Recitals

Studio Recitals

Studio Recitals occur at least once per year. Current students are to perform one of their current polished pieces. These pieces are to be performed from memory, with piano.

Scheduling and planning for these recitals can occur months in advance.

It is the family’s responsibility to schedule a number of rehearsals with a collaborative pianist rehearsals prior to the Studio Recital.

Recital fees for Studio Recitals are covered by tuition, with the exception of regular collaborative pianist rehearsals.

Adult students are not required to participate in Studio Recitals.

Mr. Fitz’s Recital Preparation

• Many Months Away:

  • Listen, listen, LISTEN!

  • Memorize your music early in the learning process.

  • Play/rehearse with piano, often.

• 2 Months Away:

  • Practice performing from memory - OFTEN - for anything, anyone, and everyone. Performing is a different skill from practicing.

  • For a Studio Recital, choose your recital piece.

• 4 Weeks Away:

  • Record yourself every day.

  • Mistakes happen! Practice playing through ‘slip-ups’, even if we try our best to avoid them.

• 3 Weeks Away:

  • Take the Recital Quiz.

  • Learn how to/practice Box Breathe.

  • Give mock/mini recitals and record yourself.

• 2 Weeks Away:

  • Perform your piece(s) for family or friends.

  • Try using a (possibly modified) backing track or continue to play with the piano.

  • Practice introducing yourself and the name of your piece(s). Also, introduce anyone you are playing with.

  • Remember to take a bow!

  • Reflect on what you can improve before the recital.

• 1 Week Away:

  • Being nervous is normal. If your student is performing, do not worry – everyone is here to support them! But it can be hard to keep that in mind. If stage fright is something your child struggles with, practice raising your heart rate – running up and down the stairs, doing jumping jacks, etc. – to simulate your body’s response to nervousness. Then play all the way through your piece once you’re breathing harder. This will make the stress of performing more manageable on the day of the recital.

  • In addition to the previous weeks’ preparation:

    • “Visualize” the performance every day.

    • Choose and practice performing in your recital clothes.

    • Create a recital program - know the order of pieces you are playing.

    • Decide how you will celebrate!

A Checklist for (In Person) Recital Day:

• Please dress up for this special occasion, but be comfortable playing the cello. Avoid wearing jeans or sneakers.

• Performers need to:

  • Arrive at least 20 minutes early to unpack.

  • Get tuned.

  • Rosin your bow.

  • Set your endpin length.

  • Warm-up and ‘sound check’ the performance space.

  • Have all of your equipment and instrument set aside ready to play when it is your turn.

  • Know the title of and composer of your piece(s) (if you are announcing them).

• Have fun and play your best!

• Celebrate after your performance!

Audience Etiquette:

• Please remain quiet during each performance. Since music is mostly a listening activity, any extra sounds that aren’t part of the music can get in the way of the recital experience.

• If young children are crying or are upset, please take them to another area to calm down. Please do not let children run around or into the performance space while someone is playing. Younger siblings will also need to sit with their parents.

• Please turn your cell phone off or put it on silent, and give your full attention to the performers. Even though they’re a bit busy playing on stage, they can still see you, especially if your phone’s brightness is giving you a spotlight.

• Pictures and videos are fine, however, please do not use your flash. This can be a huge distraction to the performers.

• Please remain seated so you don’t distract your neighbors or the performers on stage.

• Plan to stay for the duration of performances. It is inspiring for students to see others perform and important for them to learn to show support for their peers!

• Please help us take care of the space and check your seats and the floor for trash and personal belongings before you leave.

• Above all else, show appreciation for each performer by applauding at the end of each piece! Performers (and their families) work VERY hard to reach this stage!

For Online Recitals:

• With our recital being online, it is not any less important than if it were in person. Students should wear the appropriate recital attire.

• Please set up your camera so most of the performer’s body can be seen, if possible. Check that the angle is not too low or too high and that incoming light sources and your background aren’t too disruptive to viewers. If you are playing a duet, please plan to be on camera as well

• Whether using an external microphone or your computer’s microphone, test your audio before the performance, and make adjustments as needed so that the sound is optimized for music.

• Please leave plenty of time before the recital to get set up, help your child get into their “performance bubble”, cello tuned, and warmed up.  Have your backing track ready to play from the correct spot, with the correct volume.

• Plan to stay for the duration of performances. It is inspiring for students to see others perform and important for them to learn to show support for their peers!

• Finally, these recitals are an important part of musical growth and are a celebration of music and young artists. I hope you can find a special way to celebrate once the performances are over.  A special meal or sweet treat, a sleep-over or outing with a friend, or an agreed-upon reward of your student’s choice are a few ideas that come to mind!

Graduation

What is Suzuki Graduation?

Certain pieces in the Suzuki repertoire are designated as Graduation Levels. When students have studied beyond the piece for each level, they may graduate - that is, they prepare a polished performance of the set-piece. They then receive a written report on their playing and are presented with a Graduation Certificate at a special Graduation Concert.

Graduation is not an examination, and every child succeeds. Teachers present students only when they are certain that the performances are secure and musical and that the student is studying well beyond that particular level. To graduate is to achieve recognition for having reached a certain milestone in the ongoing process of musical education.

To graduate at any level beyond Level 1, a student must have graduated at all previous levels. More than one level may be presented on one occasion.

Graduation preparation should be ongoing, although it is emphasized more heavily during the Spring Lesson Term.

Graduation recitals are generally presented at Summer Suzuki Institutes.

Graduation repertoire lists vary between Institutes.

Graduation Pieces (for Fairbanks School of Talent Education, other Institutes vary)

Level 1 - J. S. Bach Minuet No. 2

Level 2 - Handel Bourrée

Level 3 - Bach Allegro Moderato

Level 4 - Marcello Sonata in E minor, Allegro

Level 5 - Goltermann Concerto No. 4, 3rd Movement

Level 6 - Breval Concerto in D Major, Rondo

Level 7 - Eccles Sonata in G Minor, 1st two movements

Level 8 - Sammartini Sonata in G Major

Level 9 - Haydn Concerto in C Major

Level 10 - Saint-Saens Concerto in A