Federation Festival 2022

 

Federation Festival is quickly approaching. Please make sure your student is preparing and memorizing their music well these last few weeks. A great way to help your child is to play the music for them to listen to from a streaming platform, like youtube.

Festival Theory Test and Performance Class
When: Friday, Feb 4th
Where: My classroom at Trinitas Christian School
Time:  1:45-3:00
What: Everyone will get a chance to perform one (or two) of their pieces for the group. This is also when you till take your official Theory Test.
* Please sign up on my board or via e-mail so I know who to expect. If you miss this day, you will

need to take the Theory Test the day of Festival.

Federation Festival
When: Sat, Feb 5
Where: Northwest Florida State College
100 College Blvd, Niceville, FL 32578
Arts Center Music Wing
Time: Assigned. See Below

Dress: Sunday Best.

Directions from Pensacola: Take I-10 East towards Tallahassee. Take exit 56 (State Road 85 South). Turn RIGHT off of the exit and go 15 miles. You will drive through Crestview, and Hurlbrt Field (Eglin Air Force). Stay LEFT anytime the road splits. You will see ball fields and the college on your left. Turn left onto College Blvd. Take the SECOND entrance (should be marked with Arts Center). Turn RIGHT to the parking lot. Enter through the main doors, which are to the left of the fountain and statues. 

Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before your group start time and stay for the whole hour. There are warm up practice rooms on a first come basis. You may or may not see me as I will be accompanying singers and working, but I hope to greet you if I can. Once your group is done, a certificate with a rating will be given right away. Once you have that, you are done. Please remember to bring your music books. You cannot qualify for a score without the original music. I will get official results/judges comments at the end of the day. If your student is up for a Gold Cup Trophy, that will be ready to be presented at the Recital in May.

Agustin, Alek               3:00pm-3:45pm        Room 301 (Tyler Hall)

Butcher, Jeremiah        1:30pm-2:15pm        Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Chen, Chloe                9:00am-9:45am         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Chen, Elijah                3:00pm-3:45pm         Room 313

Chen, Enoch                3:00pm-3:45pm        Room 313

Conner, Alijah             2:15pm-3:00pm        Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Cowart, Hadassah        1:30pm-2:15pm        Room 309     

Cowart, Hudson          1:30pm-2:15pm         Room 309 

Cowart, Jackson          1:30pm-2:15pm        Room 309 

Cowart, Sophia            1:30pm-2:15pm        Room 309 

Dunham, Chris            1:30pm-2:15pm        Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Gagne, Aletheia          10:30am-11:15am     Room 309

Gagne, Gareth            10:30am-11:15am      Room 309

Golino, Christian        3:00pm-3:45pm         Room 301 (Tyler Hall)

Hadley, Samson         3:45pm-4:30pm          Room 313

Hadley, Spenser         3:45pm-4:30pm          Room 313

Hadley, Sully             3:45pm-4:30pm          Room 313

Ibrahim, Daniel          11:15am-12:00pm      Room 313

Ibrahim, David           11:15am-12:00pm      Room 313

Ibrahim, Joshua          11:15am-12:00pm      Room 313

Johnson, Paris             3:00pm-3:45pm         Room 301 (Tyler Hall)

Kasionov, Laora         1:30pm-2:15pm          Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Kimpel, Emma            3:45pm-4:30pm         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Knoblock, David         3:45pm-4:30pm         Room 301 (Tyler Hall)

Lin, Evana                   1:30pm-2:15pm         Room 309

Lin, Oden                    1:30pm-2:15pm         Room 309

Nelson, Finn                2:15pm-3:00pm         Room 313

Nelson, Phoebe            2:15pm-3:00pm        Room 313

Nelson, Tristan            2:15pm-3:00pm         Room 313

Lin, Reena                   2:15pm-3:00pm         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Schuler, Serena            1:30pm-2:15pm         Room 313 

Strickler, Jack              1:30pm-2:15pm         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Strickler, Jack              2:15pm-3:00pm         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Tenniswood, Josh        2:15pm-3:00pm         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Varela, Landon            3:00pm-3:45pm         Room 304 (Orchestra Hall)

Varela, Landon            3:45pm-4:30pm         Room 301 (Tyler Hall)

Varela, Lawson            3:45pm-4:30pm        Room 313

Varela, Olivia              3:45pm-4:30pm         Room 313

December 2021 Announcements

 

Christmas Recital
December 7th, Tuesday
5:45pm & 7:00pm

Trinitas Christian School

Doors open 15 minutes before each recital

Sunday Dress, preferably Christmas colors

Please bring a small plate of cookies or another dessert to share as we enjoy cookies and listen to our favorite Christmas carols. Please find a place to set your plate on the dessert table. Students should plan to sit with their parents but will join me on the front row just before they play. Students should bring their Christmas music if they have been instructed to use their music at the recital. Those coming to the 7:00 recital should wait in the lobby if they arrive during the first recital. The first recital should be done between 6:30 and 6:40. Remind your students that recital etiquette means not being a distraction during a performance. Talking, crinkling papers, or getting up from your chair can take away for the performance that each student has been working towards. I have enjoyed teaching your child Christas music this year. I look forward to this every year. Lessons continue until Friday, December 17th. Students already have music they should be working on for after Christmas.

5:45 Recital

Jackson Cowart

Hadassah Cowart

Sophia Cowart

Hudson Cowart

Joshua Ibrahim

Daniel Ibrahim

David Ibrahim

Enoch Chen

Elijah Chen

Alijah Connor

Sillivan Hadley

Spenser Hadley

Samson Hadley

Maddy Brigham

Braeden Brigham

Tristan Nelson

Finn Nelson 

Phoebe Nelson

Olivia Varela

Landon Varela

Lawson Varela

7:00 Recital

Allie Gagne

Gareth Gagne

Whitney Todd

Monroe Crawley

Lars Larson

Emma Larson

Jack Strickler (Voice)

Chris Dunham

Jeremiah Butcher (Voice)

Christian Golino

Ellie Wernette

Emma Kimpel

Chloe Chen

Reena Lin

Evana Lin

Oden Lin

Paris Johnson

David Knoblock

Serena Schuler

Alek Agustin

Nataniel Agustin

Lilly Fuller

Joshua Tenniswood (Voice)

Emma Nelson

Hadassah Cowart (Harp)

November Announcements

Baroque Festival 

Congratulations to the following students for performing at the Baroque Festival. Well done!

Jackson Cowart
Sophia Cowart
Sully Hadley
Lars Larson
Landon Varela
Olivia Varela

THANKSGIVING BREAK

No lessons on Wed-Friday, November 24-26.

Christmas Recital
December 7, Tuesday
5:45pm & 7:00
Trinitas Christian School
No Cost

Please make plans to join me on December 7 for our annual Christmas recital. To sign up please send me an e-mail with your preferred time or use the signup sheet in my classroom. Each recital will only be about 50 minutes. Only a limited number of performers will be signed up for the first recital. Dress is festive Sunday dress. Plan to have your student stay for the complete recital. If your child has learned multiple Christmas songs, I will confirm which song your child is playing this week and write it in his binder and on the sheet music. Please help see that this Christmas song is a priority at home for the next three weeks. 

FEDERATION FESTIVAL

If you have been with me for any time, you know this is one of my favorite piano events. In your email you will receive an information letter for Federation Festival. 

What: Federation Festival
When: Saturday, February 5, 2022
Where: Northwest Florida State College

Dress: Sunday Dress
Cost: $35

You will be receiving an info letter about Festival this week. Please read it carefully and let me know if your student will be able to attend. I cannot register them after my deadline of December 9. It is extremely important that I hear back from you (even regrets) and receive your registration in time. The cost is $35. If you have a legitimate conflict and need to request an AM time or a PM time, please let me know. I can submit that request, but no guarantees that it'll be honored. 

November Announcements

 Thanksgiving season is upon us, and I am so thankful I get to teach music. I am thankful I get to teach your child music. 

THANKSGIVING BREAK

No lessons on Tuesday Nov 24-Friday November 27. Monday students will have a lesson due to the day off on Labor Day.

Christmas Recital
December 8 &10, Tuesday & Thursday
6:30pm
Trinitas Christian School
No Cost

Please make plans to join me on December 8 & 10 for our annual Christmas recital. To sign up please send me an e-mail with your preferred date. Each recital will be about 50 minutes. Only a limited number of performers will be signed up for each recital. It is a big hall and will give plenty of room for distancing. Plan to have your student stay for the complete recital. I will confirm which song your child is playing this week and write it in their binder and on the sheet music. Please help see that this Christmas song is a priority at home for the next three weeks. Reply via email with your preferred recital day or regrets.

FEDERATION FESTIVAL

If you have been with me for any time, you know this is one of my favorite piano events.In your email you will receive an information letter for Federation Festival. 

What: Federation Festival
When: Saturday, February 6, 2021
Where: Northwest Florida State College
Dress: Sunday Dress

You will be receiving an info letter about Festival this week. Please read it carefully and let me know if your student will be able to attend. I cannot register them after my deadline of December 4. It is extremely important that I hear back from you and receive your registration in time. The cost is $35. If you have a legitimate conflict and need to request an AM time or a PM time, please let me know. I can submit that request, but no guarantees that it'll be honored. Trust me you want to be there in person if you can. If you cannot be there in person, this year an allowance will be made to submit a recorded audition. 

Register for 2020-2021

It's time to register for the new school year. It's as simple as filling out the registration form on my webiste (https://edwardlvarela.blogspot.com/p/register.html) and paying the yearly registration fee with August tuition. I will roll last year's lesson time over into this year unless you request something different. It would help me out if you can complete registration by August 1. I have several new students waiting for you to register before I will let them register. Should you need a different time this year, I am available to teach Monday-Friday from 2:45-6:00.

I will be ready to welcome students in my classroom for lessons. Should you need to meet remotely, please notate that on your registration form. You will need to have your set up at home as good as possible. Don't think a temporary set up with a phone leaning on a potted plant. Instead, consider a tripod. The new schedule will go into effect Monday, August 17.

I'm making plans for the new school year, looking through countless books, and preparing to make a big book purchase order. Even through the craziness of Covid, I have seen resilient students who are still learning. Although there seems to be a uncertainty all around us, let's rejoice in the stability of making music.




Truly one of the great inventions is the piano. It is a highly intricate machine with hundreds of moving parts. I love opening up the piano and showing students the moving parts. Even better I love letting them listen to the acoustics made for it. My vision is for students not only to know how to play the 88 keys but to experience the wonder of the piano. Keyboards with 88 keys serve a purpose, but maybe it's time for you to consider moving from a keyboard to an acoustic piano. I always prefer students learn on an acoustic over a digital. They are in the growing phase and the moldable phase. Their fingers need to feel the keys on a piano, different than a keyboard. Locally, Blues Angel Music Store on Pace Blvd is a great place to buy used and new pianos. They offer financing. You can search online as well, at sights such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Remember the color of a piano has nothing to do with the sound. =)  When buying a car, you choose the car first, then decide on the color. The same holds true for choosing a piano. Look for a good instrument, then decide on the color. I'd be glad to help answer any questions you have. Here's a link with GREAT information on How to Buy a Piano. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18xjMaJXiGQ




Acoustic pianos should be tuned at least once a year. If it's been more than 12 months from your last tuning, you don't have to tell me. Just call a tuner! This is like getting the oil changed in your car. It preserves the life and keeps things functioning well. If you need a tuner, please contact Blues Angel Music Store at 850-457-7557 for a tune. Please don't neglect this easy task.

Recognition of Awards

Federation Festival - Florida Federation of Music Clubs
Federation Festival Gold Cups are in! I grew up in participating in this program in New Jersey. It was something I looked forward to every year. I am glad to recognize the following students who have earned their first Gold Cup, which has taken three to four years of hard work.
                                    

Alek Agustin – Music Theory

Ezekiel Brito – Piano Solo
Ezekeil Brito – Music Theory
Hadassah Cowart – Piano Solo
Hadassah Cowart – Music Theory
Jackson Cowart – Music Theory
Joshua Ibrahim – Piano Solo
Christian Golino – Piano Solo
Christian Golino – Music Theory

Evana Lin – Music Theory

Savannah Ryan – Piano Solo

Savannah Ryan – Music Theory

The following students have earned their second Gold Cup, which has taken six to seven years of hard work.

                                                      

Haley Bondurant – Music Theory

Rachel Hedaria – Music Theory
Paris Johnson – Music Theory
Olivia Varela – Piano Solo
Emily Wagner – Piano Solo

Emily Wagner – Music Theory




Florida State Music Teachers Association Student Day

 
Just as the athletic Olympics is a showcase of the elite athletes, I view Student Day as a showcase of the elite music student. Students train in written theory, aural theory, keyboard skills, and give a performance of two to three solos by memory. It is a program designed to build the all around musician. This year I had fifteen students participate. Due to Covid-19 students had to do all these evaluations remotely, which took an extra level of work. I am pleased to say everyone passed with not one single low score in any category! The following students earned Honors for their work, meaning they scored a 90% or higher on their performance.

Sebastian Bradley     Level 1   Honors
Trenton Browning     Level 5  Honors
Gabbie Calhoun        Level 3   Honors 
    *Her performance of "Girl with the Pearl Earing" (Rollin) was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Monroe Crawley       Level 1   Honors
Christian Golino       Level 3   Honors
                  * His performance of "Starry Night" (Rollin) was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Rachel Hedaria         Level 4   Honors
                  *Her performance of "Romanza" (Marshall) was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Joshua Ibrahim        Level 2    Honors
Paris Johnson          Level 5    Honors
                 *Her performance of "Invention #1 (Bach)" was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Evana Lin               Level 2     Honors
                 *Her performance of "Pirate's Tarentella" (Rollin) was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Savannah Ryan       Level 1    Honors
            *Her performance of "Crazy for Lemons" (Stevens)  was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Landon Varela        Level 2    Honors
  *His performance of "Winter Memories" (Bober) was chosen for an Honors Recital video.
Olivia Varela         Level 3     Honors
  *Her performance of "Mona Lisa" (Rollin) was chosen for an Honors Recital video.