2014-15 Season

Well it's the middle of September and I am fully booked for teaching on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.  I have a single time available for an in-home lesson in Chestermere early on Wednesdays and a couple time slots at my home studio in Applewood on Thursdays.  I have hired one of my advanced students (Ligia) to teach brand new beginners and she would be available to start with a couple more students come October. 

In addition to teaching this year I am singing with the CPO chorus which rehearses on Wednesday nights at the Jack Singer.  We have 11 scheduled performances over the year.  Highlights include Faure's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Mass in C major and Orff's Carmina Burana.  The chorus is scheduled for a tour in Chicago at the beginning of July.  So far I am enjoying the people and once again being part of a professional level choir.

I have performed at a few weddings and funerals in the past year and hope to increase this in the coming months.  I have quickly become proficient at playing the Folk Harp in the last year and a half and am eager to upgrade from the small 26 string semi-levered harp I have been renting.  I have found a beautiful fully-levered 34 string harp I want to purchase from West Coast Harps in Victoria.  My hope with taking some extra musical engagements is that I can afford to buy my new harp before Christmas.  Last year I absolutely loved playing Christmas music on my little harp and would love nothing more than to play on my very own full sized harp!

So those are the highlights for the upcoming season.  Wishing you a day enriched with music and beauty!

Leith Bell

A new school year!

This is a very exciting time of year for Bell Music!  I'm busy setting up the schedule for a new school year and buying music books for all my returning students.  I'm also answering a lot of phone calls and emails from new students.  Looks like it's going to be another very busy year!

For those inquiring about lessons, I am fully booked on Monday, I have a couple spots available in Chestermere on Tuesday and Langdon on Wednesdays, and a very limited number of spots at my home studio in Applewood (68 Street and 17 Ave SE) on Thursday and Fridays.  More information about lessons including rates and my education is available in the tab above.

Let's make 2012-13 a great year!

Kiwanis Update

Hello Students:

I have just spoken with a representative at Kiwanis Calgary.  They advise me that the syllabus will be available next Wednesday,  October 26th.  I know they originally said it would be available at the end of September, but I guess there were some delays.  Per their website the deadline for registration for piano categories will be November 21st.  For all other categories the deadline will be December 5th. 

I look forward to registering my students in several categories this year and I know you will have some wonderful ideas for your performances.

Leith

Start thinking now about Kiwanis!

Kiwanis provides an excellent opportunity for all musical students.  It allows them to set goals to motivate their work.  The judges provide excellent feedback and encouragement motivating students to acheive even more with their music.  And of course it's a great opportunity to perform in front of an audience of friends, family and other students and hear some new repertoire.

Although the syllabus for the Calgary Kiwanis Festival is not yet available I will be encouraging all my piano and voice students to consider registering.  For siblings there will also be opportunities to perform duets.  Deadlines for registration are generally in early November so start thinking about your repertoire now.  The syllabus will be avialble towards the end of September and we'll start finalizing our choices at that time.

Still a few lesson times available

The response to my summer advertising has been quite amazing!  At this point I am fully booked on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.  There are still a few spots left on Tuesday and Friday.  If there is enough interest I will consider teaching on Tuesday in Chestermere as that is a short distance from my home based studio.  Many thanks to all those who have responded to my ads in Newsy Neighbor, NE Calgary community newsletters and kijiji.  I am looking forward to an amazing year!

The end of a wonderful year

So another school year is almost done as is my year of teaching.  Many of my students participated in this year's recital and did wonderfully!  A number of students also wrote Royal Conservatory Theory Exams in the Spring and did extremely well.  The last hurdle approaches now for the students who will be doing their practical exams with Royal Conservatory during the month of June.  Good luck!

And now I'm looking into the distance wondering what the summer and fall will bring.  I will be teaching one day a week during the summer but for the most part will be very content working in my garden.  In the fall I am hoping to start an additional day of in-home teaching for the city of Chestermere and perhaps the neighbouring community of Langdon.  I know Chestermere was devasted in the Spring by the loss of a wonderful piano teacher and hope that I might fill some of the gap that has resulted.

So now I guess I'm just wishing everyone a wonderful summer and hope to see many eager faces in the fall.

Psalm Pselebration

Calgary Lutheran Chorale

The Calgary Lutheran Chorale will be presenting "Psalm Pselebration" this Sunday, April 11 at 7pm.  The concert will be at Hope Lutheran Church, 3527 Boulton Rd.  I will be performing the solo Laudate Dominum from Mozart's Vesperes Solomneles.  Admission is free.