Silver Music

 

February NYC Music Events

NY Philharmonic
Saturday, Feb 1, 2pm
David Geffen Hall
This concert begins with Dvorak’s String Sextet and follows with Elgar’s famous Enigma Variations. An inspiring concert for our string players! Tickets start at $34

The Munchkins Piano Trio
Saturday, Feb 1, 4pm
Book Culture LIC
Have you said hello to the violin, cello or piano recently? Join us for our new, sparkly program for piano trio! Enjoy works from Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, and more! Tickets start at $35. Kids FREE

Very Young People’s Concert: Strings
Sunday, Feb 2, 12:30pm and 3pm
Merkin Hall
Mini musicologists can join host Becky Young and members of the New York Philharmonic for a playdate with classical music—the three-concert season begins with an introduction to stringed instruments. Tickets start at $26

Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Thursday, Feb 6, 8pm
Carnegie Hall
Hear the Orchestra of St. Luke’s perform works by Vivaldi and Handel–there’s something for everyone at this concert for with string, winds, and vocal music featured. Tickets start at $12.50

Beethoven String Quartets
Friday, Feb 7, 7:30pm
Alice Tully Hall
Throughout the month of February, The Danish String Quartet will be performing Beethoven’s 16 string quartets in the order that Beethoven composed them, between 1798 and 1826. The first concert is February 7th! Tickets start at $15 .

MSM Pre-College Faculty
Saturday, Feb 8, 3:30pm
Manhattan School of Music
Come hear our flute teacher, Zara Lawler, perform with other Manhattan School of Music faculty. She’ll be performing “By the Brook” which is in Suzuki Book 7! FREE

Sonatenabend
Wednesday, Feb 19, 7pm
Paul Recital Hall
Pianists from Juilliard’s Collaborative Piano department perform sonata repertoire in partnership with student instrumentalists. FREE

Mark O’Connor & Maggie O’Connor  PUBLIQuartet
Monday, February 24, 7:30pm
Advent Lutheran Church, 2504 Broadway
Hear fiddle players Mark O’Connor and Maggie O’Connor joined by the PUBLIQuartet. Reserve FREE tickets.

January NYC Music Events

Poetry and Music
Friday, Jan. 3, 7pm
The New York Public Library
This evening of American poetry and Beethoven recordings focuses on the themes of healing, gratitude, and self-discovery, incorporating manuscripts and rare recordings from The New York Public Library’s archival collections. FREE

Backstage Violin Recital
Sunday, Jan. 5, 4:30pm
Silver Music Tiemann Place
Check out our newly renovated space at 45 Tiemann Place while enjoying works for violin and piano by one of our alumni violin students. The program will be less than an hour and a wonderful opportunity for our violin students to hear another student perform at a high level. FREE

Meet The Music! 
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2pm
Alice Tully Hall
Beethoven himself will appear in Alice Tully Hall to help a young pianist play his music as he meant it to be played. Tickets start at $10

APAP Showcase
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2:20-3:20pm
Ailey Studio Theatre
Come see and hear our flute teacher, Zara Lawler, perform in three collaborative performances (The Flute on Its Feet, Lawler + Fadoul and The Fourth Wall) featuring the flute, percussion and movement! Wonderful for our flute students and our RSP kids! FREE

ChamberFest2020
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1pm
Alice Tully Hall
Juilliard artists share their talent with the community in these hour-long lunchtime concerts on Wednesday afternoons throughout the season. FREE

Sonatenabend
Wednesday, Jan 22, 6pm
Pianists from Juilliard’s Collaborative Piano department perform sonata repertoire in partnership with student instrumentalists. FREE

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Saturday, Jan. 25, 7pm
Orpheus performs the world premiere of Jessie Montgomery and Jannina Norpoth’s arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons. This collection of piano miniatures is paired with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, performed by violinist Vadim Gluzman. Tickets start at $25

Faculty Feature: João

Joao Kouyoumdjian teaches Suzuki guitar lessons and guitar group class at Silver Music.


Age you began studying:

12 years old 

Why did you choose the guitar? 

I felt a strong desire to play the music that I enjoyed back then – Rock n’ Roll. At first, that was my intrinsic motivation. I later flirted with Jazz and Bossa Nova before finally learning how to read music and diving into classical music. 

One memory from your lessons or early study: 

I remember when my first guitar teacher – the Brazilian guitarist Preto Moreno – had me improvise on a one-octave G major scale. A whole new world of freedom, imagination, beauty and joy opened up for me and I was never the same. I was completely hooked. 

Did you always like to practice? If not, how did you, or your parent motivate you to practice?

I always locked myself inside my room and practice for hours, no matter how joyful and painful that was. I always did what I thought had to be done to make music according to certain standards, driven by an internal necessity to transcend reality.

Although my parents were always supportive, they never played any role on my practicing habits (and remember I started a little “late”, if you take into account the absence of a childhood music education). I was a self-motivated teenager. In the beginning I didn’t have much practice discipline as far as practicing techniques but I acquired it later on, when music studies intensified and got more serious. 

Did you ever want to quit?

Never. I thought of professionally becoming a doctor at one point though, like my parents, but music soon took over. Even if I did take another career path, I doubt I would stop practicing, even if as an amateur. 

How did music education affect your life?

It gave me a purpose, a meaning. Since it began it has been my reason to live. It made me see long-term goals and has fostered life skills such as patience, determination and courage. 

Do you have a musical role model?

My former guitar teacher – the Brazilian guitarist Paulo Martelli – is a great inspiration. I admire his firm convictions on art and life in general (even if I disagree with them), and above all his fearlessness attitude towards music making. 

Current Favorite Suzuki Piece:

Lightly Row – That is a magic moment when I can usually get students initiated on phrasing. They start to understand what lies behind and in between notes and make artistic choices such as crescendos, decrescendos, forte, pianos, rallentandos, etc. That’s when music transforms itself into a canvas where they can express themselves. 

Any advice for budding guitar-players?

Keep your passion and motivation alive! If you have patience and put in the work, everything eventually falls in place. Stay away from teachers that shut down your enthusiasm. As the great British guitarist Julian Bream once said: “Passion and desire to communicate; that’s the key”

What else do you enjoy doing besides guitar?

In my spare time I enjoy reading, singing, playing cards and watching movies. 

Flute Storytime 12/16

Flute Storytime

On Monday, December 16 from 4:30-5:00pm, join flutist, Zara Lawler, for our next session of Flute Storytime! This week’s session will feature a holiday story with festive music! 

This event will take place at our 72nd St location, 218 W 72nd St, #2FW. Flute Storytime is geared towards children 3-7 years old. $5 suggested donation.

RSVPs to silvermusic@silvermusic.org are appreciated

December NYC Music Events

Chamber Music Recital

Sunday, Dec. 1, 12-5pm (various times)

Come hear Juilliard students perform chamber music in an hour long recital. A wonderful opportunity for our own Chamber Music students! FREE

Chloe Kiffer Violin Recital

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2pm

Hear works by Strauss, Stavinsky, Ravel, and more! Performed by violinist Chloe Kiffer and pianist, Alexandre Moutouzkine.

Baroque Violin Recital

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6pm

Interested in hearing what Baroque violin music actually would have sounded like? Come hear Julliard students perform works on Baroque violin. FREE

Young People’s Concerts: A Composer’s Toolkit

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2pm

David Geffen Hall

Audiences will explore how tradition and new concepts, from grand musical statements to atmospheric sounds, create a timeless art form. Music Director Jaap van Zweden conducts. Tickets start at $16

Candlelight Carol Festival

Sunday, Dec. 15, 4pm

Riverside Church

This service of music and light combines carillon, organ, harp, and all of the choirs of The Riverside Church. Musical prelude begins at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$35

Flute Storytime

Monday, Dec. 16, 4:30-5:00

Join us for 30 delightful minutes of flute-playing and story time. This session of storytime will feature one book about Christmas and one book about Hanukkah! $5 suggested donation

A City Singing at Christmas

Thursday, Dec. 19, 7pm

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

An evening of traditional and contemporary Christmas hymns and carols sung by The Young People’s Chorus of New York City. FREE

New York String Orchestra

Saturday, December 28, 8pm

Carnegie Hall

Come hear the New York String Orchestra perform Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 10 in B Minor (written when he was just 12!), Brahms’ Symphone No. 1 and Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto performed by Shannon Lee. Tickets start at $12.50

All-Instrument Jam! 11/25

ALL-INSTRUMENT JAM  at 72nd St!

Does your child play an instrument? Would they enjoy playing folksongs, simple tunes and Suzuki favorites in a mixed-instrument setting?

Join us for our second session of All-Instrument Jam on Monday, November 25 from 4:30-5:00 at our 218 W 72nd St! This event is for students who already play an instrument at a beginner-intermediate level. (Can your child play at least half “The Ants Song”? They are welcome to join!)

Come with your instrument and, if you have one, a favorite tune. Our teacher, Zara Lawler will lead the group in a jam session celebrating each instrumentalist and supporting children at multi-levels. Ideal for children 4-10 years old, and parents are welcome too!

Please RSVP in advance to silvermusic@silvermusic.org with you and your child’s name, age, instrument, and experience.

Flute Storytime 11/18

FLUTE STORYTIME
WITH ZARA & BLYTHE
On Monday, Nov. 18 from 4:30-5:00pm, join flutists, Zara Lawler and Blythe Bonnaffons, for our next session of Flute Storytime! This week’s session will feature the book, “The Flute Player” by Robyn Eversole. 

This event will take place at our 72nd St location, 218 W 72nd St, #2FW. Flute Storytime is geared towards children 3-7 years old. $5 suggested donation.

Music Storytime

Hosted by a Silver Music faculty member, Music Storytime is an opportunity to hear books come to life through music. Storytime is offered bi-weekly for 30 minutes and features one book and one instrumentalist each session. Faculty expertly weave solo playing into the storyline, giving an extra dimension to wonderful literature selected for children ages 3-7 years old. Music Storytime is pay-what-you-wish, $5 suggested donation.

Join our mailing list to find out about our next storytime!

All-Instrument Jam: 11/11

Does your child play an instrument? Would they enjoy playing folksongs, simple tunes and Suzuki favorites in a mixed-instrument setting?

On Monday, November 11 at 4:30 join our flute teacher, Zara Lawler at our 72nd St location for 30 minutes of jamming and improv! This event is for students who already play an instrument at a beginner-intermediate level. (Can your child play at least half “The Ants Song”? They are welcome to join!) Come with your instrument and, if you have one, a favorite tune. Zara will lead the group in a jam session celebrating each instrumentalist and supporting children at multi-levels. Ideal for children 4-10 years old, and parents are welcome too!

Please RSVP in advance to silvermusic@silvermusic.org with you and your child’s name, age, instrument, and experience.

November Music in NYC

The Melita Ensemble
Saturday, Nov 1, 7pm
Church of St. Paul

Come hear members of The Melita Ensemble perform works for violin, cello, and piano, plus more! Our viola teacher, Molly Goldman, will also be performing in this concert!

Flute Storytime

Monday, Nov 4, 4:30pm

Silver Music 72nd St

Join our flute teacher, Zara Lawler, for 30 delightful minutes of flute-playing and story time. This is an opportunity to hear and see the flute up close and hear books come to life enhanced by flute music. This event will be geared towards children 3-6 years old. $5 suggested donation

Young People’s Concert: Orchestral Music in America

Saturday, Nov 9, 2pm

David Geffen Hall

From Florence B. Price to Leonard Bernstein, the music in this country pays tribute to the symphonic tradition and our collective identity. Hear how a range of cultures and perspectives come together with the orchestra to create an American voice. For ages 6-12. Tickets start at $16

 

Classical Guitar Performance

Saturday, Nov. 9, 8:30pm

Morse Hall

Ziggy and Miles Johnston, classical guitar duo. FREE

 

Meet the Music! Oceanography

Sunday, Nov. 10, 2pm

Rose Theater

Music, poetry, underwater photography, and amazing facts about the ocean and its creatures: it is all part of Oceanophony. Tickets start at $10

 

Sonatenabend

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6pm

Paul Hall

Pianists from Juilliard’s Collaborative Piano department perform sonata repertoire in partnership with student instrumentalists. FREE

NYFC Centennial Concert

Sunday, Nov. 17, 8pm

Merkin Hall

Come hear some of NYC’s greatest flutists perform works celebrating the New York Flute Club’s 100 years! This concert will feature the world premiere of Five Andean Improvisations by Gabriela Lena Frank. Tickets start at $15