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Welcome Back!

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Music school gala 91A big welcome to all of our new and returning students to the Delta Community Music School.  Private lessons start today (Tuesday Sept. 3).  Our group classes (Music for Tots, Jazz Ensemble, African Drumming) have various start times over the next two weeks.

We are still registering new students for fall and there is still good availability for Guitar lessons, but other instrments are filling up.  Private students can sign up and register at any time!

Our Guitar Faculty

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We have a wonderful roster of guitar teachers this year for fall 2013!

John Walsh continues to teach for us guitar and bass. John has a busy life with a toddler at home and also tours as well with Dan Mangan and Brasstronaut. John has been with us a few years now and is well received by his students!

As well this year we welcome Ron Samworth who is a well known Vancouver jazz guitarist and educator, and will be teaching on Thursdays.  Ron is the guitar instructor at Capilano University and plays with many Vancouver area jazz musicians. Ron taught for us last year filling in for John while he was on tour and recived good reviews from students and parents!

We welcome as well Louise Southwood to our faculty (classical guitar) and she will be teaching on Fridays at the school. Louise is a classical guitarist who has just moved to Ladner and has an extensive performing and teaching background in London UK and the Caribbean.

We are currently accepting new students for all of our instructors. Read more about all our instructors at the school on our faculty page.

 

Introducing Louise Southwood

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We are isouthwood-photo2ntroducing Louise Southwood to our faculty here at the Delta Community Music School.  Louise is a new teacher for us and lives here in Ladner BC. Louise will be teaching for us on Fridays starting in September.

1. How old were you when you started playing…..
 
I started taking guitar and piano lessons at the age of eight. I had shown an interest in music from an early age by continually playing my toy piano and asking to try the guitar we had in our attic. So my parents decided to enroll me with our next door neighbour who just happened to teach both instruments!
 
2. What do you like best about teaching……..
 
The most satisfying moments I have had teaching have been when a student has practised a piece really well and has persevered with it beyond all of our expectations. Their excitement at playing the finished result is always great to see. I also love preparing students for concerts and seeing them perform on stage….especially a large guitar ensemble as this can sound pretty impressive!

 

3. What was one of your favourite moments performing in public?
I think one of my favourite moments would have to be this year. I returned to Bermuda where I lived and taught for many years and performed in The Bermuda International Guitar Festival. I had helped organise this in the past and so to be asked back to be a visiting artist was great! I saw so many of my old students, colleagues and friends in the audience and when  I received a standing ovation it was fantastic. I felt in that moment that I had made an impact during my time working there and the distance in time and location really made that clear.
 
4. Who is your favourite composer?
This is a tricky one! There are so many Spanish and South American composers who have written beautiful music for the guitar. But I would have to say that J.S Bach has always been my ‘favourite’. He didn’t write for the guitar as we know it today but wrote for the lute and of course many other instruments and this music has been arranged for the guitar. I am currently playing his ‘Chaconne’ which was originally written for the violin but has become one of the guitar’s most performed pieces. It is so emotive and breathtaking.

 

5. Where did you teach before moving to Ladner?
I taught for many years in London in the UK in several different prestigious private schools ( Prince William went to one of them!) Then in 2004 I taught for 7 years at The Bermuda School of Music. I taught all ages from 6 to 76! It was a great experience teaching such a wide range of ages and abilities and I loved very minute of it. I am excited to now be in Canada and looking forward to new students and experiences.

Summer at DCMS

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2013-07-04 14.16.26Our summer programs for 2013 are now well under way. We had a very successful 10th anniversary South Delta Jazz Festival and Workshop (July 2 – 6, 2013) that featured an array of our usual faculty members plus the addition this year of an African Music component featuring Curtis Andrews.

Coming up in August are our two string camps. Cello Weekend with Bo Peng (Aug. 2 – 4). Come check out the Cello Student Concert at 3pm on Sunday at the School.

Our Thrive City String Boot Camp starts right away on Monday August 5th.  (Aug. 5 – 16). We expect a full allotment of students for our string camp but we are still looking for scholarship support for some of our students who have financial difficulties.

Thrive City Concert Schedule:

Come check out the Boot Camp Concerts Series:
All concerts Admission by Donation.
Faculty Chamber Music Concert –  Tuesday August 6th at 12 noon. All Saints Anglican Parish, next to the music school
Herbert Greenberg Masterclass Wednesday August 7th at 1:30pm.

Faculty Solo Concert is Saturday August 10th at 11am at All Saints Angilcan Parish, next to the music school.
Infinitus Trio will present a concert Tuesday August 13 at 12 noon at All Saints Anglican Parish.
Thrive City Boot Camp Student Concert is Friday August 16th at 6pm at the Ladner Community Centre.

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Our administrator is on holidays the first week of August, so our office will be closed from August 2 – 11 inclusive, open again on Monday August 12th.

Hope everyone is having a great summer, looking forward to getting back to our regular programs in September.