Site Archives

Studio Schedule Reminder

Posted by Bill Alpert on July 20th, 2008

Bill and Melanie are on the road to national parks in Canada. We’ll share some photos in an online gallery.
Violin lessons will resume on August 12. Voice Lessons resume on August 25. We wish you all a great summer!
–Bill and Melanie

Beast Takes Rancho by Storm

Posted by Bill Alpert on July 20th, 2008

Full company sings “Be Our Guest” from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Musical direction by Melanie Alpert

Cesar Quintero as Lumiere with Can Can dancers.

Studio alum Taylor Pearson as Darque in Maison des Lune
Congratulations to all studio students who participated in the Broadway Experience/Los Osos High School production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. What a […]

Getting to Carnegie Hall

Posted by Bill Alpert on July 12th, 2008

The irrepressible Mimi Zweig leads a master class at the String Academy of Wisconsin on the Campus of University of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee.
When accomplished 15 year old violinist Brian Zhang signed up to play for Mimi Zweig, he was probably thinking of Mozart, Bach or Barber. Little did he know he’d soon be taking a […]

Milwaukee’s brewing up some fine music

Posted by Bill Alpert on July 11th, 2008

Master Teacher Darcy Drexler explains the finer points of violin vibrato to seven year old Academy student Margaret Knox.
Every summer, string teachers from across the country make a pilgrimage to Milwaukee. This week, I’m here with a dozen other teachers to observe what is arguably one of the finest models of string education in […]

The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Posted by Bill Alpert on July 2nd, 2008

I ran across the following old poem, and thought I’d share:
’twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile:
“What am bidden, good folks?” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar! A dollar!” then “Two! Only two?”
“Two […]

July and August Studio Lesson Schedule

Posted by Bill Alpert on July 1st, 2008

VIOLIN STUDENTS:
There will be NO lessons the week of July 6-12. I’ll be attending a special session for for violin teachers at the String Academy of Wisconsin.
Yes, I will be teaching from July 13-19.
However, I’ll be taking an extended vacation in late July. Hence there will be no lessons between July 20-August 8. Lessons […]