Interested in lessons, workshops or classes?
Looking for a pianist?
Need music for an event?
I’d love to hear from you! Add your comment in the box below (your email will not be published) and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Contact
by Michael Joviala
Comments
9 responses to “Contact”
-
Michael, I will be joining you on the improv. class on Wednesdays. Just found a baby sitter to be with my son!
I was thinking of bringing a small hand drum.
I’m taking piano lesson with Anne Farber! Learning so much! Unbelivable! -
That’s great news. I’m glad you are enjoying lessons with Anne. She is amazing, indeed.
I think the enrollment is somewhat low this time, so it would be helpful if you cold register in advance so that they don’t cancel cancel the class. I hope to see you on Wednesday! -
Hey Michael! Happy holidays! I am wondering if I can secure Primitivo to play again at Cora’s Spring Swing Gala? You guys were fantastic and I would love to have you play again. The tentative date is May 19, rain date May 20. Let me know what you think and have wonderful holidays!
Best, Shannon
-
We would love to play for you again. The dates look good – I’ll put it on the calendar and we’ll be in touch… Happy New Year! Michael
-
Michael:
I am a musician and educator based in Pittsburgh, PA. I have begun a new teaching gig at a small school district in Western PA, teaching general music in grades 2-5. I am a Dalcroze Enthusiast, but possess no certifications from the DSA… I have made the rather bold step of insisting my new public school allow me to hold my classes barefoot. I have been implementing it gradually, starting with the older kids and gradually allowing the 4th and 3rd graders to be barefoot. I have received a bit of pushback from some concerned parents and a few concerned administrators although I still have the support of my principal and superintendent. My principal is fearful that some of these concerns will be brought to the school board and she wants me to prepare a defense of barefoot music to present. You can check out my blog at http://www.mrmomusic.com to see some of the thoughts I have collected on the topic. I would appreciate any further thoughts on how to convince some rather traditional educators that music is best experienced barefoot!! Perhaps any articles you can recommend that I can quote or reference. Thanks! -
Dear Anthony,
First off, I applaud you for introducing a eurhythmics based curriculum in your classes. I have looked at your blogpost addressing the issue, and I think you are making all of the right arguments for asking your students to remove shoes and socks. They are eloquently expressed, and exactly what I would have said. So – bravo for that!
I have been teaching Dalcroze eurhythmics for over a decade, shoes and socks off. No one has ever brought to my attention any health problems related to not wearing shoes or socks. While I do not know of any articles on the subject, there is quite a lot of precedent for this practice in many other disciplines: yoga, many forms of dance, martial arts and even gymnastics. All of these (and many more) require participation unencumbered by shoes and socks to be able fully engage. Hard to imagine a gymnast walking on a balance beam in sneakers, isn’t it? (However, there are special shoes worn in dance and some martial arts – and by Dalcroze practitioners with special foot needs – that allow for quiet moving and full sensitive contact with the floor. This might be an option for concerned parents.)
There are a few considerations to add, however. If we ask our students to remove shoes and socks, the floors must be regularly swept and cleaned, and must be of high quality (e.g. wood, Marlye dance flooring, etc.) Whenever I teach on floors that are carpeted, I actually think socks are fine, and arguably preferable (carpets are much harder to keep clean, and can cause ‘rug burn’ if one were to move barefoot vigorously for long periods of time. Not likely, but…)
As I read through your blogposts and watch your class videos it is clear that you are a creative and open teacher committed to giving your students a very full and rich experience of music. Wonderful! While I know we often have to choose our battles as we introduce the unfamiliar in our classrooms, I would only wish that this issue does not become too much of a distraction for you, your students and your administration. There are so many wonderful ways to apply the principals first developed by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze (also note spelling of name – no ‘c’, and with hypehn: Emile Jaques-Dalcroze), and it seems like you are doing a fantastic and inspiring job of doing just that.
I’ll be interested to hear how your story progresses!
-
Michael:
Thanks for your thoughts and ideas, We are now almost done with our second year of Eurhythmics based instruction, and we still have our shoes off! Although, I did compromise and allow the children to wear socks if they wish. Our room is carpeted and it did seem a reasonable allowance to keep the peace. The results have been amazing thus far. The choral program has tripled in size, and the band program has been transformed as well. Our kids put on a Carnival of the Animals Plastique Anime show last year, and are reprising that this year as well. Thanks for your support, I continue to follow your thoughts in the DSA journal. Perhaps I will find my way to one of your workshops.
Thanks
Anthony Molinaro
http://www.mrmomusic.com -
@Michael
Ooops… realized I put your name in the NAME box instead of mine…. -
Sounds wonderful, Michael. I am glad to hear about your progress! There is a workshop on Plastique Anime in NYC Sunday, May 3rd with Boston Longy teacher Adriana Ausch. Details here. Thanks for the update, and hope to meet you sometime!
Leave a Reply