Awaiting for SPA CHICAGO!

Photo: Jada Wright-Greene, Sphinx's Director of Education & Youth Development, arrived today to finalize the contract with Roosevelt University and get prepped for SPA Chicago 2011!

Notes from Eliesha Nelson's Masterclass!

(Photo: Violinist Jermaine Crutchfield performs Corelli's "La Folia" variations for Eliesha Nelson. Accompanied by Haeju Choi on piano. SPA Oberlin 2011)

Dear SPA Students and bloggers,
I thought it would be useful to publish some notes that I took from the past masterclass with violist ELIESHA NELSON. Four students participated, playing violin and viola pieces, and everyone agreed that her advise and expertise were very helpful. See below!
-Angie Durrell, Assistant Dean
SPA '07

-Music is a language (regarding phrasings.
"How are you able to express yourself?
TELL a story." (E.N)
-The bow is like your breath (referring to
Corelli's variations on La Folia)
-Think of the BOW like money, you don't want to
spend all your money and then have nothing left.
So, you want to even it out!
-Whenever you shift, you should always know
how you're going to get there ("you have to think
that note")


-Best way to improve INTONATION is
by practicing: intervals, intervals, intervals!

Post by Kriscendra Jones

(Photo: Violinists Jennifer Riche and Kriscendra Jones during the Cleveland Orchestra Concert on July 3rd.)


This was my first and only year in Sphinx and in one short week I learned so much! It was great working with the Catalyst Quartet and hearing criticism and advice straight from them. In my private lessons, I improved a lot in a short amount of time thanks to the excellence of the staff. It was also great seeing other Black and Latino players from around the country come together for one week of intense (but fun) playing. The skill level of the student players was incredible and it actually makes me sad that I can’t come back next year! If you’re looking for a music summer camp you will gain skills and friends you will not forget.

Kriscendra Jones SPA’11

Post from Natasha Rosario, cellist

(Picture: Peter Slowik, from CREDO Chamber Music Program, assisted SPA student in finding a cello to use during the festival.)
(Picture: Natasha Rosario, from Rhode Island, tries out various instruments and bows at the CREDO office at Oberlin Conservatory.)
In just about a week I've connected with kids my age through music, in living together we've grown closer and I find myself once again part of another big family woven together by music. Everything was connected to music-from (what at first seemed like) 3 grueling hours of practicing on our own, a concert trip to see the Cleaveland Orchestra and fireworks, and even just dancing to music late at night with my roommate, Princess. Last night we heard the Resident Quartet play a Mendelssohn piece (Op.80 which we are all still singing). Today I had my last lesson with Mary Ann Ramos and it was, once again, extremely helpful. Hopefully I'll still be able to imagine her saying, "Soft Bunny bow hold"- even if it sounds ridiculous it really works... at least for me it does. One step back, and three forwards. That's what it was been like here at SPHINX. First, my quartet sounded less like four parts and more like four people practicing three completely different pieces at the same time. But now our Mozart K. 387 sounds pretty good. I hope I don't jinx it- our concert is tomorrow.
Wish us luck!
-Natasha Rosario