4teachers – Page 18

Review: Ballet Studio Inspirations: Volume Three

September 28, 2011 by 4dancers

Ballet Studio Inspirations is a comprehensive CD of piano music for ballet class by Richard Maddock. There are 43 original compositions on the album – 20 for the barre and the rest for centre work. Putting the word “inspirations” in the title is appropriate–as the music really does inspire.

Maddock is truly an artist–his work is just beautiful, and I am looking forward to using it in my adult ballet class. Although it was developed for a pre-professional class, this CD would work well for most levels, and it is a refreshing departure from the standard ballet class music. There is more of a gentle, yearning feel to Maddock’s slower tracks that should coax out feeling from your dancers–even at the barre.

The more upbeat tunes are lively and well-played too, but I believe Maddock is at his best when the more lyrical music is running through his fingers. All-in-all this album of tracks created for ballet class is something that would round out any dance teacher’s collection nicely. When you are in the mood for something that will motivate your dancers to experiment with phrasing and emotion, this is the CD you will reach for. The port de bras music is especially lovely.

I found Maddock’s CD to be an unexpected and wonderful addition to my collection of ballet class music. It’s really nice to have some original compositions to include–especially when they are arranged and played as well as they are here. It can be challenging to find great CDs for ballet class. This is one of them.

Maddock has sample tracks on his website and you can also purchase CDs there. In addition, his work can be found on Amazon and iTunes if you are looking for digital downloads.

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Review: The Magic Wand by Lisa Harris

September 21, 2011 by 4dancers

When I began building my ballet music collection, Lisa Harris was one of the first dance class CDs that I bought. I still have it (and others by her) today.

Although I don’t teach little ones any more, if I did, The Magic Wand would be something I would enjoy using. With 30 tracks to choose from, there is plenty of variety, no matter what type of creative movement exercises you have planned. There are slow tracks, perfect for “princess” type dance, medium tempo tracks that are good for marching, and high-energy tracks that lend themselves to big movements or group dance.

You’ll hear favorites such as “When You Wish Upon A Star”,”Skip to My Lou”, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” and “Spoonful of Sugar” here, making it easy to plan dances without having to first familiarize yourself with the music. Harris, as always, plays beautifully and clearly, ideal for dancers.

Take advantage of tracks like “The Hokey Pokey” and “I’m A Little Teapot” to teach more well-known movements, and use the rest of the tracks to inspire your imagination. This album is really geared for pre-ballet classes, and it provides just the right kind of music for the little dancers. Any ballet teacher who has tots would love this CD for their collection.

Harris offers a wide range of music, so even if you aren’t interested in pre-ballet music, you can take a look at what she has for grown ups too. Her website has a full range of offerings, including some digital downloads and a boxed set of CDs for teachers.

Learn more about Lisa Harris or purchase a ballet class CD on her website.

10 Questions With…Robert Long

September 12, 2011 by 4dancers

Today on 10 Questions With… we have Robert Long, a musician who plays for dancers…

1. Can you tell readers a bit about how you got into music?

I started in music the way most kids probably do. There was a lady in the village who gave piano lessons, so off I went. I was 7 or 8.

2. How did you wind up playing for dancers?

I had finished university (Mus. Bach, M.A., University of Toronto), and couldn’t find any employment.Through friends I received some contacts for ballet schools, so I decided to give it a try, even though I had no idea what to play.

3. What are the special considerations you must address when arranging music for dance class?

For me, the considerations to be addressed involve the instructor I’m working with. Some like quicker tempos, some slower; some like lengthy exercises, some shorter, and so on. Beyond that, an instructor could have personal preferences: ragtime, tangos, habaneras, adages in 4/4 instead of 3/4, continuous exercises at the barre with 4 counts to turn the middle; things like that.

4. What do you enjoy most about working on this type of music? [Read more…]

Review: Modern Ballet Studio Melodies, Volume 3

September 7, 2011 by 4dancers

Yet another ballet class music CD by Christopher Hobson, and it does not disappoint. Modern Ballet Studio Melodies, Volume 3 has more of the excellent quality music that I have come to expect from his albums. Again, this CD is filled with unique arrangements of familiar music, such as “The Way We Were”, “Rehab”, “Misty” and more.

There are 17 tracks for the barre and 36 for the centre. Frankly, I think that owning all three of these CDs would be a great idea for any ballet teacher or studio owner. They add a bit of spice and verve to the class environment without being silly. It’s nice to change things up a bit here and there.

If you can’t have a live pianist, it pays to invest in good music that you will be able to use again and again. This CD of ballet class music qualifies–and it is available in the UK (as well as other places…see link below) – something that I get requests for all the time.

It’s obvious that Hobson plays for dancers. Not every pianist can arrange music so that it is paced correctly without taking the life out of it. He is able to maintain passion and energy while keeping proper time for the exercises. Well done indeed.

Keep an eye on what’s up with Christopher Hobson and his music by joining him on Facebook

If you like, purchase Modern Ballet Studio Melodies, Volume 3 here.

10 Questions With…Jacob Lyon

August 29, 2011 by 4dancers

Today’s “10 Questions With…” features Jacob Lyon from Ballet Quad Cities….

1. How did you become involved in dance?

I had done a few years of show choir in high school with no formal training. Then, when I was 18, a friend of mine asked if I would join her in taking the ballet class at the community college we were attending. I didn’t have any reservations or anything better to do, so I did.

When I went to buy my first pair of shoes, and the store was attached to a studio. While I was trying on shoes, the owner of the studio walked in and stopped dead in her tracks and said, “oh, a boy!” She told me that if I took the ballet partnering class and one other ballet class a week, I could take as much as I wanted of everything for free. The partnering with the ladies was my favorite class, and I started taking as many ballet classes as I had time for. The rest is history.

2. What are you currently doing in the field?

Currently, I dance for Ballet Quad Cities. We do a lot of contemporary work along with some character and modern dance. I love being in a small company because I dance till I drop. Even in shows when I don’t feel like I’m dancing much, I remember that in larger companies, people sometimes only get to do ONE thing in a show. We all get to dance a lot, and I get the opportunity to dance a lot of great parts that I would never have gotten in a larger company. The friendships I have made with the other dancers are also increasingly more important the older I get.

3. Can you share a special moment from your career? [Read more…]

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