Printed on 12/1/08
< Back to 2007-8 Newsletters
November 2008
November Meeting
November 14, 9:00 a.m., Ruth Hale home
Those Spanish Composers: Albeniz, Granados, 250th Anniversary of Scarlatti and de Falla
Ruth Hale will share information about her trip to Spain and we'll have a wrap up discussion on Piano Festival.
President's Message
Peggy Tighe
Colorado Fall Greetings to all Lamtaites,
What a beautiful season we have had! Let's hope Saturday, Piano Festival weather is as nice as today. Thank you Bill and Renee for working so hard on the organization of Piano Festival along with the FCMTA group.It looks like a wonderful day of music. Also, Sonia and Sandy have been working to make Achievement Day a special one this year. They have great fliers ready for us to give our students so they will save the date with great anticipation. Please get one from Sonia if you missed the last meeting.
November 14, promises to be a fun and interesting meeting. Ruth Hale will be presenting Spanish composers, Albeniz, Granados, Scarlatti and de Falla with lots of inside info after spending a number of weeks in Spain this past summer.
Are you all practicing for December 12? Please call me at 203-1586 or Email: atighe1@juno.com with the names and composers of your pieces so I can prepare a program.
Have any of you tried Debi Strick's idea of "The Golden Note Society"? It would be great to see it take off in Loveland.
See some of you on Saturday and the rest of you on November 14, at Ruth Hale's house.
December Meeting
December 12, at the home of Ann Bunyan, we will have an extravaganza recital with our teachers presenting jazz, rags, blues, and women composers. Several teachers from the FCMTA will be joining in the fun. Please email your information about your piece to Peggy Tighe so she can make out the program schedule.
Loveland Orchestra
Debbie Rickard
The Loveland Orchestra's Christmas concert is Saturday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., at Loveland High School, with a pre-concert lecture at 7:00. The program is Schubert's "Symphony #5," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite #l," Saint Saens' "Cello Concerto #l," Anderson's,"Chicken Reel." and "The Skater's Waltz." Tickets at the door are $l0 adult, $5 ages l3 through l8, and free for ages l2 and under. For more infomation call Debbie at 669-48l0.
Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers
Ann Bunyan
The Twentieth Anniversary Christmas Concert of the Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers will be presented at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2nd, at the Rialto Theater, Loveland and Saturday, December 1st, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 305 E. Elizabeth, Ft. Collins. Wonderful favorites such as The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square in addition to much loved Christmas carols ranging from the Baroque to the modern. Join Ann Bunyan and her singers to enjoy this fabulous a cappella group in their twentieth year of offering fine and polished performances.
Boys' Guitar Workshop
Sandy Lundberg
Periodically I have a workshop on another instrument for my students. This year the boys requested a workshop just for boys, and they wanted the guitar--especially the electric guitar, of course. Sonia and I got together and scheduled this workshop for "just boys" on Saturday, November 17, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., at my home in Berthoud. If you have any boys you think would like to get together with other male piano students and learn about guitars, we have room for a few more. The cost would be $5 and would go directly to the presenter, a great guitarist who will be bringing a variety of instruments with him. For more information call me at 532-3070.
Featured Teacher of the Month
Peggy Tighe
I have been doing a great deal of work on my Family Tree lately and started to think a lot about my Aunt Clare Little Ceo. I know she finished at the New England Conservatory of Music and made her debut in Carnegie Hall. While on a trip to Italy, she met another accomplished musician, Stefano Ceo, and married him there. They came back to settle in Wheeling, West Virginia where she began a music school and he taught and conducted the Wheeling Youth Symphony. They also opened a music store which their grandson runs today. Two of their children won fellowships in music to Europe under the Kennedy Administration. Joe played the viola and the viola damore and Cecile played the harp and piano.
Why all of this preamble for an autobiography? I'm a musician today because of my parents and the influence of my Aunt and Uncle. I might add a great, great, great Grandfather, W.A.B. Little (sort of our family's version of the Music Man), who wanted his town to play music so he order instruments for the townspeople and started a band. This band played for picnics, church affairs and other celebrations in Loretto, Pennsylvania.
When my parents moved to Denver with an eight month old infant, my mother's brother, Jim followed soon after. He was a wonderful musician who played anything and everything on the piano by ear. He lived with us and started a band which practiced in our house. I wonder how my mother put up with this.
So in 1942, I began studying piano for twenty five cents a week in the Catholic school I attended, as did my three siblings who followed me. We received piano lessons from Sr. Ann Monica, a very accomplished pianist. We students would leave the classroom and go upstairs to a very tiny office where there was a desk and piano. We had about thirty students taking from my class. Anything to get out of the classroom for a half hour. We played in the National Auditions every year. Two of my judges were Dr. Storm Bull from C.U. and the composer, Vandal. We played recitals every spring. My sister and I played a number of very good duets.
My love for music was nurtured by the constant singing in my family. We sang doing the dishes. We sang on Sunday afternoon rides in the car. My parents sang their version of Goodnight, Ladies as they'd leave our bedrooms at night. Their favorite song was I Love you Truly, which they could harmonize very well. Their church choir practiced often at our house and many time I accompanied--on the spot sightreading. We sang popular songs spanning from 1890s to the present, religious songs, patriotic, nonsense songs. At Thanksgiving and Christmas when we were with relatives, we always sang. My Denver cousin, a prominent lawyer and his son now play Bluegrass using guitar, banjo and mandolin. They played recently at our family reunion. Many of the 4th generation hung around to listen. It was fun!!!
High school years, my lessons continued under another Sister. My focus was on everything but music. I still loved to play but I didn't like to practice. I had a big wakeup call toward the end of my Junior year when Sr. Lucy informed me that she would no longer by my teacher because I wasn't practicing. After a month's hiatus, realizing that I wanted to pursue music, I went to Lamont School of Music until I graduated. I applied for a music scholarship from Loretto Heights College. I was accepted into the department, but I did not receive a scholarship because I hadn't memorized my pieces.
After many hours in those small practice rooms, my Senior Recital was finally upon me. Mr. DiJullio and Sr. Kathryn Therese Kohl had done all they could do to get me ready. As a day student my audience was somewhat larger then my music friends audiences. As boarders they could expect about 20 - 30 students and friends. As a dayhop my Mother and Dad made sure everyone they knew was coming - and they knew a lot of people! The auditorium could seat 300 and it was full!
My career after college consisted of five years in the Denver Public Schools, ten years off while bearing six children, seventeen years of teaching and building the music department at St. Anne's Episcopal Private School, three years as a music
substitute in Denver and Cherry Creek schools, two years of teaching music at Edmondson School in Loveland, and a final two years in Loveland as a music substitute. During these many years I have always had at least two and up to twenty-five private piano students. I've accompanied melodramas, played for funerals and weddings, accompanied vocalists, instrumentalists, played at sing-alongs for Christmas and Senior Centers.
I still don't practice enough but I love to teach. Being in the cultural environment of Loveland and knowing so many professional and talented musicians as all of you are has renewed my musical spirit. I am grateful and happy to know all of you.
Peggy Tighe, Musician
November 14, 9:00 a.m., Ruth Hale home
Those Spanish Composers: Albeniz, Granados, 250th Anniversary of Scarlatti and de Falla
Ruth Hale will share information about her trip to Spain and we'll have a wrap up discussion on Piano Festival.
President's Message
Peggy Tighe
Colorado Fall Greetings to all Lamtaites,
What a beautiful season we have had! Let's hope Saturday, Piano Festival weather is as nice as today. Thank you Bill and Renee for working so hard on the organization of Piano Festival along with the FCMTA group.It looks like a wonderful day of music. Also, Sonia and Sandy have been working to make Achievement Day a special one this year. They have great fliers ready for us to give our students so they will save the date with great anticipation. Please get one from Sonia if you missed the last meeting.
November 14, promises to be a fun and interesting meeting. Ruth Hale will be presenting Spanish composers, Albeniz, Granados, Scarlatti and de Falla with lots of inside info after spending a number of weeks in Spain this past summer.
Are you all practicing for December 12? Please call me at 203-1586 or Email: atighe1@juno.com with the names and composers of your pieces so I can prepare a program.
Have any of you tried Debi Strick's idea of "The Golden Note Society"? It would be great to see it take off in Loveland.
See some of you on Saturday and the rest of you on November 14, at Ruth Hale's house.
December Meeting
December 12, at the home of Ann Bunyan, we will have an extravaganza recital with our teachers presenting jazz, rags, blues, and women composers. Several teachers from the FCMTA will be joining in the fun. Please email your information about your piece to Peggy Tighe so she can make out the program schedule.
Loveland Orchestra
Debbie Rickard
The Loveland Orchestra's Christmas concert is Saturday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., at Loveland High School, with a pre-concert lecture at 7:00. The program is Schubert's "Symphony #5," Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite #l," Saint Saens' "Cello Concerto #l," Anderson's,"Chicken Reel." and "The Skater's Waltz." Tickets at the door are $l0 adult, $5 ages l3 through l8, and free for ages l2 and under. For more infomation call Debbie at 669-48l0.
Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers
Ann Bunyan
The Twentieth Anniversary Christmas Concert of the Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers will be presented at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2nd, at the Rialto Theater, Loveland and Saturday, December 1st, at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 305 E. Elizabeth, Ft. Collins. Wonderful favorites such as The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square in addition to much loved Christmas carols ranging from the Baroque to the modern. Join Ann Bunyan and her singers to enjoy this fabulous a cappella group in their twentieth year of offering fine and polished performances.
Boys' Guitar Workshop
Sandy Lundberg
Periodically I have a workshop on another instrument for my students. This year the boys requested a workshop just for boys, and they wanted the guitar--especially the electric guitar, of course. Sonia and I got together and scheduled this workshop for "just boys" on Saturday, November 17, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., at my home in Berthoud. If you have any boys you think would like to get together with other male piano students and learn about guitars, we have room for a few more. The cost would be $5 and would go directly to the presenter, a great guitarist who will be bringing a variety of instruments with him. For more information call me at 532-3070.
Featured Teacher of the Month
Peggy Tighe
I have been doing a great deal of work on my Family Tree lately and started to think a lot about my Aunt Clare Little Ceo. I know she finished at the New England Conservatory of Music and made her debut in Carnegie Hall. While on a trip to Italy, she met another accomplished musician, Stefano Ceo, and married him there. They came back to settle in Wheeling, West Virginia where she began a music school and he taught and conducted the Wheeling Youth Symphony. They also opened a music store which their grandson runs today. Two of their children won fellowships in music to Europe under the Kennedy Administration. Joe played the viola and the viola damore and Cecile played the harp and piano.
Why all of this preamble for an autobiography? I'm a musician today because of my parents and the influence of my Aunt and Uncle. I might add a great, great, great Grandfather, W.A.B. Little (sort of our family's version of the Music Man), who wanted his town to play music so he order instruments for the townspeople and started a band. This band played for picnics, church affairs and other celebrations in Loretto, Pennsylvania.
When my parents moved to Denver with an eight month old infant, my mother's brother, Jim followed soon after. He was a wonderful musician who played anything and everything on the piano by ear. He lived with us and started a band which practiced in our house. I wonder how my mother put up with this.
So in 1942, I began studying piano for twenty five cents a week in the Catholic school I attended, as did my three siblings who followed me. We received piano lessons from Sr. Ann Monica, a very accomplished pianist. We students would leave the classroom and go upstairs to a very tiny office where there was a desk and piano. We had about thirty students taking from my class. Anything to get out of the classroom for a half hour. We played in the National Auditions every year. Two of my judges were Dr. Storm Bull from C.U. and the composer, Vandal. We played recitals every spring. My sister and I played a number of very good duets.
My love for music was nurtured by the constant singing in my family. We sang doing the dishes. We sang on Sunday afternoon rides in the car. My parents sang their version of Goodnight, Ladies as they'd leave our bedrooms at night. Their favorite song was I Love you Truly, which they could harmonize very well. Their church choir practiced often at our house and many time I accompanied--on the spot sightreading. We sang popular songs spanning from 1890s to the present, religious songs, patriotic, nonsense songs. At Thanksgiving and Christmas when we were with relatives, we always sang. My Denver cousin, a prominent lawyer and his son now play Bluegrass using guitar, banjo and mandolin. They played recently at our family reunion. Many of the 4th generation hung around to listen. It was fun!!!
High school years, my lessons continued under another Sister. My focus was on everything but music. I still loved to play but I didn't like to practice. I had a big wakeup call toward the end of my Junior year when Sr. Lucy informed me that she would no longer by my teacher because I wasn't practicing. After a month's hiatus, realizing that I wanted to pursue music, I went to Lamont School of Music until I graduated. I applied for a music scholarship from Loretto Heights College. I was accepted into the department, but I did not receive a scholarship because I hadn't memorized my pieces.
After many hours in those small practice rooms, my Senior Recital was finally upon me. Mr. DiJullio and Sr. Kathryn Therese Kohl had done all they could do to get me ready. As a day student my audience was somewhat larger then my music friends audiences. As boarders they could expect about 20 - 30 students and friends. As a dayhop my Mother and Dad made sure everyone they knew was coming - and they knew a lot of people! The auditorium could seat 300 and it was full!
My career after college consisted of five years in the Denver Public Schools, ten years off while bearing six children, seventeen years of teaching and building the music department at St. Anne's Episcopal Private School, three years as a music
substitute in Denver and Cherry Creek schools, two years of teaching music at Edmondson School in Loveland, and a final two years in Loveland as a music substitute. During these many years I have always had at least two and up to twenty-five private piano students. I've accompanied melodramas, played for funerals and weddings, accompanied vocalists, instrumentalists, played at sing-alongs for Christmas and Senior Centers.
I still don't practice enough but I love to teach. Being in the cultural environment of Loveland and knowing so many professional and talented musicians as all of you are has renewed my musical spirit. I am grateful and happy to know all of you.
Peggy Tighe, Musician
< Back to 2007-8 Newsletters
