JANUARY
2007
Nashville to Huntsville
Fiddling in Utah resorts
There’s nothing better than hanging out in
resort areas! Theresa Ellis, Nashville fiddler, has been featured
with Huntsville, Utah local band “Shades
of Grey”. They want to invite you to join
them for a yummy dinner over the next four week-ends at Wolf
Creek Resort Dining at the Rusty Cactus (upstairs).
There is no cover charge, but you can kick back with drinks
and food in this lovely family-friendly environment. Nearby
to Wolf Creek Resort there are over 200 properties and Timeshare
condos, the greatest snow on earth for skiing locally and
you can golf in the summer.
The Shades are also planning their annual Band getaway
in mid February to an exclusive Idaho spot, where they will
have some down time with their families, hot-tubbing, music
and snowmobiling.
Upcoming performance dates for fiddler Theresa Ellis
January 19-20 Friday/Saturday Rusty Cactus/Wolfcreek 5-8
PM
Theresa Ellis and Shades of Grey
January 21 Red Moose Inn
Theresa Ellis (string Quartet) private party
January 26-27 Friday/Saturday Rusty Cactus/Wolfcreek 5-8
PM
Theresa Ellis and Shades of Grey
February 2-3 Friday/Saturday Rusty Cactus/Wolfcreek 5-8
PM
Theresa Ellis and Shades of Grey
February 8 Thursday Rustler Lodge/Alta 6-9 PM
Theresa Ellis and Michael Lucarelli, classical guitar
February 9-10 Friday/Saturday Rusty Cactus/Wolfcreek 5-8
PM
Theresa Ellis and Shades of Grey
February 15 Thursday Gray Cliff Lodge Restaurant
Private Party with Sons of the Utah Pioneers
Theresa Ellis and Algie Powers, singer/songwriter
Teaching and Learning
Book nearing completion
Being a teacher for over 30 years, I wanted to have a section
for teachers and students. The latest project I have worked
on this school year has been in creating a music job position
for me at a public elementary school, as an extra curricular
class. I have offered string education for violin, viola,
cello, bass and guitar from 2nd to 6th graders. The school
population is approximately 450 in these grade brackets,
and meetings are after school.
There was enough talent to offer two sections: one for
beginners and one for more advanced players. Since this
is basically a rural area, students have arrived from various
other areas with prior music education that has been available
(piano, and some string private lessons). There were 50
students involved with the first concert in December, and
the program included some features of the beginning group
and combined with the advanced for a large group performance.
These kids played 2 concerts on the same day. One was a
field trip that proved to help the concert jitters before
the evening performance. Most of the kids had only about
8 weeks to learn some basics, ensemble skills and some songs
to perform.
There seems to be a great appreciation of these rural parents
for music education, and there has been support by the school
principal and others in the community with volunteers helping
with tuning, assembling music, and apprenticing, as well
as donations for much needed music stands. Bravo!
My ulterior motive has been to finish writing a string
teaching method, which has never been completed. With the
help of local artist Zena Manley (Portraits
and Illustrations) the book is on schedule coinciding
with the school year completion. Also, it has afforded me
the opportunity to use my own method with teaching the music
classes. Watch for the availability of this book close to
the end of the traditional school year.
Hopefully, this section will inspire others and expand
ideas in the creative process and with regard to teaching
for the teachers, and learning, for the students. Please
write and let me know what your interests are. I am always
open to new ideas, and networking together.
Yours musically,
Theresa Ellis
