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Sunburst News - October 2024

Alex Stanton • October 9, 2024

  October 2024 - Issue #86


IN THIS ISSUE:

  • Save the Date - Winter Recitals ๐ŸŽผ
  • Join a Group Class this Fall ๐Ÿ‚
  • Spooky Season Events ๐ŸŽƒ
  • Sunburst Cabaret ๐ŸŽญ
  • Perform at Open Mic ๐ŸŽค
  • Join our Piano Club! ๐ŸŽน
  • Farewell to Mila Shadel โค๏ธ

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Piano Club - 10/18
  • Sunburst Cabaret - 10/19
  • Halloween Party - 10/25
  • Fall Group Programs Enrollment Deadline - 10/31
  • Trick or Treat - 10/31
  • Improv Workshop - 11/8

Save the date for our Winter Recitals!


Recital time is our favorite part of the year at Sunburst! It's always incredible to see all of our students' hard work and practice come together on stage. Performing for an audience is a valuable experience and an important part of learning any instrument, and we encourage everyone, regardless of how long they’ve been playing, to give it a shot.

 

We hold our recitals in a series of one hour sessions here at Sunburst over the course of the first few weekends in December. Sometime this month, we’ll announce the full schedule of which teachers will be at which session and begin sign ups. Keep an eye out for the next update and start talking to your instructor about how and what you might like to perform!


Join a Group Class this Fall!


Enrollment for Music Together and the Sunburst Band Program is open until October 31st! Whether you're looking to start your little one’s music journey, fulfill your dream of playing in a band, or perhaps both, we’ve got you covered!


Our Music Together program is designed for children ages 0–8 and focuses on building foundational music skills through play. Meanwhile, the Sunburst Band Program offers the exciting experience of playing in a band, with opportunities to perform live on stage!


Visit our website to explore the available classes, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!

Sign up here

Spooky Season Events


Save the date for our annual Halloween party on Friday, October 25th, from 5–8:30 PM. This party is for all ages, including our littles. Check out this years spooky themes!


Little Monsters Mash

Ages 0–8 | 5:30–7:00 PM


The first bit of the evening will be dedicated to our youngest kiddos, ages infant–8 years old, featuring spooktacular games, crafts, and snacks. Older siblings are more than welcome to join in on the fun.

๏ปฟ

Night of the Living Bands

All Ages | 7:00–8:30 PM


The final act will feature live music from our talented students in the Sunburst Band Program, a costume contest, and plenty of snacks, crafts, and games to go around! Hope to see you there!


Sunburst Cabaret


Tickets are still available for the next Sunburst Cabaret: Sunburst on the Big Screen! Join us on Saturday, October 19th, at 7:30 pm for an evening of music from films that broke the box office, like James Bond, Harry Potter, Barbie, and more!

 

DETAILS

  • Date: Saturday, October 19th
  • Doors: 7:00 | Music: 7:30
  • Location: Sunburst School of Music

 

Please keep in mind that while admission is free, we will be requiring everyone to register for the event in order to prepare adequate seating in the lobby!


Register here

Join our Piano Club!


Join us for the very first meeting of the Sunburst Piano Club on Friday, October 18th from 6:30–7:30pm, led by our talented instructor Jaime Cohen! And its FREE! Held every third Friday of the month, this club is a great opportunity for piano students to dive deeper into music theory, enjoy interactive and educational games like Music Jeopardy, and gain performance experience!

 

Playing and even learning music in a group setting is a powerful way to accelerate progress with your instrument, and we’re excited to offer another opportunity to do just that. A huge thanks to Jaime for bringing this awesome idea to us. Hope to see you there!


Sign up here

Happy Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month!


Happy Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month! A huge thank you to everyone who has already contributed to this month’s playlist. If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late—stop by our song request table in the lobby to add your favorite tracks!

 

We also invite you to check out our latest blog post here, where instructors Laura Fidalgo and Ivan Orellana open up about how their cultural backgrounds have shaped their music journeys. We’re so grateful for their contributions and hope their stories resonate with you as much as they did with us!


Check out the playlist on Spotify


Farewell and Best Wishes to Mila Shadel


As we say goodbye to September, we also say a heartfelt farewell to our talented guitar instructor, Mila Shadel. After a successful tenure here at Sunburst, Mila has decided to take the next big step in her career, pursuing her dream of being a full-time musician.

 

As a female guitarist, Mila’s time with us has been nothing short of inspiring. She has shared her incredible skill, passion for music, and dedication to her students, leaving a lasting impact on everyone she has taught. Her approach to teaching was always thoughtful and personalized, helping students not only improve technically but also find joy and creativity in their playing.

 

While we will miss her presence, we are excited to see where this new chapter takes her. Mila’s commitment to her craft and her adventurous spirit are sure to lead her to great things in the music world.

 

Thank you, Mila, for your hard work, your music, and the way you’ve enriched our Sunburst community. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and look forward to hearing your music as you continue to shine.

 

Best of luck, Mila – your Sunburst family will always be cheering you on!


Thanks for reading!


Let us know if you have any questions, comments, etc. Thanks as always for being a part of the Sunburst Community!

 

Best Wishes, 

–Sunburst Team


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Sign-ups are now open for our Winter Recitals! Each teacher will be hosting one or two 45-minute sessions during the first two weeks of December. Students can sign up through the link below, or feel free to reach out to us here , and we’ll be happy to assist with the registration process. Here are a few key reminders about the recitals: Participation is free, but we do welcome donations to our Scholarship Fund . You can contribute when you check out, or we’ll also be accepting cash donations at the door. Thank you for your support! Each recital session lasts about 50 minutes, featuring 12–15 students. We anticipate an audience of 40–60 people. Friends and family are encouraged to attend! If you plan on bringing more than four guests, please let us know in advance so we can arrange seating accordingly. If you’re unable to attend your teacher’s assigned session but still want to perform, let us know! We’ll do our best to accommodate you in another session. Adults are welcome to participate in their teacher’s session or in a special BYOB adults-only session on December 13th! Not all teachers will attend the adult session, so be sure to discuss this with your instructor ahead of time. Regularly scheduled lessons and programs may overlap with some recital times, so we kindly ask everyone to be mindful of this when entering and leaving the building. We're here for any recital-related questions (or anything else!), so don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see everyone perform this winter!
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IN THIS ISSUE: Fall Group Programs Enrollment August Camp Recap Sunburst Cabaret Perform at Open Mic Interview with Bank Limtham Meet our New Instructors Tuition Update Reminder IMPORTANT DATES: Sunburst Plays - 9/14 Sunburst Jams - 9/27 Night Market - 9/28 Open Mic - 10/4 Sunburst Cabaret - 10/19 Fall Group Programs Enrollment Deadline - 10/31 Enroll in our Fall Group Programs! We’re still enrolling new students in our Music Together classes and Sunburst Band Program this fall! Between these two programs, we offer something for students of all ages, from infants to adults. While our Music Together program is geared toward children ages 0–8 and focuses on building foundational music skills through play, the Sunburst Band Program provides the experience of playing in a band and performing live on stage throughout the year! Here are the programs we’re excited to offer this fall. Music Together - Ages 0–8 Mixed–Age Class - 0–5 Rhythm Kids Level I - 4–5 Rhythm Kids Level II - 5–8 The Sunburst Band Program Ages 8–10 Ages 10–17 Adults 18+ We’re sadly not offering bands for the 8–10 age group this fall, but do get in touch if you’re interested and we’ll add you to the waitlist. Sign up here! August Camp Recap The end of summer is always bittersweet, but as we look forward to the new and exciting things ahead this fall, we want to give a big shoutout to all of our campers, parents, and teachers who made this summer great. The creativity, kindness, and teamwork the campers brought to the table each day were energizing and inspiring. Thank you all for making our 2024 summer camp season such a success! We wrapped up the season with our annual Night at the Rock Opera camp, which has developed a bit of a cult following over the years. Check out the highlights on the Sunburst Blog! Read more on the blog Sunburst Cabaret We're thrilled to announce the second edition of the Sunburst Cabaret, Sunburst on the Big Screen: The Best of Film Music, happening on Saturday, October 19th, at 7:30 pm. Join us for an evening of music from films that broke the box office, like James Bond, Harry Potter, Barbie, and more! DETAILS Date: Saturday, October 19th Doors: 7:00 | Music: 7:30 Location: Sunburst School of Music Please keep in mind that while admission is free, we will be requiring everyone to register for the event in order to prepare adequate seating in the lobby! Register here Perform at the next Sunburst Open Mic Sign up to perform at the next Sunburst Open Mic on October 4th! Our Open Mics are a laid-back, welcoming space to practice playing in front of an audience, and they can even be used to get extra practice before the Winter Recitals. Sign up using the link below. We hope to see you there! Sessions 6pm - All Ages 7pm - Adults 21+ (BYOB) Sign up here Interview with Instructor Bank Limtham Thanakarn (Bank) Limtham, one of Sunburst's talented piano instructors, has recently released a new jazz single, "Ask Me Now," now streaming on all platforms. We asked Bank a few questions about the tracks! Can you tell us a little about the inspiration behind these tracks? The songs in this single were introduced to me by listening to Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, two of the pianists that I’ve always admired. I have listened to their versions of these songs since I was in high school, and I felt inspired to create my own take on these tunes. How does your experience as a piano teacher influence your approach to creating music? Teaching is like a mirror; it is reflecting back onto you. In this creative process, I have had to apply the things that I always tell my students to do. Patience is the key to success and I have to make sure that I stay true to my own ideas while maintaining the flexibility to work through any obstacles in the creative journey. What challenges did you face while producing your music, and how did you overcome them? I recorded in my home without access to a lot of tools for recording and production. I was very fortunate to have the help of one of my fellow Sunburst instructors, Andrew J. Nauss, who mixed the songs for me. When I sat down to record, I had decided that I shouldn’t let my desire for a perfect end product keep me from trying my best with the resources I have right now. What advice would you give to students who are interested in composing and releasing their own music? Don’t let anything or anyone become an obstacle to making music. Listen to yourself and believe in what you do. Can you share any upcoming projects or future plans for your music career? I am forming a jazz group with several artists and friends at Sunburst School of Music, with the goal of performing together around the city. I will continue my collaborations with other artists while working toward releasing an EP or album of my own compositions soon. What do you hope your students and others take away from listening to your music? I hope that everyone, especially my students, understands that music is so powerful, and it is a tool that you can use to communicate messages to the listeners right away. Use it wisely and love every note you play. Every little fragment of your ideas matters, and it does not matter how long it does take you to finish it, just keep doing it. Stream here Meet our New Instructors Giulia Galante - Voice Instructor We are excited to introduce Giulia Galante, a talented singer and educator, to the Sunburst School of Music team! At just 23, Giulia brings a wealth of experience, having recently graduated with a Bachelor’s in Voice Performance from Duquesne University, where she specialized in classical vocal technique and explored styles like samba, bossa nova, pop, and jazz. Giulia's talents have earned her several accolades, including the Encouragement Award and Undergraduate Winner Award from the Marguerite Dougherty Competition. She has performed as a first soprano and soloist with the Voices of Spirit choir and has extensive teaching experience, including roles at The Woodlands Foundation Summer Camp and the Latin Community Center in Pittsburgh. Sean Balick - Guitar and Music Production Instructor We are excited to also welcome Sean to the Sunburst School of Music community! With over 16 years of experience in music, Sean brings a wealth of knowledge and skill as an instructor in guitar, bass, ukulele, and music production. He is well-versed in almost all genres and styles, ensuring that every student can explore the type of music they love. In Sean's lessons, the focus is on creating a fun and safe learning environment where students are encouraged to follow their interests and develop a genuine passion for music. He values creativity and often integrates songwriting and musical creativity into his teaching, helping students express themselves and find their unique musical voice. Please join us in welcoming Giulia and Sean to the Sunburst community as they look forward to joining you on your musical journey! Tuition Update Reminder We are adjusting tuition rates for new students starting in August. Current students will be grandfathered into their current rates until October 1st. Check out sunburstmusic.com/rates for full details. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you for being part of our Sunburst community and for your continued support! Thanks for Reading Let us know if you have any questions, comments, etc. Thanks as always for being a part of the Sunburst Community! Best Wishes, –Sunburst Team
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The end of summer is always bittersweet, but as we look forward to the new and exciting things ahead this fall, we want to give a big shoutout to all of our campers, parents, and teachers who made this summer great. The creativity, kindness, and teamwork the campers brought to the table each day were energizing and inspiring. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you all for making our 2024 summer camp season such a success. We wrapped up the season with our annual Night at the Rock Opera camp, which has developed a bit of a cult following over the years. Enjoy the highlights below! ๏ปฟ
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