follow the links for photos from past Suzukithons
Each student will participate in a group class, an option class and enjoy a demonstration by Arden Neustaedter and The Calgary Scandinavian Folk Dancers - the special guests for this year's Suzukithon. The cost per student is $30.00.
Deadline for Registration is February 4th!
Thon Reflections by Raymond Yip
OF HOTDOG, COTTON CANDY, AND POPCORN
"Mississippi hot dog" or "cotton candy popcorn"? What do you call your variation A? It was our first participation in the Suzuki-Thon. My four-year-old son, Ryan, got to know how others call their variation A in this event.
He might be one of the youngest students among the participants but he was definitely not the least to enjoy it. A good morning violin lesson with other children was what Ryan enjoyed most. He got to learn a new song, "I’m A Little Monkey".
Ryan was in a jazz class. It was something new to him. He got to play his violin with a jazz rhythm on piano. He even got to sing his favorite song, "Old MacDonald" in jazz mode. Wow.
There was also a demonstration of Chinese musical instruction. At the end of it, Ryan just couldn't wait to be touching the interesting instruments. He wanted to know how to make music on them.
THE SUZUKI METHOD
During the Suzuki-Thon, I have learned that many parents have shared the same vision, the vision that is the result of the Suzuki philosophy. It was just like planting a bamboo (not the lucky bamboo). You plant the seed and water it. However, nothing happens for a year. You keep watering it for another year. Again, nothing visibly happens. Then one day, in the third year, you notice the bamboo shoots up nine feet up in the sky in just a week and it keeps
growing. I believe we all have experienced that through our children. Like an epiphany, we are, in an instance, witnesses to the fruits of perseverance as our children demonstrate it through their playing.
IT'S MORE THAN VIOLIN LESSONS
Young children learn more than just playing the violin. They also learn obedience. When they hear "rest position" they put their violin under their right arms. When they hear "playing position" immediately, they put their violins in proper posture. Such acts signify sensitivity, discipline and endurance.
Through the Suzuki Method of playing the violin, we are not only nourishing our children's musical intelligence. In essence, we are also sharpening their faculties to become confident, beautiful human beings. Like Dr. Suzuki said, "I want to make good citizens, noble human beings."
Raymond's son, Ryan, is a student of Hisako Sato
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| Marilyn Bennion introduces the Chinese Musicians to the Audience | ||
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| Book Ones with Carmen Wise | |
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George Dong |
Correcting Bow Holds |
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| Parents Keeping The Beat | |
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| Strolling Home | ||
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Luckily, for CSSA families, there was the Suzuki-Thon. It was enough reason to get out of the house and brave the deep freeze. And judging from David Klinger's upbeat rendition of the Jamaican folk classic "Monday Morning," it wasn't bad at all.
David's jazz class was a precursor of the good things that came out of the Thon. The kids enjoyed his class tremendously and loved the inventive interplay of their violins and David's piano. The only drawback was, while they played "Monday Morning," it made me wish they were playing in a place where the weather was warm and there was plenty of white sand (with me listening while basking in the sun with a cool drink in hand, of course).
Aside from David's class, the kids also attended a group lesson where they polished some of their Suzuki pieces. Keiko Takahashi presided over this session and she did very well in engaging the kids to put forth their best playing. They particularly loved the team game where Keiko called out a tune and the kids, divided into two teams and matched individually, tried to beat their opponents by playing the tune first.
The Thon also featured a concert by the Broken Consort, a local group keeping 16th century music alive. The group provided an instructive and entertaining concert that included an interactive dance where the audience gamely participated. Dressed in colorful period clothes, they expertly provided impromptu dance instruction and led the audience in performing a dance I last saw in Franco Zefferelli's "Romeo and Juliet."
Overall, the Thon lessened a little bit the ennui we felt as a consequence of being stripped of the freedom to venture outdoors. It brought back some normalcy to our daily routine as we awaited the return of a more bearable weather. I think, the very next day, we even managed to go out again to check out some hobbits in the library.
 Suzuki Kids in Action |
 A class with Andrea Hudson |
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 Steve Komar turns up the volume |
 The hands that play the Fiddles |
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| The "Broken Consort", led by Christine Azad | ||
 Carmen Wise, Steve Komar |
 Howard Janzen |
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 Keiko Takahashi |
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Suzukithon features a full range of options as well as repertoire and group classes. Our guest teachers included: David Thiaw, African Drumming Class; Dave Klinger, Jazz Class; and Dean Marshall, Fiddling Class. Students also had the chance to participate in Dance and Movement Class and Repertoire Class.
A huge "thank you" to the volunteers who set-up and later cleaned-up rooms, obtained pianos, attended to the reception desk, brought in lunch for the staff, and helped with the clean-up.
Special thanks for the wonderful photography by Maxine Morris, Anthony Bewcyk's Grandmother.
 Early Childhood Class |
 Early Childhood Class |
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 Anthony |
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 Laura and Danielle's Pre-Twinklers |
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 Stewart |
 Duncan |
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A MARATHON IT WAS! Children scurried from class to class. There was just time for a bite to eat before discovering Music History from Herr Bach, or enjoying a reading session in Kodaly, or improvising a tune in the Jazz class. Much fun was had by all.
We could not have put on this fantastic workshop without the helpful volunteering of:
Now enjoy lots of Photos! (click on the picture for a larger image)
Registration and Group Play |
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Learning |
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Kodály Method |
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Music History |
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Drama and Art Classes |
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