Before I had a digital camera...

I just discovered that I have some great studio pictures before 2005 amongst my negatives that I am having converted to digital images. My mom did this for all my growing up years but between the time I got married in 1998 and when we got our first digital camera in 2005, I have some student pictures I'd like to share...coming soon!

2008 Recitals

Spring Recital 2008

Book 1 Group

Spring Recital 2008
Book 2 Group

Spring Recital 2008

Accompanist: Janie Nebeker

(we go way back so this was really fun!)

Fall Recital 2008

My Son ~ He's Learned How to Clap!

Fall Recital 2008

All My Students

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This pretty well brings us up to date. This is my current group of students. I look forward to the years ahead and many more recital posts to come!

2007 Recitals

Spring Recital 2007

Pre-Twinkle Group
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Spring Recital 2007

Book 1 Group

Spring Recital 2007
Vibrato Group

Suzuki Graduation 2007

Ellen Cox - Suzuki Teacher who sent me lots of wonderful students
(some were related to her so she came to see their progress)

Winter Recital 2007
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This year included the Celebration VII Gala Concert which was held at the Conference Center in SLC. Thousands of Suzuki students of all instruments participated. Kurt Bestor was commissioned to write the music for the grand finale, Jubilate! It was amazing to witness and be a part of not only because of the shear number of students playing all at once but also because of the wonderful legacy that Dr. Suzuki gave us which we were celebrating. I've got a DVD of the event which has been wonderful to watch. I found a great clip on Kurt Bestor's website:

www.kurtbestor.com/index.php?page=video&category=Classical_Commissions&display=27&hilight=jubilate

2006 Recitals

Spring Recital 2006

(first time at the Layton Library)

Annual Parent Meeting and Student Party

(the very first one)

Suzuki Grand Concert 2006
(100's of students on stage playing the twinkles!)

Fall Recital 2006
(Pop Goes the Weasal with brand new Suzuki Students)

Fall Recital 2006
Pre-Twinkle Group

Fall Recital 2006
Book 1 Group

Fall Recital 2006
Vibrato Group

Pictured: Me (nine months pregnant), Emma West, Jackie Tanzie

Fall Recital 2006
My Wonderful Accompanists!
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This was a busy year. In the fall we moved from Syracuse to Washington Terrace but I continued teaching in Davis County at my parents house in Layton. Over the course of one year I took 5 teacher training classes. Oh, and I had my first baby!

2005 Recitals

Summer Recital 2005
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Tuning for Winter Recital 2005

Winter Recital 2005


Me Performing the Mozart Concerto
(which I had learned, memorized, and video-taped for the SAA to gain eligibility to take all the Suzuki Teacher Training courses)
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In 2005, many recitals were held at my home in Syracuse. My dining room was the stage and my family room was where the audience sat. It actually worked really well - it was a fun group of students!

Intermountain Suzuki String Institute 2005-2008

Bill Star ~ Suzuki Pioneer at ISSI 2005

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Time for Three ~ Guest Artists at ISSI 2005

My first student to attend ISSI 2006

My second student to attend ISSI 2008
(they said it was the best thing their family did all summer!)
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In My Violin Background February 2009, I have a post all about institute which I attended as a young Suzuki student. Now I appreciate it even more for the growth it provides for me as a teacher and for my students who attend. They fly in the best Suzuki string teachers from all over the world to teach for one very intense week every year in June. To learn more about ISSI visit:
intermountainsuzukistringinstitute.com

Suzuki Teacher Training

Book 1 Teacher Training

ISSI - June 2005

Ed Sprunger

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Book 2 & 3 Teacher Training

Apprenticeship - 2006

Jeanne Grover
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Book 4 & 5 Teacher Training

ISSI - June 2006

Linda Fiore~

The really great thing about being a Suzuki Teacher is all the training that is offered (and required for active status). Each course is 15 hours of instruction, 8 hours of observation, and memorization of the repertoire. The acception is Book 1 which is twice the hours of instruction and observation plus a pre-requisite class: Every Child Can Learn. I am currently taking Book 6 Teacher Training from Jeanne Grover which, upon completion, will make me eligable to become an "advanced active teacher" with SAU. I am excited to be learning and growing as a teacher. I especially love the opportunities I have to observe great Suzuki teachers both locally and from around the world at institute each year. Special thanks to my teacher trainers who I have learned so much from!

Violin Shopping

One of the first steps to taking violin lessons is picking out the right violin. It is very important to get a good quality instrument in the correct size. Peter Prier is one of many good places to shop. I got all my violins from Peter. He has a violin making school next door and when you walk in his shop there is a violin hanging upside down above the door which strums the strings as you open and close it - kindof cool! For more information about the makings of a violin visit: prierviolins.com

UPDATES TO COME...

Welcome to Marlor Music Studio! I hope you enjoy the journey. My suggestion would be to scroll to the bottom and read each post, in reverse order, so that it reads chronologically. I am so excited to share with you these wonderful and cherished times!

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Now that I have completed my personal violin background, in March, I will be adding posts regarding the entire creation of my music studio (2005-Present) which will include pictures of my students from all our recitals and also group performances (so long as I can figure out how to add video). At that point, the blog will be caught up and I will continue posting as we have future recitals and other special events. Please feel free to comment as you are so inspired! You may also become a follower of this blog so that you can be notified automatically whenever there are updates.

My Tender Moments

Amelia Butler (1987-2007)

Sisters having one last pedicure...

Three Sisters, Three Set of Toes

Funeral Program

Cathy Marlor, Tracy Hales, Rebekah Butler
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I share this very tender moment in my music blog only because it was one of the most powerful music experiences of my life. I am profoundly grateful to have had the skill and ability to honor my little sister with music. This gave me great comfort and peace at a very difficult time. And for all mother's who struggle each day to practice with and encourage your children, please believe that there may likely come a day when all your efforts will be realized in a very special moment in time when your child will know, without a doubt, that every lesson, every practice, and every penny was well spent. They may not always tell you, but they will be very thankful for all that went into developing this gift of music that they will enjoy throughout their lives. I sincerely hope this gives a broader perspective to the never-ending struggle of learning a very difficult instrument. I have so much respect and admiration for all parents who give love and support to their children, if not through music, then through any endeavor that uplifts the child!

My Fun Moments

Miss Utah Pageant 1998

Playing "The Hot Canary" in a hot dress!

Cathy Butler, Miss Layton 1997-98

Mary McDounagh, Miss Utah 1997-98

I played the Fiddler in The Fiddler on the Roof
I got to climb up and play on the roof!

China 2005
I was invited to tour with the Weber State Symphony

The Music Conservatory in Xian, China
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I always tell my students that you never know where your instrument might take you. Mine took me through pageants, paid for college, put me in musicals, and sent me to China.

My Post-College Orchestra Experience

New American Philharmonic (2006-Present)

Music for Fireworks at Weber State University

Kris, David Van Alstyne (our conductor), Cathy

Strings of Elegance (2002-Present)
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Since my college years, I have enjoyed playing with the New American Philharmonic - a great volunteer community symphony orchestra in our area and with Strings of Elegance - my string quartet that plays professionally for weddings and other special events. For more information about these groups you can visit:
newamericanphilharmonic.org
soequartet.blogspot.com

My College Orchestra Experience

Ricks College Graduation (1997-1999)

Cathy Butler Marlor and Dr. Kevin Call

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I got a great orchestral scholarship to Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) where I got my associate degree in Interpersonal Communications. To maintain my scholarship I attended 2-hour rehearsals 5 days per week from 10am-12pm. This put me in both the symphony and chamber orchestras. What a fabulous way to pay for college! Ricks had a fine-arts 100 requirement for all students so we had a lot of support for our many concerts due to the fact that every student had to attend 20 various concerts on campus in order to graduate. The funnest by far is the annual Halloween concert which always has a fun theme, strobe lights, hand-carved pumpkins, and lots of craziness. We always did 6 of these performances because it was so popular. I've since attended a few myself and they are just as fun from the audience. BYU-Idaho recently had an orchestra reunion in honor of Dr. Call which I attended and loved! I picked the right school when I picked Ricks. I met my now husband of 10-years on the first day of classes!

All-Occasions String Quartet (1999-2001)

Elizabeth McFadden, Jenny Melville, Cathy Marlor, Jennifer Cosman

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After Ricks, we moved to Logan, UT where we attended Utah State University. On an academic scholarship, I got my bachelor degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and graduated summa cum laude in spring of 2001. While there, I kept up my violin skills by playing in the All-Occasions String Quartet.

My Pre-College Orchestra Experience

Layton High School Orchestra (1994-1997)

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I enjoyed playing in my high school orchestra and singing in the acapella choir. We went on several trips to California during this time (Disneyland and San Fransico). My main objective in high school in regards to music was to become our Music Sterling Scholar during my senior year. I was able to accomplish this goal and I appreciate the music opportunities which I participated in. The competition was tough so I was glad I'd made contributions to our LHS music programs.
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Utah Youth Symphony (1992-1997)

with Barbara Scowcroft

Amelia, Rebekah, me, Barbara, Ralph
(Feb. 2002 SLC Winter Olympics Cultural Olympiad)
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Sometime in our Utah Youth Symphony years, Barbara married Utah Symphony’s concertmaster Ralph Matson. We participated in side-by-side concerts with the Utah Symphony where we got to play with professionals - what an honor! I remember Saturdays in junior high and high school started very early - 7:30-10:00am at the University of Utah Gardner Hall for rehearsals. We played the most amazing symphonies and it gave me a lot of great note-reading practice. I love the picture above that was taken during the SLC Winter Olympics. I was already graduated from college but Rebekah, my sister, played for the events and Amelia, my other sister, had been involved with the orchestra too. If you want to know more about the Utah Youth Symphony visit:
utahyouthsymphony.org

My Piano Trophy

I took piano off and on for many years but my main instruction was through high school with Colleen Maloy who I took from for about 3 years. She lived down the street from my violin teacher and so I would go from one lesson to the other each week. One year I got motivated and learned 50 hymns and a showy recital piece and for this she gave me the coveted "Outstanding Progress" award in June of 1995. I am sorry to say that I have not kept up with my piano playing as much as I have violin. But my knowledge of the keyboard is extremely helpful in understanding music theory and helps me to this day in that regard.