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Composer of the Week: Domenico Scarlatti Italian

Composer of the Week: Domenico Scarlatti Italian Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti was born October 26th, 1685 in Naples, Italy. The son of prominent composer Alessandro Scarlatti, Domenico received his earliest musical training from his father. It is believed that he also received instruction from Gaetano Greco, Francesco Gasparini, and Bernardo Pasquini. Scarlatti spent most of his early life in Naples, and little is known about him from that time, although he was appointed the organist for the Chapel Royal of Naples in 1701 and worked under his father at that time. He was sent to Venice around 1703 and nothing more is known until 1709 when it shows he moved to Rome. He wrote some of his earliest keyboard and harpsichord works while living in Rome. In 1719 Scarlatti left Italy and traveled to London to direct his opera “Narciso”. That same year he arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. He would spend the remainder of his life in Portugal and Spain. While living in Spain he worked for Princess Maria Barbara, who went on to become the Queen of Spain. Throughout his life Scarlatti wrote 555 sonatas for harpsichord or keyboard. Many of these sonatas are single movement works that rely on the building of density of notes to portray intensity. His later works showed the shift in musical styling, having a more “classical” sound to them and using the new sonata form that was becoming popular in music of that time. During his time living in Spain it is also believed that Scarlatti was influenced by the sounds of the Spanish guitar and incorporated it into his music through the use of repeated notes. Scarlatti died on July 23rd, 1757 while living in Madrid. The home he lived in was designated with a historical plaque, with the descendants of his family still living in Madrid today. He was buried at a convent in the city, but his grave no longer exists. What else can you learn about Domenico Scarlatti this week? #Composeroftheweek #CotW #MakeMoreMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd #MusicHistory #LittleMissionStudio #DomenicoScarlatti

Happy Halloween! 💀🎃👻 Check out this perf

Happy Halloween! 💀🎃👻 Check out this performance of ‘Danse Macabre’ by Camille Saint-Saëns, arranged for 2-pianos, 8-hands, performed by our Piano Faculty at our 10 Year Anniversary Gala! ‘Danse Macabre’ is based on a myth where, according to legend, Death appears at midnight every year on Halloween. Death calls forth the dead from their graves to dance for him while he plays his fiddle. His skeletons dance for him until the rooster crows at dawn, when they must return to their graves until the next year. #music #piano #dansemacabre #musiced #musicschool #musiced #musiceducation

More spooky tunes from our voice students!! 👻🎃 #halloween #happyhalloween #music #makemoremusic #musiced #musiceducation #voice #singing

Our young voice students are ready to spooook you!

Our young voice students are ready to spooook you! 👻🎃 #music #makemoremusic #voice #singing #musicschool #musiced #musiceducation

Composer of the Week: Reena Esmail @reenaesmail

Composer of the Week: Reena Esmail @reenaesmail Indian- American composer Reena Esmail was born February 11, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA. Esmail is a multi-faceted composer, evenly splitting her compositions between orchestral, choral, and chamber writing. She holds numerous music degrees, earning her Bachelors in Music from the The Juilliard School, as well as a Masters in Music, Masters in Musical Arts, Doctorate in Musical Arts all from the Yale School of Music. Through her years of studies she has trained with teachers such as Susan Botti, Aaron Jay Kearnis, and Samuel Adler. Esmail has served as the composer-in-residence for major American groups such as the Seattle Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival, and most recently was named the artist-in-residence for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Her music and doctoral thesis delves into the world of combining the sounds and traditions of Hindustani music with Western classical music, as well as the challenges presented from the collaboration of musicians from these two different musical traditions. Notable pieces in Esmail’s current music catalog include “Black Iris” (retitled “#metoo”), “Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz”, and “Say Your Name”. Esmail continues to live in Los Angeles and is actively working to expand her compositional output. What else can you learn about Reena Esmail this week? #Composeroftheweek #CotW #MakeMoreMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd #MusicHistory #LittleMissionStudio #ReenaEsmail

Check out this performance from our 10 Year Annive

Check out this performance from our 10 Year Anniversary Gala & Concert featuring our flute faculty, Jessie, & flute students Ivan, Katie, & Travis performing ‘Umoja’ by Valerie Coleman. #MakeMoreMusic #music #musicschool #flute #flutequartet #musiced #musiceducation #sf #mission

Composer of the Week: Erich Korngold Film compos

Composer of the Week: Erich Korngold Film composer Erich Korngold was born May 29, 1897 in Brünn, Austria-Hungary or what is known today as Brno, Czech Republic. Korngold’s family was very musically involved and from a young age Korngold was seen as a child prodigy with his craft. At the age of 5 he was playing 4-hand piano arrangements with his father, and began composing around the age of 7. With his vast amount of accomplishments at a young age both Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler discouraged the family from enrolling him at a conservatory, stating he had already gained the knowledge he would be expected to learn at such an institution. Some of his early pieces include the ballet “Der Schneemann” and “Piano Sonata No. 2”, the latter of which was performed regularly by Artur Schnabel. Korngold was immensely successful throughout the 1920’s and eventually gained the attention of film director Max Reinhardt. With the changing political climate in Europe during the 1930’s Korngold, who was of jewish ancestry, left Austria and moved to Los Angeles to work on a number of films with Max Reinhardt. Among his first film scores is “Captain Blood” from 1935 which earned Korngold his first nomination for an Oscar for the score. The following year he won an Oscar for his score for the film “Anthony Adverse”, and in 1938 he won his second Academy Award for “The Adventures of Robin Hood”. By 1943 Korngold had become a naturalized American citizen and he remained in the US, even after retiring from film composing in 1947. The last decade of his life he returned to composing away from film and wrote works such as his “Violin Concerto”, “Cello Concerto”, and a Symphonic Serenade. He wrote one final film score shortly before his death, “Magic Fire”, which was a film biography about composer Richard Wagner. Korngold died on November 29, 1957 following complications from a stroke he had suffered the year before. What else can you learn about Erich Korngold this week? #Composeroftheweek #CotW #MakeMoreMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd #MusicHistory #LittleMissionStudio #ErichKorngold

It’s our birthday/month/year! Leave us a birthda

It’s our birthday/month/year! Leave us a birthday note! 🎂 Up in our New Hall, grab a post it & add it to the wall with a favorite LMS memory from the last 10 years. Be sure to include your name & instrument. Help us fill up that whole wall! #makemoremusic #music #musiceducation #musiced #musicschool #sf #mission

Five Reasons Why Young Pianists Should Play Duets!

Five Reasons Why Young Pianists Should Play Duets! ⬇️ 1. Improves Listening & Coordination Skills Playing in a duet requires students to listen closely, improving their ability to stay in sync with a partner & enhancing rhythmic coordination. 2. Enhances Teamwork & Collaboration Learning to play with another pianist teaches students to work as a team, share responsibilities, & develop a mutual understanding of timing & dynamics. 3. Boosts Confidence & Performance Skills Performing as part of a duet can reduce the pressure of playing solo, allowing students to feel more comfortable on stage & gradually build confidence in their musical abilities. 4. Fosters Musicality & Expression Duets encourage students to focus on musical phrasing, dynamics, and expressiveness, helping them become more sensitive to the emotional nuances of music. 5. Makes Practice More Enjoyable Practicing piano duets can be a fun & engaging way for students to break up the monotony of solo practice, motivating them to keep improving while enjoying the social aspect of making music together. What other benefits do you see from learning duets & playing music with others? #makemoremusic #piano #pianolessons #musiced #musiceducation #musicschool

New decade, new merch! We’re celebrating our 10t

New decade, new merch! We’re celebrating our 10th Anniversary with all new LMS swag including new caps, totes, shirts, & pins! Show off your musical style & shop in our online store. #makemoremusic #musicschool #musiced #musiceducation

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Composer of the Week: Domenico Scarlatti Italian

Composer of the Week: Domenico Scarlatti Italian Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti was born October 26th, 1685 in Naples, Italy. The son of prominent composer Alessandro Scarlatti, Domenico received his earliest musical training from his father. It is believed that he also received instruction from Gaetano Greco, Francesco Gasparini, and Bernardo Pasquini. Scarlatti spent most of his early life in Naples, and little is known about him from that time, although he was appointed the organist for the Chapel Royal of Naples in 1701 and worked under his father at that time. He was sent to Venice around 1703 and nothing more is known until 1709 when it shows he moved to Rome. He wrote some of his earliest keyboard and harpsichord works while living in Rome. In 1719 Scarlatti left Italy and traveled to London to direct his opera “Narciso”. That same year he arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. He would spend the remainder of his life in Portugal and Spain. While living in Spain he worked for Princess Maria Barbara, who went on to become the Queen of Spain. Throughout his life Scarlatti wrote 555 sonatas for harpsichord or keyboard. Many of these sonatas are single movement works that rely on the building of density of notes to portray intensity. His later works showed the shift in musical styling, having a more “classical” sound to them and using the new sonata form that was becoming popular in music of that time. During his time living in Spain it is also believed that Scarlatti was influenced by the sounds of the Spanish guitar and incorporated it into his music through the use of repeated notes. Scarlatti died on July 23rd, 1757 while living in Madrid. The home he lived in was designated with a historical plaque, with the descendants of his family still living in Madrid today. He was buried at a convent in the city, but his grave no longer exists. What else can you learn about Domenico Scarlatti this week? #Composeroftheweek #CotW #MakeMoreMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd #MusicHistory #LittleMissionStudio #DomenicoScarlatti

Happy Halloween! 💀🎃👻 Check out this perf

Happy Halloween! 💀🎃👻 Check out this performance of ‘Danse Macabre’ by Camille Saint-Saëns, arranged for 2-pianos, 8-hands, performed by our Piano Faculty at our 10 Year Anniversary Gala! ‘Danse Macabre’ is based on a myth where, according to legend, Death appears at midnight every year on Halloween. Death calls forth the dead from their graves to dance for him while he plays his fiddle. His skeletons dance for him until the rooster crows at dawn, when they must return to their graves until the next year. #music #piano #dansemacabre #musiced #musicschool #musiced #musiceducation

More spooky tunes from our voice students!! 👻🎃 #halloween #happyhalloween #music #makemoremusic #musiced #musiceducation #voice #singing

Our young voice students are ready to spooook you!

Our young voice students are ready to spooook you! 👻🎃 #music #makemoremusic #voice #singing #musicschool #musiced #musiceducation

Composer of the Week: Reena Esmail @reenaesmail

Composer of the Week: Reena Esmail @reenaesmail Indian- American composer Reena Esmail was born February 11, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA. Esmail is a multi-faceted composer, evenly splitting her compositions between orchestral, choral, and chamber writing. She holds numerous music degrees, earning her Bachelors in Music from the The Juilliard School, as well as a Masters in Music, Masters in Musical Arts, Doctorate in Musical Arts all from the Yale School of Music. Through her years of studies she has trained with teachers such as Susan Botti, Aaron Jay Kearnis, and Samuel Adler. Esmail has served as the composer-in-residence for major American groups such as the Seattle Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival, and most recently was named the artist-in-residence for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Her music and doctoral thesis delves into the world of combining the sounds and traditions of Hindustani music with Western classical music, as well as the challenges presented from the collaboration of musicians from these two different musical traditions. Notable pieces in Esmail’s current music catalog include “Black Iris” (retitled “#metoo”), “Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz”, and “Say Your Name”. Esmail continues to live in Los Angeles and is actively working to expand her compositional output. What else can you learn about Reena Esmail this week? #Composeroftheweek #CotW #MakeMoreMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd #MusicHistory #LittleMissionStudio #ReenaEsmail

Check out this performance from our 10 Year Annive

Check out this performance from our 10 Year Anniversary Gala & Concert featuring our flute faculty, Jessie, & flute students Ivan, Katie, & Travis performing ‘Umoja’ by Valerie Coleman. #MakeMoreMusic #music #musicschool #flute #flutequartet #musiced #musiceducation #sf #mission

Composer of the Week: Erich Korngold Film compos

Composer of the Week: Erich Korngold Film composer Erich Korngold was born May 29, 1897 in Brünn, Austria-Hungary or what is known today as Brno, Czech Republic. Korngold’s family was very musically involved and from a young age Korngold was seen as a child prodigy with his craft. At the age of 5 he was playing 4-hand piano arrangements with his father, and began composing around the age of 7. With his vast amount of accomplishments at a young age both Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler discouraged the family from enrolling him at a conservatory, stating he had already gained the knowledge he would be expected to learn at such an institution. Some of his early pieces include the ballet “Der Schneemann” and “Piano Sonata No. 2”, the latter of which was performed regularly by Artur Schnabel. Korngold was immensely successful throughout the 1920’s and eventually gained the attention of film director Max Reinhardt. With the changing political climate in Europe during the 1930’s Korngold, who was of jewish ancestry, left Austria and moved to Los Angeles to work on a number of films with Max Reinhardt. Among his first film scores is “Captain Blood” from 1935 which earned Korngold his first nomination for an Oscar for the score. The following year he won an Oscar for his score for the film “Anthony Adverse”, and in 1938 he won his second Academy Award for “The Adventures of Robin Hood”. By 1943 Korngold had become a naturalized American citizen and he remained in the US, even after retiring from film composing in 1947. The last decade of his life he returned to composing away from film and wrote works such as his “Violin Concerto”, “Cello Concerto”, and a Symphonic Serenade. He wrote one final film score shortly before his death, “Magic Fire”, which was a film biography about composer Richard Wagner. Korngold died on November 29, 1957 following complications from a stroke he had suffered the year before. What else can you learn about Erich Korngold this week? #Composeroftheweek #CotW #MakeMoreMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd #MusicHistory #LittleMissionStudio #ErichKorngold

It’s our birthday/month/year! Leave us a birthda

It’s our birthday/month/year! Leave us a birthday note! 🎂 Up in our New Hall, grab a post it & add it to the wall with a favorite LMS memory from the last 10 years. Be sure to include your name & instrument. Help us fill up that whole wall! #makemoremusic #music #musiceducation #musiced #musicschool #sf #mission

Five Reasons Why Young Pianists Should Play Duets!

Five Reasons Why Young Pianists Should Play Duets! ⬇️ 1. Improves Listening & Coordination Skills Playing in a duet requires students to listen closely, improving their ability to stay in sync with a partner & enhancing rhythmic coordination. 2. Enhances Teamwork & Collaboration Learning to play with another pianist teaches students to work as a team, share responsibilities, & develop a mutual understanding of timing & dynamics. 3. Boosts Confidence & Performance Skills Performing as part of a duet can reduce the pressure of playing solo, allowing students to feel more comfortable on stage & gradually build confidence in their musical abilities. 4. Fosters Musicality & Expression Duets encourage students to focus on musical phrasing, dynamics, and expressiveness, helping them become more sensitive to the emotional nuances of music. 5. Makes Practice More Enjoyable Practicing piano duets can be a fun & engaging way for students to break up the monotony of solo practice, motivating them to keep improving while enjoying the social aspect of making music together. What other benefits do you see from learning duets & playing music with others? #makemoremusic #piano #pianolessons #musiced #musiceducation #musicschool

New decade, new merch! We’re celebrating our 10t

New decade, new merch! We’re celebrating our 10th Anniversary with all new LMS swag including new caps, totes, shirts, & pins! Show off your musical style & shop in our online store. #makemoremusic #musicschool #musiced #musiceducation

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