Noteworthy

By DEANNA LEE

Any student who comes to me asking how to compose music always gets to hear “Nuts and Bolts,” a composition by Ian Linnell written long before he became my piano student. “Nuts and Bolts” is a good example of sound composing skill and it sounds like it’s name; nuts and bolts jangling around in a metal toolbox. Ian’s song has long been inspiring other young composers.

So, this summer, when the Wisconsin Music Teachers Association (WMTA) announced it would be holding its first annual Competition for Young Composers, I jumped at the chance to tell my students...especially Ian. And he won!

Ian, a senior at Central High School, was named the winner in the senior division of WMTA’s first annual Competition for Young Composers. Ian performed “The Trap of Love” at the WMTA state conference in Wisconsin Dells in October. The composition is a contentious duet between clarinet and viola, accompanied by tense piano with dark undertones. Ian’s friends, clarinetist Bridget Misch and violist Karen Hill performed with Ian at the state conference and at our studio Christmas Recital on December 4.

For his efforts Ian earned $100, 15 points toward WMTA awards and a certificate.

The WMTA Competition for Young Composers is open to students ages 5-18 who study with WMTA members. Students compete against others in their age level. Students enter the competition in the elementary, junior or senior division (dependent on their age/grade level). Entries are due in August.

Are you interested in learning how to compose music? Check with me at your next lesson to find out what it’s all about. You can also purchase music manuscript paper and music notation software (at a discount) at Leithold Music.

By DEANNA LEE

All throughout junior high and high school my piano-playing friends and I played as many piano duets as we could. It was fun and a good change from practicing solo literature by ourselves all the time … which can be lonely!

In college, my piano teacher paired me with my friend Melissa and trained us as a duet team. Though it was difficult at the time having him stand behind us during practice, tapping our shoulders so we would stay together, we got to be pretty good at the piano duet thing … and, of course, we had a lot of fun, too.

Now that I teach Melissa’s two daughters, it’s easier for the two of us to get together and conspire. So this summer, after seeing our teacher again, Melissa and I were inspired to dust off the old duet books and have a concert.

We held the concert on the evening of November 12 at First Presbyterian Church with the intent of raising donations for local food pantries for Thanksgiving. The concert featured performances by organist Sue Walby and a joint performance by the Sanctuary Choir from First Pres. (my church) and the Senior Choir from Holmen Lutheran Church (Mel’s church). Collecting free-will donations at the door, we raised almost $300 in cash and two carloads of food that we divided evenly between WAFER and the Holmen Lutheran Food Pantry. What a success!

And, as we did all those years ago in college, Mel and I had a whole lot of fun. We will definitely be doing that again next November. Hope you can join us!

Award-winning composer Ian Linnell and his friends Bridget Misch and Karen Hill performed “The Trap of Love” at the Christmas Recital on December 4. Ian won the senior division WMTA Competition for Young Composers this fall and the three performed this piece at the WMTA Convention at Wisconsin Dells on October 31.