Hubby's Artistic Side

My husband's family are all inclined to arts.  His brother Rick is really good in drawing cars.  His late brother Dave was really good in  fixing and painting cars.  His late brother Harold was really good in building and construction.  His sister  Crystal is basically a jack of all trades.  She goods in constructing, building, painting, sewing, you name it.  My husband  can do a lot of things too and  one thing that I like is  he can draw.

He doesn't think that he can draw but  based from what I see, he can.

Most of my daughter's artistic side is from my  husband's family's trait although my paternal grandfather was also a kind of artist as he  craved woods when he was younger.  He used to  make  religious carvings and he plays  a lot of music instrument.

What do you think?  Do you think he can draw?  Oh did I ever tell you that he  played bass  when he was a teen? I have been encouraging him to play again, maybe it would inspire our son to  do the same.

Bleeding Crayons

This is one of the many art projects that my daughter worked on during this past summer break. She did a lot but she is very fond of this one.  I think she  was inspired by her classmate who won an art contest using crayon as the medium for her art piece.

I would like to put this in the frame if I can find the right size.

From Dancing to Playing Piano

When you watch a talent show nowadays, most of talented kids showcase dancing as their  form of craft.  I am sure that some of them  might have  have private dance lessons that's why they are so good.  Although I admit that some are just born with the talent as a good dancer.  I was very surprised when my daughter  won with her piano piece  against  so many beautiful  dance numbers with awesome choreography.  I guess, many  can dance but only few can play piano and that's my analogy.

I am really glad that my daughter switched from dancing into  playing piano though because she loves playing  more than dancing.

Earth Doodle

My daughter was asked by her teacher to draw something that the 8th  graders need for their recollection activity.  Since my daughter love to doodle, she  said that she would do it and this is what she came up with.

She was very surprised when the teacher gave her something as a reward.  She did not expect it but she was very happy.  You can see what she got from her teacher here.

I am so glad that she  is very much involved in school. It helps her grow as a person.  She used to be very shy but she is starting to come out of her shell now that she gain some self confidence from  engaging into some activities.  

EJ wants to be a DJ

My  husband and son were looking at dj equipment online yesterday.  I don't know why he is into  becoming a DJ.  He watches these videos on Youtube of how DJ really get into the groove when they are doing their  music.  My son find it very cool  to be a DJ.  The fact that one of my daughter's classmates' Dad is a DJ really encouraged him to become one.  He asked me one time if it's alright to be a DJ and I told him that no matter what he  decided to do when he grows up, we are just here to support him.

The Hunters

The annual music recital  by Torrance Music was held at Memorial Baptist Church last June 1st.  It's Ms. Burrito's  second year with them.  The music  she played is the  piece that she won first prize with  during the 6th Annual KIngsley S. Ard memorial  talent show on March 28 at Milton J. Weinberg Theater, Weir High Campus.

We are torn whether to leave or continue  taking piano lessons  at Torrance because  her teacher there is  such a nice lady and she is very good  with Ms. Burrito.  She will be starting   the music program at Doquesne University  this September so I don't know what we are going to do.

Anyway, here are some of the photos we took during the event.

I wasn't able to capture good pictures during  her performance.  I totally regret that I did not bring my 200mm lens for the camera.  I thought that we would be able to  have a seat close to the front  since we went there early but no, the seats were already filled when we arrived, sigh.

Our little Mister said that he is ready to take  guitar lesson since  he saw many guitar  performances.  EJ can play piano too but it is not his thing.

Our great friends in the neighborhood came to watch the  recital as well.  Here with the Howells' ladies, Angie, Sarah, and LIzzy.  Thanks for coming guys!

Lolo Don Fancher also came  but Lola Ruth did not make it.

It was a really nice  recital I must say.  The little Miss did really well.  I am glad that her nerves  did not overcome her ability to perform her piece as she was really nervous while waiting for the show to start.  Below is the video that my husband took using his iPhone.  

Thank you for watching and for leaving your thoughts!

Audition to Mary Pappert School of Music at Doquesne University

When our daughter was in second grade, the music teacher at school saw rare musical skills with Ms. Burrito. She talked to me one time at school that our daughter has an exceptional talent in music and that we should consider putting her in a bigger school like Carnegie Mellon. She also asked me if she could spend some time with our daughter during her free time in school so she could teach Ms. Burrito some technique in playing the piano. According to her, Ms. Burrito is developing some wrong habit in playing piano like playing some keys using the wrong fingers or something like that.  She talked to my husband and encouraged us to  really consider in enrolling Rylie in a bigger school.  She gave us some contacts and she also  consulted the priest  at our church.  Fr. Manny then suggested for Ms. Burrito to try at Doquesne.

We set her an appointment on February 22nd so she could audition to their music program.

Doquesne University is huge and Mary Pappert School of Music is just one of the many buildings inside the campus.  

Natasha Snitkovsky is the Artistic Director and Chair of the Piano Department at City Music Center of Duquesne University. She is also Director of Duquesne Young Artist National Competition.  She was the one who tested Ms. Burrito's musical ability.  She let her play   some piece that the little Miss did not play yet with her current teacher in Weirton.  She also let her sit backward, not facing the piano so she could ask Ms. B what keys she is typing.  

She asked us how long Ms. B has been taking piano lessons and we told her that she started in January of 2013.  She said that given the short period of time, she is already at a level three skill which  she think is  excellent.  She kind of scolded us why we started  her  so late in piano.  She said that we could have send her to school when she is just 3 years old.  We never really thought about engaging our kids to those kind of stuff  before because my husband was still in the service and being overseas is not easy.

Shadow Shots

But anyway, Ms. Snitkovsky will take her under her mentorship.  The Director of Music Admissions, Troy Centofanto,  who assisted us during our visit  was impressed that Ms. Snitkovsky took  our daughter under her wing because he said that there are other students who are on her waiting list.

Ms. Burrito have participated in three different  classes that day just so she could experience what is it like and how their music program goes.  She likes the singing part.

The tuition is a lot higher than what we are paying with her current teacher at  Torrance Music but I think that it will open a bigger opportunity for our daughter at Doquesne University.  I don't really want to leave her current teacher because she ios such a  great teacher for Ms. Burrito.  We are thinking not to pull her  out from her  even though she will go to Doquesne this fall but am nit sure yet.  We will see.

Before we left the campus, we had a great time exploring the university.  We even stood at their Frank and Florence Sklar Skywalk and took some photos of the bottom view.

As you can see in the map, it is a huge university.

We will be registering her soon.