Week 4: Post your Progress!

Michelle R That would be amazing and yes do a livestream for sure!

Gail Starr Yes, he is technically entering his sophomore year, but he'll probably have enough credits to "graduate" by the end of next summer. It is already planned for him to begin college courses next summer, but we will need to decide when to have him officially graduate from high school. He's in a program where he'll be able to complete his BA when he's 19. 

If the same people are here when he does his recital, we'll definitely try to livestream it. I'm hoping it can be done during the same time as the Chamber Music Festival, or one of their events throughout the year, since it will be a fund-raiser for one of the many Festival programs.

Michelle R That sounds amazing!  I finished high school a bit early, and did a "free" year at our local university where my dad taught.  Do you that Thurmond would want to go to a conversatory for college or a school that gives him more choices in coursework?

Sindre Skarelven Thanks, Sindre. I do appreciate your kind words. I enjoyed learning and working on the piece. The recording was the last time I'll play it for awhile. I'm learning actual real piano technique, and since I learned this piece prior to beginning lessons, it seems wise to set it aside until the new techniques are more fully ingrained in my mind.

Of Thurmond's recent drawings, I think this one of Martha is probably my favorite. He captures something real and alive in it. And I can't get over the expression on her face!

Michelle R  that sounds very charming, Michelle! You have progessed so swiftly through the challenge! Thanks also for allowing us to marvel at Thurmond's lovely drawings.

Natalie Peh Thanks so much, Natalie! 

Gail Starr Gail, I just remembered that I had forgotten to respond to your question about Thurmond and conservatory/college. With his previous piano teacher, he had stated categorically that he would never go to conservatory - but now with his new teacher (since May), he has softened a bit and is considering conservatory again. He loves languages, too, and in our "start of year meeting" he listed music and languages as his top priorities. I don't know too many 15 year olds who eagerly spend half of their Saturday translating "The Aeneid" from the Latin! And he did a year of Russian over the summer so he could 'skip' a year and be in year 3 Russian this academic year. He hopes to travel Europe for a year or so once he's finished with his current academic program - with the desire to study and immerse himself in the folk music and history of different cultures!! (hopefully he'll play, and perhaps sing, a Ukrainian folk song for the next community concert).

Michelle R from the last community concert I honestly think that his tone quality has come a long way since last year (I guess due to change of teacher?). Hope to hear many more of his performances ... it's great to watch the progression of the young tonebase members :)

Priya Viseskul Yes, Priya, Thurmond's made a great leap forward with his new teacher. Thanks for noticing the change! He really clicked with this teacher, is now in lessons 2x per week, and they are exploring ideas in a way that really works for Thurmond. He is being challenged to look at things in a different way, and approach his playing more intelligently and thoughtfully. We feel extremely fortunate that this teacher actually had open places in his studio for both of us. 

Michelle R He is a young man with some very unique interests!  At my son's high school, most of the students were passionate about Latin and they attended national Latin festivals.  I'm sure Thurmond will pick the right university/conservatory that fits his interests when the time comes,

Michelle R re: your Challenge recording - works for me! Keep up the good work!

Randall Wayne thanks much!