Musician of the Month: Egberto Gismonti
Egberto Amin Gismonti is a globally acclaimed musician and composer who covers folk and classical music. While most classical musicians of his caliber often pick one instrument to master, Gismonti preferred a different path. He made sure that he knew how to play his genre of music on both guitar and piano. He played both instruments in the most soulful and reflective manner and his music had hints of Brazilian influence. His musical journey is not one that should be ignored. Below is a snippet of his life and journey.
PERSONAL LIFE
Egberto Amin Gismonti was born in Carmo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Originating from South America in December 1947, Gismonti was not born to an average family, but one that was significantly inspired by music. With parents from different origins, Gismonti grew up in a diverse household filled with many cultural influences. His grandfather and uncle were both bandleaders, which inspired the family and him to take up music.
EARLY JOURNEY
By the time Gismonti was 5 years old, he was enrolled to study piano at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music. His eagerness towards piano was because of his father, while his preference towards taking up the guitar at a later stage in his teenage years was because of his mother. Gismonti tried to build coordination between his two favorite instruments and developed his own two-hand technique. Along with this technique, he also altered the strings in the guitar for the composition of classical music. In total, he studied piano for 15 years in Brazil.
At the end of these 15 years, Gismonti moved to Paris to study classical fields like composition and orchestra. He did so under the guidance of Jean Barraque and Nadia Boulanger. Boulanger played a key part in Gismonti’s musical journey as she urged him to incorporate his Brazilian heritage in his music. His culture and background led him to combine classical music with a Brazilian touch.
DISCOGRAPHY
Gismonti released his first label production in 1969, named after himself – Egberto Gismonti. In the same year he performed in Italy at the San Remo Festival, and the next year he went on a tour in Europe. He recorded more of his classical and folk-rock music in various parts of the world including Italy, France, and Germany.
Some of Gismonti’s notable LPs are Sonho 70, Orfeu Novo, Danca das Cabecas, Solo, Circense, and DuasVozes.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCES
Gismonti performed “Mercador de Serpentes” at the 5th FIC. He performed his music at various places in his home country, Brazil. Danca das Cabecas was also nominated for the Album of the Year award and apart from these performances and awards, his music was a considerable contribution for movie soundtracks. Most notable ones would be Em Familia, Confissoes de Frei Abobora, and Penultima Donzela.
His LP album, Academia de Dancas was presented the award of the Golden Record in Brazil, and later performed at festivals in Germany. Joined by other musicians of the same genre on stage, Gismonti truly reveled the experience as did his audiences.
HIS CAREER
Egberto Gismonti structured his guitars with a variety of string combinations. This enabled his instrument to be expansive in range and allowed him to produce exceptional music. This feature is demonstrated many times in his albums and songs. Enthusiasts for classical music and folk-rock are bound to recognize the soulful harmonization it creates.
When discussing his career, 5 phases of his work can clearly be identified. All 5 phases lasted a decade and are categorized by the record label he chose to work with. This went hand in hand with who he chose to collaborate with, and his ensemble format. The first ensemble phase would be the notable album Academia de Dancas which was characterized by instruments like flutes. Gismonti had learned to play these instruments at a very early age while learning the piano, so naturally it signified the first stage of his career. Later on, the drums and bass entered, then percussion was prominent in another phase. Bass and the saxophone played a significant part in his later phase of music as well.
The soulful characterization of his music in the classical and folk-rock genres was internationally renowned. The guitar and the piano truly paved the way for him to make his mark.
REACH OUT TO US
Gismonti was truly experienced in his field after years of guidance by his teachers and mentors. So why should you miss out on the same opportunity? To gain access to amazing teachers for guitar lessons and other music lessons, contact the California Conservatory of Music.
For more information, visit the website or contact us!
The students of CCM have voted on their favorite costume from our Halloween costume contest and the winner is…
Alison Paul with her vending machine costume!
Alison has won a Jamba Juice gift card & she’s chosen Angels for Humans, Animals, and Nature as their charity! Founded in 1995, Angels for Humans, Animals, and Nature is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding homes for every adoptable animal they take in. They also provide foster care and raise awareness about adoptable animals for other organizations or rescuers. Their overall mission and goal is to reduce animal suffering. Visit their website here: https://www.ahan.org/index.html CCM has donated $100 to Angels for Humans, Animals, and nature in honor of Alison being our winner!
Thank you so much to all of the students who participated in the Halloween costume contest. We loved seeing everybody’s cool & creative costumes!
You probably know that playing an instrument has several benefits for children, such as improved academic skills and better self-esteem. The Beijing Normal University published the results of a research study that showed that the people who started learning to play the piano before the age of 7 benefited from better cognitive skills.
Whether it is an elementary school band, a concert, or the church choir, it is advised that parents enroll their kids in music lessons from an early age so they can be set up for musical success in the future.
There is no doubt that learning to play a musical instrument is a very fun and rewarding hobby regardless of your child’s age. Maybe your daughter or son is expressing an interest in music, or perhaps, you want them to learn. Keep reading to find out the perfect age to get them started!
What is the Perfect Age to Start Playing a Musical Instrument?
If you would like to introduce your kid to an instrument, you should wait until around age five. Your child should be able to sit somewhat still, pay proper attention for at least half an hour, and be able to accept that they will not be able to make perfect music right away.
Also, it is worth noting that once your child gets into elementary school, they will develop their own unique musical tastes and physically be able to hold most instruments more comfortably. They will also have the finger strength and dexterity required to play.
The Perfect Age and Motivation
Is your kid expressing a strong interest in a particular instrument? This interest can be a strong motivator. While enrolling your kid in music lessons is a good and healthy activity for them, you have to ensure that learning the specific instrument is something they are expressing interest in as well.
According to research, there’s usually a ‘window of opportunity’ from the age of 3 to 9, in which a child’s musical sensibility develops.
From the age of 3 to 9, the different cognitive functions linked with understanding various musical elements are formed. If you’re able to take advantage of this natural developmental stage, it can result in a richer and more rewarding music career. Therefore, the ideal age to start music lessons is between 3 and 9.
Waiting Until Your Child Can Decide
This approach can also work in some cases. However, keep in mind that if you wait for your kid to decide if they are ready to learn a musical instrument, you may end up waiting forever. Moreover, every child is unique with a different personality and outlook on life, so it is best to offer guidance when they show interest in learning a specific instrument.
When Your Child is Three
At the age of three, you can teach your kid to identify melodies, rhythms, and even certain musical instruments to help develop their music skills.
When Your Child is Five
By the age of five, your kid will most likely be able to handle music lessons. However, your goal should be to continue developing their understanding of music, rather than to discover a prodigy.
When Your Child is Nine or Ten
At around nine or ten, your kid will have developed more musical skills and will have the necessary musical understanding as well as physical skills to start learning larger and more advanced instruments.
What is “Too” Young?
It is worth noting that there is a general minimum age for playing and learning certain instruments. This minimum age can depend on the studio or school you are looking to receive lessons from.
This is why you should at least make sure that your child can sit and pay attention for half an hour (at least) at a time. Another option is to try a lesson first with a loaner instrument to see if they are ready before you commit your child to regular music lessons.
Music Lessons and Education for Kids
Whether your child is 3, 5, or 13, Redwood City music lessons or Sunnyvale music lessons are a valuable, rewarding, and character-building experience for your child.
Keep in mind that it is never too late to start lessons if your child is enthusiastic and motivated to learn. Our Redwood City music lessons and Sunnyvale music lessons provide an amazing music education by introducing various concepts such as body movement, rhythm, and singing to preschoolers, toddlers, middle-schoolers, high-schoolers, and adults! Introduce your kid to music lessons early in order to foster a lifelong love of music.
This month we are excited to feature CCM violin student Andrew Hung as our November 2021 Student of the Month! Andrew has been studying violin for over 3 years at CCM’s Redwood City location with Teacher Tiffany. Teacher Tiffany and the rest of us here at CCM are so happy to see Andrew progress over the years! Congrats to Andrew for his commitment and willingness to learn!
Read below to see Andrew’s great advice for CCM students just starting on their musical journey, and don’t forget to check out the parent spotlight as well.
Q: What is your name?
A: Andrew Hung
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 8 years old.
Q: Who is your teacher?
A: My teacher is Teacher Tiffany.
Q: What advice would you give to a violin student just starting out at CCM?
A: Listen to the teacher and have fun.
Q: What piece are you looking forward to playing someday?
A: The Mandalorian Theme.
Q: What is your favorite thing about playing the violin?
A: It makes me happy.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: My favorite food is pasta.
Q: Do you have a pet?
A: I used to have a goldfish.
Q: Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
A: I play ice hockey, piano, and go to the Russian School of Math.
Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I want to be a Paleontologist when I grow up.
Q: What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
A: The first day returning to CCM after the pandemic.
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Parent Spotlight – Flora & Patrick Hung
Q: Regarding the violin, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
A: He is still very much a beginner at the violin, and we are happy to see him improve as he learns and tackles harder pieces. We are glad to see him enjoy the process, and we are proud that he perseveres through the challenges.
Q: What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
A: We have three children and they all learn differently and parents have their own styles, so we don’t even want to pretend we have advice to give. Andrew’s 8 years old, and he’s happy when we sit with him when he practices, so we do. Make their practice sessions as enjoyable as possible.
Q: Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
A: We didn’t actually think about it that way, we wanted to make sure he got a chance to try different things. We wanted him to learn an instrument, he picked the violin and he has stuck with it. We are very glad he did.