May 2026 Fall Studio News

SCROLL DOWN for:

1.   May and Summer Tuition Invoices

2.   33^rd Annual Spring Recital

3.   Needed for the Spring Recital!

4.   Performance Masterclass #9

5.   Summer Lessons

6.   Performance Attendance

7.   Kudos to Stellar Students!

8.   Upcoming Performances – Students

9.   Interesting Links

1. MAY and SUMMER TUITION INVOICES

May tuition invoices were sent by email today. For some students, there may be additional charges for music and/or supplies already received. This payment covers lessons through May 14, which is the last day of school-year lessons.

Summer tuition invoices will be sent on May 18th. Summer tuition payments will be due on or before each lesson. You are welcome to pay weekly, monthly, or for the whole summer. May through August, you will receive monthly statements that reflect tuition for all scheduled summer lessons, additional fees for music and/or supplies, all recorded payments/credits, and balance forward, if any.

Tuition payments can be made by check or using the PayPal or Venmo payment services. If using PayPal or Venmo, please send as a payment to a friend. If you choose to send payment for goods or services, the additional 3.5% fee will be passed on to you.

Please contact Mrs. Fall if you have any questions about tuition and/or billing.

2. 33^rd ANNUAL SPRING RECITAL!

The 33^rd Annual Fall Studio Spring Recital will be held at Crescendo Studios on Sunday, May 17th. Details below.

Audience is welcome! Please do invite family and friends!

32nd Annual Spring Recital

Sunday, May 17, 2025

7:00PM (Students: please arrive at 6:40 to tune and acclimate your instruments)

Crescendo Studios

81010a Lee Hwy.

Falls Church, VA 22042

3. NEEDED FOR THE SPRING RECITAL!

As many of you know, at the Spring Recital I like to recognize each student for his/her achievements for the year, musical, as well as in other areas. For this, I need your help! I am old and forgetful! Please send me a list of everything you’ve achieved this year.

For example: Principal Viola in XYZ High School Orchestra (also, name the orchestra – Chamber, Concert, Symphonic, etc.), Section 1st violin in XYZ Youth Orchestra, Principal 2nd violin in Senior District Orchestra, Honorable Mention at Judged Recital, Performed in General Recital, Science Olympiad, Captain of middle school Debate team, member of high school LaCrosse team, ballet, jazz dance, ice skating, etc. Nothing is too small – more is better. Do not assume I will remember! Send me everything!

Please send this information to me no later than May 11. Thank you!!

4. PERFOMANCE MASTERCLASS #9

The LAST masterclass of the school year! Where has the time gone??

This class will be our dress rehearsal for the Studio Spring Recital! 

Performance selections and order will be emailed around a week before the classes. This document will also be posted on the studio website calendar page.

Sunday, May 3

Group B (Violas)

5:00-6:30pm

Alex

Nathan

Jinger

Evelyn

Jason

Donnovon

Group A (Violins)

7:00-8:30pm

Rebecca 

Eilin

Noah

Jaden 

Emily



5. SUMMER LESSONS

Summer lessons will begin May 18^th (please refer to the email with Summer Lesson Schedule sent on April 19^th).

As with past summer lessons, 2026 summer lessons will be scheduled on a first requested, first scheduled basis. Most students schedule the whole summer in order to make sure they get the dates/times they prefer. Current students should make their reservations as soon as possible. Remaining summer lesson times will be open to summer-only or new studio members beginning June 1st.

6. PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE

Jinger and Rebecca have each exceeded the Performance Attendance requirement!!

Rebecca has attended SIX concerts! Stellar!!

Jinger has attended FIVE concerts! Outstanding!

Evelyn and Alex have each completed the Performance Attendance requirement!! They have each attended THREE concerts! Exceptional!

Don’t stop now – keep attending concerts!

Eilin, Jason, Jaden and Emily have each attended two concerts! Way to go!!

Noah attended one concert! Woo-hoo!

For Performance Attendance credit, bring a program or ticket stub to your lesson. If there is no program or ticket stub available, bring or send a selfie photo of you at the concert.

Remember: In order to maintain a place in the studio, all students are required to attend a minimum of 3 concerts/performances performed by professional musicians of their instrument during the school year. Students are, however, encouraged to attend as many concerts as possible!

7. KUDOS TO STELLAR STUDENTS!

April 18^th NVMTA Strings-only Judged Recital

We were so thankful to have Dr. Liu step in at the last minute to accompany the soloists!

Rebecca, Alex, Jinger and Jason each performed beautifully!

Special shout out to Jinger, who was awarded Honors!

Bravi tutti!!

8. UPCOMING PERFORMANCES – STUDENTS

Sunday, May 3 – NVMTA General Recital

Donnovon will perform

Sarabande by C. Böhm

Jaden will perform

1st movement of the Winter Concerto by A. Vivaldi      

Eilin will perform

movement 2 of Concerto in E Minor, Op. 13 by L. Portnoff

Noah will perform

Introduction and Polonaise by C. Böhm

Saturday, May 16 – NVMTA Strings Achievement (Easterling) Competition

Rebecca will perform:

1^st movement of Concerto in A Minor by Vivaldi and

In a Persian Market by A. Ketèlbey

Alex will perform

Courante from Suite No. 1 in G Major by JS Bach and

 Hopak by M. Moussorgsky

Jinger will perform

3^rd movement of Concerto in C Minor by H. Casadesus

(attributed to JC Bach) and

Élégie by H. Vieuxtemps

Sunday, May 17th – 33^rd Annual Spring Recital

ALL STUDENTS will perform! (see #2 above for details)

Break a leg!!

9. INTERESTING LINKS The most interesting and helpful links that have come across my radar this month:

Magic Dust for the Thumb [VIDEO]

Guiseppe Calabrese shows how to approach holding the bow in this 30-second Facebook reel. Practice with a pencil!

Things We Should Do, But Don’t (Music Edition) [VIDEO]

This 30-second Facebook reel lists all of the things we should do when we begin to play, while we are practicing, and when we are packing up.

11 Stretching Exercises for Musicians

It’s important to keep your body healthy and able to practice! This article from The Strad magazine has a great list of exercises that will help!

VENGEROV'S VIEWS | Vibrato as a Source of Color and Expression

Vituoso Violinist Maxim Vengerov discusses how to best use vibrato to enhance colors and expression in your playing. Narrative and short videos.

Do Mistakes in Practice Create Bad Habits – Or Better Musicians?

In this Bulletproof Musician blog post/podcast, Juilliard Professor, Dr. Noa Kageyama investigates mistakes and practice. He says: “We’re told that ‘perfect practice makes perfect.’ Errors are bad. And we must avoid reinforcing bad habits. Get it right from the start. Etc., etc.

But in one study, participants learning a new set of skills were encouraged to explore and make mistakes. They weren't even shown how to do it right! And still, they performed better - and felt more confident - than the folks who were taught the ‘correct’ technique from the beginning.”

Just for fun….

How TwoSet is Shaking Up Classical Music [VIDEO]

A wonderful 30-minute documentary about the lives of Brett Yang and Eddy Chen produced by ABC.

Keep Practicing!! Remember Fall’s Law!!

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