We would very much appreciate

your participation

in our

*GENERATIONS*

PROJECT

We're asking for a few volunteers, here... <smile>

 
Here's *why* we're asking for volunteers:

 
About two years ago, when Chris was 15, a high school freshman by age, he finished first over-all in Arizona's all-instrument competition.  [On "Day 1" of the competition, the competitors were divided into "instrument groups": upper strings, lower strings, piano, percussion and brass, and woodwinds.  The top finishers in each group moved on to the finals the next day.  During this particular year, 16 finalists were chosen; they represented a wide range of instruments.]  The instrument with which Chris won the competiton was the cello.  He also finished in second place, playing the piano.  It was the first time in our State's history that one individual had finished both first *and* second on two different instruments.  He was also the youngest competitor ever to win the State's competition.  The competition's Grand Prize allowed Chris to be a soloist with a major symphony orchestra, the wonderful Phoenix Symphony.
 
He received many compliments for winning the competition and, after he performed with the orchestra, he received additional compliments for his playing.  One friend, in particular, said that she hadn't spent much time listening to Classical Music, and that she'd "never really *heard* a cello before," and that she just *loved* the instrument.   She added that she thought that Chris had played wonderfully.  Chris told her that he appreciated her comments and, since she had discovered how much she liked the cello, she really ought to hear Chris and Johnny's *teacher* play some time.  Chris said that, if she'd like, he would let her know when their teacher would be playing next, and that maybe she and her family could join our family to hear him play.  It was obvious *right* away that she had *no* interest at *all* in hearing their teacher play.  Since Chris is not a very bashful person, he asked her *why* she seemed disinterested.  She said, "Well, I think it's nice that you're saying something good about your teacher."  Then she teased Chris, by saying she thought he was being a "very proper, well-behaved, dutiful boy" by acknowledging his teacher.  And then she said, "But I doubt he plays better than *you* do!"  (Chris could see in her eyes that she was not trying to make a joke; she was being serious.)  Now...  Chris did not want to be rude to her, but he *did* wonder how on *earth* someone could *possibly* think he could play anywhere *near* as well as his *teacher*, who is not only a master teacher, but a master *cellist*, as well!  Well, after giving the matter some thought, we think we understand "where she was coming from" ... which is one of the major reasons we're asking for assistance from some *volunteers* here!
 
If Chris had been part of a team which had just won, say, a championship high school level *basketball* game, we're pretty sure that his friend would have loved the idea of going to watch someone play who had coached him, who was a "pro!"  And she would not have even *thought* to make a comment about how Chris' play was surely better than his *coach's* play!!  It is very broadly understood, in the domain of sports, about which such a high percentage of our public is knowledgeable, that it is *very* unlikely that a high school basketball player, age 15, can play as well as an excellent *college* player, much less an excellent professional player.  There are exceptions, of course; every once in a while a basketball player goes straight from high school to "the pros" ... but that's probably about a one-in-five-million sort of thing.  That happens with young musicians, once in a great, great while, too (with young musicians who are considered "prodigies").  "However" ... for purpose of *this* discussion, let us simply say that Chris is not a "prodigy" ... he's a very good high school player, but he knows he's got a *lot* to *learn*, and will have to get *waaay* better if he hopes to be able to play, some day, like a very good "pro"!!
 
Chris and Johnny happen to be basketball fans.  They *love* watching such things as the beautiful athleticism and teamwork of a wonderful professional basketball team (such as our very own Phoenix Suns! <g>)  they've always enjoyed, too, watching the little kids in our neighborhood who play basketball near our home!  But...  they don't mistake the little kids for playing at "one of the higher levels!"  They understand that there really are *progressions* of ability in basketball, and in other sports, too.  It's very helpful, especially to young athletes, to be *very* clear about the different levels of play.  Among other things, this helps to establish what a youngster *aspires* to!  The same is true, of course, in the domain of music.
 
Our intention is to provide young musicians (and their *parents*!), as well as the youngsters who are in the process of becoming the "next generation of *fans* of Classical Music," with a way to learn about the "levels" of ability which a person must move through, from being a "beginner" with an instrument," to becoming a wonderful *young* player (at, say, an "intermediate" level), and then graduating to being an excellent *older* ("advanced" or even "professional") player.
 
Therefore, we have a request:
 
We are asking teachers to please provide us with a video of one of their "beginning" students, an individual who has gotten to the point of playing "entry-level" Classical Music in a truly excellent manner.  In addition, we request that the same teacher provide a video of one of their "intermediate" students (again, the video should demonstrate excellence at the *intermediate* level).  If possible, it would be very much appreciated if a video could also be submitted by one of the teachers more advanced students.  (We ask that the focus be on ages very-young to approximately 18.)  Then, we would appreciate a video of the *teacher* playing in an excellent way.  If at all possible, we also request a video of the teacher's teacher performing.  Our goal is to show the levels to which a young musician can aspire, and also to show the public (including the parents and friends of young musicians) what the different levels are.  Our plan is to put excerpts of each video on our web site and, where possible, to put the *entirety* of the performances on a DVD.  We have a specific goal of showing as many *generations* as possible!  (If, somewhere along the line, prior generations of teachers, perhaps now deceased, made recordings of their playing, we will see what we can do to obtain permission to use such recordings as might be available, so that as many generations as possible along a particular line can be represented!)
 
When people attend a formal Classical Music performance, and there is a written program for the event, it is almost *always* the case that, for example, a soloist will list the people she or he studied with.  It is among our goals to show *why* such things are almost always listed, and why it is so very important for young musicians to have the very best possible teachers!  (This is, of course, true in many domains, not just music!)
 
Chris and Johnny have had *wonderful* teachers.  And *their* teachers had wonderful teachers, too.  We found it very interesting, a while back, when we followed the line of their teachers *waaay* back ... through *many* generations.  We discovered that some of the composers who are mentioned on this site, such as Fred and Franz and Papa Joe and Lou, are in their line of teachers.  We are very, very thankful for the things these wonderful teachers passed along to *their* students, who passed them along down the line to *their* students who, eventually, have passed them along to Johnny and Chris!  (If you'd like to read about Johnny and Chris' line of teachers, click here.)
 
If you would like to participate in our "generations" project, please drop us an e-mail!
 

 

 

PLEASE SEND YOUR E-MAIL TO ONE OF THE ADDRESSES IN THE BOX BELOW.

 

THANK YOU!

 

 

          We'd love to hear from you!   Please feel free to e-mail us at:

         CHRIS:                                          JOHNNY:                                            JOHN and JEAN (parents):

         chris@the-rice-brothers.us    johnny@the-rice-brothers.us     JRice43497@aol.com    or

                                                                                                                  parents@the-rice-brothers.us