SUZUKI GRADUATION CONCERTS
The inspiration for the SAGA Graduation Concert comes directly from the early days of the Suzuki Method when it was spreading around the world. Dr. Suzuki chose one piece per book, that if a student could play well, would demonstrate mastery of all the skills acquired while studying that particular book. In the past, students would send recordings (cassette tapes at the time!) from all over the world to Dr. Suzuki for his approval and feedback. Along with his comments, Dr. Suzuki sometimes sent watercolor paintings, including a beautiful calligraphy note of one of his most famous sayings, like "where love is deep, much can be accomplished."
SAGA continues this tradition with our annual Graduation Concert for violin, viola, and cello students. Each student prepares a polished video performance of the appropriate graduation piece. Students or parents will then upload the recording as an unlisted video on YouTube and include a link for the recording the graduation application. As this recording should demonstrate mastery of skills, students and teachers are encouraged to wait to make this recording until the student is studying repertoire at least half a book past the graduation piece. The recording is then reviewed by an experienced SAGA teacher. These reviewers will be using the Suzuki Association of the Americas Performance Descriptors as a guideline to evaluate each performance. Topics include:
At the Graduation Concert, all of the students who graduate from a given level will perform that piece together as a group. There aren't any solo performances at the concert, unless there happens to be only one student graduating at a particular level, which sometimes happens with the upper books. Students are also awarded a beautiful certificate with a ribbon - similar to the paintings Dr. Suzuki sent - comments from the reviewer about the recording, and a violin/viola/cello lapel pin. Each graduation level has its own color pin. Students who participate in multiple Graduation Concerts over the years accrue a beautiful assortment of colorful pins they can display like well-earned badges of honor!
SAGA continues this tradition with our annual Graduation Concert for violin, viola, and cello students. Each student prepares a polished video performance of the appropriate graduation piece. Students or parents will then upload the recording as an unlisted video on YouTube and include a link for the recording the graduation application. As this recording should demonstrate mastery of skills, students and teachers are encouraged to wait to make this recording until the student is studying repertoire at least half a book past the graduation piece. The recording is then reviewed by an experienced SAGA teacher. These reviewers will be using the Suzuki Association of the Americas Performance Descriptors as a guideline to evaluate each performance. Topics include:
- Posture
- Tone
- Technical Accuracy
- Musicianship
- Stage Presence (including memorization)
At the Graduation Concert, all of the students who graduate from a given level will perform that piece together as a group. There aren't any solo performances at the concert, unless there happens to be only one student graduating at a particular level, which sometimes happens with the upper books. Students are also awarded a beautiful certificate with a ribbon - similar to the paintings Dr. Suzuki sent - comments from the reviewer about the recording, and a violin/viola/cello lapel pin. Each graduation level has its own color pin. Students who participate in multiple Graduation Concerts over the years accrue a beautiful assortment of colorful pins they can display like well-earned badges of honor!