Music News at CCA
CCA Middle School Music Department Newsletter
Spring 2021 Issue In This Issue
In this edition of the newsletter:
• CCA Student Musician Spotlight
• Join a Music Club
• CCA Staff Musician Spotlight
• Music In Our Schools Month Article
• April Music Calendar • Contact Us
CCA Student Musician Spotlight
CCA student musicians were interviewed during the month of March in celebration of Music in Our Schools Month.
Read more about Ethan Olivo Torres (6th Grade), Patricia Harden (10th Grade), and Matthew Quigley (11th Grade).
Keep reading to find out how you can get involved in music at CCA.
1 - Ethan Olivo Torres, 6th Grade
Which instruments do you play?
I play the acoustic guitar.
When and why did you start playing?
I started playing about 5 years ago when I was around 7 years old. My parents thought it would be a good idea for me to learn an instrument because it would teach me routine and discipline. We picked the guitar because it was a portable instrument that I could take with me anywhere.
Is your family musical?
No one in my family plays an instrument, but my mom likes to listen to music a lot.
Which famous musicians do you admire, or have you learned from?
I really like watching different guitarist on You tube. Two of my favorites are an Italian guitarist, Luca Stricagnoli, and also Sungha Jung.
Who are your favorite musicians?
I don't have a favorite. Music is so varied it's hard to pick just one. Right now, I'm just listening to many different styles and genres of music in general. I'm really into older songs that are heavy in guitar sound. Then I try to see if I can copy the sound on my own.
Have you performed in or for the public? Describe where and how you perform.
I have played in front of family and at gatherings with friends a few times, but that's all. I don't really have a performance style. I usually know beforehand what song I'm going to play, so I practice a lot ahead of time.
How much time in a day or a week would you say you spend practicing?
I have my actual guitar lesson once a week and I usually practice for 15 -20 mins a few times a day. My practice time isn't very formal, but I get it in daily.
Describe why music is important in your life.
Music is important to me because I like learning new things, and playing an instrument gives me the opportunity to do that. Every time, I learn a new song it gives me confidence. It's also a good way to pass the time, especially since we haven't been able to get out as much this past year. Music helps me feel more relaxed as well.
2 - Patricia Harden, 10th Grade
Which instruments do you play?
I play the violin.
When and why did you start playing?
I started playing in fourth grade. I don't really have a proper reason to play violin specifically, it was just an instrument I liked hearing the sound to, and when I started playing, I enjoyed doing it.
Is your family musical? My family surprisingly isn't as musical. My mom's grandfather played the accordion, and my sisters played the clarinet and violin in school but quit when they got to high school. I'm the only member that really kept going with music, and I plan to outside of high school and hopefully into college.
Which famous musicians do you admire, or have you learned from?
A musician I learned a lot from, in a short amount of time though, is another violinist: Melissa White. She's a highly acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and even runs a yoga program. I got to perform in a violin masterclass with her, and I learned a lot of violin-related ways to practice a certain piece. Ms. White gives me motivation and inspiration to reach new heights on the violin.
Who are your favorite musicians?
My favorite musician is Hilary Hahn. She's a brilliant musician, and her "100 days of practice" videos really inspire me on how practice really runs from the world-class soloist perspective. Sometimes, it deals with things I deal with every day, so I feel better about practice.
Have you performed in or for the public? Describe where and how you perform.
I've performed in a "music school" environment if it counts. At Settlement Music School, I've played several performances and did more in youth orchestras in Philadelphia.
How much time in a day or a week would you say you spend practicing?
I don't really time myself on practice, but generally, it's around 3 hours. I say generally in a very loose term because it is better to practice up to an hour, but with deep focus, than to go for 3 hours and not make much progress. I used to time myself, and I found practice more unsettling and unfavorable than I did now (not timing myself). After all, most of the work is up to the musician, so it's better to go for shorter periods of time, but really focus, than to go for long hours. And that goes for everything I do: scales, etudes, solo, orchestral, or chamber work.
Describe why music is important in your life.
Music is important in my life because it has always been there for me even before I started playing the violin. I was a hyper kid, and music kept me calm. I was able to put all my energy towards practicing and overall, it has become an integral part of my life. I could think of several things I could do outside the music world, but it wouldn’t replace the satisfaction that music gives.
3 - Matthew Quigley, 11th Grade
Which instruments do you play?
I don’t play a specific instrument, I kind of synthesize to a point to where it sounds like an instrument but is all just a digital version.
When and why did you start playing?
I started almost 4 years ago, and that’s an interesting story. I never really grew up with electronic music, it was mostly rock, and maybe every now and then a pop song. I remember the first time my brother introduced me to Skrillex, and I found out what techno was. Of course, I didn’t really know it was called techno, and it didn’t really matter to me. After only listening to Skrillex for about 3 years my brother introduced me to Madeon, a French electro-pop artist. It was so interesting to me, especially since I’d never known there were different types of electronic music. Right after hearing his music I said to my brother, “I want to do that," and so another 3 years after that, I started.
Is your family musical?
Not really; I know my sisters liked to sing, and my older brother started making music not long after I did. My other brother makes music as well, but he likes to sing and play the guitar, not like me where I just sit at a computer. I’d say we’re decently musical, it just depends where you look.
Which famous musicians do you admire, or have you learned from?
For years, I have been inspired by Madeon and Porter Robinson. The things I’ve learned came from Virtual Riot; he has helped me with making melodic dubstep and glitch hop.
Who are your favorite musicians?
I flip flop between favorites sometimes, but I think like with anyone, that you always have a root as to who is your favorite. Right now, I’m really into God’s Warrior and Nasko. Both are very talented artists.
Have you performed in or for the public? Describe where and how you perform.
I used to do Twitch streams of my DJ sets, and I would just play songs, along with some light effects from my Launchpad. I have yet to perform in a public, physical place. I’m looking forward to it, that’s for sure.
How much time in a day or a week would you say you spend practicing?
Probably about 7 hours a day, which is mainly just watching YouTube videos on how to do certain things, or playing around in the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation ) with different plugins and rhythms.
Describe why music is important in your life.
Honestly, I’m not sure how music can’t be important to people. It’s what gets us through hard times and is always there to make us feel better in one way or another. It’s important to me because it’s what gives me motivation. Knowing that even if I’m having a bad day, I have actual fans who enjoy my music, and it makes them happy to listen to it. My goal is to make people happy, and I know I can do that with music.
Join a Music Club
Are you interested in getting involved with music? Check out some of these clubs at CCA!
Music Club
Music club is a group where students in grades 6 - 12 meet weekly to share their appreciation for music. Many of the members enjoy performing and receiving feedback on their performances. Other members just enjoy listening to the performances by their peers. This is group is open to all musicians - singers, instrumental musicians, and music producers. Join us if you want to spend time with other students who love music and performing just as much as you do! Music Club Page in Edio
Contact Ms. Kimberly Jones [email protected] for more info.
Coffee House Club
Coffeehouse Café is an opportunity for students to display their talent. Playing an instrument, singing, poetry, and dance are all great ways to show your talent outside of your everyday classes. Do you just want to listen to your peers perform? This is a great place for that to happen as well. We all need our creative outlets and this is the perfect way for this to happen. Coffeehouse Café is open to 4th - 8th grade students. We meet every Wednesday from 3:00 - 3:30. There is a club tile in Edio to join in on this great performance opportunity. Coffee House Club Page in Edio
Contact Mrs. Rachel Booth [email protected] for more info.
Singing Club
In Singing Club (for students grades 6-12), students have the opportunity to perform (or not) weekly for the rest of the group members. Students can sing a solo, a duet, or even a group song, after we finish our physical and vocal warm ups of course! In addition to lots of singing, students will learn about topics such as proper breathing, the anatomy of the voice, vocal range, and stage fright, and even have the opportunity to participate in songwriting workshops. If you love to sing or at least listen to others sing, then come and join us! No singing experience required.
Singing Club Page in Edio
Contact Ms. Chelsea Martinez [email protected] for more info.
CCA Staff Musician Spotlight
Did you know that we have some amazing staff members at CCA that are also musicians? Read on to learn more about Mr. Duran (CCA - Norristown) and Mr. Fernandez (CCA -Harrisburg).
4 - Mr. Carmon Duran, CCA - Norristown
What is your role within CCA?
Teacher, Science 8. I’ve been with CCA for 11 years.
What first got you in to music?
I learned the saxophone in 4th grade, and I was in all of the bands in school.
Who inspired you to make music?
Honestly, I chose to learn the sax because of a player named Boots Randolph, who played the “Yakkity Sax” song. Some people might remember it as the silly chase music from The Benny Hill Show, but my Mom actually had 8-track tapes of Boots Randolph. She had other jazz recordings too, for what reason I will never understand!?! Anyway, this and the music on the radio and TV always spoke to me. I also loved the things we did with band in school, and I was involved in all of our school’s musicals. Plus, I grew up in an area of eastern PA where there were lots of professional musicians from NYC. One friend’s dad played trombone with the New York Philharmonic. I’d met Phil Woods a few times, and heard him play many more. (Phil played the sax solo on Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are) and I took sax lessons from one of his students when I was in HS. Another friend’s dad was Bob Dorough, who wrote all of the songs for Multiplication Rock, Grammar Rock, and others, which aired on ABC TV on Saturday mornings from the 1970s on. I actually got my musician’s union card when I turned 16, and I played in a large number of paid community bands in my area. I recorded with one group when I was 17, and the music was played in a feature on local music on a Scranton radio station.
What instruments have you played? What is your main musical focus now?
I have always been a sax player, and worked on my “doubles” growing up (flute and clarinet mainly). When you play for a musical, and in jazz, the reed players are usually expected to show up with a few instruments, like soprano sax as well as alto or tenor, plus flute and/or clarinet. Sometimes the book you’re reading might also require piccolo, baritone sax, or bass clarinet. I love the challenge of playing all of these the best I can, sometimes switching very quickly between instruments. I struggle with the piano, because I started too late. My undergrad degree was in music education. I wanted to be a band director, and we all learned to play basically everything, although I am very much a beginner on many instruments. I do own a trumpet, but I don’t play very often, because it messes up my flute embouchure. Anyway, I have been teaching trombone students pretty consistently since 2016. These just happen to be the students who have walked into Facetime.
What is your favorite style of music to perform?
Jazz first and foremost, but musicals are a lot of fun. There are so many styles in the various shows. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I was enlisted in the USAF from 1987 to 1990, and my job was to play with Glen Miller’s Maxwellaires, his military band. I played the last few years before they were disbanded. In case you don’t know, Glen Miller was famous during the Swing Era of the 1940s. We played all that stuff in public, wearing period uniforms.
How would you describe the music you typically create/perform?
There are a lot of good community theatres in my area in S.E. PA. I started playing again after a long break, when my own kids got older. Anyway, my top favorites since 2016 have been Addams Family the musical, and Man of LaMancha. There were lots of fun Spanish rhythms in Addams Family, because Gomez is Spanish, and they tango in the show. All Shook Up had all Elvis songs. That show is kind of like the Elvis movie he never made, complete with a motorcycle on stage. Oldies style rock and roll of course, and I got to play all the fun tenor sax features.
If you could perform with any professional musician/band, who would it be? The guys in Snarky Puppy seem to have a lot of fun…
Which famous musicians do you admire?
Tenor sax man Michael Brecker was the most gifted jazz saxophonist who ever lived, in my opinion, but a close second is Bobby Mintzer, from the Yellowjackets. There are loads of other guys who are more famous, but fame does not always equal talent. There are so many super talented folks out there… Many of their names you will never learn, the studio musicians! A CCA student recently introduced me to the soundtrack from the cartoon “Hey Arnold”. So cool! I am always learning of new things out there! I appreciate all kinds of music. 21 Pilots is fun, and lately during our current astronomy unit I’ve been playing for my students selections from The Planets by Gustav Holst.
What advice would you give to an aspiring musician? Find an outlet where you can play, or invent one for yourself. Find musical heroes and listen to everything they play. Both of these motivate you to keep learning and keep practicing.
March is ‘Music in Our Schools Month’: Why do you think it is important to have musical opportunities available to the students in our school?
Some students only go to school because they are into sports. If that’s what drives them, and through it they are pushed to maintain a certain grade point average to stay on the team, then that’s one of many reasons why it’s great to have these organizations. Now, have you ever heard of a band kid who got kicked out of band because his GPA was too low? I haven’t, and I’ve been around. Usually it’s kids who have good grades who are attracted to being in the band in the first place. However, I’ve also read a number of articles that suggest that doing musical things is healthy for your brain development, and maybe it makes you smarter! Bob Dorough was still performing and sharp mentally, when he passed at age 94!
5 - Mr. Allen Fernandez, CCA - Harrisburg What is your role within CCA?
I am an Administrative Assistant! I primarily serve with the Capital Campus Drop In Center, but have worked on projects with AgWorks, Enrollment, Tech Support, Phillips (Laptop & Curriculum Shipping), Professional Development, and other departments!
What first got you in to music?
I had always grown up with music in the home, particularly various Spanish-based music and hip-hop. As a DJ, the bug to be one started in two places. One was in a film starring the late rapper Tupac called “Juice.” I had seen it as a youth and there is a scene of one of the characters battling in a DJ battle, and the artistry in the scene had really peeked my curiosity for years to come. The second place, which solidified my interest to pursue DJing, was a video game. The creators of the video game “Guitar Hero” made a game called “DJ Hero”, and it looked super cool. What sold me on it was the endorsement of the game from DJ Jazzy Jeff, who I knew as Jazz from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” a sitcom I loved a kid. Never knowing he was a legendary DJ, I paid attention to his praise for the game, at one point saying “If you get really good at this game, go get DJ gear and get practicing, you could be a great DJ.” With this newfound inspiration, I went and bought gear, with DJing becoming more accessible with the move to digital, picking up a lot of speed in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s.
Who inspired you to make music?
I can’t say one person necessarily inspired me. It’s been a collection of experiences with people and music.
What instruments have you played? What is your main musical focus now?
I actually did play the baritone horn and sing as a kid, haha! However, now, I mainly DJ and am developing myself as a music producer. With that, I have a collection of MIDI controllers to help me learn and do the job. My main focus, especially as I’ve not been DJing much with the pandemic, is to develop my art further (Like scratching, mixing and editing, and producing).
What is your favorite style of music to perform?
While I have a soft spot for Hip-Hop, I get most excited performing open format. Which means I like to bounce between different genres, energies, keys, etc. It makes for dynamic experiences and gives a little something for everyone in the moment. I will say this however, I love playing music in these three overall BPMs: 120+, 90+, and 105+.
How would you describe the music you typically create/perform? Influential. Some of what I create are clear inspirations from artists, but in my composition of them. For example, Daft Punk, Jon Bellion, and Sango are three artists who I take A LOT of inspiration from for my production style. From a DJing perspective, I love finger drumming during my sets, so I love playing staggered samples and phrases into other songs, or matching the key of two songs and shuffling parts into a rhythmic section when transitioning into another song. I strive to do one thing, which is reflective in my name, DJ FTR: I want to facilitate the rhythm. What rhythm? The one on the dance floor, the one in the energy of the space and people together forming memories.
If you could perform with any professional musician/band, who would it be?
WOW. This would be nuts. In my case as a DJ, I have a better chance of being a “tour DJ” or opener for an artist. I would love for the opportunity to DJ alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff. I’d love to perform with Jon Bellion, who I actually I know and am friends with people in his camp from my time working as an event coordinator and booking representative for live concerts in college.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
Daft Punk, Sango, Jon Bellion, Bad Bunny, Andy Mineo, Mutemath, and a lot more that I can’t afford to put down or it’s a super long list!
What advice would you give to an aspiring musician?
DO NOT FOCUS ON GEAR. Gear Acquisition Syndrome is very real, and very toxic. We get wrapped up in getting the best gear and spending all this money when not much time was devoted to really learn and master skills to develop your creativity and frequency to create. This is what makes it so hard for me to create now and is a very real struggle. I got worried about having the best gear, only to have focused on the very wrong things and wasted time and money when I could’ve been a lot farther in my ability as an artist.
March is ‘Music in Our Schools Month’: Why do you think it is important to have musical opportunities available to the students in our school?
Because it’s really hard to give reasons why it isn’t important. By no means is music the superior “art,” but by all means is it the most kinetic form of it. By that, I mean it is a transmission of sound frequencies that actually enter your body and create this beautiful reaction that is not only physical, but can be spiritual, emotional, social, and more. Music creates this amazing space to facilitate the most collaborative of working spaces, to the most vulnerable of saddening spaces where tears help with release. It inspires us to do anything from work out to pursuing our dreams. It is a source of so much stress relief, certainly while consuming, even more so when creating. This is why I love being a DJ. I get to be in both of those spaces of creating and consuming, and I feel like everyone, young or old, should have the opportunity to do the same because it is one of the most liberating experiences people can have. It is what can inspire students to be bigger than themselves and find who they’re meant to be is who they want to be.
'Music in Our Schools Month'
Did you know?
Music has been taught in American schools since the 1830’s!
Music In Our Schools Month or “MIOSM” is NAfME’s (National Association for Music Education) annual celebration during March. MIOSM engages music educators, students, and communities from around the country in promoting the benefits of high-quality music education programs in schools.
Music In Our Schools Month began as a single statewide Advocacy Day and celebration in New York in 1973 and grew over the decades to become a month-long celebration of school music in 1985.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind everyone that schools are where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music programs to showcase the musical opportunities in the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
The celebration continues to grow each year, reaching more and more students, teachers, musicians, and music supporters. Schools and communities throughout the country and overseas celebrate MIOSM with concerts and other activities based on the year’s theme. Classrooms, concert halls, civic buildings, clubs, parks, libraries, and shopping malls are just some of the arenas in which the public can observe the processes and results of music education. This year’s theme is “Music: The Sound of My Heart”.
To celebrate MIOSM at CCA, we will be showcasing some of the very talented students and staff members from our school community! You can also talk to your music teacher about more opportunities to celebrate Music at CCA.
MIOSM and the events surrounding it are the ideal opportunities for increasing awareness of the benefits of high-quality music education programs in our nation’s schools. NAfME hopes that teachers, students, and music supporters alike will find ways to join in on the celebration through creative activities and advocacy
April Music Calendar
Contact Us
6th Grade Music Mrs. Carina Bolton [email protected]
Mrs. Sarah Rhan [email protected]
7th Grade Music
Mrs. Rachel Booth [email protected]
Mr. Matthew Carraher [email protected]
Ms. Erin Martin [email protected]
8th Grade Music
Ms. Kimberly Jones [email protected]
Mrs. Julie Kirsch [email protected]