Hello everyone,

Hope you all enjoyed your summer. With school being in session for a few weeks, does everything feel like it’s getting back into the swing of things?

Taking pictures of flowers is another hobby of mine. These flowers are so cheerful!

Music is a gift that you can share with family and friends or just enjoy for yourself. I’m not going to say it’s easy to play an instrument well, it’s not. But the benefits of sticking with an instrument are amazing: you learn an instrument, discipline, the reward of practicing well, the joy of music. Studies have shown that music is beneficial to the brain, so not only is it a good skill to learn it helps with other aspects as well. And no one is too old or young to appreciate music. Whatever instrument you play or would like to play, enjoy music and don’t quit when it gets hard. You can do it! From a teacher’s perspective, it is hard to teach sometimes but when a student’s face lights up in understanding of a new concept or when another student exclaims over a new discovery of the piano’s pedals, it brightens my day and teaching as well. Thank you parents for what you do so that your child can take music lessons and letting me be part of the music discovery.

My spring studio recital.

The rest of this year will have its fair share of music events. Just last month, the Cochise Music Teachers Association had a Summer Music Festival with an excellent program and fine refreshments. Francilia Schofield and I co-chaired the event but missed Adrienne Hickey and her energy in organizing the event.

Group photo at Summer Music Festival

“Sonshine Ensemble” at the Summer Music Festival

The local youth orchestra recently just started their semester and this week quilt tickets are going on sale. A supporter generously donated a beautiful “Symphony in B” quilt. The CCYO is also going to have another fall yard sale fundraiser. So, if you have any items you’re getting rid of when cleaning out the garage, just let us know.

Symphony in B quilt!

The Sierra Vista Symphony will be starting rehearsals at the end of this month for the first concert of the season. Last year, three conductors vied for the SVSO position and Toru Tagawa is now our new conductor and music director. The concert is Saturday October 15^th, 7pm at Buena Performing Arts Center.

I hope to see you at one of these events! Have a great rest of the weekend. Keep practicing and loving music!

Cheers, Maranatha