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Teaching Studio I love teaching students how to play the harp, it is such a beautiful, fascinating, and rewarding instrument. Beginning students usually enjoy even the earliest learning stages, after all it is pretty difficult to make a harp sound bad! Students of all ages are welcome to participate in not only private lessons, but also harp ensemble and theory lessons. My teaching studio contains students of all ages and all skill levels. Please contact me to inquire about lessons. Studio News ~ NEW! Studio Calendar Current & Potential New Student Information |
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June 1, 2008 at 5pm ~ Harp Care Workshop Topics and interactive demonstrations will include: Changing nylon & gut strings, Practice tying the various types of string knots, Replacing Wire Strings, Cleaning your harp, Transporting your harp safely, & What is a regulation? A few free handouts will be provided and other materials are available if ordered in advance. Registration Deadline: May 18, 2008 Registration Fee: $10.00
May 3, 2008 ~ Congratulations to my students Danielle Cordray, Gabrielle Cordray, Zoë Martin, Whitney Souery, & Lauren Winters for successfully completing the two-part 2008 Music Education Auditions presented by the Austin Chapter of the American Harp Society. The above mentioned students participated in both auditions, performed three pieces (at least one from memory), and they received comments from auditors Maria Luisa Rayan on March 29, 2008 and Therese Honey on May 3, 2008.
February 2, 2008 ~ Congratulations to Lauren Winters who received a First Division rating for her performance in the High School UIL Solo & Ensemble competition.
January 28, 2008 ~ Congratulations to Danielle Cordray who won the audition to play a solo at the Williamson County Symphony Concerts on March 7 & 8, 2008.
December 15, 2007 at 2pm ~ Holiday Studio Recital. at the Walnut Creek Baptist Church The Holiday recital featured the piano students of Dr. Robert Lewis, and the harp students of Kela Walton. Performances included solos, duets, and a harp ensemble. Congratulations to my students Danielle Cordray, Gabrielle Cordray, Adriana Cox, Linda Godsy, Linda Goodman, Zoë Martin, and Lauren Winters for their wonderful performances.
August 19, 2007 ~ Blue Lake session 4 harp majors Emma Burck and Chloe Schmitz gave an outstanding recital in Blodgett Recital Hall. Both students performed solos beautifully, played several duets with each other and joined with the elective harp students in a large ensemble performance of Triptic Dance. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these two outstanding students this summer in Michigan.
August 3, 2007 ~ Lesson Schedule Request forms are now available for download in a Word document by clicking here. Deadline to return fall request forms to receive scheduling priority is August 17, 2007. Forms must be returned via email.
June 30, 2007 ~ Lauren Winters performed with the Longhorn Music Camp Harp Ensemble. One of seven harpists to attend Longhorn Music Camp Harp Week 2007, Lauren spent the week studying with UT harp professor Delaine Fedson and guest instructor Megan Metheney.
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Auditor Therese Honey and participants in the 2008 Austin Chapter of the AHS Music Education Auditions.
Blue Lake campers Emma and Chloe rehearsing. Click Here for more pictures from Blue Lake.
The adult harp ensemble performs at Crestview Baptist Church. Click Here for more pictures. |
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Current & Potential New Student Information
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I believe it is never too late to learn to play an instrument you love; we are all lifetime learners - myself included. Salzedo said it best, "There is nothing difficult - only new things, unaccustomed things." It is with this ideology in mind that I teach the harp to my students with an emphasis on building a solid technical foundation through practice, hard work, patience, having fun, and enjoying music. Technique & Curriculum I perform and teach using the Salzedo harp technique. I find it to be a very relaxed, natural, and beautiful approach to playing the harp. I draw from many teaching methods and philosophies to find the best approach for each student. Students study standard classical harp repertoire, music theory, and musicianship in both their individual lessons and ensemble rehearsals. Expectations
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Teaching Experience & Background I have been teaching both pedal and lever harp since 1998. I previously served on the faculty of the Moores School of Music Preparatory and Continuing Studies program in Houston, and on the faculty of various summer camps and workshops throughout the United States. My students have ranged in age from the very young to the young at heart. I am equally comfortable teaching children and adults, and I understand that everyone learns differently and at different paces. While my background and training are primarily in classical music, I also play and teach other genres such as folk, popular, and sacred music. I teach my students with their individual goals in mind. I try to help each of my students achieve a balance between learning the technique and skills necessary to be able to perform the pieces they want to learn. We work together keeping in mind this ultimate goal: to have fun making music. In teaching the harp, I pass on the skills taught to me by many wonderful harpists including: Gayle Barrington, a devoted teacher and my mentor since the age of twelve; and Paula Page, whose performances and lessons continue to inspire and challenge harpists everywhere. I also had the opportunity and pleasure of studying briefly with their teacher, one of Salzedo's famous pupils, the renowned Alice Chalifoux. These three extraordinary women, all of my former music teachers, and especially my first music and piano teacher, Joan Gregory, inspired my love of teaching music to others. I owe my pedagogy knowledge to them.
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For more detailed information about my background and training please see my Résumé.
Copyright © 2004-2008 Kela Walton. All rights reserved.
