Comments for Opus Colorado

Comment on The Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and Christina Jennings are superb by Barb Graham

Barb Graham — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:56:09 +0000

Your review makes me want to see this orchestra more than ever! Cynthia is a fine musician, and her ability to pass her direction on to the players is legendary!

Comment on About by Bahman Saless

Bahman Saless — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:42:41 +0000

Dear Mr. McNeil: I’m sorry you missed our last concert. In case you’re interested to see what you missed, I’ve uploaded the Classical Symphony on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FwIL3m1-A&context=C492fad6ADvjVQa1PpcFOpXTcWtEyWMjgfy-Y5zXfDyXHx8OPMsrs=

Best Wishes,
Bahman Saless.

Comment on An incomparable Beauty and The Beast by christopher Lind

christopher Lind — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:42:25 +0000

I simply agree with the last three comments. The production and the choreography of Beauty of the Beast was exceptional and outstanding. I remember the emotional journey we the audience had during the performance. To my Beauty and the Beast was the beast production of the Colorado Ballet have ever done.
Please bring it back.
Christopher Lind.

Comment on Everyone in Colorado owes the Colorado Ballet a Tribute by Anita Khaldy

Anita Khaldy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:52:44 +0000

The BEST!!!

Comment on Everyone in Colorado owes the Colorado Ballet a Tribute by Anita Khaldy

Anita Khaldy — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:51:47 +0000

Made my DAY!!!

Comment on Maestro Vincent C. LaGuardia by Kathleen White

Kathleen White — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:38:12 +0000

Mr. LaGuardia was my symphonic orchestra teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School. He taught all of his students a love of music, excellence and achievement.

I am deeply saddened that such a master musician and conductor has passed, but he has left behind such an incredible legacy.

My condolences to his family.

Comment on Maestro Vincent C. LaGuardia by V. J. La Guardia

V. J. La Guardia — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:56:13 +0000

Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. We all miss dad very much, and take comfort in the fact that he touched the lives of so many through music. He had the passion for teaching, motivating, and inspiring so many others to strive for excellence.

With honored respect,

Vincent J. La Guardia

Comment on The Denver Phil vocal competition winners are winners in every way. by Operagasm’s Own Melissa Wimbish Gets Some Love From Opus Colorado | Operagasm

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:45:06 +0000

[...] Anna Montgomery and Operagasm’s own Melissa Wimbish performed a concert with the orchestra. Robin McNeal with Opus Colorado was on hand to review the performance. Check out the Operagasm Review [...]

Comment on Piano Method Books by Robin McNeil

Robin McNeil — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:38:18 +0000

Dear Paola,

Thanks for responding to my article. I really do think that there is a difference between the hands of almost everyone, aside from the anatomical size that you correctly point out in your article. The difference really begins to manifest itself when the student is around the age of nine or ten (before that age, there is not much difference except for the anatomical size). When their hands begin to develop, many students have more meat on the ends of their fingers than other students. This means they can play more on the ends of their fingers, which is where the tone comes from, and it also allows them to play in a more relaxed manner. Those that don’t have so much “meat” on the ends of their fingers have to learn to play a little flatter, so that their fingernails don’t slide back and forth on the keys and force them to lose control. It has also been my observation that some students have more flexible joints where their thumb attaches to their hand, thus making it much easier to put their thumb behind their fingers (or under their hand, as some say) when they are doing scale-like passage work. Granted, these differences may be very subtle, but I think they can have a profound effect.

Comment on Piano Method Books by Paola

Paola — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:14:43 +0000

Hi, Robin,
Being a piano teacher myself, I find most of your observations painfully accurate (e.g., on a dangerous attachment to ‘methods’, and on pushing pop and rock on our students). And some come close to the recognition of other serious issues still plaguing music teaching.
Anyway, here’s something I don’t agree with:
> [the] students … It is certain that their hands will not be alike.
These words can be referred only to the differences in anatomical size. In reality, this sort of difference is quite insignificant and shouldn’t stand for “each one of us is different” (even though, unfortunately, it still means exactly that, to many people).
What’s much more important is what’s at play here: that, also in playing the piano, our hands operate along the kinetic principles which are not just somewhat similar but downright the same for all healthy human beings.
It’s only that piano pedagogy did not discover that yet (and that’s why our piano teaching can still cheerfully cultivate its, basically Darwinian, approach).
Don’t give up, and good luck to you!