Can you believe it’s a new year and a new decade?! We here at the Nelly Berman School are super excited about all the events and classes we’ll be offering this winter semester!
Our winter semester starts on Thursday, January 2, 2020, and concludes on Sunday, April 5, 2020. Please read on to learn more about how your child can become involved in group musical activities and/or gain a more comprehensive knowledge of music through music theory and music history classes!
- Starting on Sunday, January 26th, our chamber orchestra will begin hour-long rehearsals, which will meet weekly on Sundays at 3:00pm throughout February and March. Our orchestra will be led by violin faculty member Irina Schuck. On Sunday, March 15th, the orchestra will perform selections from Saint-Saen’s “Carnival of the Animals” on the big stage at West Chester University’s Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre. Playing in an orchestra is a wonderful chance to learn how to work in a group and make new friends who share a love for music!
- The orchestra fee is $150, which covers instruction at all orchestra rehearsals as well as performance costs. The office may also organize sectional rehearsals (rehearsals for all orchestra performers of the same instrument) at the discretion of Irina, which will cost $30 each; they are not required but are strongly recommended.
- Also starting at the end of January, our brass faculty member Frank Stroble will lead a brass group to perform “Hornpipe” from Handel’s Water Music. Frank has created an arrangement accessible to brass players of all ages and levels, and this group will also perform at West Chester University on March 15th. Each rehearsal will cost $30/member.
- We’ll also be continuing our offering of online music theory courses, taught by piano faculty member Dr. Ariane Alexander. Students who passed last semester’s course are welcome to continue with level 2! Classes start up on Saturday, February 1, 2020, and conclude on Saturday, April 11, 2020.
- This interactive music theory course gives students the chance to learn music theory by playing what is being taught on their own instrument. In addition to theory basics, a compositional element will be included as part of the homework assignments.
- Level 1 Classes will be offered Saturdays at 9:00am (for ages 9-12) and at 3:30pm (for ages 13-18). Level 2 Classes will be offered Saturdays at 5:00pm (for ages 10-18). Classes will cost $360 for the semester.
- Dr. Ariane Alexander will also be bringing back her popular music history courses, which were a big hit with our summer campers and fall semester students! Classes start up on Saturday, February 1, 2020, and conclude on Saturday, April 11, 2020.
- Students will learn about the historical background, architecture, art, and literature of each musical era and how they influenced or were influenced by the composers of that time. Students will also learn about the composers and styles of the pieces they are playing. They will see images of the great palaces of the Baroque era and hear performances on period instruments, Mozart Sonatas played on Mozart’s forte-piano, and much more! Note taking will not be required.
- This class is open to students ages 9-18 and live classes will take place on Saturdays at 2:00pm. Classes will cost $360 for the semester.
- Please contact the office at office@nbsmusic.com or at 610-896-5105 if you are interested in any of the above offerings!
We also are thrilled to announce some exciting community events this semester:
- On Sunday, February 23rd, at 6:00pm, the Nelly Berman School will hold its Annual Faculty Recital and International Food Reception at St. Luked United Methodist Church in Bryn Mawr, PA. This event is our most popular of the year, and is a great chance for NBS students to hear and be inspired by their teachers, many of whom have international performing careers. Please click here to purchase tickets, and please share this event with your friends and family!
- On Sunday, March 15th, at 3:00pm, the Nelly Berman School will partner with the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet in Narberth for our multimedia event, the “Celebration of the Arts” Gala Concert. This concert will feature our music students performing classical pieces alongside choreographed dances by the ballet students of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. The event will culminate in our chamber orchestra’s performance of selections from “Carnival of the Animals” by Saint-Saens, which will feature Philadelphia media personality Doug Shimell and student actors from Arden Theater performing the accompanying monologue, as well as ballet students from the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet performing a choreographed piece. Please click here to purchase tickets, and please share this event with your friends and family!
This year, we also will be working with public access TV station Main Line TV – Main Line Network, which broadcasts on Channel 21 in Radnor and Comcast 99 and Verizon 34 in the Lower Merion Township, on a 12-episode show titled “Nelly’s Song”. Please click here to watch the first episode!
