Christmas Piano Recital

 

These two rocked it this year at the Annual Christmas Piano Recital.  They have been practicing their songs since September, so to hear them perform it so well at the recital was pretty awesome.  Trey's song that he performed was 'Deck the Halls' and McKenna's song this year was a harder version of 'Carol of the Bells'.   Hearing all these musical numbers sure sets the tone for the Christmas season.

 

 

 

 

 I honestly cannot believe the talent these two have when it comes to the piano.  They are dedicated kids and I think they enjoy it more than they would admit.  It is so fun to know that I don't have to hound them to practice, like so many other parents say they have to do hound their kids.  There is not a day that goes by that either one of them is sitting at the piano, plunking out a musical number. 

 

 

Duet Piano Recital

Tonight was Trey and McKenna's last piano recital for the year.  Tonight's performance was a little different than what has been done in the past because this time they got to do it with a friend.  Trey and Shea were lined up to perform together and Belle and McKenna were partners.  Both Trey and McKenna had a lot of fun practicing and preparing for tonight.

 

* Trey and Shea Anderson * 

Trey and Shea's song that they played was 'The James Bond Theme Song'.

* McKenna and Belle Blackburn *

 

 McKenna and Belle's song that they played was 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini'.

 

 

Both performances were great!  It was so fun to hear the two pieces come together.

 

I am so proud of these two.  After the performance, awards were given out by Hannah.  Trey's award was 'Being a Five Star Student'.  This was given to him because he was always prepared and ready to learn.  McKenna's award was for never complaining on what is given her and having a good attitude. 

 

These two have done really well in piano this year.  I hear so many parents complain because it is constant battle to get their kids to practice.  I feel so fortunate that I don't usually have to ask more than once, if at all because they do both really enjoy it!

Utah Federation of Music Club

I am SO proud of these two!  McKenna and Trey performed their two Festival piano pieces that they have been practicing for months and tonight all that practice paid off!  Playing in front of judges can be pretty intimidating, but these two did not let that phase them and they played their hearts out!  Both of them walked away with SUPERIOR rating!

 

Trey's songs that he performed were 'Chimichanga Cha Cha' and 'Horseman's Night Ride'.
McKenna's songs that she performed were 'Softly Whisper' and 'Dinosaur Stomp'.

The Utah Federation of Music is a part of a National Music Program that is designed to give Junior (age 18 and younger) and Adult member musicians of all abilities the opportunity to perform and receive a yearly evaluation in a non-competitive environment.  Each student is judged on several aspects of performing, anywhere from memorization to posture, to finger placement and correct notes.  Superior is the highest score an individual can get and the note that was sent home regarding the festival said that the judging criteria will be extremely tough this year. These two sat at the piano and played like pros!   

Way to go Trey and McKenna!

Festival Piano Recital

In preparation for this weeks Music Festival judging, McKenna and Trey participated in a Festival Piano recital for all of Hannah Neal's piano students.  Each of the students picked their favorite of two songs to perform in front of an audience.  McKenna picked 'Softly Whisper' to perform and Trey picked "Chimichanga Cha Cha' as his performance piece.  Both played them very well and feel ready for this weeks judging.

Christmas Piano Recital

  

 

 Tonight  was McKenna and Trey's Christmas Piano recital.  They have worked really hard this year on their songs that they performed tonight and did an exceptional job.  Trey's song this year is 'Deck the Halls' and McKenna played 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. 

 

Composition Piano Recital

Tonight's recital was composed of the students performing solos based on composition pieces that they made up by themselves.  Trey made up an up beat piece called 'Sun Up Sun Down'.  It was a fun, upbeat song that used a variety of notes to make the song go loud and then soft.   He worked hard and put a lot of thought into making this sound just right.

 

McKenna played a piano solo called 'Someone Like You'.  This song is actually sung by an artist Adell, but because McKenna was able to learn this song by ear without any sheet music, Hannah said that was a perfect composition piece for her to play.  As a side note, McKenna has been able to learn the words to this song as well, so not only does she play it all the time, but now she can sing and play it together.  Which, might I add, she sound awesome.

 

 

Because this is the last recital of the year, each of Hannah's piano student's received a piano award based on how she felt the student's strengths were throughout this year.  McKenna received an award for exceptional performance in theory and technique.  Trey's award was for exceptional performance in piano solo.

 

Spring Festival Recital

 

 

 

Tonight was the Spring Piano Recital for McKenna and Trey.  Since January, they have been preparing two songs for the Piano Festival Competition.  Tonight they were able to perform one of those two songs, McKenna's two songs that she has been working on are Princess Waltz and Panda Parade, she performed the Panda Parade.  Trey's two songs are Dinosaur Stomp and It's A Mystery, he performed Dinosaur Stomp for the recital.  It was held in the high school auditorium, so the kids were able to perform their songs on stage with an audience full of people.  Both a little nervous, but they did an awesome job!