Again, Comings and Goings

As of the last issue of "Update," Wayne Ackerman was taking over as trumpet instructor. The key word here is "was" - he spent two weeks with us before accepting his life's dream job in Kentucky. It was a terrific career move, and puts him within 25 miles of his parents.

But wait! There's great news. Warren Clark now teaches trumpet with us. Warren has a terrific background, playing solo with the UT band in the early '80s and going on to teach commercial music at Knox College, writing arrangements for the UT Band, the KSO and others. I've mentioned him to some of the area's most respected musicians and the response is always: "Oh, you're so lucky to get him!"

And POOF, we lose Shannon Hamblen! Our country fiddle instructor is moving to another state. It's been great having him with us. He leaves behind a number of very disappointed students.

Ilia Steinschneider, from Moscow, actually joined us last November after getting his Master of Music degree from Boston Conservatory. Unfortunately, the Immigration Service had lots of slow-going paperwork. After numerous letters, visits, phone calls and interviews, Ilia is finally here and eager to start teaching violin! Quiet-spoken, dedicated and patient, and willing to take younger students, he'll be a big help to Jacinta Howard and Stacy Taylor. Both he and Taylor are members of the KSO.

Join the Theory Olympics Fun

Our faculty is brimming with ideas to help students have fun learning music theory! The Olympics is aimed particularly at beginning and intermediate levels, though advanced students are invited to help our faculty run the games (and might even learn something, too!)

Save Saturday, October 17 .... Students will arrive by 9:30 and finish between 11:45 and noon. There'll be free prizes for everyone attending! Students are grouped into teams to help one another figure the answers to rhythmic and notation problems or running relays for naming notes and chords. Look for a sampling of music dictation, lots of board games, and an encounter with the Oak Ridge Community Orchestra. Register with your instructor or call the Music Arts office at 865-482-5614. We'll accept the first 50 students. And, as with other music school activities, there's no charge.

Put it in the Drop Box

For those who'd prefer to pay in person at our book-keeping office, consider using the Music Arts Drop Box at 861 West Outer Drive (corner of Mississippi Avenue). Just come down the driveway and look for the box to the right side of the garage. As always, if you're paying in cash, call first to make sure someone can take the cash and give you a receipt.

Visit our Website!

When you're hoping to refer a friend to Music Arts (which can win you Bonus Lessons - see the Student Guide), it may help to tell them they can "meet" the instructors on our new website. And you'll like being able to find out the dates of upcoming recitals, news about our quarterly activities like the Theory Olympics, Composition Contest and more. We're at MusicArtsSchool.org any time of day or night!