Music Education

For parents who are looking for music camps for their children to attend this summer, the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp might just be the place you are searching for. Located in Michigan, USA, this music camp also offers art, dance, and theater programs. Also, if you're planning a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio this summer, the Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum would be a great place to stop by. It was founded in 1996 by David A. Klingshim; a businessman, with the help of composers Alan Sepp and Samuel Adler.

This Day in Music History: 1813 - Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany. He was a composer and librettist famous for his operas. Among his operas are Tannhäuser, Der Ring des Nibelungen, Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal.

Time flies and before we know it summer will be here. Thinking of fun activities to participate in this summer? Or perhaps you'd like to explore places you've never been to and make new friends? Plan ahead and check out the following resources:

2012 Music Festivals in the USA - There are a number of scheduled music festivals across the United States this summer. There is something for every age, interest and budget. Make sure to read each festival's guide for the line-up of events, list of services, camping guidelines, facilities and other pertinent info that will make your experience fun and stress-free.

Summer Music Camps - Thinking of ways to keep young young ones occupied? What better way to spend the summer than going to music camps or attending music programs! Not only will it be a fun experience, it will also be educational. Here are several summer music camps that may be of interest.

International Choir Competitions - There are many choir competitions and festivals held all over the world. These competitions are a way of showcasing a groups' singing prowess as well as a chance to meet new friends and travel to different parts of the globe. if you're a member of a vocal group, here's a list of festivals for amateur or professional choirs.

This Day in Music History: 1904 - Fats Waller was born in Waverly, New York. He was a jazz organist, pianist, singer, composer and bandleader of small bands during the 1930s.

In the past, Mother's Day was meant to remember mothers who have passed away; but through the years it has evolved and now encompasses all mothers, or those who play the role of a mother (such as aunts and grandmothers). It is said that the idea for a Mother's Day originated from Anna Jarvis when on May 12, 1907, she held a memorial service in Grafton, West Virginia for her late mother. There is no denying how influential mothers are; they are our nurturers, mentors, confidante, source of courage and inspiration. Here are 10 well-known composers whose first musical influence were their mothers. Happy Mother's Day!

This Day in Music History: 1842 - Arthur Sullivan was born in London, England. He was a composer, conductor and teacher especially noted for his successful collaborations with librettist William Schwenk Gilbert.

Marian Anderson was an American contralto singer who faced discrimination during her time but managed to triumph over it with courage and grace. She toured the United States, Europe, Latin America, India and Australia, performed in prestigious venues and for distinguished political figures. She received many honorary degrees, awards and accolades including the American Medal of Freedom in 1963, and National Medal of Arts in 1986.

This Day in Music History: On this day in 1833, composer Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany. He was a pianist, composer, conductor, music director and teacher. He was also a voracious reader; his collection of books are now stored at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. Also on this day in 1840, composer Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsk, Russia. And on this day in 1951, singer-songwriter Janis Ian was born in New York City.

It is said that the planet Mercury is almost completely covered in craters, the biggest of which is called Caloris Basin. Another interesting fact to note is that the craters on Mercury are named after famous people, including composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Vivaldi. Check out Table 1 and Table 2 to see the list of composers for whom Mercury craters were named after.

This Day in Music History: 1886 - The graphophone, a later version of the phonograph, was patented.

Various important events happened on the month of May -  from births, deaths to milestones. Wilhelm Schimmel started his company in Leipzig on May 2, 1885; Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel died in Berlin, Germany on May 14, 1847;  jazz musician Fats Waller was born in Waverly, New York on May 21, 1904; and composer  Franz Joseph Haydn died in Vienna on May 31, 1809. Find out what other music-related events happened from May 1 to 15 and May 16 to 31 respectively.

This Day in Music History: 2004 - Ray Charles made his last public appearance at his recording studio in Los Angeles. He passed away less than two months later.

In the words of the English poet John Donne, "No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent..." Many of the great men and women we read about in history books or whose life stories we watch on TV or films, had mentors that they looked up to. Many influential composers had mentors too who served as positive influences and inspirations that helped them reach their goals. For example, the French composer Gabriel Fauré was a student of Camille Saint-Saëns, and they remained friends long after Faure graduated.

This Day in Music History: - On this day in 1899, Duke Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. Also on this day in 1961, Luciano Pavarotti had his operatic debut as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème.

I enjoy reading biographies of famous people because I discover little known facts about them that are often inspiring. Like so many of us, they also held odd jobs or started out in different fields before finally finding their niche. For example, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky used to be a lieutenant in the army; composer Franz Waxman was a bank teller, and Irving Berlin worked as a singing waiter. With sheer determination and perseverance, they turned their dreams into reality and to this day we continue to draw inspiration from their music.

This Day in Music History: 1891 - Composer Sergey Prokofiev was born in Sontsovka, Ukraine, Russian Empire. "Peter and the Wolf" was written by Prokofiev in 1936 and was meant for a children's theater in Moscow. The said work serves as a great children's introduction to instruments.

What does Anton Bruckner and Elliott Carter have in common? Aside from the fact that they are highly-regarded composers, they wrote their most notable works when they were already in their 50s. Bruckner's "Symphony No. 7 in E Major" is believed to have been written between 1881 to 1883, while Carter's "String Quartet No. 2" won a Pulitzer Prize in 1960. So the next time you think you're too old to accomplish your goals, think about all the so called "late bloomers" who have proven you wrong.

This Day in Music History: 1944 - Cécile Chaminade died in Monte-Carlo. She was a composer and pianist especially known for her piano pieces. She also wrote melodies, salon songs, orchestral suites, an opera and a ballet.

Have you ever wondered what life would be like today if nobody ever dared to take that first step? What if Shakespeare didn't capture his thoughts on paper; or Einstein didn't share his theory of relativity; or Leonardo Da Vinci didn't paint the Mona Lisa? Throughout history there are great men and women who were brave enough to take that first step that, not only changed their lives, but also changed other people's perceptions. In music, there are many composers, conductors and musicians who paved the way for others who followed.

This Day in Music History: 1924 - Henry Mancini was born in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. He was a composer, arranger and conductor especially noted for his television and film scores. In all he won 20 Grammys, 4 Academy Awards and 2 Emmys. He wrote scores for over 80 films including Breakfast at Tiffany's.