Check our past E-Newsletters
E-Newsletter 19, Oct 2023
Thursday, October 5, 2023 by Andy Ng | E-Newsletters
E-NEWSLETTER 19, October, 2023
9/20/23–v2
9/29/23–v3
#—New Students for Oct, 2023
#—MTAC Student Recital: Oct-Dec.
#—Award Recipients in Sept, 2023
#—Sept, Theory Classes Pictures
#—OCTOBER GROUP MAKE-UP CLASSES
#- Sept-Dec breaks/vacation for Dr Ng
#—Covid-19 strikes Dr Ng
#—GEMS from pass E-Newsletters
NEW STUDENTS for OCTOBER, 2023
1. Kristen A, 7, violin, 9/13/23
2. Alan T, 13, cello & piano, 9/8/23
3. Jacqueline W, 10, 10/15/23
MTAC RECITALS
Dear students/parents,
Please join and prepare for as many recitals & scholarships in this list as possible. Last year, no student was awarded the high school scholarships. This year it will awarded to a high school student, which will be decided by application form and audition.
Please record the date, location, as well as the name of your solo(s) of your performances for recitals, church, nursing homes & MSSL which will be used to determine the youth awards for students in Grades K - 12.
MTAC RECITALS/EVENTS IN 2023/2024
DATE
EVENT
LOCATION/INFORMATION
2. Thursday, September 28
Jazz/Pop Festival Registration Due $20 (with judging & medallion?)
Due to Andy Ng
Saturday, October 14
Jazz/Pop Festival
Beale Library Auditorium
3. Thursday, October 12
MSSL (Music Students Service League) Halloween Recital Registr. Registration
Due to Andy Ng (no fee)
Saturday, October 28
MSSL Halloween Recital
Beale Library Auditorium
4. Thursday, November 9
November Recital Registration Due $5
Due to Andy Ng
Sunday, November 19
November Recital
Mill Creek Christian Church
5. Thursday, November 23
MSSL Holiday Recital Registration
Due to Andy Ng (no fee)
Saturday, December 9
MSSL Holiday Recital
Edwards Theater @ Marketplace
Award Recipients in Sept, 2023
1. JULIAN ISAIAH VIDUYA, 8, PIANO CHAMPION DISTINCTION 131/150, 9/12/23
2. JACOB CAMERON VIDUYA, 12
PIANO CHAMPION DISTINCTION, 132/150, 9/12/23
3. JACOB CAMERON VIDUYA, 12
VIOLIN CHAMPION DISTINCTION, 130/150, 9/12/23

SEPTEMBER THEORY CLASS PICS
Sept. 2023 Theory Classes
Theory homework reminder: Remember to copy at least one piece, for each instrument for next theory class homework
for $2 bill reward.
T2. 1st TUES—TEAL THEORY, 9/5/23–6:15-6:40, 25 min, George N; Bernadette R: intervals; note values with rhythmic syllables, solfège; note names, place specific names with one hand.

T4. 1st THURS—1:30 PURPLE THEORY, 9/7/23: Ruth G, Amelia C, content: rhythmic syllables; Place specific names: 4 F, Chromatic scale solfège,
Sight singing

T5. 1st THURS—5:00 pm: RED THEORY 9/7/23: Jacob V, Slan T, Julian V, Saoirse B, Letty S, Bailey V, Ashley V; Content: Solfège; Rhythmic Syllables, content: 4F’s: Foot/1SB, Fish/TS, Face/BS, Flag/TL; Intervals: cuckoo III vs Froggy VI;

T8. 1st FRI—APRICOT Theory, 4:00 pm 9/8/23. Daniel T, Bernadette R, Zeah L, Violet E; content: 4F’s: Foot/1SB, Fish/TS, Face/BS, Flag/TL; Intervals: cuckoo III vs Froggy VI;

T1. 1st MON—5:30 pm: SILVER THEORY 9/11/23; Zeah Leah, Violet E, Alondra F, Bernadette R, Manuel V.; Contents: Solfège, 4F’s: Foot/1SB, Fish/TS, Face/BS, Flag/TL; Intervals: Major 3rd Happy, minor 3rd sad.

T6. 2nd THURS—5:00 pm: BLUE THEORY 9/14/23: Alejandro R, Saoirse B, Kristen A, Cohen M, Letty S, Alan T; Content: PSN (place specific Names): 4 F’s, 4 G’s: top to bottom G-clef: 1SA=Goose, 2L=GOAT; F-clef: TS=Goldfish, BL=Gopher; intervals: Grasshopper4 vs Quacky 5; Cuckoo 3 vs Froggy6…

9/14/23–piano group: Alejandro R, Violet E, Cohen M; rhapsody by Liszt, recital prep

T9. 2nd FRI— MANGO Theory, 2:15 pm 9/15/23: Scarlet M, Zeah L, Content: Solfège, 4 F’s, Flag, Face, Fish, Foot; Intervals: Major 3rd vs minor 3rd; cuckoo 3 vs Froggy 6. semiquavers & quavers—Ti-tika/Tea coffee; Mississippi stop stop

T3. 3rd WED—11:30 am/5:00 pm: WHITE THEORY, 9/20/23–Cancelled
T7. 3rd THURS—5:00 pm: GREEN THEORY 9/21/23: Alan T, Bailey V, Cohen M, Letty S, Saoirse B & Mark A; Scales in Thirds: 1 3, 2 4, 3 5, 4 6, 5 7, 6 1, 7 2, 1 3; 3 1, 2 7, 1 6, 7 5, 6 4, 5 3, 4 2, 3 1;
1. Review 4 F’s Flag-TL, Face-BS, Fish-4L; Foot-1SB
2. Learn 4 G’s: Goose-1SA, Goat-2L; Goldfish-TS, Golpher—BL
3. Plan for 4 E’s: Eagle—TS, Elephant—BL, Eel—MS, Earthworm—1LB

Violin Group 9/18/23, 5:00, 40 min
Mark Alford, Violet Esposo, Cohen Morris, Alondra Figueroa

#—OCTOBER GROUP MAKE-UP CLASSES
GROUP Make-up Classes (sign-up, min 2)
V1–9/20/23
1st Thurs 5:45 pm—Violet Violin, 10/12/23–
2nd Thurs 5:45 pm—Orange Piano, 10/19/23–
3rd Thurs 5:45 pm—Yellow Guitar, 10/26/23–Cohen,
2nd MON—5:00 pm—Bronze Violin, 10/16/23–
3rd MON—5:00 pm—Piano group, 10/23/23–
4th MON—5:00 pm—Platinum Guitar, 10/30/23
2nd FRI—10:30 am—Vivaldi Violin, 10/20/23
Sept-Dec breaks or vacation for Dr Ng:
1. 9/25/23-10/8/23–16 days
2. 11/10/23–Friday Public Holiday
3. 11/18/23-11/26/23–9 days
4. 11/30/23–1-day, Thursday
5. 12/16/23-12/31/23–16 days
#—Covid-19 strikes Dr Ng
On 9/18/23, I was coughing like crazy, didn’t sleep well the previous night because of upset stomach and splitting headache, so the Covid kit test confirmed I had Covid-19. My vaccines & boosters: Sinovac (9/14/21), AstraZenica (10/12/21); Pfizer booster (2), Moderna Booster —(5/27/22)
Result is to continue classes on FaceTime, Messenger or RockOutLoud app with the best audio, until my Covid is gone. Group theory classes can continue with zoom.
Monday, 9/18/23, preparation for the 9/24/23 MTAC recital took 2-3 hours. All students and families are invited to attend the free recitals at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm at Mill Creek Christian church, 1616 S St, Bakersfield, about opposite the AMTRAK Station.

Optional help:
The next 2 weeks, Dr Ng is off, but if you need help, please record short videos 30 sec-2 min., during your normal weekly lesson time—of your challenging sections of pieces to email to teacher for comments of improvement.
#—GEMS from pass E-Newsletters
E-Newsletter 8B, October, 2022
Congratulations to new Apprentice/Musician Test Award Recipients
1. Violet E, Apprentice Violin Merit, 127/150, 9/26/22
2. Julian V, Apprentice Piano Merit, 129/150, 9/27/22
3. Jacob V, Apprentice Violin Merit, 120/150, 9/27/22
4. Jacob V, Apprentice Piano Distinction, 133/150, 9/27/22
5. George N, Musician Violin Distinction, 131/150, 9/27/22
6. Billie M, Apprentice Cello Merit, 126/150, 9/28/20
7. Alejandro R, Apprentice Piano Merit, 128/150, 9/28/22
8. Daniel Tomas, 7, Musician Violin Merit, 123/150. 10/7/22
9. Mark Alford, 60, Apprentice Violin Merit, 121/150, 10/15/22
Early life of Amadeus Mozart—-Who are those strangers whose music I play.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart improvised at the age of two and played violin by ear in his father’s quartet at the age of four. One amazing story tells how little Mozart actually substituted for a violinist one night simply by picking up the instrument and playing without any prior tutelage. Wolfgang wrote notes before words. The baby sat at the clavier for any length of time, willingly and eagerly touching the keys tentatively and delicately. At five he cared for nothing but music. His first book of minuets and songs was published when he was six. One of young Mozart’s tricks was to play and improvise on the clavier for the Kings and Queens of Europe—-blindfolded!
E-Newsletter 4, June, 2022
WHO WANTS PERFECT PITCH?
I just returned from a visit to my mother, Ann Ng who is only 95 years young—she is doing fine; and my musical sister, Angeline Ng-Schalesky, 53, who is an accomplished concert pianists and has a very special talent—she has perfect pitch! You play any piece and she will know what key it is in, like A major or B minor. This talent is rare but I hope all my students can develop perfect pitch. How? Well everyday try to sing the A4-440, the A above middle C, or the A of the 2nd string of the violin or the 1st string of the viola and cello or 5th string of the guitar. Than compare with the piano or instrument and see how close you are. Parents, please help me train your children to develop perfect pitch by testing them everyday. Make it a game and have fun.
WHO WANTS TO BECOME A FAMOUS COMPOSER? (I got this idea from Angeline Ng again)
Road to becoming a composer: Begin to copy Bach or any music piece you are learning, every day in a beautiful manuscript book. Start with 2-4 measures. Aim for 2 lines everyday
Angeline has a friend who did this as a music student and now she is composing wonderful music. Adult students and parents of my students, please get a quality manuscript book and encourage your student or yourself to start copying music, 2- lines of Mozart’s Twinkle Variations (in full) and Theme; and best of all Johan Sebastian Bach’s works from Minuet I to his mighty organ or orchestral works. Doing this daily will be the goal.
