Bandoneon Study with Rodolfo Zanetti

Austin Philemon, a member of the Piano and Early Childhood Faculty, has been awarded the Clifford/Levy Creativity Grant to pursue independent bandoneon study with Grammy-winning bandoneonist Rodolfo Zanetti.  After many years of admiring the instrument and its role at the heart of Argentine tango, Austin recently acquired a rare 1926 Alfred Arnold bandoneon, which he brought to Paris to be restored by one of the few remaining specialist luthiers.  His study with Zanetti will focus on traditional techniques, including a la parilla playing - an improvisatory style used to accompany tango dancers.   Austin sees a meaningful connection between this movement-based approach and the way young children move, play, and learn in Diller-Quaile classrooms.  By learning an instrument rooted outside the Euro-centric classical tradition, he hopes to broaden his own musicianship and introduce students to a wider range of global musical practices.  This project will deepen Diller-Quaile's commitment to diversity in repertoire and offer students an authentic perspective on South American musical traditions, enriching their understanding of how music and movement interact across cultures.

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Take Care of the Earth - Songs for Younger and Older Children" for Voice and Piano

Ruth Alperson, a longtime member of the Piano and Early Childhood Faculty, has been awarded The Clifford/Levy Creativity Grant to support the recording of Take Care of the Earth - Songs for Younger and Older Children, her original collection of songs for voice and piano.  Written over many years and inspired by her lifelong interest in endangered species, the songs introduce children to animals such as the Polar Bear, Green Sea Turtle, and Blue Whale, offering an upbeat and engaging way to help young people understand our shared responsibility for the planet.  Ruth regularly composes music with her students in grades 3-5 and plans to use the theme of endangered species to spark conversations about how music can communicate ideas such as kindness, care for others, and being good neighbors.  Several songs from the collection were recently performed by Diller-Quaile faculty and staff in a faculty-composition recital, with another performance planned for this spring.  By creating professional recordings, Ruth hopes to make these songs accessible to colleagues, families, and classrooms, expanding their use within the School and beyond.

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