First Day to Observe Kids' Lessons

From Tuesday, today, through Saturday, my days will be filled with observing fantastic, experienced Suzuki piano teachers giving lessons to wonderful, highly motivated kids in Books 1 and 2.  Some of these teachers have been teaching Suzuki piano for 20 years and even 30 years.  I am learning so much.

The schedule each day includes 3 fifty minute classes for the kids with 25 minute breaks in between in the mornings, a 1 hour and 40 minute lunch, and 3 fifty minute classes with the same breaks in the afternoon.  Each class has 4-6 students who are in the same Suzuki book.  During the class, the teacher spends roughly 12 minutes with each student.

The students have the same classes and the same teachers each day.  The kids' schedule includes Master classes during which each student works with the teacher on a recital piece to be played for all in the class at the end of the week and on a working piece, basically a piece in progress.  Another class they have is Piano Ensemble.  At the beginning levels, the students prepare both parts of 2 duets to play with other students in the class.  Another class includes an opportunity for the kids to play with a small chamber orchestra.  There are also classes that include movement to rhythm, music theory, and learning to read music. 

By the end of the week, the students in each class really get to know one another.  Some students and families come for several years to become better players yes, but also to see the friends they met and played with last year or for the last several years.  The teachers keep coming back too not only to become better players and teachers, but also to see other Suzuki teacher friends.

At 4:45pm on Tuesday and on Wednesday, there is a special honors recital.  A student can send in a DVD of themselves playing a Suzuki piece by early spring.  The best kids' DVD performances are reviewed and certain kids are chosen to play in the recitals.  These recitals are in the beautiful Vilar Performing Arts Center that I mentioned in an earlier blog, a fabulous place to perform.  There are students of all ages and levels in these recitals.  The youngest one I saw was 7 and the oldest was 15.  Also, kids who play violin, viola, cello, guitar, and piano play in these recitals, so with all the different instruments, the recitals are very interesting to watch.  I saw my first one earlier this afternoon.  I really enjoyed it and was totally impressed with their playing

Be sure to check out more pictures of Beaver Creek.  Scroll all the way down :)  See you on tomorrow's blog.