Suzuki Orchestra Concert

We started our girls in Suzuki lessons when they were just 4 years old. The orchestras came when they were in elementary school. That is a lot of Suzuki orchestras. I've loved every single concert. I was sad today, Abigail's final concert. A chapter in our life ended today - I am so grateful for all of the memories and the fact that they will always have their music and gift of being able to play the viola. 

Here is the livestream link ~ Opus (the orchestra Abigail plays in) starts at 1:06

 

Mr. Lee

We met Mr. Lee when Anna was just five years old. 

(Here is a post from way back with one of the first pictures I took of them) 

It was her second year of taking viola lessons with the Suzuki method. At first she was terrified of him. She stood ten feet away from him as he patiently taught her the viola and even more patiently waited for Anna to trust him. 

Well, she did. Thousands of hours together she more than just trusted him, she found him a friend, a confidant, a figure in her life who seemed to have just the right wisdom for just the right moment. 

I asked Lee to write in Anna's high school graduation book because I knew it would be the most important letter in there. (I wrote about it back here) 

It's been over three years since she opened that book and read his letter, and even more years since she had her last lesson with Lee. But recently, with a lot on her mind, at a crossroad of decisions, after talking to Scott and I she just wanted one more bit of wisdom, and she knew where to turn. 

She emailed him spilling out her feelings and thoughts, asking for his advice. And of course he wrote back, with more wisdom than I could ever give her too close to the situation. He knew just what to say and changed her perspective. He suggested they get together and they did this summer, for ice cream and a two hour chat. 

I feel so grateful for people in my daughter's lives -- people they can count on for words of encouragement, showing them a different way to look at things, someone to listen to their heart. And for Anna that is certainly found in Lee. 

Hartt Suzuki Institute

This week Abigail participated in an intensive viola program: Hartt Suzuki Institute. 

Here is a post about the Suzuki method. 

Goodness, I've never written a post about how it all started in our family but there are so many 'viola' posts on this blog -- I just peeked, over 124! Just click on the label viola on the side and you'll so many, in case you feel like it, ha! 

The Hartt Suzuki Institute was offered every summer and our family never participated. I've always believed in taking time off in the summer -- pool days, playing afternoons, time to think, dream, create... and I just didn't want my girls in something so focused as an 'institute'. 

Now that Abigail is a rising senior and asked to be a part of this I said a resounding YES because she got into Solisti (that post back here) and I thought it would be good for her to have a intensive week with her viola during the summer... almost like a big week of practice because it sure is hard to motivate yourself to practice in the summer. 

We had no idea just how awesome this program would be and I'm so very glad she was a part of it this week. She completely loved it! 

Here she is walking into her end of the week concert:

Here's a close up of that sweetie and her big smile: 

And in just four days ... yes just after FOUR of the days this was the outcome: 

1. Chamber Group Concert (only 4 days together) 

2. Fiddling Class (just after 4 days together) 

I love her smile and just how into it she is (middle of the group with red hair) 

3. Orchestra (just after 4 days) (and yes, that's Beauty & the Beast) 

4. Viola Master Class (just after 5 days together) 

Piece: Romance sans Paroles, Op 17, No. 3-G Faure arr. J Gower

She has grown so much as a violist and her love for playing, joy, and enthusiasm delighted me. 

Piece: Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 6

 

Music Is the Language of the Heart Without Words

When my girls started playing the viola (at age 5) I did a lot of reading about Shinichi Suzuki. A class (series of parent meetings) were actually required before they could start playing at University of Hartford, Community Division as well as observing lessons and group classes. Though all of that and of course being a viola parent for about 16 straight years I've learned that this Suzuki method of learning to play an instrument is beautiful. In Suzuki's book, Nurtured by Love, he talks about learning to play an instrument is more than just the notes, it's about "creating a beautiful heart". 

This is one of my favorite quotes: 

“If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”

There was something about that quote I read in his book all those years earlier - something I wanted for my daughters. And so I trusted, and went, and week by week, lesson by lesson, group class by group class, orchestra rehearsal by orchestra rehearsal, I watched what music did in my girls lives - it created a beautiful heart. 

Recently I've had the privilege of watching Abigail's 'heart grow' through her viola. She's preparing for an upcoming audition. She's been working extra hard with her teacher to prepare and yesterday she has an online lesson. All of her lessons are in person but for some reason this one was a Facetime one. I wanted to capture just a bit of how hard she was working. (BTW it's always the next time that I wish I captured when she 'nailed it' - I seem to always record the one before) But wow Abigail!!

She will also be playing this piece that she played back in a "Friends and Family Holiday Concert" back in December: 

Suzuki actually talked a lot about music and what it does for the heart: 

“Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart.”

Yesterday this email came across my eyes. It's a mid-year progress report from her viola teacher. I wanted it here to remember. I read it out loud at dinnertime so that Abigail could hear. It had me with tears in my eyes. 

Student Name: Abigail Baker

Teacher: Melinda Daetsch
Date: January 11, 2024

List strengths and accomplishments during fall 2023

Abigail has made beautiful, consistent progress on both technical and artistic fronts this fall. Her work on vibrato continues to bear good fruit and although sometimes she doesn't appreciate how well it is going, it IS going very well! She has a lovely palette of colors available to her now as she develops increased control over the speed and width of her vibrato. 

Shifting accuracy has also increased, and her fluency in reading treble clef (and in reading in general) has also improved.

Abigail has been working on unaccompanied Bach Suite no 2 in D minor this fall. In a recent performance of the Prelude movement of the Suite, her phrasing, expressivity, and overall depth and sensitivity moved me profoundly. I know that I was not the only one who responded in that manner to her performance at the Friends and Family recital, but I learned from Abigail, however, that she wasn't pleased with the performance.  

It is my fervent hope that Abigail will be able to enjoy her playing this coming semester and perhaps be able to accept that she really does offer an exquisite and personal gift to those who hear her. She is extraordinarily sensitive in her music making. Her phrasing choices are intuitive and creative, and I have heard similar comments about her playing from some of my colleagues. She has so much to offer!

Abigail is an organized and disciplined worker. She is very hard on herself, but sometimes that can be a good trait as it can be used as a touchstone for focused, purposeful work. The problem comes in when being hard on oneself turns into self-flagellation, so I hope we can work on using the desire to reach for perfection to her advantage instead of getting mired in perfectionism.

Amidst all of the excellent practicing she has done and progress she has made, Abigail has performed in numerous concerts this fall:

• as Principal Violist of the Camerata Orchestra, 
• as member of the Viola Tour Group  (Ode to Joy, Viola Day, Cookie Concert, Group Class concert)
• as member of the Opus 89 Orchestra. 
• Solo Bach in the Friends and Family concerts
• Hall High School orchestra performances
• Friends and Family recital

She is also a member of the Hall Jazz Dance group and a serious academic student. She works hard at finding the balance with all she is doing and knows that balance, though often elusive, is so important.

Abigail is also one of the kindest and most humble students I have had in my studio in all the years I have been teaching. In a recent example of her selfless compassion, she helped one of the younger viola group class members without a moment's hesitation when he got sick in class. The whole rest of the class sort of froze, but Abigail just went to the student and took his instrument and spoke kindly to him facilitating a gentle, caring solution.  

When I mentioned to her how impressed I was by how she handled that situation, Abigail was surprised and said something like: "I didn't do anything anyone else wouldn't have done..."  But in fact, she did do something that nobody else did. 

Abigail always appreciates her peers and teachers and offers the most thoughtful, encouraging and constructive comments when the VTG runs mock auditions or during Achievement Days,. She is an empathetic, insightful, and accurate commentator.

List goals for next semester and beyond

Abigail is preparing for what she has described as "the most important audition of my life" with the Solisti audition. While I applaud the tremendous amount of work she has put into preparing for the audition (and I do believe that she will do very well and has an extremely good chance of getting in) I hope that she will remember to enjoy the gift she has to give those who are listening... even in an audition setting. 

We will continue to work on her technical growth through the Trott Double Stop book, vibrato exercises, three octave scales, and I would like to work through Robert Starer's Rhythmic Training book with her to help her sight-reading. We will perhaps add more composition exercises as well as they tend to help us to understand reading "from the inside out"

SPRING WORKSHOP

I also hope that Abigail will participate in the Spring Suzuki Workshop in March.  You can read about the Spring Workshop HERE. I know that she will learn a lot and have a wonderful time with the guest viola clinician Gabe Remillard.

Additional comments on fall lessons and development

Abigail is a joy to teach and a wonderful member of every group of which she is a part. I look forward to her weekly lessons and very much look forward to where she will go musically this spring. 

I would also like to talk about some summer musical study ideas for Abigail as well. The HCD is offering a new one-week chamber music program the last week of June with the Azul Quartet that I think Abigail might enjoy, and there is also a one-week Hartt Suzuki Institute in the beginning of August with an exciting chamber music component.

Additionally, there is a new Advanced Viola Program at Ithaca College which is very near my house in Ithaca and in the past, I have had students, and their families stay at my house when they go to the Ithaca Suzuki Institute summer programs. If this might be something you/she would enjoy, I would be happy to talk about it.

https://www.ithaca.edu/suzuki-institutes/student-institute/advanced-violin-viola-and-cello-program 

Yes, I am certain that the years since she's been five have indeed created a beautiful heart. 

“The heart that feels music will feel people.”

Other posts about Suzuki

here

Listening to Music

Years and years ago before Abigail was born, toddler Anna and I were in a darling little mommy and me class called Kindermusik. She loved it. I loved it. We were together - singing, making music. 

I remember after a couple of years of Kindermusik, when Anna was ready to start kindergarten one of the Mom mentioned that her daughter was starting at the Hartt school of music. She was just five but was going to learn how to play the cello. 

Well, that intrigued me. I did my research, attended a few lessons so I could see what they were all about. I learned all about Suzuki - the philosophy. And I adored that the parent was part of the lesson. So we started. And yes, she was only five years old. 

When Abigail was a toddler once again I had the opportunity to do Kindermusik with her. Oh how I loved living those days again. Magical. 

She too started learning viola through the Suzuki method when she was five. 

It was all just yesterday, wasn't it? 

And here we are. Abigail is a freshman in high school.  

She plays in orchestras so grand it baffles me. I wonder how the years flew by on her strings. And I am grateful for afternoons like these. (we opted for just us and not grandparents as the Covid numbers are really high where we are right now) 

Listening to a concert is magical. It is relaxing and inspiring. It is one of my very favorite things to do. How lucky am I that it's spring and our calendar is packed with them!!! 

Here are just a few snippets from my phone: 

I think the concert might have been recorded but I just can't seem to find it right now, so my phone will have to do... 

We are blessed blessed blessed that Abigail is our own little violist. I can't wait to see where her music will take her! 

And can I just add in that we are all thrilled that our Anna is home with us!!! 

Vivaldi's Four Seasons: Anna's Senior Photos

I was the photographer for Anna's senior photos. She really didn't want me to hire a photographer, have outfit changes, have all that stress. I completely understood. So we took it one season at a time. At first I didn't really have an idea for each season. I really just wanted to space it out throughout the year. But once my lens caught the light on this photo I knew what I wanted to create throughout the year. (first musica) 

Here is Autumn... 

The light, the way it back lit her, caught the organza in her dress, and lit up her hair, the autumn all around, the viola in her hands, and I knew the first of the Four Seasons was born. 

Months later... 

I remember our snow day in February. We already had tons of snow and ice on the ground, mounds by then, and there was another snowstorm that day. Right in the middle of the snow day I told Anna, "let's do it!" So I helped her quickly with an outfit {her light blue coat, books, dress} and off we carefully drove to the same park as the autumn photo. It was magical. Pure magic. I knew we had found just the right spot because I felt like I was in Narnia... 

“If ever they remembered their life in this world it was as one remembers a dream.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

A magical afternoon of snow filling up the branches like a blanket. Feet of ice and snow under us, snow in her hair as it fluttered down. Too cold this time for her beloved viola. But not too cold for her adventurous spirit and her smile.

The second in my Vivaldi's Four Seasons idea I have for her senior photos. In this one, the branches, the woods, the snow, and the cold... it reminds me of Narnia.

And here is Winter...

Along came spring {the longest wait of all it seemed}. We had a April vacation week and the cheery tree right in our backyard was in bloom. 

Spring ~ the third in a 'Four Seasons' senior year photo shoot with Anna.

In his book, Nurtured by Love, Dr. Schinichi Suzuki said, “Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”

In May (link to that post is here) was Anna's Suzuki Senior Recital. The first of many 'lasts' this spring. In her thirteen years playing the viola I have never heard her play more beautifully. She played live - with a zoom audience of all of her past teachers. My thoughts and feelings on this day, of the Suzuki program, and of the viola in my daughters hands is on a post in my blog 

Photo Description: Anna stands in front of a weeping cherry tree in full bloom... a place where I've taken a portrait of her every single year since she could stand. The blossoms on this tree last only three days each year and then they fall and fill with with green leaves. The tree was a gift from my first grade class many, many years ago to remember my Grandpa.

Anna may pack up her beloved viola and take it with her this fall, but her music will always be in my heart.

“Beautiful tone, beautiful heart.”
― Shinichi Suzuki

Here is Spring:

And summer, well that came up f a s t ! I had to get those photos done very quickly to be able to get her Graduation Announcement out on time (the week of graduation) 

The fourth in "Four Seasons" senior photoshoot... summer.
As we near the end of the year and the season turning I am have on my heart Psalm 139:1-3 for Anna, "O Lord, you have searched me and and known me. You know my downsitting and my uprising; You understand my thought afar off. You sift and search out my path and my lying down, and You are acquainted with all my ways." And with that knowing my mama's heart has peace.

Photo Description: Anna, a senior, sits with a huge smile across her face. She is surrounded by roses on all sides of her. Wearing a whimsical stripe, organza dress... The beautiful park background pales in comparison to the joy radiating through her. For she knows Who knows her and Who has the next steps planned for her.

Here is Summer, the final in the Four Seasons:

I used all four seasons photos and one extra that I took in the fall to create this graduation announcement. 

Group Class Concert ~ the third last

Her Suzuki group class teacher since she was five years old. 

This was a beautiful concert with the older group (tour group) playing on stage and the other students (Abigail included) playing on the grass right with their families. 

Anna has been performing in a 'group class concert' twice a year since kindergarten. It will feel so strange next year without her. 

So proud of her efforts - especially this year. 

Intermezzo Concert

 It was Abigail's turn now... 

Abigail's private Suzuki orchestra met on Zoom every week this school year. This concert was really a miracle. They never met in person. *** It's an ORCHESTRA!*** The whole point of playing in an orchestra is the 'together' part. 

So when the conductor raised his baton to conduct we all held our breaths and we so surprised at how beautiful it sounded. 

Children can overcome so much - and these children worked so hard this year. 

So proud of this little girl. 

Nurtured By Love : Her Suzuki Senior Recital - the first event of her 'end of senior year'

“Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
― Shinichi Suzuki

Shinichi Suzuki was a musician, educator, philosopher, and founder of the Suzuki method for music education. 

He lived in Japan and believed that musical ability can be developed in all children. The technique is taught in pieces rather than dry, technical exercises. 

He believed in nurturing knowledge and ability through love. 

The Suzuki method is unique because there are three teachers: the Suzuki instructor, the parent, and the child. I am beyond grateful for finding the Suzuki method because I have been to every single one of Anna's lessons from her first to her last. For thirteen years. I am the note taker, the listener, the encourager. I have spent more hours than I could possibly count with my daughters and their violas. Time that could have been lost in the day to day of their childhood was captured and I was there, every moment. 

Some day I will tell the story of how I happened upon the Hartt School of Music and was captured by raising my daughters in the Suzuki method. 

It is more than learning 'how to play the viola' - it is about time time time time with them. It's a philosophy of raising children with a beautiful heart. (this is his book) 

And this evening - it was the culmination of all of this. I cried as she played, for it filled my heart. I never felt more close to Anna and more grateful to be her mama. 

(this photo was taken at the end of her first year of instruction - kindergarten was almost over - she was almost six years old - oh how I wish I had a photo of the first day)

(and this is her at the end of her senior year)

The concert: 

It was magnificent. 

Yes, it was on zoom - not in a theatre as we always thought it would be - but it was magical in its own way. 

And we are so grateful for the memory we now have in our hearts from this night. 

Once we knew it would for sure be a zoom senior recital I wanted to make it special. Last Sunday I rearranged all of the flowers we had into milk glass vases. I lit the candles and arranged some lights on the mantle. 

Elegant. Simple. Beautiful. 

Anna was sixth on the program and she was not playing a recording, but live. So after she played (and all of the nerves were relaxed and she could breathe again) I decided we'd celebrate and enjoy the rest of the concert with a family room tea party. 

I decorated the table with my vintage table cloths and plates.

I chose two different kinds of loose tea and prepared the pot. 

And I baked homemade raspberry vanilla scones from a recipe I found in Victoria magazine. 

And I made some homemade raspberry jelly (that Anna loves) The recipe was amazing. They were so different than anything I'd ever made in a scone. Lots of different layers - soft in the middle, scone texture on the outside. Pure heaven - and beautiful too. 

The recipe called for zero sugar (always good for me since I really have to watch sugar) but I served them also with organic honey. Delicious. 

Anna was excited but nervous about this concert - especially because all of her past viola teachers would be on the zoom call tuning in to this live performance. 

I have been listening to Anna play the viola for thirteen years. Thirteen! And we've never heard her play like this. She was magnificent. Words can't explain and the small recording on my phone just can't capture. But I will save it forever to listen to when I miss her music in my home. Just typing these words bring tears to my eyes. 

As soon as her piece was played she got texts from her beloved teacher, Lee Hadden and her current teacher, Melinda Daeuthch - both who teach the Suzuki method at the Hartt School of Music. 

This was the first event of her 'end of senior year'. And although I thought I'd feel sadness, I didn't. I felt deep pride and happiness. Such pride. Thirteen years of hard work and determination to get to this advanced level and skill at the viola. And what beautiful music she makes.

Thank you Anna for allowing me in your journey of music. You have given our family a gift - not just in your viola but with your heart. It is true, you have a beautiful heart. 

“Beautiful tone, beautiful heart.”
― Shinichi Suzuki

Playing Something Lovely on This Day

Well what a week it has been. Lovely in my classroom. Lovely in my home. Not so lovely in the news. We are hoping for this to all be over soon {yes, all of his craziness to be over soon} and for Joe Biden to begin to make plans toward the White House in January. But goodness, it's not over until he put his hand on that Bible... I can't wait! 

I thought it would be lovely to put something so different on the blog of mine. Something musical. There is magic in music. 

Let me 'set the stage' for you {so to speak} 

In Anna's applications to colleges she is including some of her extraordinary viola playing. We decided to record her on the stage in Scott's school. Lights on, concert attire, empty audience. 

And so to take you minds off of the world right now, place yourself in a seat right here {turn up your volume} and listen to a seventeen year old and her viola. There is no background piano. No conductor. Just Anna and her strings. {and about 13 years of Suzuki training in her heart} 

If you'd like to leave a comment I'll be sure to pass it along to Anna. Just scroll down and click comment. It will say 'needs to be approved by the author' and I'll see it first in my email. Don't worry, I'll click yes and add it to the blog. 

In these videos the quality is so much better but the color was so off - I have to have them here to hear years from now...

Our Summer Days

"Sometimes I fancy we do not always appreciate the value of work and how dry and flavorless life would be without it. If work were taken from us, we would lose rest also, for how could we rest unless we first became tired from working? Leisure would mean nothing to us for it would not be a prize to be won by effort and so would be valueless" Laura Ingalls Wilder

I need to set up this post a bit.

I believe in relaxing in the summer.

I believe in having my girls play without end in the summer.

I believe in reading until you want to stop.

I believe in a spontaneous afternoon movie on the couch with my girls.

I believe in long days with 'nothing' to do and doing everything you want to do.

With that said...

At the start of each summer we sit down as a family to discuss the summer.

This summer it felts especially important because it is the first summer we are not going away. Sigh...  traveling is very challenging for our family under the best circumstances. Abigail can eat nothing unless it is cooked by me. When she orders from a restaurant she can only order rice, pasta, plain chicken or steak. Nothing else. Sometimes if we're lucky, bread. So basically we are not an eating out family. However we don't let that stop us from traveling or stop Abigail from having a full life experience - and travel is part of that. Anna has some challenges with travel as well as she deals with sensory integration disorder. So when we choose to travel each summer we already have to take a lot into consideration. And we choose to travel to show them that nothing should stop them from a full, lovely life. However, adding in Covid 19 this year... we honestly are just not comfortable traveling. We have a lifetime of summer adventures traveling so I have finally found a peace in his 'new kind of' summer {it certainly took me a long time}

So this summer I wanted to brainstorm with the girls a really simple list or sketch of our at home, nothing on the calendar days. {basically all of the days til September} Although we love to relax {see above} we need a bit of structure in our days. Not all children do. Not all families do. We do.

Reason #1
The girls and I always 'feel better' when we get a few things done. The relaxing just feels better that way. (see quote above)

Reason #2
We do have dreams for all of these weeks and months off. We are idealistic and dreamers. I have tea parties and Bible studies with my girls that dreaming about have actually 'gotten me through' this school year. Making these dreams happen takes a bit of planning. There is still dinner to cook, laundry to do, a bit of cleaning here and there. There is a little yellow bird in our living room to take care of. So to fit in the 'dreams' we all have having a Summer Days List helps us to get those 'must dos' done so there are more time for dreams.

Reason #3
We have goals for all of these weeks and months off. There are things that we all individually and as a family want to accomplish. Abigail wants to get into the next level of the Suzuki orchestra. That doesn't just happen. It takes a bit of focused practice in the summer. Anna will be taking a college class through Boston College. That doesn't just happen. She'll need to log in, participate in the classes and do the work. I want to revamp our 4th grade spelling program during the summer so we're ready to go in the fall. That doesn't just happen. It take a bit here and there. We have gardening goals and fence painting goals. We have house projects and those don't just happen. So getting our 'must dos' allows us more time for goals.

Reason #4
Some day when my girls all adults they will need to find a way to get some things done. Even when their dreams and goals are calling them - I want them to know there is time for everything. Just not all at the same time. By finding a way to work through the regular things that are part of life quickly and efficiently there will always be time for dreams. Doing this Summer Days List each summer has really helped to show them a way that works.

So this is how we do it - - the Summer Days List needs to come from them, not from me or from Scott. We can suggest and guide but the whole set up needs to be from them.

So our lists are all set. There are three sections.

Section #1
These are the things that must be done each day no matter what. They are not chores, they are responsibilities. There are no screens until they are done. Period. That is our family rule.

Section #2
These are some goals. They might be on a screen before them but they need to be a daily part of life.
This year I moved Bible time to this second section. My daughters are older now and I want them to have their own goals. They know that summer is the best time for us to ponder who God is - how He behaves - what are His words. It is time with God that they can find their own heart within theology.

Section #3
Getting through the first section of their Summer Days List doesn't mean screen time unlimited. I wanted them to have a list of things they like to do both independently and together that do not involve screens. Almost like little reminders... "oh yeah, I forgot I wanted to do that craft..."

One last idea - flexibility
These lists are only Monday-Friday. Weekends are off. I like a chill weekend and 'ahh it's Monday, let's be a little more productive' feeling.
Also, since the list is only one week at a time, we are flexible and these lists will adjust as the weeks go on.

I share their lists with a bit of trepidation. I wasn't sure I really wanted to - it is their list out of a lot of discussion and thought and conversation. Really, my hope for this post it to share the 'idea' behind the list - with that said, just in case they want to see their list from the summer they were 17 and 13... 





I've always loved lists, plans, being organized. Being so idealistic and dreamy I've had to use a planner to hold it all for me. I want to have a Friendship Bible Study with all of the verses I've been collecting all year to teach my daughters about friendship but I still need to call the orthodontist. My planner keeps it all organized for me.



"Sometimes I fancy we do not always appreciate the value of work and how dry and flavorless life would be without it. If work were taken from us, we would lose rest also, for how could we rest unless we first became tired from working? Leisure would mean nothing to us for it would not be a prize to be won by effort and so would be valueless" Laura Ingalls Wilder