“Everybody’s saying that music is love.” – David Crosby
The song penned by David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame, could have served as the theme for Summer Sizzle 11 held here from July 17 to 19.
Sponsored by Northern Lights Canadian National Conservatory of Music, Summer Sizzle has grown to become the premiere summer event for piano teachers and students, with some 50 students attending this year’s events along with 23 well-known composers
The event was founded by organizer Debra Wanless 11 years ago when she was a music teacher in Palmerston. Two years ago it was moved to the new Sports complex in Mount Forest because, according to Wanless, it had outgrown the Palmerston location.
“We literally have people from coast to coast,” Wanless said of those attending this year’s event. “I started it as a one-day event and (then) we had about 25 teachers and it just grew.
“The keyboard camp (attended by students) is four years old. We started having children attending so we knew we had to grow that need.”
The theme of this year’s Summer Sizzle was “Move over Mozart” with an eye to promoting music by the young students attending.
In that regard, Mayfair Music is an educational music publishing company where Wanless works to put together material for Summer Sizzle, including a booklet featuring the compositions and music of 13 students. Those students performed their works during the three-day event.
“Our mandate is to promote Canadian content,” she added.
Mount Forest-based piano teacher Norine Broomhead signed on to Summer Sizzle in its first year and now helps plan the event, including bookings and billets in Mount Forest.
Broomhead said the success of the venue is due largely to support of sponsors and individuals locally.
“We appreciate businesses from town who have supported us,” she said.
Student Noah Green, 7, has been playing piano since he was three, following in the footsteps of his older brother. It’s his first year attending the keyboard camp at Summer Sizzle.
Despite his prowess on the keyboards, Green, who comes from the Collingwood area, admits he can’t sing very well.
“My favorite thing is being on the stage and playing for people,” the aspiring pianist said. He had that opportunity one evening during Summer Sizzle where he played for about 200 people.
The quick-witted youngster said originally he planned to become an engineer.
“When I was little I wanted to be an engineer then I wanted to become an engineer and a pianist and then, when I learned the word psychiatrist I wanted to be that,” he said with a smile.
Attending Summer Sizzle gave him the opportunity to learn from new teachers and to meet similarly talented young pianists. His favorite music form is jazz, but he also enjoys the classics.
“I play and practice every day,” he said of his commitment to keyboard music.
Musician and composer, teacher Isaac Holbrook, 26, made the trek to Mount Forest from Denver, Colorado. Back home he teaches about 25 students in between concerts and composing music.
He started playing violin when he turned six. A couple of years later he switched to piano and has never looked back.
“I couldn’t commit to both instruments,” Holbrook said.
During Summer Sizzle he was teaching master classes and had students involved in improvisational workshops where they attempted to combine their different music styles.
Holbrook said Summer Sizzle is an excellent venue for students to learn and be exposed to what other young pianists are doing.
“It’s great because the kids get to see what others are interested in and it inspires them,” he said. “It’s develops an appreciation of music.”
Trained in the classics, Holbrook over the years has also developed the same appreciation of music in all its forms. He said it’s a misnomer to consider different styles of music separate from each other. While some consider classical music to be a step above other music styles, Holbrook sees no difference.
“There shouldn’t be a split between styles, it’s all music,” he said. “I want to take the fun of the jazz world and fuse that with the dedication of classical.”
He added. “The wonderful part about Summer Sizzle is there’s little competition going on between students. It’s so supportive, it’s a positive experience.”
That sentiment is shared by Wanless and Broomhead.
