We are very pleased to announce that the  prestigious Carswell scholarship will be awarded in piano, and in voice this year. 

At the June recital, contestants will compete by singing or playing two selections.  The student showing the most promise in each of the voice and piano categories, will win a scholarship of $50, to be used for lessons in the coming year.

This award recognizes our most outstanding piano and voice students. Candidates nominated for this award must be achieving  85% or higher in both examinations and competition. Along with expertise, the recipient will also demonstrates talent, dedication and showmanship.

That the Studio continues to produce music students of high calibre is once again supported by the commendable achievements of the following students who took Royal Conservatory examinations this past year.

At Carswell Music Studios, We offer examinations comparable to those at the Royal Conservatory at half the price for twice the time allotted for an examination,  along with critical comments to help the students build on their present developing skills. E-mail or call the studio for details and/or scheduling for exams in any area: vocal, instrumental, piano or theoretical.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new young teachers at the studio.  Madison Oliver and Blair Barnsdale are available immediately for piano and voice clients in the Mississauga area.

Madison is a high achieving student of Jim Carswell on the piano and has worked extensively with children in summer and sports camp settings. She is accepting piano students.  Blair is a highly talented singer and pianist available to teach voice and piano students.  Blair has had several major roles with the Meadowvale theatre company including Sweeny Todd and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor dreamcoat.

Gisella Giraldi has decided to take a temporary break from the excellent and inspiring work she has done with her students at the studio.  We wish to sincerely thank her for all the encouragement, and personal care she has given to her group of students, who have really progressed.  She will be definitely missed, and other teachers will have a hard act to follow with her students next year.

Aminah Hughes is a highly talented singer and vocal student of  Jim Carswell and currently is studying advanced classical and jazz voice. Aminah was accepted into the theatre and jazz program at Humber College, in Toronto. She offers excellent instruction in voice to beginner students.

Thanks to Luisa and  Elise Ceolin for hosting our spring workshops, lead by Jim Carswell, at their house in Mississauga.  This is a great opportunity for all the students to fine-tune their playing before the December concerts and spring examinations. This has been a great way for students to build up their confidence for the upcoming recital on June 9.

Raylin Barnsdale continues to perform with Windmill Productions which produces excellent musical cabarets with a variety of different genres of music. Raylin with Jim’s help, ran two very successful voice workshops for all our budding singers at Jim’s downtown condo studio.

Jim Carswell continues to work on the studio piano book, Piano Exploration professionally edited by the Canadian music editor Ruth Pincoe. Ruth has edited and been the consultant for the various Conservatory piano, voice, and theory courses been offered.  She is active in devising many of the syllabi involved in the conservatory.

Our amazing drum teacher, Dave Lowe will be designing the layout, along with graphic artist Christopher Beaune who has designed many of the pictures, icons and images used in the upcoming book.
Hopefully, a new revised and exciting version of the piano book we are writing will soon be available for our students!!  We have a few students using the new book on a trial basis, creating a lot of excitement.

Carswell Music Studios has an exciting section in our Internet website which you can reach at www.carswellmusic.com.  A number of our advanced students  are featured as live performers on the site.  There is a short biography of each student and a sample or movie clip of each student performing with sound.  Our site has been totally revamped and gives you background information on the studio and our teachers.  Check it out today.

Mark the Recital date coming up in JUNE! This term the studio will have two recitals for our students to showcase all they have learned.

Parents, friends, and relatives are cordially invited to these concerts and to the light receptions held afterwards. Check the following listings to find the closest location. Please arrive 20 minutes early to avoid any surprises. This recital will be held in two parts: Part 1 commencing at 7:00p.m and Part 2 at 8:00p.m.  Light refreshments will be served at the end, downstairs in the church hall.

Mississauga Recital: Tuesday, JUNE 9, 2009 at 7:00pm
Located at Sheridan Park Alliance Church , MISSISSAUGA

Since the beginning of time, that is since the piano was invented, every student has dreaded the fatal words:  PRACTISE YOUR SCALES!!! And every teacher goes through agony listening to students and the technique that they obviously don’t ever practise!!!  So what is the solution for both teacher and student to this old-as-time dilemma?   The best answer to a student as to why they need technique, is that it will save them time and ultimately cause them to need to practise LESS if they regularly and thoughtfully do technical exercises.

Teachers need to analyze the pieces of the student and assign KEYS involving scales, chords, and arpeggios and in rhythms and patterns that are used in the student repertoire.  For example the scale of Eb major may appear in a SONATINA or whatever piece a number of times in differing forms or as solid or broken chords.

Jim Carswell