Get your groove on!

Check out this great group of french bass players! (They are french, not their basses ;)
L'Orchestre de Contrebasses


Pretty awesome, right?

For the Bass Players

From American Idol, here's a video of Casey with his double bass:


Also, the May issue Strings has a page featuring double bassist Esperanza Spalding, who won a Grammy for best new artist. She plays kind of jazzy music - but different. You might want to check out her sound! She has even performed at the White House. Very cool.

Way to Go!

Congratulations to all of you who performed in Music Festival!  It takes a lot of courage to get up there on that stage, and I appreciate that you took the time and effort to prepare those solos, duets, etc. and so splendidly represented yourselves, the school, and the strings program.  Great job!   Thank you for sharing your talents with us!

This Is It!!

Time to strut your stuff, girls!  Strings week is here, so practice your hearts out this weekend and rosin up your bows ('cause that's totally what I'd do, whether it needed it or not) so you can OWN that music festival!  Update:  I've been told over-rosining can be dangerous, so maybe, not so much.

STRINGS

(Rivier Academy auditorium)

Wednesday, March 23^rd @ 7pm

·               Harshina Brijlall – Concertino I

·               Harshina Brijlall – Two Rigadouns

Thursday, March 24^th @ 9am

·               Violet Haddad – Zum Gali Gali

·               Jordan McEwen – Sword Dance

·               Marielle Dyer – Baa Baa Black Sheep

Thursday, March 24^th @ 1pm

·               Rivier Orchestra 10 – Snake in a Basket / Theme from First Symphony

·               Rivier Orchestra 20 – Holiday Special / Doin’ the Double Stop Blues

·               Rivier Orchestra 30 – March of the Mathemagicians / Along the River

·               Claire Michalishen – The Merry Widow Waltz

·               Janessa Fouillard – Finale from the First Symphony

·               Danika Nickel – Popular Song

·               Janessa Fouillard and Claire Michalishen – Pachelbel Canon

·               Jordan McEwen and Violet Haddad – Liza Jane

·               Quinn Cappelletto – God’s Tender Mercy, Chandos Anthems No. 9 Mvt. 6

·               Emma Eaton – German Folk Song

·               Emma Eaton – French Folk Song

·               Janessa Fouillard – Vive L’Amour

·               Danika Nickel – Chance Meeting

·               Amanda Loeffen – Listen to the Mockingbird

And if your forget your piece in the middle of your song, just go all "insane violinist" up there on stage.
Remember: It's all about the hair flipping and crazy leg movements to distract them from the fact you've forgotten everything you're supposed to be doing.

 I'm sure they give extra marks for creativity.  Or insanity, or something.  I would, for sure. :)

Have a great long weekend, girls!

Opportunity Is Knocking...LOUDLY!

Okay, I already blogged about the upcoming Bowfire concert - can't wait for Tuesday! It is going to be so great. Now, Mr. Bernier informs me that at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday (the 22nd) the cast of musicians from Bowfire will be doing a soundcheck AND get this - a "meet the performer" at the Rawlinson Center!! WOW. This is for any musician who would like to meet them or ask them questions. Mr. B. has added a P.S. here reminding you that there are also awesome dancers included in this group of world class musicians!!
What an amazing opportunity to meet them before the concert!

Spring Has Sprung, The Grass Is Ris',

My, How Great the Music Is!
Sunday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. Rivier Strings (Orchestra 30L) will be Guest Performers at the
PRINCE ALBERT STRINGS ORCHESTRA ANNUAL SPRING CONCERT,
along with "Coffee or Scotch" (the band, not the refreshments!)
The concert will be in the Rivier Auditorium and you can talk to Mr. Bernier, or any of the girls in the P.A.S.O. about getting tickets.  I was there last year and it was awesome - and I wouldn't just say that.  Even my three-year-old nephew was entertained.  Also, if you're lucky you get to see Mr. Bernier display his talents a little - maybe.
Here's a couple of clips I found of last year's concert:


See? Awesome!

More Inspiration As We Approach Music Festival!

Duh Duh DUHN... Ominous music, the theme from "Psycho" plays, oh wait - that could just be a flashback to my own music festival experiences. I'm sure all of you are well prepared and looking forward to your upcoming performances! Anyhow, perhaps you have watched a TEDtalk before posted over on the  Loopy Library.  I really, really like them, even though they can be a bit long (around 18-20 minutes.)  I'm hoping you'll have a look at this one featuring Natalie McMaster (Canadian) with her husband Donnell Leahy (also Canadian) playing and talking about their music.  I think Natalie was around 12 when she started to become famous for her fiddling - and you have probably heard of the group Leahy.  Donnell talks about how he and his 10 brothers and sisters shared 2 fiddles and one piano growing up and all desperately loved music, so once they had an instrument in their hands they would skip supper because they knew they would lose their turn and not get it back!  So, once again, I'm going to tell you how fortunate you are to have your instrument all to yourself.  Appreciate your amazing opportunities, embrace them, be inspired and be inspiring!  And have a great weekend!

Keep Rocking (And Practicing!)

Music Festival is fast approaching, so I hope everyone is busy practicing their chosen pieces! I know it's nerve-wracking getting up there on stage, but you will be proud of yourselves for your accomplishment afterwards, girls!
I just received the latest issue of Strings magazine today and noticed an ad for Yamaha instruments featuring violinist Mads Tolling. He was described as a two-time grammy award-winner, so of course I had to google him! Here he is with his group:

There's lots of other good stuff in Strings this month - just as Mr. B if you'd like to have a look at it!

Embrace Your Opportunities!

Have a look at the video of this orchestra from Venezuela. It's made up of young people from some of the poorest circumstances or with the toughest pasts and yet they have found a second chance through music! Think of what you already have in your life and how you can embrace the amazing opportunities you have in front of you! Here's the video:

And here's the news story about this remarkable orchestra:
BBC News Story

Boys!

So I was looking at the "best of the web" over on the paNow website and came across this video which I just have to re-post for you girls.

Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic performing Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal."

Look who's coming to town!

Now I have posted some really cool videos on this blog since we started, but you MUST take a look at this group! And THEY ARE COMING TO PRINCE ALBERT!!! Quinn and I will be in the audience, of course. Have a look:
Can you believe that we get to see these performers in our own city?!! Wow!

It's hip to be square!

Have a look at this video of Mr. Bernier and his son, Wyatt performing with the Creeland Square Dancers!

Also, remember to be keeping in mind your solo selections for music festival! I'm wondering if there might be some ideas in the back issues of Strings magazine? This is your chance to get up on stage and shine, girls!

This week's news

Mr. Bernier would like to encourage all of his strings students to choose and begin to prepare solos for the upcoming music festival. The actual festival will be March 24, but the deadline for your application is fast approaching (possibly as soon as next week.)

This will come as no surprise, but there will not be any strings classes January during midterms, as you will be busy writing exams. However, you could use your break to get in some extra practice time :)!

Now for something a little bit fun to motivate you! Another all-female quartet and they even have SPARKLES on their instruments! My kind of girls.

Playing Tests

A reminder to all of Mr. Bernier's students that Playing Tests will be taking place on December 21! Don't Forget! The Sign Up Sheet can be found at Room 5, which is Mr. Bernier's office.

Also, congratulations on another great performance to the girls who played at Pineview Terrace on Tuesday. Your Christmas cheer was very much appreciated by your audience. Keep up the good work! This is what it's all about!

What A Cool Family!

Yes, these guys are all from the same family, believe it or not. Take a look and tell me they're not adorable - and amazingly talented!

See? Practice, practice, practice!

I love these guys so much, I'm adding the full video of their "History of Music" - see how many songs you recognize! They're nice British boys (well I guess they could be hooligans for all I know, but I'm sure they stay home at night practicing their violins and drinking milk;)




Also, congratulations to the girls who played before "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at the Rawlinson Center Friday night! You represented Rivier splendidly and really helped all of us milling about to feel the spirit of Christmas before the play began. Well done - you all looked very professional. And yes, their uniforms were neat and tidy Sr. Mary!

Not Sure What To Say About This...

I really like this guy. I feel like he is the epitome of loving what you are doing, loving your music, and not caring what anybody else thinks. Also, I admire the fact that he doesn't get his hair all tangled up in his bow. And I'm no expert, but I think he has some crazy skills on that violin - and who doesn't want a violin with spikes on the end?
Have a look and see what you think.

We might need a mosh pit at your next concert...

Okay, now I REALLY want to learn how to play. I could be so cool. Or maybe that's just inside my own head :) Now, I'm off to never-never land...

In Honour of Remembrance Day...

I found this video of a performance by a school orchestra of an original composition by a young man named Steve Tzeng - amazing! He took it to his high school orchestra, and just look!!! I dream of our Rivier Orchestra being this large and motivated. And perhaps, in your spare time one of you could compose an epic piece like this ;) Anyway, I so admire this guy's talent, and since the "battle" title tied into Remembrance Day week, I thought I would post it. I left the "related videos" beneath because he also plays his composition on the piano. Equally amazing for you piano girls. Lots of inspiration here - keep smiling and keep practicing! And have a great weekend, of course!

How much cooler can you be?

Okay, I've already mentioned what an incredible opportunity I believe you girls have here at Rivier to learn from an amazing strings teacher. I know I am repeating myself, but look at some of the REALLY REALLY cool stuff you can do once you develop your skills!! If my brain wasn't shrivelling up into a little prune inside my skull I would totally be trying to learn how to rock out on one of these instruments. Too bad my neck would go into some kind of spasm if I even tried the violin position. Anyway, take a look at what you could do if you practice. A lot. Maybe it's not too late for me to be a back-up dancer. :)

Orchestra 30 Test

Thursday, October 28 Period 2: All Orchestra 30 students attend class for your test. You will be playing afterwards.