Spring Quarter March 5 - June 3, 2007

Music Arts Welcomes New Guitar Instructor

Robert Alfonso’s goal as a guitar instructor is to get his students excited about their music. "Seeing what really excites them is one of the big pleasures of teaching," he says. "Some students have a natural sense of rhythm, or maybe they respond to the range of sounds a guitar can make."

Alfonso, a professor of English at Roane State and also the director of the community college’s Learning Centers, is trained as a classical guitarist, but he has also has played in country and rock ’n’ roll bands, and has "dabbled in many styles" as a songwriter.

Alfonso accepts students of all ages and levels. "I like to start beginners with tablature," he says, referring to the system of notation that shows the position of the fingers rather than the notes. He also stresses basic music structure, including blues, folk and country. "Scales play an important part in learning any instrument, and guitar is no exception," he says. But while he encourages his students to practice as much as they can, he stresses that "I’m not a drill sergeant."

David Eilart Joins Music Arts Faculty as Piano/Voice Instructor

Although David Eilart has studied piano since second grade, continuing through his college years, his most valuable experience and training in voice and piano comes from his nearly 20-year performance career.

Just in the past 10 years, Eilart has participated in nearly 100 shows.  Over 20 of those were at Dollywood, where he had the chance to work directly with Dolly Parton, Dom DeLuise and Jim Nabors, among others.

Since 1989, David has been involved in Oak Ridge Playhouse productions, serving as musical director for some of them.  He’s also produced and directed shows in Knoxville.

David individualizes his instruction based on each student’s personality and goals, and feels that feedback from students and parents is the best way to ensure musical progress.  He prefers teaching piano to ages 7 or 8 and above, but can work successfully with younger students who have a good ability to concentrate.

For voice, he prefers starting lessons at age 10 or 11.  “Younger than that,” he  feels, “they may get bored with the exercises that are necessary for vocal development.

FOR SALE Roland HP-337 Digital Piano Professional Instrument, in Perfect condition $1750 Call 482-5614 for details

 

 

Coffee Concert features Music Arts Instructors!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 29, so you don’t miss the Tennessee premiere of a brand-new work by Brian Holmes, Three Hunting Songs.  Music Arts instructor Lisa Griggs (voice) will be accompanied by four hornists, including Music Arts Instructor Marcay Dickens.

The composer, hornist-physicist Brian Holmes, has woven a musical tapestry inspired by verse from several well-known poets, including Walter Scott (Hunting Song), W B Yeats (Ballad of the Foxhunter), and e e cummings (All in Green).

This concert, sponsored by ORCMA, will also feature Music Arts instructor Cheryl Scappaticci (voice/flute) performing several duets with Ms. Griggs, including the famous duet from the opera Lakme (Leo Delibes).  In addition, the vocalists will perform several operatic arias.

 

Music Arts Well-Represented at ETSBOA Junior Clinic!!

The following students won spots in this year’s Junior Clinic, held the weekend of December 2-3, 2006.  As a matter of fact, 25% of the Gold Band trumpets were
Music Arts students – Thanks, Warren!!

Bronze Band
Sarah Brooks, trumpet, student of Warren Clark

Silver Band
Evan Glass, trumpet,student of Warren Clark
Hilde Oliver, horn, student of Marcay Dickens

Gold Band
Catherine Backus – 1st chair trumpet!
A.J. Toth, trumpet
Alana Burnham, trumpet
Josh Maberry – 1st chair tuba!!!
(all students of Warren Clark)