’ve had has been as a public speaker. Shortly after arriving in Hawaii, I was given the responsibility of announcing student winners at an HMTA recital. Having lived in upstate New York and in Chicago, Japanese names were pretty new for me. I rehearsed each pronunciation very carefully backstage, hoping not to make a mistake. I congratulated myself having gotten through several tough names and carefully proceeded to announce the next name, “Ee-kay Su-zoo-kee” when the students erupted in laughter. In my nervousness, I hadn’t recognized the name “Ike” (as in Ike and Tina Turner) and turned it into a Japanese name!

If you could have your students visit any place in the world, where would it be, and why?I would hope my students could visit St. Petersburg, Russia someday. The architecture of the palaces is so beautiful! Also, attending a classical concert in Russia is a completely different experience. I remember listening to the violist, Yuri Bashmet, in a packed concert hall. The audience clapped together (in rhythm) and with a fervor that I had never seen before. It was visceral!

What are your non-music related interests or hobbies? What would people be surprised to know about you?I enjoy photography and cooking. I’ve been trying to learn some Italian recipes from Steve’s grandmother’s cookbook and make a passable homemade manicotti (with homemade crepe shells) and struffoli (an Italian fried dough.) I’m probably still better at eating than cooking though...

If your students could only remember one thing (om your teaching, what would you want it to be?I hope my students will hopefully remember more than one thing, but in the end I hope that they will remember to always try their best and respect the discipline of the arts.

What is your favorite thing about Hawaii?My favorite thing about Hawaii is the people! I enjoy my teaching colleagues, and the students and families that I work with. Everyone is so generous and kind. Even though most of my family lives on the East Coast, I feel like I’ve got an extended family here too!  

SPOTLIGHT: HELEN CHAO-CASANO

Helen Chao-Casano has taught piano at Punahou since 1998 and also serves as the Director of Punahou Music School.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Performance )om Crane School of Music, Potsdam Co"ege and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy )om Northwestern University.  Helen also completed performance studies at the St. Petersburg Piano Institute at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia.  Her major teachers include Frank Iogha, David Kaiserman, and Elena Shisko.  She has taught piano at Northwestern University Music Academy, DePaul University, Brigham Young University – Hawaii and University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She also served as the Director of Early Childhood Programs at the Pacific School of the Performing Arts, leading one of the top 25 Kindermusik programs in the nation.  Actively involved in the music community, Helen has adjudicated at numerous music competitions and festivals and currently serves as President for the Hawaii Music Teachers Association.  A native of upstate New York, Helen is proud to ca" Hawaii her home for the past 12 years.  She and her husband, Steven, have two young boys, Luca (5) and Leo (3) and a calico cat, Keili.

HAWAII MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION JUNE / JULY 09

HMTA Convention Coming SoonNovember 7 - 15, 2009

Save the date! November 7-15, 2009 for the 42nd Annual HMTA Convention. The convention artist is Steinway Artist William DeVan. He will present a recital and two workshops. The Junior Artist and HMTA Competitions will be in the line-up, as well as a chamber music recital featuring YOU the HMTA

Members. This recital will benefit the University of Hawaii’s Music Department. The performance criteria is as follows: 1) Each performer must be a HMTA member, 2) Each piece must be performed by an ensemble of 3 or more...any combination, piano duets must be doubled on two pianos, and 3) Time limit - 5 minutes. Please e-mail Kim Kiyabu at kim.kiyabu@gmail.com if you would like to perform.

Also, applications, rules and changes to the competition guidelines will be posted on the HMTA website. Visit www.hmta.org.

A convention brochure will be mailed to you in the coming months.

Christine Suehisa-Jang

1758 Ala Aolani St.

Honolulu, HI 96819

CalendarJune 27, 2009

East Wind, West Windfeaturing pianist Wendy Yamashita, bassoonist Phil Gottling & flautist

Kazutaka ShimizuHawaii Public Radio, Atherton Studio,738 Kaheka St., Honolulu, HI, 96814

see article on page 2For HPR, Atherton Studio Events, go to:

www.hawaiipublicradio.org

July 2-27, 2009Hawaii Performing Arts Festival

Waimea, HIsee

www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org

Newsletter SubmissionsKa Leo Na Mele

is a bi-monthly publication.Send articles for the Aug/Sept o9 issue to

csuehisajang@hawaiiantel.netby July 24th, 2009