April, 2026 Newsletter

I can safely say that we are now on the other side of Winter….thankfully! As I’m writing this, it’s pouring rain out but that’s ok, because it’s not snow. As much as I do hate Winter, this year was better than others due to breaking it up with mine and Sue’s vacations to Florida in December and most recently, in March. Our trip in March was, again, fantastic and very hot this time, which was great for spending our days on the beach. Our trip in March was all about relaxation this time, however we still did get out for some date nights together, some dinners with friends, spending time with family, and a beautiful sunset cruise to conclude our trip on the Monday evening before we departed for home a few days later. There are a few pics in the Coda section as some of you have asked to see some. And now, we are on the front door step of the summer weather, shorts and sandels, dinners on the patio and BBQ season. With there being no newsletter in March because of my vacation, we have lots to cover this month, including the announcement of our Annual Recital for 2026!!! Here’s what we have for our April, 2026 newsletter…..

2026 Annual Alexander Doan School of Music Student Recital Announcement
2026 CommunityVotes Awards Final Voting Reminder
Chelsea Music Program Concert
Visit With Vanishka
International Jazz Day
Student Of The Month

2026 Annual Alexander Doan School of Music Student Recital Announcement

I’m very excited to announce that as of this morning, our 2026 Annual Alexander Doan School of Music Student Recital date is locked and loaded!! Similar to our 1st recital last year, the venue, month and time are the same. We will also be doing another toy donation like we did last year. And yes, we have full use of the beautiful grand piano again!! Our 1st recital last year was a HUGE success, and I have no doubt that this year’s will be just as special. As I did last year, I’ll be handing out physical recital annoucements and I’ll be spending the summer months preparing the students, as I did last year. Here’s all the details including an F.A.Q. section that was included in last year’s announcement…..

Event: 2026 Annual Alexander Doan School of Music Student Recital
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 1pm-3pm
Where: St. Andrew’s United Church, 5645 Morrison Street, Niagara Falls

F.A.Q.’s

Is it mandatory that I, or my child(ren), perform at the recital? No, it is not mandatory, however, it is strongly encouraged. I’m very proud of each of my students and it’s important to showcase what the students have been working on and let’s be honest, parents love to take pictures! And for my adult and retired students, I encourage you to perform as well. Many of my young students are always surprised to find out that an adult takes music lessons with me. Many of them are surprised and think only kids do. I think it would be great for them to see you perform as well. It can be very inspiring to a young musician.

Why October? As we did last year, the decision was made for our annual recitals to take place in October. The sanctuary at the church, where the recital is being held, does not have air conditioning. I didn’t want everyone to have to deal with the heat at the end of June, so I picked a time that would be more pleasant and before the winter weather hits. Also, it gives me more time with each student to prepare music over the summer months to perform, especially for those whom have just recently started studying with me. I’ll start focusing on recital pieces with students towards the end of June/beginning of July.

Why Niagara Falls? The school is an officially registered Niagara Falls business, so it makes sense. Also, Niagara Falls is more centered on tourism, so having an event like this, even though its only for us, I feel can contribute to the arts here somehow.

Do the piano students need to bring a keyboard, or are you providing a rental? Neither. This was the icing on the cake. The church is once again allowing us full use of their beautiful Grand Piano!! I’m so excited that our piano students are going to have this opportunity again!

Are you still planning on doing a Toy Drive? Yes. Last year we filled two donation bins and I have no doubt that we can do that again this year. The church takes donations for slightly used or new toys and the church will be providing the donation bins again. They do sell the toys (at a very low cost) at their events, but all of the proceeds go to charitable causes and not for profit. They did assure me of this last year and it will be no different this year.

Are you affiliated with the church? I am not. When I was first planning our annual recitals I had a list of items that were important to me for picking a venue. Safety, good acoustics, a place we can return to for future recitals and for me to build a business relationship with, resonable associated costs, etc. These were just a few on my wish list. Having a piano was never a major concern as I was planning on renting an 88-key digital keyboard for us. I was so happy about the use of the grand piano and with all the other wish list items being met, it was pretty obvious where we were going and were going to continue to go. I also used to compete at the church as a clarinet soloist in regional competitions when I was in highschool, so I was somewhat familiar with the location and remembered that they rented spaces for music events.

How many songs am I allowed to perform? At the moment, students can only select one song to perform. I have over 30 students. During the summer months, as students choose the songs they want to perform, I might be able to allow the combination of two short pieces into one, but I won’t know that until I know the timing of each piece selected. I’m expecting some overlapping of song choices with some students, however I promise I’m going to make sure we don’t end up with everyone playing the same song and have variety, just as we had last year.

I’m one of your clarinet or saxophone students. Will I need a piano player to accompany me? No.

I’ve never performed in front of people. I’m scared to do it or to make a mistake. It’s ok to be nervous. I still get nervous at times when I’ve performed. Just like last year, I will be right beside you if you want me to be, and it’s ok to make a mistake. You see me do it sometimes when I’m demonstrating a new song for you. And I’ll let you in on a secret…Nobody in the audience will know. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. 😉

More information will be shared over the next few months and I’ll be handing out print-outs that you can hang on your fridge with all the important details, and as I mentioned, during the summer months I’ll be working with everyone regarding songs to pick and getting everyone prepared. I’m so excited!!!!!

2026 CommunityVotes Awards Final Voting Reminder

In case you missed the emails that were sent out, the school is officially in the final voting for the 2026 CommunityVotes Awards!! Thank you again to everyone for the nomination votes to get us here, and for your final votes.

The final voting process is now open and as a reminder, we are nominated in THREE CATEGORIES!!! The categories we are nominated in are: ‘Music Lessons’, ‘Performing Arts’, and ‘Youth Music Lessons’. These ‘Best Of’ business awards are for the entire Niagara Region, not just Niagara Falls!!

All of the information is below on how to vote with short links and a QR code, and the deadline for voting. You can vote for all 3 categories that we are listed in by using the short url link or the QR code since they take you to my Community Votes Profile Page. You will need to login to vote for the finals using one of 3 accounts you currently use (using those is secured), or creating a Free account with Community Votes. All of that info is also listed below.

In addition, please feel free to share the links with others. The more votes we get, the better our chance is for winning in our categories, and since this is for the entire Niagara Region, we need all the votes we can get!!! Thank you once again for your continued suppport and thank you in advance for your votes!

How To Vote For Alexander Doan School Of Music:

Clink on the image below OR scan the QR Code to be taken to our Community Votes Profile Page. Once there, click on the ‘VOTE’ buttons beside each of the categories we are listed for. You can also click on this https://cmv.to/nrohgj short url link to be taken to our Community Votes Profile Page. Once there, click on the ‘VOTE’ buttons beside each of the categories we are listed for.
If you already have a Free Community Votes account, you will need to login to place your final vote. If you don’t already have an account, you can create one OR you can login securely using your Google, Facebook, or LinkedIn account information to place your final vote.
Deadline: Nomination process closes on Sunday May 17, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Chelsea Music Program Concert

I had sent out an email a few weeks ago regarding Free tickets that the school was provided for the Chelsea Music Program Concert that was held this past Sunday (April 26) at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines. Both Sue and I were in attendance with our Mom’s, as were some of our music students and their families, which was great to see! The concert was fantastic and showcased the very talented students of the Chelsea Music Program from Michigan, USA. Each program of the department performed individually first (string orchestra, brass/woodwind band, choir) then all of the programs performed together at the conclusion of the program. Here’s a couple of photos from the conclusion of the program with all of the programs on stage.

Visit With Vanishka

In the September, 2025 Newsletter, I wrote that one of my piano students, Vanishka, was moving to Dubai with her family. I’ve stayed in constant contact with Vanishka and her family, and have continued piano lessons with Vaniskha via video chat. Vanishka and her family were back in St. Catharines for a few weeks and last Thursday evening, Sue and I were able to visit them and we had a wonderful visit. Huge thanks again to Vanishka’s Mom, Freya, for dinner and our lovely gifts. I totally didn’t cry when we said goodbye.. 😉 Here’s a pic!

International Jazz Day

Every year the month of April is recognized as ‘Jazz Month’, with April 30th specifically being celebrated as International Jazz Day. International Jazz Day was first founded in 2011 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in co-operation with legendary jazz pianist and composer, Herbie Hancock, who also serves as an amabassador for the UNESCO and is also the chairman for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. Jazz Day is always celebrated annually on April 30th and also marks the conclusion of Jazz Appreciation month. It’s also a day, that in 2012, was welcomed officially into the United Nations General Assembly and is recognized on their official calendar.

Over 200 countries take part in International Jazz Day in their own ways in addition to a main Global Host Country. This year, the host country is Abu Dhabi. The host city includes educational and cultural importances of jazz in addition to a main feature concert that always includes some of the biggest names in jazz from around the world, including, Herbie Hancock, himself. The concerts are streamed online as well on the UNTV, UNESCO, the event’s main website, Facebook, YouTube and other sources to promote global participation. During the pandemic lockdown, the event was still carried out, but virtually, and the main concert was performed by the artists from all corners of the globe, playing together via remote feeds at the same time. In Canada, one of the main events that I listen to is hosted by JazzFM 91.1 from Toronto and includes performances by some of Canada’s best jazz musicians. Jazz may have originated in the United States, but Canada has produced some of the best jazz musicians in the world. I’m sure you have heard of Oscar Peterson?

So why is this an important day? The purpose of International Jazz Day is not only to celebrate the music, but also to promote the use of jazz in education, communication, and social change. Jazz has no language restrictions and no racial boundries. It’s a form of music that brings together musicians of all races and colour without prejudice. Even during some of the worst racially motivated events and years between 1920 to the late 1960’s, jazz musicians came together to record and perform, regardless of colour and race, and still do so today, through the music’s rhythms, emotions, improvisation and expression. Jazz bridges cultures and encourages inclusiveness in addition to allowing a player to express themself through the music and incorporate techniques specific to a culture or country.

For more information regarding International Jazz Day, you can check out the main website at https://jazzday.com and if you are interested in learning more about the history of jazz, the mini series Ken Burns: Jazz is an absolutely amazing look into the history of the music, and a series that I can’t recommend enough. I just completed what is probably my 10th watch of the series. First aired in 2001, the PBS 10-part series includes archived footage, interviews and stories from the best jazz musicians in history, and of course wonderful music. It starts back at the very beginnings of Jazz during slavery in the late 1800’s, through both World Wars, the great depression, and focuses on all eras of jazz including the Swing Era, Bee-bop era and into modern jazz that we have now, or at least at the time it aired in 2001.

Student Of The Month

Michael – Student Of The Month – April, 2026.

Our Student Of The Month for April, 2026 is, Michael!!

Michael is one of my clarinet students and has been working with me from the Royal Conservatory Of Music clarinet curriculum. In addition to being a clarinet player like myself, Michael is a huge Star Wars fan! When I first met Michael, the first piece he played for me was the Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back!! At times there is also a paused Star Wars movie on the television when I arrive for Michael’s lessons.

Michael received his framed Student Of The Month certificate, and is featured in this months newsletter as well as on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, and on the school website when the newsletter is posted there.

Congrats, Michael!!

Coda

That’s a wrap for our April newsletter! Thank you in advance once again for your votes for the final round of the CommunityVotes business awards, and as requested, here’s a few pics of Sue and I from our time in Florida in March. See you in your lessons!