Congratulations to Two Outstanding Graduates!

Dylan and Jackson proudly holding their trophies

Congratulations Jackson and Dylan for your outstanding performance and successful completion of Suzuki Piano School Book 1!!! Let me explain the hard work that they put in to earn this! When students receive their awards for completing a Suzuki Piano Book at my studio, it is not solely on the basis of performing the pieces. There is a lot of background work involved in addition to their graduation performance to earn the award. Each piece that they practice is performed during our monthly Performance Classes. Students are required to do research for each piece and present their report to the group before performing the solo. This research is in addition to any other goodies they may be studying that month such as the history and parts of the piano, etc. They attend masterclasses to help in raising their abilities, and attend events that are in harmony with their studies.

Photos above, Dylan and Jackson in action! 1) Dylan sharing what he learned about France and finding it on the globe before performing French Children's Song during his piano lesson. -Pg 20, Suzuki Piano School, Bk 1. He later shared his report with other students during Performance Class. 2) Jackson presenting his report at Performance Class. 3) Dylan presenting his report during Performance Class. 4-5) Jackson and Dylan try their hands at playing a hammered dulcimer instrument while attending Colonial Times event after Performance Class.  The group class was themed "Long Ago" in harmony with the Suzuki piece titled "Long, Long Ago" -Pg 25, Suzuki Piano School, Bk 1.

When students at my studio complete each book we celebrate by having a Home Concert for their graduation. (Book 1 students can also opt to have it at my studio.) The student performs the entire book of solos by memory. Later, they participate in a formal Suzuki Graduation teaming with other students who are graduating at a facility open to the public. To add more fun to the mix with Suzuki Book 1 home or studio concerts, I encourage students to create a story using the solo titles.....the same way they create sentences for spelling words in school. These creative young men chose to write a Mario themed story. What a perfect Suzuki Graduation theme for 2 loving and supportive brothers!!

The pieces in their program (photo above) are highlighted in red. Their sweet mom, Elizabeth, read the story during their graduation. Each time that she read a sentence that included the highlighted solo(s), she would stop so that Dylan or Jackson could perform the piece.

Dylan and Jackson in rest position while their mom, Elizabeth, reads their story.

These amazing artists not only showed their creativity in their program and performance....check out the decorations they made for the piano using thousands of tiny Perler Beads!!! (photo above and others below) The patience they put into this project gives you an idea of the patience, diligence and attention to details that they put into their piano studies, as well as life in general!

Jackson's Artwork

Dylan's Artwork

Following the graduation, Dylan and Jackson read greeting cards given which included monetary gifts.  They also opened presents that they received!

Hannah and her Dad gifted our lovely graduates with the Star Wars
Lego set pictured above

Among many of their loves, Jackson and Dylan enjoys science and art,
so I decided to purchase items that they could share along those interests.

What's a graduation celebration without the delicious cake?!

I enjoyed Jackson and Dylan's performance so much and have put in a special request for a second performance!! There are quite a few children at my studio that have just started piano lessons and some that are out of town during Thanksgiving vacation from school that will be inspired by their performance, and work diligently at continuing their studies to have a graduation of their own. I know that when they attend...they are going to LOVE it!!! More photos to come upon their second performance!

UPDATE:  Photos of the additional party gathering is now uploaded!  Visit here:  Studio Gallery.