Five Recitalists Graduate
How do you develop ability? By continuing to play and refine the pieces you already have learned. Most music students move on to a new piece once they think they have mastered the former one – yet never play it again – missing the opportunity to catapult their skills to a new level.
Making the type of changes in your playing that create beautifully communicated music, is not easily done. It takes self control to slow down, to listen to and observe carefully what is happening. It also takes a special teacher, one who knows how to motivate parents and kids through a sustained review period, a time when everyone feels they might just break from the repetitiousness of home practice!
Recently, two CYM Faculty readied five students, guiding them to hold out for “better than my best so far”. The teachers stretched time, combining critical feedback with warm encouragement so students could engrain the ability to work deliberately and cheerfully. The results? Celebratory events that showcased a high level of personal growth, technical ease, and eagerness to perform!
Congratulations to students of Erich Riebe, Thomas and Lucas, who both completed Suzuki Guitar Book 2, and also to students of Rochelle Agnew: Mila, who completed Suzuki Violin Book 1, Caroline, who completed Book 2, and Luke, who completed Book 3. You challenged yourself in a way that not everyone does. We are proud of you and hope you keep performing this literature for others, meeting any opportunity to do so.
Join us in looking forward to the upcoming Book/Leveled Graduation Recitals of the students of CYM Faculty Christopher Sforza, Maria Gracielle Constantine, and Mark Marston. If you too want to plan a recital, just let your teacher know. They will make sure you meet this personal goal memorably!
Students share a little about their musical experiences here:
How old were you when you started playing your instrument and whose idea was it to begin?
Lucas: 6 years old and I chose to play guitar. Thomas: 3 years old – my idea. Caroline: I was 4 years old. It was my Mom’s idea.
What music do you listen to besides that which you study in the individual lesson?
Lucas: Weezer. Foo Fighters. Thomas: One Republic Caroline: I like to listen to musicals.
From the reperatoire you prepared for your recital, which is your favorite piece to play?
Lucas: Waltz. Thomas: A Toye. Caroline: I liked Gavotte from Mignon best because of the pizzicato. I like how it sounds and learning to make that sound on the violin.
What was the most difficult piece to learn?
Lucas: Corrente. Thomas: Corrente. Caroline: Witches’ Dance was hardest to learn because I had to learn to change the position of my violin fingers for the slow section to play the right notes.
Who were you especially glad to see in the audience and why?
Lucas: Dad, Mom and Grandad. Grandad because he’s a fun guy. Thomas: My Dad who always comes to my practices. Caroline: I was glad my mom and Ms. Rochelle were there because they have helped me learn to play the violin.
What do you like most about your guitar teacher?
Lucas: Other than he’s willing to put up with me? I like the fact that he’s willing to teach me everything and explain things in a way I understand. Thomas: He is calm and kind. He is good at guitar. Caroline: Ms. Rochelle is kind and makes my lessons fun by doing games such as the Plus 7 game to help me play some notes correctly.
