iMA Newsletter Voted top 100 educators in the world by the International Biographical Centre Winner of the Consumers’ Choice Award for best music school in the GTA. Winner of the Royal Conservatory of Music Gold Medal for Teaching Excellence. Winner of the York Region Character Community Award. Markham Board of Trade Business Excellence Award finalist. Year XXI, No. 2 February 2017

WELCOMINGOURNEWSTUDENTSDeanH.(piano)SerenaS.(piano)CalebS.(pianoandsaxophone)ChristianS.(piano)JimmyZ.(piano)IsabelF.(piano)ClaraF.(piano)KarmenL.(piano)MelissaB.(voice)HitoshiT.(guitar)AkshatR.(piano)TiffanyC.(voice)BenjaminS.(piano)IMASTUDENTSBIRTHDAYSINFEBRUARY ShaanS.,DanicaW.,AliciaL.,FelixZ.,BethanyT.,MatejaL.,HarryS.,RiannaC.,KayvonN.,AndreiT.,ChloeI.,PaulineH.,PhoebeC.,MostafaA.,EmiN.,KianaL.,KarenT.,BrianC.

HAPPYBIRTHDAY!IMPORTANTDAYSINFEBRUARY

February3:PADay.SchoolisopenFebruary11:FlatoMarkhamTheatre-KindredSpiritsOrchestra.

Shostakovich’sTenthSymphonyFebruary14:Valentine’sDayFebruary15:RCMSpringsessionapplicantsdeadlineFebruary17-28:KiwanisMusicFestivalFebruary20:FamilyDay.Schoolisopen.

NEWSTheRoyalConservatoryofMusicJanuarysessionexamination

resultshavebeenannounced.CongratulationstotheIMAstudentsachievingconsiderablyhigherthantheProvincialaveragemarks,withdistinction.

Candidate Subject,Grade

Mark Teacher

AlecDong TheoryLevel6 94 Ms.SuzanneMarfise

DeejeshSubramanian

TheoryLevel6 90 Mr.ArpadJosephson

EmmaGraceOrtiz Level3Violin 90 Ms.SalomeLegemaate

AlexReyes Level10Piano 84 Ms.AntoniadeWolfe

AnyaPooran Level1Violin 84 Ms.SalomeLegemaate

GET3FREELESSONSWITHTHEPURCHASEOFAPIANOIfyouarereadytopurchaseahighqualitypre-ownpianothroughoneoftheIMAcommercialpartners,3ofyourlessonsattheIMAwillbefree.CallourOfficeore-mailOffice@InternationalMusicAcademy.caformoreinformation.Pre-ownpianoisagreatinvestmentthatcomesatanattractiveprice,withafreetuninganddelivery.GETA$30CREDITONYOURNEXTMONTHTUITIONWehavebeenverypleasedwiththecontinuedsuccessofourstudents.Theyhaveimprovedagreatdealandwesharetheirexcitementwiththeirfamilies,friends,neighbors,andschoolmates.Weappreciateyourinteresttowardsourprogramsandservices.Wearealwaysveryhappytowelcomenewstudentsofallages,levels,andinstrumentstotheiMA.PleasetellyourfriendsaboutyourexperiencewiththeInternationalMusicAcademy.Doyouknowsomeonewhoisthinkingoftakingmusiclessonsorwhohaschildrenwhomaybeinterestedingettingtheirhandsonamusicalinstrumentorsinging?DoyouknowateenagerwhoneedsahighschoolOACcredit?Doyouknowanadultwhohas

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wantedforalongtimetolearnhowtoplayamusicalinstrumentbuthasneverhadthetimeorinclination?PleasetellthemabouttheIMA.Asanappreciationforyourreferral,wewillgiveyoua$30creditforeachnewstudentwhoregistersattheInternationalMusicAcademyasaresultofyourreferral.Aswevalueyourfriendsasmuchaswevalueyou,wewilloffertoeachreferredstudenta$30creditaswell.PERSONALIZEDIMAGIFTCARD

TheIMAofferspersonalizedGiftCardsthatcouldbeusedasthoughtfulbirthday,holiday,bar/batMitzvah,graduationgiftorforanyotheroccasionsaswellastoencouragesomeonetostartlearninga

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COMPOSERS’ANNIVERSARIESINFEBRUARY

3/02/1809 Mendelssohnwasborn13/02/1883 Wagnerdied15/02/1857 Glinkadied23/2/1934 Elgardied23/2/1685 Handelwasborn27/2/1887 Borodindied29/2/1792 Rossiniwasborn

Whereyoubornordoyouknowsomeonewhowasbornonthesamedayasthesefamouscomposers?Dropuse-mailat

info@InternationalMusicAcademy.catoletusknow. FEATUREDTEACHEROFTHEMONTHRamonTaranco,B.Mus.Guitarstudies

RamonTarancowasborninHavanaCubatoaMexican-AmericanmotherandaCubanfather.ThefamilyimmigratedtoToronto,CanadawhenRamonwas5yrsold.Asateenager,RamontaughthimselftoplayguitarandsoonwasplayinginRock,R‘nB,andBluesbands.Healsostudiedviolinandplayedinhishighschool’sorchestra.Afterhearing

AndreSegoviaperformatMasseyHall,RamonwasinspiredtoplayclassicalandSpanishsologuitarmusicsoheembarkeduponsixyearsofstudiesatToronto'sRoyalConservatoryofMusic.RamonstudiedClassicalguitarwithNorbertKraft,CarlvanFleggelin,EliKassner,world-renownedCubanclassicalguitaristLeoBrouwer,andwithBritishmaster,JohnMills.HestudiedsolojazzguitarwiththelegendaryLennyBreauandjazzimprovisationwithformerDukeEllingtonbandmember,flugelhornplayer,FredStone.WhilelivinginNYC,RamonstudiedwithflamencoguitarmasterDennisKoster.Asaguitarteacher,Ramonhasexperienceonmanylevels.WhilestillastudentattheRCM,RamonreceivedateachingpositionattheKofflerCentrefortheArtsunderthedirectionofthenTSOconductorVictorFeldbrill-apositionheheldforfouryears.WhilestilllivinginToronto,RamonreceivedfourOntarioArtsCouncil"ArtistintheSchools"teachinggrantsthatopenedthedoorsforRamontoteachimprovisationandguitarinfourTorontoareahighschools.DuringthistimeRamonfurthereducatedyoungpeoplethroughperformancesofhisconcert/lectureprogram"AGuitarforAllSeasons"whichhepresentedinnumerousschools,collegesandlibrariesalloverOntario-asamemberofProloguetothePerformingArtsandonhisown.Ramonwasalsothemusicconsultant,bandcoach,andguitarinstructorforthefilmP.C.U.(20thCenturyFox).In1994RamonmovedtoNYCwherehetaughtguitarlessonsinhisprivatestudiosinManhattanandQueensandalsoattheAstoriaSchoolofMusic.RamoncurrentlyteachesatMarkham’sInternationalMusicAcademyandispreparingtorecordhisthirdCDoforiginalmusic.AsacomposerRamonhasreceivedbothTorontoArtsCouncilandOntarioArtsCouncilgrantsforcomposition.Asarecordingartist,hereceivedanOntarioArtsCouncilMulti-CulturalrecordinggrantandaF.A.C.T.O.Rrecordinggrant.TarancolaterbecameaF.A.C.T.O.Radjudicator.Ramon'scompositionshavebeenfeaturedinfilms:“L'Hombre”fortheCanadianFilmCenterandNYCdocumentary,“PovertyOutlaw.”Ramonhas

releasedtwoCD'soforiginalmusicwhichhavereceivedairplayinfiftycountries(forexampleRadioHavana,Cuba;andSpanishNationalRadio)andhaveplacedinthetop10ofworldbeat,blues,jazzandrootsmusicradiocharts.Asaperformerofclassical,blues,jazz,andworldbeatmusicintheTorontomusicscene,Ramonplayedsolo,induosandinbands:liveonCBCradioshows(Morningside,MusicalFriends),andinconcerts(HartHouseTheaterUofT,Harbourfront’sWatersEdgeCaféandBrigantineRoom,St.LawrenceCentre,OntarioCollegeofArt,LaurentianUniversity)inclubsandinrestaurants(TheRiverboat,TopoftheSenator,C'estWhat.)WhileresidinginNewYorkfor18years,Ramonfrequentlyperformedonradio(WBAI).Asasoloistandinduoswith(jazzviolin,percussion,bluesharmonica)andbandsituations,RamonhasperformedinconcertattheGuggenheimMuseumofModernArt’sWorldBeatJazzseries,BronxMuseumofModernArtAfricanHeritageDay,TheQueensMuseumofArt,HarborJazzFestival,ManhattanvilleUniversity,MonroeCollege,NewYorkStateUniversity@StoneyBrook,HellenicCulturalCenter,JavitsCenterLatinHeritageMonthcelebrationfortheCityofNY,NewarkPublicLibrary(bluesconcertcelebratingMartinLutherKingJr'sbirthday)BrooklynAcademyofMusicMajesticTheater:onstageguitaristinsmallensemblefortheopera"Missionaries"byLizSwados;inNYCnightclubs,restaurantsandbarssuchasTheGroove,IzzyBar,Fannies,LaBelleEpoque,MozartCafe,FinallyFreds,Rose’sTurnandCorneliaStreetCafe:SouloftheBluesFestival.

Mr.Tarancowashappytoanswerafewquestionsforourstudentsandparents:1.Whatdoyoulikemostaboutteaching?Teachingishardworkbutitalwaysfeelsgoodwhenstudentsstarttomakeprogress.Alsothesocialaspectofteaching,interactingwithallthestudentsandtheirdifferentpersonalitiescanbefun.2.Howdoyouinspirestudentstopracticemore?Ateacherhastobeverypassionateaboutmusic.Thispassioncansometimestriggerthestudents’ownpassionformusic.Ateacherhastobeortodothreedifferentthingsforthestudent.First,heinspiresthestudentbyplayingforthestudent.Second,heisacoach,amusictrainerinstillingthevirtuesofhardworkandrepetitiouspractice.IoftentellstudentsthemostimportantthingIwillteachthemtodoishowtopractice.Playingamusicalinstrument,especiallyguitar,isaveryphysicalactrequiringstrengthandstamina."Withoutdisciplinetherecanneverbehappiness."(Siddartha).Third,hehastotryandmakelearningmusicalittlefun.Ateacherwithagoodsenseofhumorandasenseoffunisgoingtoreachmorestudentsandmakethelearningexperienceaeasiertotake.3.Whatrolesdoesperformanceplayinstudent’sdevelopment?Performingandhardpracticegetthemaximumoutofaplayer.Ifyoucandobothyouwillbeacompleteplayer.Performingnomatterhoworwherewillalwaysraiseyourstandardofplaying.Fortheamateurtheirarestudentrecitals,performanceexams,playingatthelocalchurch,at

schoolforyourfriends,inafamilysetting-anychancetoperformforanybodywillforceyoutoraiseyourlevel.Myfavoriteopporutnityforstudentsistheopenmicvenue;thepressuretoperformwilldowondersforyourplaying.4.Whoareyourfavouritecomposers?Ilovemanydifferenttypesofmusicclassical,pop,jazz,blues,rock,R&B.ForclassicalcomposersIloveBach,Beethoven,BartokandMozart.Forjazz,IloveMingus,Coltrane,MilesDavis,RolandKirk,Monk,bluesSkipJames,SonHouse,JBLenoir,EarlKing,AlbertKing,FreddieKing,TBoneWalker.IlovecountryguitaristDonRich(BuckOwensBand).Can'tforgetmyfavoriteJimiHendrixohwellyougettheidea.5.Whatwasthelastpieceofmusic(sheetmusicorarecording)youpurchasedforyourself?ThelastCDIboughtwasStevieWonders"InnerVisions".ThemostrecentpiecesIworkedonwereasologuitararrangementofDaveBrubeck’sjazzhit"TakeFive",arrangedforguitarbyJorgeMorelandChetAtkins.Also"ALittleBlues"-asolojazzguitarcompositionbyoneofmyteachers,thelegendaryLennyBreau.Also,GershwinandProkofiev-Ilovehispianosonatas.IbelievetheyarethemodernequalstoBeethoven’spianosonatas.

FEATUREDSTUDENTOFTHEMONTH EdwinDong

Whatinstrumentdoyouplay?–Iplayboththepianoandtheviolinandtakelessonsforeachinstrumentonceaweek.Howlonghaveyoutakenlessons?–Iam9yearsoldnowandIhavebeenplayingpianosinceIwas6yearoldandtheviolinsinceIwas8yearsold.Whoareyourfavouritemusicalartists?–

IlikethemusicofAlexVlastarasakaAeroChord<Surface>.Whatareyourotherhobbies,besidesmusic?-Besidesmusic,Ilikeplaysoccerandvideogames.Favoritefood?-pizza,Popeye's,cheeseandcakes.Whatisthecoolestthingyou’velearntinyourlessonsinthepastthreemonths?–OneofthecoolestthingsI’velearntishowtoplaylongtrillsonthepiano.Doyouhaveanyperformancecomingup?–Nothingfornow,justpracticing,practicing….E-mailtoinfo@InternationalMusicAcademy.caaphotoofyourself(oryourchild)togetherwiththeanswersofthequestionsabove.Thedeadlineforsubmissionsisthe15thofeverymonth.Wewillfeatureyouinoneofthenextissuesofthenewsletter.

PETOFTHEMONTHSendaphotoofyourpettogetherwithfollowinginformationandwewillpublishitinoneofthenextissuesoftheIMAnewsletter.Whatisthenameofyourpet?Howoldishe/she?Whatkindofbreedourpetis(ifapplicable)?Howlonghaveyouhadhim/herfor?Anyspecialcircumstancesaroundgettingthepet(i.e.agift,fosterpet,etc.)?Thefunnieststoryaboutyoupet?Anyspecialskillsorabilities.FEATUREDARTICLE

WhylisteningtomusicisthekeytogoodhealthbyNAOMICOLEMANIt'stheweekendandatsomepointyou'llprobablyrelaxtoyourfavouritemusic,watchafilmwithacatchytitletrack-orhitthedancefloor.There'snodoubtthatlisteningtoyourfavouritemusiccaninstantlyputyouinagoodmood.Butscientistsarenowdiscoveringthatmusiccandomoreforyouthanjustliftyourspirits.Researchisshowingithasavarietyofhealthbenefits.FreshresearchfromAustriahasfoundthatlisteningtomusiccanhelppatientswithchronicbackpain.AndarecentsurveybyMind-thementalhealthcharity-foundthataftercounselling,patientsfoundgrouptherapysuchasartandmusictherapy,themostuseful.Here,wepresentsixprovenwaysthatmusiccanhelpyouandyourfamily'shealth1.CHRONICBACKPAINHowithelps:Musicworksontheautonomicnervoussystem-thepartofthenervoussystemresponsibleforcontrollingourbloodpressure,heartbeatandbrainfunction-andalsothelimbicsystem-thepartofthebrainthatcontrolsfeelingsandemotions.Accordingtoonepieceofresearch,boththesesystemsreactsensitivelytomusic.Whenslowrhythmsareplayed,ourbloodpressureandheartbeatslowdownwhichhelpsusbreathemoreslowly,thusreducingmuscletensioninourneck,shoulders,stomachandback.Andexpertssaythatapartfromphysicaltension,musicalsoreducespsychologicaltensioninourmind.Inotherwordswhenwefeelpain,webecomefrightened,frustratedandangrywhichmakesustenseuphundredsofmusclesinourback.Listeningtomusiconaregularbasishelpsourbodiesrelaxphysicallyandmentally,thushelpingtorelieve-andprevent-backpain.

Theresearch:AnewstudyfromAustria'sGeneralHospitalofSalzburgduetobepublishedinTheViennaMedicalWeeklyJournalcouldholdthekeytobackpain.Inthestudy,65patientsagedbetween21and68withchronicbackpainafterbacksurgeryweredividedintotwogroups.Onegroupreceivedstandardmedicalcareandphysiotherapy.Theothergroupalsolistenedtomusicandreceivedvisualisationclassesfor25minuteseverydayforthreeweeks.Resultsfoundthatthegroupwholistenedtomusicandusedimageryexperiencedbetterpainreliefthanthegroupwhodidnot.ClinicalpsychologistFranzWendtnerwholedthestudysays:'Musicisanimportantpartofourphysicalandemotionalwellbeing-eversincewewerebabiesinourmother'swomblisteningtoherheartbeatandbreathingrhythms.'Listeningtomusicforabout25minuteseverydayforatleasttendayscanhelppreventbackpainandalsomakeyousleepbetter.'Whichtypeofmusicisbest?ExpertsbelieveanytypeofclassicalmusicsuchasMozartorBeethovencanhelprelievemusclepain.Calm,slowmusicisalsothoughttohelp.2.IMPROVESYOURWORKOUTHowithelps:Expertssaylisteningtomusicduringexercisecangiveyouabetterworkoutinseveralways.Scientistsclaimitcanincreaseyourendurance,boostyourmoodandcandistractyoufromanydiscomfortexperiencedduringyourworkout.Theresearch:DrRobertHerdegenofAmerica'sHampden-SydneyCollegeinVirginia,lookedattheeffectsof12menridingabicyclefortenminuteswhilelisteningtomusicononeday.Hecomparedittothesamemenridingbicycleswithoutmusicfortenminutesthefollowingday.Onthedaysthatthemenexercisedlisteningtomusic,theytravelled11percentfurther-comparedtothedaystheydidn'tlistentomusic.Researchersalsofoundthatthemen'slevelsofexertionwereattheirlowestwhenlisteningtomusic.Otherstudiesshowthatlisteningtomusicreleasesendorphins-ournatural'feelgood'hormonesthatliftourmoodandgiveusmotivationtocarryonlongerwithexercise.Whichtypeofmusicisbest?Thebesttypeofmusicforexerciseisthoughttobehighenergy,hightempomusicsuchashiphopordancemusic.3.MEMORYLOSSHowithelps:Formanypeoplesufferingfrommemorylossthespokenlanguagehasbecomemeaningless.Musiccanhelppatientsremembertunesorsongsandgetintouchwiththeir

history.Thisisbecausethepartofthebrainwhichprocessesmusicislocatednexttomemory.Theresearch:ResearchersfromNorway'sSognOgFjordaneCollegecomparedtheeffectsoflive,tapedandnomusiconthreedifferentgroupsofpeoplesufferingfromposttraumaticamnesia-ormemoryloss.Thepatientswereexposedtoallthreeconditions,twiceoversixconsecutivedays.Resultsshowedthatwhenpatientslistenedtoliveortapedmusic,twothirdsofthemshowedsignificantlyreducedsymptomsofanxietyandenhancedorientation,comparedtothegroupthatdidn'tlistentomusic.Whichtypeofmusicisbest?Researchshowsthatpeoplewithmemorylossrespondbesttomusicoftheirchoice.TocommentonthisstoryoranythingelseyouhavereadintheNewsletter,headovertotheIMAFacebookpageormessageusonTwitter.

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