This January, we’re happy to feature CCM voice student, Pardis Aghatehrani, as our January 2023 Student of the Month! Pardis has been taking voice lessons at CCM for about 4 months. She currently studies at CCM’s Redwood City location with Teacher Chynna. Plus, Pardis has been taking guitar lessons at CCM for just over 5 years! Pardis is always prepared for her classes and did so amazingly at the last recital!

Student of the Month – Pardis Aghatehrani
What is your name?
My name is Pardis.

How old are you?
I am fourteen years old.

Who is your teacher?
My teacher is Teacher Chynna.

How long have you been taking voice lessons?
I’ve been taking voice lessons for almost four months now.

What advice would you give to a voice student just starting out at CCM?
I would probably say that they should practice whenever they can, since voice lessons don’t need much more than your own voice to practice, and to find the fun in it. It might feel a bit weird singing around the house or by yourself in your room at first, but over time it can become one of the most fun parts of your day.

What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?
Some pieces that I look forward to hopefully learning someday would probably have to be “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, or “Candy Store” from Heathers, but that would be far, far in the future. Another fun option could be anything from Taylor Swift’s discography.

What is your favorite thing about singing?
My favorite thing about singing is that it’s fun, it can feel euphoric at times when you can just let your voice go free.

What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is Persian food in general.

Do you have a pet?
Not really, but we have some chickens and bees in the backyard.

Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
I play volleyball, guitar at CCM and am in a musical outside of my voice lessons.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Okay, big question, and I don’t really know, I’m just trying to set myself up to have options in the future, but being a Broadway actor could be fun, or maybe working in renewable energy.

What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
My most memorable experience at CCM would probably have to be my first voice recital. It had not been my first recital, nor my first time singing in front of a crowd, but it was the first time in which I had been singing into a microphone like that, and my first time having a voice teacher like Chynna there to help me.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Regarding voice instruction, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
She enjoys singing and has gained confidence since she started the course. Interactive and learning from Ms. Chyna has created significant passion about singing in Pardis, and also enhanced Pardis’s performance in other similar activities such as the musical show at the school.

What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
It is a great activity for students to attend. It boosts their confidence and helps the students enjoy their natural talent in using their voice.

Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
She is passionate about music as it helps her to express her feelings in a beautiful manner.

It’s truly a special role that music teachers play as they develop lifelong musical passions for their students.

However, when it comes to young children, it can often be quite difficult to decipher the difference between passion and enthusiasm. Of course, while enthusiasm for an instrument can certainly blossom into a lifelong passion, providing the perseverance and motivation that are all too necessary to master an instrument, you must ask yourself a few questions before enrolling your little ones in music lessons.

Is It Too Soon?

In reality, there is no such thing as “too soon” to begin your child’s musical education. Just think of mothers who play music for their child while they are pregnant with them. They’ve got to be onto something, right?

Music is one of the most beneficial neural development tools no matter what age you are. However, it can be exceptionally beneficial for those who are young and in the early stages of development.

Of course, the true question is,

Are you able to place a guitar into the hands of a two-year-old and expect them to know how to play it?

Well, one thing to note is that you don’t need to provide children this young with a formal music education for it to be beneficial. Simply teaching your toddler music through banging out rhythms on a drum or playing simple chords with them on a piano can be enough.

Home lessons are the best way to introduce music to your little one. This is the same reason why there are so many music-based toys for babies and tots. They help to build a foundation that can eventually introduce them to more formal music education.

What Is The Right Age For Music Lessons?

People often ask us if there is some “golden” age that is perfect for starting music lessons.

The answer is yes and no.

All children are different, developing differently at different ages. Some children will develop cognitive skills, higher EQs, advanced motor skills, and improved concentration ability much faster than others.

The “gains” in regard to these skills are highest between the ages of 2 and 9.

More often than not, your child’s brain will have the developmental capacity for music lessons by the time they turn 3.

However, it’s worth noting that while they might have brain circuits ready to digest information, they may not be emotionally mature enough to focus and concentrate during a music lesson. Plus, depending on the instrument they want to play, they may not be ready for it.

In the case that you believe your little one is ready for music lessons by the time they turn 3, you’ll probably be able to find small guitars or violins for them to try out. Drums and singing are good places to begin, as children aren’t limited to size with these instruments.

Though his instrument was slightly smaller than the pianos of today, Mozart began his Pianoforte journey when he was only three!

Ask the majority of piano teachers, however, and they’ll probably tell you that it’s best to start teaching kids when they can fit their hands over the keys, an age that usually falls somewhere between 4 to 6 years old.

Will My Child Like Music Lessons?

You might also be thinking,

What about all the people I know that have disdain for their parents for making them endure arduous weekly piano lessons throughout their younger years?

It’s important to note that lessons will be difficult if a student has no interest in the instrument, regardless of their age. If you have a child that wants to play guitar, though you force them to play piano instead, they might end up resenting the experience.

Your best bet is to expose your little one to a wide range of instruments and see which one they gravitate toward. Doing so will increase the “excitement” factor and remove any potential resentment they may have later down the line.
Final Thoughts – Should I Put My Child In Music Lessons?

Music lessons are great for improving neural development, especially from ages 2 to 9. Just make sure that you allow your child to select the instrument they want to learn to make sure they are having a good time learning.

It’s also crucial to pick a music teacher who is engaging and has experience teaching young children, as the wrong teacher can make for a negative experience.

Want to get your child started with music lessons? Contact the California Conservatory of Music to inquire about guitar, piano, violin, and/or voice lessons in both Sunnyvale and Redwood City.

Joseph Haydn was one of the most iconic 18th-century composers, commanding the respect of audiences and fellow composers and musicians across Europe, and more specifically, Austria. Not only was he an incredible composer in his own right but he also mentored some of the best composers of eras after, such as Beethoven and Mozart.

Throughout his life, he composed several fascinating works throughout a wide variety of genres, though during his lifetime, the Baroque style was certainly the most dominant.

While most of his early life remains obscure, as well as much of his professional life in Vienna, there is a lot of information worth highlighting.

Let’s dive in and learn more about the “Father of the String Quartet,” Joseph Haydn.
Joseph Haydn’s Personal Life

While little is known about Haydn’s early life, we do know that he auditioned with the St. Stephen’s Cathedral to become a choirboy in 1739, when he was only seven years old. He spent a good portion of his early life here in the central part of Vienna.

By 1740, he moved to Kapellhaus, where he lived with four other choir boys, one of which was his younger brother Michael, and Kapellmeister Georg von Reutter.

During his time as a choirboy, he learned Latin, as well as how to play a number of instruments, including violin and keyboard. There is plenty of discussion regarding the intensity of his training as a choirboy, though there are accounts from Haydn noting that he did not have any studies regarding composition or music theory.

He stopped singing in the choir in 1749 when his voice dropped and spent the next eight years of his life living in a small room next to St. Michael’s Church. He made many valuable contacts during this period, and by 1752, he became the accompanist of Nicola Porpora.

In 1759, Haydn became the musical director for Count Karl Joseph Franz Morzin, who lived in Vienna. However, most of his musical work took place in Lukavec, which later became the Czech Republic. It was in this town that Haydn composed several wind ensemble divertimentos and his very first symphony.

In 1760, Haydn married Maria Anna Keller, with whom he remained married until her death in 1800. When Count Morzin let go of Haydn due to financial difficulties, he was offered the vice conductor position by Prince Paul Anton Esterhazy. This was an extremely prestigious position for such a young composer, as Esterhazy was one of the top figures in a very powerful and noble Hungarian family.

Haydn would continue working with Esterhazy for three decades. Though he had to conform to a rigid code of conduct while working with Esterhazy, he was able to publish and distribute a number of works throughout the 1780s.

By 1793, he purchased his former suburban home in Haydngasse 19. He would live in this home for 12 years and produce some of his most famous works, including iconic oratorios like “The Creation” and “The Four Seasons.”

Haydn died at the age of 77 in Vienna, not long after Napoleon launched a number of attacks on the city.

The Influence of Joseph Haydn’s Music

Haydn influenced a number of contemporary composers, and that influence was often mutual. He was praised for his talents by Mozart, who clearly drew inspiration from several of his works. Beethoven also studied with Haydn for quite some time.

Without Haydn, European music would have never evolved with string quartets, symphonies, and keyboard sonatas.

“The Creation” was one of his most iconic pieces, in which he painted a vivid musical portrait surrounding the creation of Adam and Eve. As for his string quartets, “String Quartets, Op. 33” became one of his finest. One of them was given the nickname ‘The Bird’ for the fact that the violin part sounded so much like a bird song.

Notable Facts

Haydn sang in the choir during his younger years as a boy soprano. Because girls and women weren’t very involved in music during the 18th century, young boys would take over the higher parts.
Haydn wrote over 100 symphonies in his lifetime, giving him the nickname, “The Father of Symphony.”
Mozart used to refer to Haydn as ‘Papa Haydn,’ as he mentored him through his rise to fame.
Haydn moved to London after his time working with the Esterhazy family, though he did not know a lick of English.
During his lifetime, he was the most famous composer in the world.

You’re probably here because you understand the benefits that children can attain from learning to play a musical instrument. From creativity to abstract reasoning and beyond, children with musical training have better listening skills and are able to cope with challenges they run into more easily.

If you’re trying to help your child explore music and find the right instrument to learn, then you’ve come to the right place. Come dive in as we explore some of the top instruments for children.

Hand Percussion

We usually like to start very young children off with hand percussion, including rattles, hand drums, shakers, and bells. These instruments are easy to pick up and allow young children to begin making music instantaneously. One of the main benefits of these instruments is that they teach children coordination.

Xylophone

Young children have the ability to recognize melody before they understand language. One of the beauties of the xylophone is that any child can pick it up and play it. Plus, most xylophones have bright colors to give children a better visual for notes.

Ukulele

Ukulele is the happiest instrument around, great for livening up a child’s musical abilities! Not only are nylon strings very easy on small fingers, but it’s also a very low-cost instrument. Children can bring it just about anywhere to practice or play!

Piano

There’s no denying that piano has many benefits. It’s probably why people have been learning how to play piano as kids for hundreds of years now. From lowering stress to developing fine motor skills to enhancing concentration, the piano is an excellent choice. Plus, your child will have a much easier time if they ever decide to get into composing or producing.

Recorder

Young children benefit greatly from learning to play the recorder, which is why you often find it in elementary school classes. It teaches coordination and breathing techniques, all while being much easier to play than other wind instruments. If your child eventually wants to play the flute, saxophone, or oboe, starting them off with the recorder to get a feel for it is a good idea.

Drums

Many parents shy away from introducing their kids to drums, as drums can be extremely loud and obnoxious. Plus, many people don’t have room to store full drum kits in their houses. The good thing is that there are plenty of unique electronic options available for kids who want to play drums but don’t have a place where they can play loudly.

Many electronic drum kits are cheaper than regular drum kits and can be loaded up with new and exciting sounds.

Guitar

What’s cooler than being able to play the guitar?

Certainly, ask most kids, and they’ll tell you that the guitar is the coolest instrument around. Unlike many instruments, the guitar has a very wide range. Your child might choose to go the electric route, picking up a Fender Strat and a little amp. They might decide they like a steel-string acoustic guitar. Maybe, they’ll want to play a nylon string classical.

The beauty is that the skills on just one of these guitars are easy to translate to the others.

Violin

While the violin is certainly a challenging instrument to play, it is great for children that have discipline. If they can push through the difficulty of learning how to play the violin, they will develop excellent pitch, perseverance, and coordination skills.

Trumpet

When it comes to brass instruments, the trumpet is the best one for beginners. Trumpet can teach proper breath control, though it requires the ability to hold their instrument in place for a long time, which is something to consider.

While trumpets can be very loud instruments, there are mute devices that you can purchase so your child can practice quietly when they need.

Flute

The flute is one of the most beautiful sounding instruments on the planet, though it requires tons of patience and hard work to master. Not only is it like the trumpet in that kids must hold their arms in a single position for a long time while playing, but it also requires very focused breath control.

The great thing about the flute is that it is a wonderful crossover instrument choice for other wind instruments, such as the oboe or the clarinet.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the choice should be up to your child. However, we recommend presenting them with these options so they can feel inspired and motivated to make a choice that they’ll stick with forever.

This month, we’re happy to feature CCM piano student, Cecilia Yang as our December 2022 Student of the Month! Cecilia has been taking piano lessons at CCM for 8 months, but has studied piano for 6 years. She currently studies at CCM’s Sunnyvale location with Teacher Jane. Cecilia just passed the ABRSM grade 5 piano exam with Distinction!

Student of the Month – Cecilia Yang
Q: What is your name?
A: Cecilia Yang

Q: How old are you?
A: 10 years old

Q: Who is your teacher?
A: Teacher Jane Au

Q: How long have you been taking piano lessons?
A: I have been learning piano for 6 years.

Q: What advice would you give to a piano student just starting out at CCM?
A: Practice makes perfect, don’t give up though the pace seems slow, you may succeed with another blow.

Q: What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?
A: Any piece that I will be interested in.

Q: What is your favorite thing about playing the piano?
A: It makes me satisfied when the melodious notes that I play form streams of
harmonic lines

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Sushi

Q: Do you have a pet?
A: No

Q: Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
A: I play tennis and take art lessons.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I am not sure so far, I’m interested in a variety of things.

Q: What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
A: I got 100-day practice trophy.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Parent Spotlight – Limin Ni

Q: Regarding piano instruction, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
A: Cecilia becomes more patient when she faces difficulties and mistakes, she
learns to deal with them with her efforts, and enjoys success through
perseverance.

Q: What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
A: Keep encouraging and admiring your kids’ performance, progress will sure
come.

Q: Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
A: I hope Cecilia keep loving music and can use musical instruments as
methods to entertain herself.

In 1741, Handel composed the masterpiece Messiah, which is an English language oratorio that traced the history of Jesus Christ. The piece gave its first performance on April 13, 1742, in Dublin, eventually going to London a year later.

The original public reception was quite modest, though it eventually became one of the most iconic and commonly performed pieces in the world of Western music. The most widely-known section of this piece is arguably the “Hallelujah” chorus, which might be one of the most famous Baroque pieces of work in history.

While this piece was originally written for the Easter holiday, it has become a staple of almost every holiday season.

Where Did The Piece Come From?

One thing to note is that the piece is called Messiah, not The Messiah.

The abstract nature of the name fell in line with the generally abstract nature of the piece. Unlike many of his other biblical oratorios or operas, Messiah did not have a regular plot that the audience could follow.

Through this piece, Handel formed a brand new genre. It had a bit of Italian opera, a bit of English church anthem, and a bit of German passion.

The piece came about when Handel was experiencing a revelation in the changing tastes of his wide London audience. During this time, Italian opera was losing popularity, and the politics of the English church were quickly shifting.

However, Handel knew that the general public was still looking for a good biblical story to latch onto. Unfortunately, the Bishop of London forbid performances with religious overtones on the stages throughout London. This meant that Handel had to write his work for a performance in the church.

Handel was pretty deliberate in understating the dramatic content in Messiah. The piece had three conceptual building blocks it perched itself upon, including:

The story of the prophecy and the nativity
The redemption of humankind through Jesus’ crucifixion
A commentary on the souls of Christians and their victories in death

Handel made sure that the chorus acted as the heart of Messiah, using an orchestra and vocal soloists to state his point.

You’ll find some of the most jaw-dropping, heart-pounding music in Messiah, spiritual, touching, and profound. Fans of Handel noticed his use of well-known tricks, though he also employed many new elements in this piece.

In just 24 days, with a lack of sleep and food, Handel composed Messiah.

It is said that Handel’s servant found him with tears in his eyes while writing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus, saying,

“I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”

At one point, Mozart attempted to reorchestrate the oratorio, though he noted he was unable to improve upon the work. Beethoven even said that Handel was the “greatest composer that ever lived.”

Handel often said that this was one of his favorite pieces. At his benefit concerts, he would always play Messiah. Just over a week before he died, during his failing health, he was able to hear Messiah performed at Theatre Royal.
In Modern Media

So, you’ve likely heard the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus before, right?

The ‘Hallelujah’ chorus is the piece at the end of Part II, which closes off the chapter of Messiah surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and redemption. In modern media, you can hear this chorus in so many places, from Bridget Jones’s Diary to The X Factor.

Throughout the Christmas and Easter season, you probably hear it ringing out from radio stations, concert halls, and churches. The ‘Hallelujah’ chorus and ‘For Unto Us A Child Is Born’ portions of the piece are arguably the most popular.

Having the piece performed during the Yuletide became a British staple throughout the Victorian Era. However, the song actually contains a greater number of Easter references rather than Christmas references. It was said that, during the time of its inception, there was already a smattering of Easter music, and the church needed music to tell the story of Jesus’ birth instead.

Somehow, however, the obsession with playing the piece during this time has never subsided.

Where To Listen

While there are certainly many recordings of Messiah, one of the best recordings is the 1988 Trevor Pinnock version with the English Concert and Choir. This version of Messiah was one of the very first to use instruments authentic to the time, as well as embellished vocals that were very keen to match those of the Baroque era.

If you search for Beethoven on YouTube, we guarantee that the first result will be the 5th Symphony. This symphony is arguably the most famous in the world.

Even if you couldn’t identify it when you hear it, you’ve likely heard it before. The four-note motif that it opens with makes it instantly recognizable.

Of course, the question is,
“How did this symphony become one of the most popular symphonies of all time?”

Join us as we explore the history of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.

The Beginnings of Greatness

When Beethoven started working on his 5th Symphony in 1804, he was already beginning to go deaf. During the time, he was working on a number of other projects. Overall, it took him four years to finish this masterpiece.

He also spent a good amount of time editing his work, which wasn’t normal for many composers at the time.
Many believe this symphony was his introduction to the Romantic era of composition, leaving the Classical era behind.

However, the 5th Symphony follows the four-movement structure that was popular in classical symphonies. The four notes define the first movement. After his death, his secretary described him as saying these first four notes were like “fate knocking at the door.”

Because of that story, many people refer to it as the “fate motif.”

This idea is supported by the fourth movement, which is an explosion of sound that draws inspiration from Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle’s famous compositions. This French Revolutionary War Officer also wrote La Marseillaise, which would become France’s national anthem.

Performance of the 5th Symphony

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor made its debut at the Theater an der Wein on December 22, 1808, in Vienna. This was an infamous concert for Beethoven, as the conditions were horrible it lasted more than four hours. Beethoven conducted the entire orchestra, which was badly rehearsed.

They also ended up performing and debuting the Sixth Symphony during this concert as well, though they played it before the 5th.
Many considered this concert an absolute failure, as the musicians were not skilled enough to play the pieces, and the weather inside the hall was freezing.

Though it had an inauspicious start, the 5th Symphony quickly gained acclaim across the globe. Soon enough, it was performed at Carnegie Hall, as well as inaugural concerts for the National Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. To this day, it is one of the most popular pieces for inaugurating new music halls or orchestras.

E.T.A Hoffmann’s Involvement

E.T.A. Hoffmann was given a fair amount of credit for establishing the reputation for the symphony. In his 1813 critique of the work, he praised and complimented the piece, calling it a “rhapsody of genius.”

A few other music critics gave the work high praises as well. John Eliot Gardiner described the first four-note motif as a “call to arms, an incitement, an alarm call.” Hector Berlioz called the third movement similar to the “gaze of a mesmerizer.”

The opening four-note motif was a very crucial part of the passive resistance to the Nazi regime for the Europeans. Winston Churchill promoted a “V for Victory” campaign in Paris, encouraging BBC Radio listeners to stage a “quiet knocking” demonstration. They were instructed to use the four notes of the 5th Symphony for this demonstration, as the Roman numeral V stands for “5.”

Influencing Future Composers

The 5th Symphony became a cornerstone for future composers. Soon after its creation, it became a standard repertoire. The journey of light to dark and major to minor made it a model for composers to follow for many generations after.

Some examples of pieces that drew from the 5th Symphony include Mahler’s Fifth and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth.

What Is The 5th Symphony About?

It is said that Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is simply about triumph. It’s about every difficult victory that has ever been won or will ever be won. It is probably one of the reasons that the song has remained so popular throughout time. Over time, the song has become a symbol of so many things, so much so that we forget how many times it has been adapted for radio, television, film, and live performance.

It is also the reason why his work was included on The Golden Disc that NASA launched into space on the Voyager Spacecraft in 1977. Even extraterrestrial life will one day get to hear this ultimate form of creativity and expression.

This month, we’re excited to feature CCM violin student, Emma Wu as our November 2022 Student of the Month! Emma has been taking violin lessons for 3 months! She currently studies at CCM’s Redwood City location with Teacher Yuetong. Emma has been working hard and making great progress!

Student of the Month – Emma Wu
Q: What is your name?
A: Emma Wu

Q: How old are you?
A: 11

Q: Who is your teacher?
A: Yuetong

Q: How long have you been taking violin lessons?
A: Three months

Q: What advice would you give to a violin student just starting out at CCM?
A: I would tell them to try your best. If you make a mistake, don’t get upset, the mistake will help you learn. Most importantly, you should practice. Practice makes perfect!

Q: What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?
A: I’m looking forward to playing Dragon Hunter, by Richard Meyer.

Q: What is your favorite thing about playing the violin?
A: I just like playing the violin overall.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Ramen, udon, boba, and ice cream

Q: Do you have a pet?
A: Yes, I have two fish, one red, one blue.

Q: Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
A: I have a Chinese after school called Stepping Stone. At Stepping Stone, I have Math Olympiad and chess. I also have swimming lessons, gymnastics, ballet classes, and ping pong lessons.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I’m not sure yet

Q: What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
A: My most memorably experience was when I just started playing.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Parent Spotlight – Kent Wu

Q: Regarding violin instruction, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
A: she is being consistent and keeps working on it to get better!

Q: What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
A: Trust your kids and encourage them to keep playing!

Q: Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
A: I want her to be a balanced/all-around person!

Meredith Monk is one of the most unique American composers of the 20 and 21st centuries, having made her mark as an avant-garde composer, director, vocalist, choreographer, and filmmaker.

Overall, Monk was an innovator when it came to mixed media, often dancing a fine line between everyday reality and exotic fantasy. Throughout her career, she created a very diverse set of works, ranging from the historical Ellis Island (1983), which followed the stories of brave immigrants that traveled to America at the turn of the century, to Sixteen Millimeter Earrings (1966), which was a grouping of small film segments surrounding historical race studies combined with singing.

This month, we’ll be diving into Monk’s life and music career to spread knowledge about the significantly influential things she’s done for music.

Meredith Monk’s Personal Life

Meredith Monk was born in 1942 to a businessman and singer in New York City. Her mother, who went by the stage name Audrey Marsh, was a professional classical and popular music singer. Marsh also came from a line of professional musicians, including a German-Jewish concert pianist and a Russian bass-baritone singer.

It was in her early years that Monk started her musical journey.

Though she studied music throughout her early years, her jumping-off point came about when she received her Bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College, the school where she studied composition with Alwin Nikolais, a then-graduate student.

While Monk was known for many things throughout her career, it was her innovations as a vocalist that was most influential.

In December of 1961, she performed as a dancer at Greenwich Village’s Actor’s Playhouse, performing in an Off-Broadway adaptation of A Christmas Carol from Charles Dickens. The show was titled, Scrooge.

By 1964, after studying for many years with dancer Beverly Schmidt Blossom, Monk received her Bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence. Four years later, she became the founder of The House, which was a unique company that was dedicated to taking an interdisciplinary approach to the performing arts.

After many years working with that company, she formed the Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble, which took influence from a few of her colleagues at the time, including Philip Glass and Steve Reich. The point of this ensemble was to explore unique forms and vocal textures, thinking outside of the box of traditional arrangements. During the same period, she recorded her very first full-length LP released on ECM entitled Dolmen Music.

It was after finishing this album that she wrote and directed a few films, including Ellis Island in 1981 and Book of Days in 1988.

By the late 80s, Monk had once again switched gears, working to compose an opera known as Atlas, which she released in 1990 and premiered in Houston, Texas. At the same time, she composed a number of innovative orchestras and ensembles. Some of her most popular works were Possible Sky, which she released in 2003, and Stringsongs, which she released in 2004.

2005 was a great year for Monk, as musicians all over the world held celebrations for the 40th anniversary of her career, including Terry Riley, Bjork, Ursula Oppen, John Zorn, Bruce Brubaker, and DJ Spooky.

Since 2015, she has been a resident composer at Carnegie Hall.

The Influence of Meredith Monk’s Music

Meredith Monk has created a number of unique works from the 1960s onwards. Much of her vast library of work combines music, dance, and theater, making her one of the most prominent multidisciplinary artists of the 20 and 21st centuries.

Atlas, the opera she composed in 1991, became one of her most famous works. The opera was commissioned by the American Music Theater Festival and the Houston Opera.

Monk’s music has been used in a number of popular films, including Nouvelle Vague (1990), Notre Musique (2004), and The Big Lebowski (1998).

Throughout her time as an artist, Monk won a number of awards, including the Creative Capital Award and the MacArthur Fellowship. In 2007, Monk received the International Award for Musical Experimentation from Italy’s Demetrio Stratos.

Notable Facts

Barack Obama awarded Monk the National Medal of Arts in 2015. This honor is the highest honor in the United States that has to do with art.
You can hear a sample of Dolmen Music on DJ Shadow’s Midnight In A Perfect World.
Monk wrote “Panda Chant II,” which is a unique science-fiction musical that dives into the never-ending cycle of political, cultural, and social hierarchies in society

This month, we’re happily featuring CCM guitar student, Jamie Whitford as our October 2022 Student of the Month! Jamie has been taking guitar lessons for 6 years! He currently studies at CCM’s Sunnyvale location with Teacher Tim. We are so proud of Jamie’s commitment and love for music.

Student of the Month – Jamie Whitford
Q: What is your name?
A: Jamie Whitford

Q: How old are you?
A: 14

Q: Who is your teacher?
A: Mr. Tim

Q: How long have you been taking guitar lessons?
A: 6 years

Q: What advice would you give to a guitar student just starting out at CCM?
A: Listen carefully to your teacher, especially when first starting out and doubly so, when you become a “know-it-all” teenager. The most important of all is to practice, practice and practice some more. Your perseverance and hard work quickly become rewarding and fulfilling.

Q: What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?
A: One of my favorite things is to spend my free time developing a fusion of classical themed variations to modern contemporary music. Eventually, I plan on learning the classical guitar interpretation of the Eagles “Hotel California”.

Q: What is your favorite thing about playing the guitar?
A: Playing guitar is uniquely personal. Weather practicing classical pieces, learning new material or fusing classical with modern contemporary, it’s uniquely mine to create and enjoy.

Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Cheese pizza

Q: Do you have a pet?
A: I have a Labrador Retriever (ruff, ruff)

Q: Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
A: That would be a most definite yes. I have a certificate in swimming. I’m on the volleyball and football teams at school, had achieved a blackbelt in Wushu (Kungfu), and just recently started studying self-defense forms: Hapkido and Krav Maga.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: I’m interested in research and development (green engineering) of steam-hydro power systems as an alternative to carbon-based systems.

Q: What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
A: My most memorable experience at CCM was meeting my instructor, Mr. Tim. He has a way teaching that makes learning fun and practice enjoyable.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Parent Spotlight – Chew Wan Kow & Richard Whitford
Q: We’re most proud to see that our son has developed into an accomplished classical guitarist while possessing the self-awareness that he still has a long way to go.

Q: What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
A: Nothing worthwhile comes easily, so have plenty of patience, remain supportive and keep it fun as your children work through their lessons.

Q: Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
A: At seven, Jamie had been studying martial arts and swimming for several years. We needed to add an activity that would stimulate his creative side, which is why we turned to music. I was skeptical when I read that learning an instrument has benefits of increasing brain development, improving memory and spatial temporal reasoning, enhances hand-eye coordination, may improve one’s ability to focus and so on. However, after six years of a musical upbringing, we can attest to these attributes as fact. The change was astounding.