NEW:
VIDEO CONFERENCING: (since 2001)
For Personal Sessions, Group Sessions,
Private Composition Lessons with Apprentices,
even Rehearsals.
Remember the old days... arranging flights, covering travel and lodging expenses for visiting consultants? If that's out of the budget right now, but you would still like to have a session via Video and the Internet, contact Stephen for details on how all of this becomes not only possible, but cost-effective and easy! We can do this in iCHAT, Skype, AOL Messenger, anything with a webcam.
Use the SECURE ONLINE ORDERING above... but, please be sure to correspond with Steve before making this payment online so that a mutually agreed upon schedule can be made and the internet connection with your school tested.
Please
schedule each 30-minute session with a $50 payment. If for instance,
you would like to schedule an hour, then please pre-order 2 sessions.
The Video you will see as a demonstration was made using iSITE, an older webcam from Apple. I just got a new Logitech Camera for about $80, and the quality is even better! Enjoy!
See iSite demo
Steve, Thank you for your reply. We will read the Escape on Thursday. I assembled and will also distribute the attached handout (A collage from the internet) to students. Do you have any further recommendations?
There
is much... But it is difficult in an email.
ESCAPE from PLATO’s CAVE has been played in 22 countries,
and all audiences respond in the same way. Also,
the kids from the many All-State Bands that have played this relate
to it in a very deep and interesting way.
I had just arrived at a hotel in Switzerland. It was midnight. Someone
said, “Ciao, Melillo”. Hearing this, the hotel clerk asked... “STEPHEN
Melillo?” I said “Si” still in Italian mode. He
called the HOTEL OWNER. This was at midnight mind you!
The hotel owner drives in from wherever he was, and has in his hand
a drum! He starts playing... Simple QUARTER NOTES,
and sings... “BUM, BUM. BUM. Bumbumbumbum, BUM, BUM, BUM, Bumbumbumbum.”
He then communicated to me that ESCAPE from PLATO’s CAVE was
his favorite piece. Interesting world, huh? And there are MANY stories
like that!
3 important ideas:
1. This Music will NOT play itself. Rich, there was a SCREAM and applause
from the audience at the premiere in the FIRST MOVEMENT after that
first measure 13 build! So, ESCAPE is an opportunity for real drama. It
needs to be CONDUCTED and PLAYED with great feeling. In this regard
I know the piece is in GREAT hands with you!
2. If you could just get a hold of an internet VIDEO CAM,
we could actually do a session right over the NET! I use iSITE, and
the AUDIO quality, let alone the Video Quality is amazingly good.
Perhaps one of the kids will be able to nail this right away for you.
Other than that, email is too difficult a medium to discuss Music.
I’m sure you understand!
3. Give ‘em Heaven!
Thanks & Godspeed! Steve