To be selected for the IMMORTALS a candidate must... 1.  Be enrolled at Loudoun Music Instruction 2.  Consistently complete assignments as directed.  Show ability and passion to "take it past the lesson" and incorporate material into his/her personal playing style. 3.  Have a firm grip on chord and scale theory. 4.  Demonstrate excellent rhythmic ability.  5.  Show respect and ability to work with others in band workshops. 6.  Make it impossible for me NOT to pick him/her. 7.  Drummers must excel at their rudiments; master rock, blues, jazz, and big band styles.          Must also be able to incoporate skills and styles from key drumming innovators. 8.  All candidates must show a strong desire to confront their weaknesses head on and focus on what they do not know. **selections are made between Sept and Oct each year. _____________________________________________________________ CONGRATULATIONS to our newest Immortal Felicia Filicetti.  Felicia has taken piano instruction here since 2006 and has grown tremendously.  She has a well developed understanding of chord and scale theory AND a history of success under pressure.  She has joined class full time as of January 2010.  She has earned this opportunity by following through on all assignments, showing great dedication and steady, consistent self improvement.  It's a pleasure to have you here saturdays Felicia!!  I can't wait to see you explode this year.   IMMORTAL AWARDS 2009 - the kids have voted and selected the following individuals for honors. 1st Annual "Kyle Lee Award" for consistent leadership, musical excellence and performance ability goes to.....LAURA KEIM.  I could not be more proud of the way my daughter comes to play.  Her musicality and unbelievable vocal performances this year have helped this group reach a new level of professionalism.  Congrats to you Laura.  You are a jewel.    Most Improved Immortal goes to JULIA HISER.  She was honored for being the student whose personal improvement most impacted the entire group's performance.  Julia has been with the Immortals almost one year now and has gone from shy sideliner to solid performer AND rising headliner!  Julia...you are where you belong.  You have made me so proud as a teacher.  ------------------------------- THE STORY OF THE IMMORTALS In August 2006 I began calling parents of quite a few extremely gifted students to tell them I had an idea.  The call basically informed the parents that they had an extremely gifted child on their hands who wasn't getting fed enough in a 30 minute lesson each week.  Seeing their passion for music motivated me to propose a solution. The plan was a three hour intensive weekly session with a group of extremely smart, driven, passionate peers.  We would meet each Saturday from 9am to noon.  This group of 6 young men and 3 young women would be pushed hard with college level material each week.  They would have to maintain certain grade levels at school to stay in the program.  They would be tested like undergrads on advanced music theory and be given the opportunity to write music, jam with and exchange ideas with others as talented as themselves.

They all rolled in here the first week of September 2006 for this new phase of their musical education.  There was, Lily Cousland (bassist), James Dahlman (Drums), JT Davis (guitar), Erik Driscoll (drummer and bassist), Laura Keim (bassist and vocalist), Kyle Lee (guitarist and vocalist), Victoria Protic (piano), Patrick Ryan (guitarist and vocalist) and joining a bit later Zachary DeHart (guitar). They did not know what to expect and neither did I.  I just started teaching them what I knew as best I could and I pushed hard.  By using many different angles I was able to get what is years of experience in their young heads in a short time.  We learned as a group then applied to our instruments.  Students were encouraged to pick up a 2nd instrument to get a well rounded experience. Here is their course of study so far... Major Scale Theory Reading Odd Meter and Complex Time Blues Theory      12 bar/8 bar      Dominant/Minor Chord Theory Phrasing    Soloing with phrases on guitar & piano    Moving phrases around/changing timing Chord Fragments- Intervals and Double Stops Minor Scale Theory Melody Composition Accompaniment Composition Modulation      Simple      Complex Modal Music Theory Vocal Technique Stage Presence and Performance Modified and Altered Chords Jazz Theory      Implied tonality/chord substitution      How melody can affect a chord progression      Chord Progressions that emphasize modal tonality      Arpeggio Soloing Song Writing and Arrangement    I would put my Immortals up against many college level students or graduates.  Some are still grasping the enormity of it all, but their peers in the group are there for them, always helping.  (thanks Vic and Kyle!!!!) The Immortals became a truly great rock group in 2007.  A super group if you will.  They have four guitarists, 2 drummers, 3 bassists, 2 pianists and 2 great vocalists with a few more on their way.  They played a good schedule of gigs in the summer of 2007 and gained the support and praise of their community and the county.  They played songs from the Who, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, The Pretenders, the Clash and more.  Whatever they did, they did the Immortal way and it was something. With these successes under our belt I wanted to reward them.  I looked into a group field trip to the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH.  Upon speaking with the Education Department, they asked to hear the kids and offered me an invitation to play there at the Rock Hall.  I was floored, but the expense turned out to be huge. The kids went to work as did the parents.  The community in Western Loudoun are the ones who sent the Immortals to play at the Rock Hall.  The Loudoun Times Mirror did it with Shannon Solliger's excellent front page story on the kids and their accomplishments.  Chuck Blough, owner of Lovettsville Pizza and Subs, did it by giving the kids a place to perform and appeal to folks for support while honing their performance skills.  The town Lovettsville and Lovettsville's Mayor Elaine Walker did it by allowing us to again present our Fall Show at Oktoberfest 2007 and all the contributors large and small did it too. Well it isn't surprising that the best group of musicians I ever knew played their best show ever when it counted most.  I had people from all over the United States tell me they'd seen nothing like this from the clubs in New York to the Rock Halls of California.  The kids closed with a full rendition of "Who are You" that brought down the house.  The director of Relic Acquisition at the Rock Hall personally came out to congratulate the kids and heap his praise.  He also had the staff emerge from the bowels of the joint with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones' guitars for the Immortals to check out up close as they covered the Clash's Guns of Brixton with such style.  The director of the Education Department, Jason Hanley, asked my kids to teach seminars at the Rock Hall of Fame.  I went back to the hotel in a daze. The Immortals have elevated the performance of my entire 90+ student body.  They lead by example.  What I give to the Immortals, they give back.  What I ask, they deliver.  Among today's generation of young people, no one can deny this is unique.  I am fixing to graduate my first Immortal to college.  I am distraught, hurting and already missing him, but I'm so proud at the same time.  There will always be an Immortals.  There will always be students that make it a no brainer for me to pick them to move on in.  The older ones will be there as mentors and the younger ones will bring the fire...  I will smile till it hurts.

August 2008 - We have said our goodbyes to Jamie Dahlman, long time drummer and a true heart and soul of our class.  Jamie is starting his college career at Virginia Commonwealth in their Arts program.  We will miss him greatly.  He has been an inspiration to all the young performers at L.M.I.  We have also said farewell to Vic Protic.  Vic continues to take lessons for piano and guitar here at L.M.I., but is focusing on her worship group now.  She is amazing and fondly missed in the Immortals.  January 2009 - We have added 2 new Immortals for 2009 to replace our graduates.  Julia Hiser has accepted a place in the class and will add her piano, guitar and singing talent to the group.  Joseph Keim has also accepted a position in the class.  Joseph brings excellent percussion skills, piano/synth skills and a great voice.  The Immortals have spent the fall/winter of 08-09 expanding their knowledge and are preparing for a big show at Six Flags Theme Park, Wash. D.C. on June 6, 2009.  August 2009 - I have said goodbye to long time student and Immortal guitarist Kyle Lee.  He is settled in at the University of Arts in Phila., where he attends on scholarship.  I miss you Kyle.  You are everything I ever hoped for in a student.  Your last solo in "Since I've Been Loving You" set a standard everyone will be shooting for!  You're the man and I wish you all the best. August 2009 - Long time Immortal's bassist and vocalist Lily Cousland has begun attending college and left our group.  I miss you Lily.  Lily's focus, talent and inner beauty added something to our Immortals that can never be duplicated.  She is still attending guitar lessons here, but leaves a hole we all feel each Saturday morning when we eat our breakfast before class.  Thanks for all the memories Lily and the joy you brought me.  Watching you grow over the last 3 years has been so gratifying.  Your last performance touched us all. September  7th, 2009 - The "New" Immortals debut was amazing.  The group did not look back, but moved forward with new material and a new attitude.  Zach DeHart stepped up to display his growing vocal talent, Julia HIser sang a beautiful rendition of Aretha Franklin's version of "The Weight" and Joseph Keim sang and absolutely amazing lead vocal on Fleetwood Mac's "the Chain."  The growth I see in these younger Immortals makes me pretty fired up for the future!  The members of our weekend music program take risks, try new things and grow.  You are great examples to all the students!   The photo below is the very last song played by the 2008-2009 lineup of he Immortals.  This group was so very special.