I just wanted to let all my countless of readers out there... (ahem, you are out there, right? right?!) know that this past Sunday, October 2nd we had over 50 violin and guitar students from 19 different Suzuki studios come together to play a concert to raise money for the wildfire recovery effort in Bastrop county. Besides being wildly fun and successful (we raised $1556!), I had the opportunity to participate in my very first Suzuki violin recital. I don't talk about this often, but, sadly, I was not a Suzuki student as a kid. When I excitedly told my parents all about how Suzuki Violin works after I did my Teacher Training this past summer, my mom said "I'm glad I didn't have to practice with you when you started violin." My mom is very honest, and I love her for it. But yes, being a Suzuki parent is a big time commitment and an even bigger patience commitment, so for those of you parents who have taken the plunge, I tip my hat to you.
Getting on with it, I was going to say that, although I have played in recitals, organized recitals, and attended recitals, I never before today have gotten to stand up with a group of students in a recital and play through a shared repertoire. It was amazing. I got so absorbed in thinking charitable thoughts about it afterwards that I missed my exit three times as I was driving home. To tell you a little bit about that, one could say there was a sense of community, of knowing that everyone on stage cared deeply about music and had put in hours of hard work to be able to play these classical pieces, and of course the teacher in me couldn't help but think of the many ways that playing in a group allowed students to help each other with rhythm and musicality. Being surrounded by others playing the same music as you is having almost instantaneous feedback on your own playing. Any temptation to hesitate at a certain passage, play detache when the music calls for staccato, or to hold a note longer than it's value is immediately squashed by the momentum of all that music. I also loved having a leader, as it gave me a chance to follow a different interpretation of the music than I may have done on my own. And of course the value of having students practice leading their interpretation for the time when it's their turn to stand in front of the group and lead a piece can probably not be overestimated. With that I'll get off my soap box on the virtues of Suzuki recitals, and just sum it up by saying that a good time was had by all.
Before I go, I want to give two thumbs up on the countrified version of "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", to the little violin player who shouted "I want to play guitar!", and to the young boy who turned to his friend on stage just before their song began and said so politely, "It's nice to see you again, Devin."
Getting on with it, I was going to say that, although I have played in recitals, organized recitals, and attended recitals, I never before today have gotten to stand up with a group of students in a recital and play through a shared repertoire. It was amazing. I got so absorbed in thinking charitable thoughts about it afterwards that I missed my exit three times as I was driving home. To tell you a little bit about that, one could say there was a sense of community, of knowing that everyone on stage cared deeply about music and had put in hours of hard work to be able to play these classical pieces, and of course the teacher in me couldn't help but think of the many ways that playing in a group allowed students to help each other with rhythm and musicality. Being surrounded by others playing the same music as you is having almost instantaneous feedback on your own playing. Any temptation to hesitate at a certain passage, play detache when the music calls for staccato, or to hold a note longer than it's value is immediately squashed by the momentum of all that music. I also loved having a leader, as it gave me a chance to follow a different interpretation of the music than I may have done on my own. And of course the value of having students practice leading their interpretation for the time when it's their turn to stand in front of the group and lead a piece can probably not be overestimated. With that I'll get off my soap box on the virtues of Suzuki recitals, and just sum it up by saying that a good time was had by all.
Before I go, I want to give two thumbs up on the countrified version of "Go Tell Aunt Rhody", to the little violin player who shouted "I want to play guitar!", and to the young boy who turned to his friend on stage just before their song began and said so politely, "It's nice to see you again, Devin."