My 40th teaching anniversary performance

[skateboy]

This last Saturday I celebrated 40 years of teaching with a concert that included a number of my former and current violin/viola students (and two guest cellists).

Of course, I felt very honored and touched to have so many students -- past and present -- join me for this event. And I was really proud of how they all stepped up their game... we put this performance together in just one short rehearsal, a few hours before the performance.

In case anyone is interested, here is a short highlights video. You'll notice that the ensemble grows with each piece, until we've got a really big group playing together at the end. (I began the concert playing the Violin Sonata by Maurice Ravel, but left it off of this video, as I wanted the focus to be on the students. But I may post the Ravel performance in a separate video at some point.)

- YouTube

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youtu.be

Still can't believe I've been teaching for 40 freakin' years... especially since I'm only 39.

 

[Wyliefan]

What an accomplishment! Congratulations!

 

[Garden Kitty]

Congratulations! how wonderful!

 

[skatfan]

This last Saturday I celebrated 40 years of teaching with a concert that included a number of my former and current violin/viola students (and two guest cellists).

Of course, I felt very honored and touched to have so many students -- past and present -- join me for this event. And I was really proud of how they all stepped up their game... we put this performance together in just one short rehearsal, a few hours before the performance.

In case anyone is interested, here is a short highlights video. You'll notice that the ensemble grows with each piece, until we've got a really big group playing together at the end. (I began the concert playing the Violin Sonata by Maurice Ravel, but left it off of this video, as I wanted the focus to be on the students. But I may post the Ravel performance in a separate video at some point.)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Still can't believe I've been teaching for 40 freakin' years... especially since I'm only 39.

What a terrific concert - how much beauty you have helped create for the world!

 

[overedge]

Congratulations, that is an incredible accomplishment. And it says a lot about your skill as a teacher that so many students came to participate in the concert!

 

[attyfan]

Kudos!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kwanfan1818]

Congratulations!

It's so rare that I've heard these pieces with such a rich and gripping sound in the middle.

I hope you post the Ravel!

 

[once_upon]

Congratulations! What an accomplishment.

 

[Buzz]

Congratulations!!!

 

[On My Own]

You made me look up Hovhaness' Psalm and Fugue op 40.

 

[Simone411]

Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations @skateboy!

 

[skateboy]

Congratulations!

It's so rare that I've heard these pieces with such a rich and gripping sound in the middle.

I hope you post the Ravel!

I've just posted the video of the Ravel:

Ravel: Sonata, violin/piano - James Greening-Valenzuela/Chun Mei Wilson

James Greening-Valenzuela 40th Teaching Anniversary ConcertAugust 12, 2023Orinda, CA

youtu.be

 

[kwanfan1818]

Bravo, bravo!

That must have been a delight for your students to hear live .

I don't think I've ever heard it before: Ravel packed everything into it.

Thank you so much for posting it!

 

[skateboy]

Bravo, bravo!

That must have been a delight for your students to hear live .

I don't think I've ever heard it before: Ravel packed everything into it.

Thank you so much for posting it!

Thank you. I had to take myself out of semi-retirement for this one. I do appreciate your kind words.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Thank you. I had to take myself out of semi-retirement for this one.

That made it even more important to them.

 

[skateboy]

That made it even more important to them.

Very sweet of you, thank you. The truth is that I use to perform the Ravel regularly up until about 2006. Now I spend much more time teaching than solo performing, although that was a big part of my career up until about 20 years ago. i really do appreciate your very kind words.

 

[skateboy]

Doubled message, sorry.

 

[skateboy]

Very sweet of you, thank you. The truth is that I use to perform the Ravel regularly up until about 2006. Now I spend much more time teaching than solo performing, although that was a big part of my career up until about 20 years ago. i really do appreciate you very kind words.

sorry twice edited

 

[skateboy]

Very sweet of you, thank you. The truth is that I use to perform the Ravel regularly up until about 2006. Now I spend much more time teaching than solo performing, although that was was a big part of my career up until about 20 years ago. i really do appreciate you very kind words.

 

[Judy]

That is such an amazing accomplishment. I always enjoy when you share your students playing .

 

[kwanfan1818]

I was going back through my YouTube suggestions, and didn't realized I missed an alert for this recent-ish concert (posted on November 8):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQ730j4RFQ

I know it's excerpts, but what a lovely selection of rep.

 

[skateboy]

I was going back through my YouTube suggestions, and didn't realized I missed an alert for this recent-ish concert (posted on November 8):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQ730j4RFQ

I know it's excerpts, but what a lovely selection of rep.

Thank you!