January 2012:
Calvin Chen, Piano
Nathanael Lambert, Guitar
Corrine Olarte, Violin

December 2011:
Katherine Darden, Voice
Macallan Mai, Piano
Maggie Reichard, Piano

November 2011:
Ryan Devenney, Guitar
Sophia Kuncoro, Piano
Akshra Paimagam, Piano

student of the month Program

Goal: To motivate students to develop effective practice habits, increase self discipline, perform regularly and, in general, become more well-rounded musicians.

Each month three Academy students will be awarded the honor of "Student of the Month." These students will be featured on the Academy bulletin board, in a video on our youtube channel, in our inTune newsletter and on our facebook page! In addition, each Student of the Month will receive a $10 iTunes gift card!

instructor nomination criteria

Each month Academy Instructors have the opportunity to nominate one of their students. From the nominations three students will be chosen based on the following criteria...

Consistently meets or exceeds the minimum practice time set by your Instructor, and/or meets all of the assignment goals given.
Brings all materials (books, instrument, picks, etc) needed for your lessons.
Performs regularly in Academy concerts, at school, church or other events.
Participates (when approved by the Instructor) in the NFMC Festival, NCMTA or other evaluation events.

january 2012 students of the month

Congratulations to the following students chosen for the month of January 2012...

calvin chen, piano

Teacher: Phyllis Teague

Watch this Video of Calvin playing!

Ms. Teague writes, "Calvin arrives at his lesson with an enthusiastic smile every week. He is diligent in preparing his lesson material. He accepts any challenge I give him without complaining and strives to meet every goal. He listens attentively and puts into practice all instruction I give him. I told his mom how well he was doing to be 8 - I couldn't believe she said he was only 6! Calvin also studies the violin at the Academy.

Calvin will participate both in the Piano Solo and Violin Solo events at the NFMC Festival this February. He shows a lot of interest in achieving musical goals. He is a very deserving student. I enjoy teaching Calvin very much!"

nathanael lambert, guitar

Teacher: Robert Bussey

Watch this Video of Nathanael playing!

Mr. Bussey writes, "This year marks my 20th year as a guitar teacher. If I had to pick one name out of the hundreds of students that I have taught over the past two decades to award “Most Likely To Succeed” in a crazy music industry, that award would have to go to 16 year old Nathanael Lambert. That’s not to say that there are no other serious contenders out of my current crop of students. There are… but in many ways Nathanael already owns it and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this remarkable young man.
Nathanael began lessons with me on his ninth birthday in Concord. Arriving for that first lesson with a ¾ size Yamaha acoustic guitar and a look of determination in his eyes, I encountered one of the most respectful, mannerly, yet confident students a teacher could ask for. Nathanael would go on to plow through all three books of The Hal Leonard Guitar Method and by the ages 10 -12 began learning and demoing the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Switchfoot, John Mayer, Keith Urban and Eric Johnson. After the Hal Leonard books, Nathanael went on to master the Blues by completing both volumes of the “Blues You Can Use” Series, then a course in Slide guitar and currently honing his chops in “Speed Mechanics For Lead Guitar”.
His Five guitars get plenty of use as Nathanael is the lead guitarist for the Harvest Community Church adult worship team in Kannapolis as well as lead guitarist and vocalist for the youth worship band. He also helped to develop a monthly event called Critical Mass bringing together 100 – 200 young adults and teens in which he plays lead guitar and lead vocals. With college on the Horizon, Nathanael plans to continue his music studies throughout college and has his sights set on either Belmont or Appalachian State.
As Nathanael’s guitar instructor for the past 7 years, I should like to mention that when Nathanael comes in for his lesson, that same look of determination is still there, but there is now and exceptional musical talent to go with it. His musical ear has developed to point that he can recite back guitar solos with a similar articulation and expression that I have. So it is with great honor and pride that I nominate Nathanael Lambert as January “Student of the Month”.

corinne olarte, violin

Teacher: Gillian Schultz

Watch this Video of Corrine playing!

Ms. Schultz writes, "Corrine has been playing the violin for less than 1 year. She has progressed very quickly and is already finishing Suzuki Violin book 1! Corrine is dedicated and practices very hard which is evident every week at her lesson. She takes everything we discuss to heart and has improved not only technically, but musically as well.

Corrine performed for the first time at the CAM Winter Recital. She is also preparing for the NFMC Violin Festival in February."

december 2011 students of the month

Congratulations to the following students chosen for the month of December 2011...

katherine darden, voice

Teacher: Kathryn Heinen

Watch this Video of Katherine Singing!

Ms. Heinen writes, "Katherine Darden has been a student at the Academy since March, and has made incredible progress in that time. She always arrives prepared and ready to work, takes feedback thoughtfully, and applies it to the best of her ability. Katherine is up for anything - I can suggest any repertoire, any performance opportunity, any technique, and she embraces it wholeheartedly. This school year, we decided to add some piano to her voice lessons to improve her musicianship, and she is making excellent strides there, as well. In addition to her incredible work ethic, Katherine is a joy to be around and to work with, I always look forward to our lessons together."

macallan mai, piano

Teacher: Connie Beach

Watch this Video of Macallan playing!

Ms. Beach writes, "Macallan started piano this fall with no previous experience. It became immediately evident that we would proceed at warp speed! He finished Alfred 1-A and 1-B (all 3 books) in record time and is now working in 2A, plus a Christmas book beyond the usual expectations for his level & a Federation Festival piece. He has shown tremendous comprehension of concepts that often require much time to grasp. He and his mom do all his theory at home so that in his lessons we have more time for music.

Macallan is an example of how much can be accomplished when a family is fully supportive and is willing to provide the materials and opportunities to help their children excel. I'm expecting great things of Mac in the coming years!

maggie reichard, piano

Teacher: Regina Ziliani

Watch this Video of Maggie playing!

Ms. Ziliani writes, "I am so impressed by Maggie's willingness to consistently challenge herself. She is very enthusiastic and committed to her piano study! Maggie follows the weekly practice goals I give thoroughly and uses these goals to plan her daily practice strategies.

This academic year Maggie has chosen to take on the challenge of being a Piano Artistry student at the Academy. Currently Maggie is preparing for her first Piano Artistry jury and recital. She will also be participating in the NCMTA Piano Contest as well as the Piano Scholarship event at the NFMC Music Festival. Maggie was also recently chosen through an audition process as the keyboardist for her church's youth band, the Verticle Worship Team! Maggie has a fantastic attitude and is a joy to teach!"

november 2011 students of the month

Ryan Devenney, guitar

Teacher: Robert Bussey

Watch this Video of Ryan playing!

Mr. Bussey writes, "Ryan is a long time student of the academy whose passion for the guitar is demonstrated in his consistent weeklypreparedness when he comes for his lesson. When it comes to Rock guitar, Ryan rocks with total authority. Having just completed The Total Rock Guitar method, Ryan is now advancing into Modern Rock Rhythm Guitar and Speed Mechanics For Lead Guitar. But Ryan's ability isn't just Rock based. He is well into the Berklee School's "A Modern Method For Guitar" where he is sight reading complex Jazz guitar arrangements that encompass Chord melody and tightly clustered chord voicings on the treble cleff staff. Ryan also has a very supportive family who are actively involved in his musical growth.

Ryan has also shown an enthusiasm for my music by discovering and purchasing my music on i-tunes and sharing it with his friends. To me there's no greater compliment than when a student appreciates the talent of his teacher and takes full advantage of what that teacher has to offer. That is why Ryan Devenney is hands down, my choice for Student of the Month."

sophia kuncoro, piano

Teacher: Jing Quitain-Wenghofer

Watch this Video of Sophia playing!

Ms. Wenghofer writes, "Sophia started piano lessons in the summer and I have been amazed at her fast progress! She always comes prepared and even studies ahead in her books. Her sight reading is amazing. She can actually finish a solo piece in a day! Sophia never misses a lesson and, according to her father, practices every day. She has this incredibleenegy and so much enthusiasm in piano. It is a joy to listen to her every week!

Sophia gave her first performance at our Masquerade Musicale on October 22nd. She also consistently plays for her family and new baby sister. Sophia is very excited to be participating in the NFMC Piano Festival in February."

Akshra paimagam, piano

Teacher: Connie Beach

Watch this Video of Akshra playing!

Ms. Beach writes, "Akshra is a very gifted and disciplined young lady who performs beyond her tender years. She participated in Festival, NCMTA, & Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum Auditions last year and received Superior ratings in all of them. This year Akshra is already working on Junior B pieces and plans to participate in all the above events again. Akshra doesn't just learn the technical aspects of her pieces. We work on a very high musical level and she is able to accomplish a great deal of the things I ask, which is unusual for any student, but rarely found in one so young.

Akshra's family is also very supportive and takes her education quite seriously. I am frequently amazed at how much she accomplishes in a week just by her full attention to the details we have discussed in the previous lesson."