March Studio News

Cedar City Music Arts featured, violinist, Linda Wang, on Mar. 1st at the Heritage Theater. She played several Fantasies and ended with the beautiful 'Meditation' from the opera Thais by French composer Jules Massenet.

Congratulations to all the students that participated in the Southern Utah String Festival on Mar. 2, 2019! I'm so proud of all of you!

Our annual St. Patricks Day performance is Sat. Mar. 16th at 2:30pm at Brookdale Assisted Living. Please arrive at 2:15pm to tune and set up. Remember to wear green! 

We'll play the group pieces first, Boil the Cabbage and Devil's Dream. 

After the solo performances we'll meet at Dairy Queen (Main Street) and I'll treat the students to ice-cream!

SUU Spring Break - No Suzuki Strings Wed., Mar. 13th

Studio Group
Wed., Mar. 13th, 3:30-4:30pm at Whittlesticks.
Ethan
Nisha

Thurs., Mar. 14th, 4-5pm at the Longhurst home.
Andrea
Carvin
Hannah
Kimberly
Cada
Ava

Thurs., Mar. 14th, 5-6pm at the Longhurst home.
Eva
Abbey
Trace
Kamri
Mahina

Fri., Mar. 15th, 4-5pm at Whittlesticks.
Ann
Lyla

Zion Trio will be performing on Fri. Mar. 22 at the Thorley Recital Hall (SUU Music Building) 7:30pm, admission is FREE and open to the public. 
Zion Trio includes Dr. Paul Abegg, violin; Dr. Ka-Wai Yu, cello; and Dr. Christian Bahnenstengel, piano. They will perform music by Ludwig can Beethoven and Paul Shoenfield.   

Gold Cup Recital
Congratulations to Andrea Bezzant, Ethan Calvasina, Carvin Christian, and Abbey Foremaster for earning Gold Cups at SUSF! They will be presented with their trophies at a special Gold Cup Recital on Fri., Mar. 29th at 5:30pm.

Jenny Oaks Baker: A Night of Hope & Healing
Sat., Mar. 30th 
Tickets at DLE.fun

January Studio Group

 We've been building our note reading skills all month and had a lot of fun at Studio group!

• 'Say then Play' scales to reinforce the relationship between the fingers and notes(pitch) on the fingerboard. 

• High/Low Space/Line Bingo: Identifying High or Low notes and Space or Line notes.

  Notating a scale and adding note stems. Ask your child if they remember the rule! 

*If the note is above the middle line the stem goes down, if the note is below the middle line the stem goes up. Extra points if they can put the stem on the correct side of the note!

• Fingerboard Geography: Can you play two (different) D's on your violin? 

• Fine!: Spelling any scale in order (G maj. scale: GABCDEFG). The first one to say Fine! wins. The Italian musical term fine (pronounced fee'-nay) marks the end.

• Musical Twister- who knew the twister mat could double as a fingerboard?! 

Students learned about and were able to identify enharmonics (notes with the same pitch but different name)!

January Studio News

Suzuki Strings Wed., Jan. 9, 2019

(Click here for Suzuki Strings Blog)

-NEW Class SCHEDULE-

5:00pm
Rm 104 Pre-Twinkle and Twinkle class
Rm 207 Early Bk 1 (Lightly Row - Etude)
Rm 206 All students/instruments (Etude and up)

5:30-6:15pm

Rm 104 Bk 1 (Etude and up)

Rm 207 Bk 2-3 

Rm 206 Orchestra (Bk 3-4 and up)

6:15pm
Rm 206 Adv. Violin

Performances: 
*Jack Ashton and Young Artists on April 13th
*Rocky Mountain Strings on April 25th
*Spring Concert on May 2nd

Parents as Partners Online: This series of over sixty short online videos are created by Suzuki Teachers and Parents, especially for Suzuki Parents and Teachers. 

We cover topics like:
Questions and answers about teen years,
Communicating difficult issues,
Working with the “squirrelly” ones,
Mindful practice,
Time management,
and much more!

Each Monday for 10 weeks, at least five short videos will be aired with accompanying audio only format, and transcripts as well. Once posted, all talks will be available online through October 15th. Please include $12 in January's tuition.  

No Lessons Monday, January 21st. 

Studio Group Schedule
Tues., Jan. 22nd 
4pm at Whittlesticks
Ann
Lyla

Wed. Jan. 23rd 
3:30-4:30pm at Whittlesticks
Ethan
Nisha

Thurs., Jan. 24 
4-5pm at Longhurst's
Andrea
Ava
Carvin
Hannah
Kimberly

5-6pm at Longhurst's
Abbey
Eva
Kamri
Mahina
Trace

Suzuki Association of Utah Parent and Teacher convention Sat., Jan. 26th. West Valley, UT

November Studio News

Nov. 2-3, 2018 Suzuki Strings Fall Workshop and Concert
Classes start at 3pm on Fri., Nov. 2nd at the Heritage Theater (park on the second level and enter at the Festival Hall entrance). Check the full schedule here: Workshop Schedule

Concert details and guest clinician bios here.

ALL PARENTS ARE INVITED TO THE PARENT MEETING, 
Focusing on Student Success -including Note Reading Ideas
Clinicians will give ideas and answer parent questions. Fri., Nov. 2nd at 6:15pm in Conference Rm 7 (Park on the second level and enter at the Festival Hall entrance). 

Come to OSU's concert, Thurs., Nov. 8, 2018 7:30pm at the Heritage Theater. Music includes selections from West Side Story and the Overture to Candide in celebration of 100 years of Leonard Brenstein! 

















Nov. Studio Group (notice schedule change due to Thanksgiving Holiday)

Mon., Nov. 19th, 4-5pm at Whittlesticks. 

Ann

Elsie

Lyla

Tues. Nov. 20th, 4-5pm at the Longhurst home.

Andrea

Carvin

Hannah

Kimberly 

Ava

Tues. Nov. 20th, 5-6pm at the Longhurst home. 

Eva

Abbey

Trace

Kamri

Mahina

Wed., Nov. 21st, 3-4pm at Whittlesticks.

Ethan 

Nisha  

Studio Christmas Recital
Fri., Dec 14th, 6:00pm
Please put this on your calendars now. The recital is at the new Sonrise Christian Church, just off Hwy 56, 6843 W 1800 N Cedar City Utah 84721 Thank you to the Vogt's for arranging this location!

November Lessons
No Lessons Nov. 22nd-24th, 30th

Also, just a heads up for Dec. lessons. I will be gone Dec. 1st-9th to Europe on tour for the 200th year anniversary of the Christmas hymn, Silent Night! Check the Studio Calendar for exact lesson dates. 

Southern Utah String Festival registration due Dec. 15th. Submit forms and make payment here. Festival is Sat. Mar. 2, 2019 in Cedar City. Ask and confirm the date with your accompanist now! 

September Studio News

I love the feeling of a new month! I'm sad summer is coming to an end but I kind of like the routine that fall brings -it feels good to have a plan! 

I know you're all getting back in to a regular practice routine now that school is back in session and I've been thinking of what I can do to make practicing easier and more meaningful this year. 

There are two books, by Christine E. Goodner, that I highly recommend! Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families and Positive Practice: 5 Steps to Help your Child Develop a Love of Music. I have ordered 10 copies of the first one and I'll have them available on loan from the studio or you can purchase your own copy. 

I think these will be great resources whether your child is 5 years old or 15 years old!

No Lessons, Mon., Sept 3rd

These lessons will be made up during studio group week, Mon., Sept. 24, regular lesson schedule. 

SAU Family membership dues

It's time to renew your Suzuki Association of Utah membership. Annual dues are $30 family. This includes 4 publications, $10 discount to the Suzuki Strings or Fall Workshop and registration to SAU graduation recital. Make payment to 'Marin Colby' and I'll register you online.

Suzuki Strings Group (click here for more info)

Suzuki Strings fall semester begins on Wed., Sept. 5th at 5pm at the SUU Music building. 

Twinkle and Early Bk 1 students will be in Rm 104 (downstairs) at 5-5:30pm. 

Late Bk 1 students will be in Rm 206 (upstairs) at 5-5:30pm and will go down to Rm 104 at 5:30-6:15pm. 

Bk 2 and 3 students will be in Rm 206 at 5-5:30 and then go to Rm 207 5:30-6:15pm

Bk 4 and up students will be in Orchestra, Rm 206 5:00-6:15 and stay in Rm 206 for Adv. violin class 6:15-7pm. 

Let me know if you have any questions about where to go. 

I'll have registration forms at lessons and you can give them to me or your group teacher. Make checks payable to Suzuki Strings. The semester fee is $70 for one student, $80 for two students, $90 for family. Make sure your current email address is on the form so you get all the updates! SAU families can take $10 discount. 

Regional Fall Workshop and Concert, Nov. 2-3, 2018

Denise Willey and two of her daughters, Lara Willey and Catherine Schultze are the guest clinicians. You can read more about them here. The Fall Workshop fee is included in your Suzuki Strings Fall Semester registration.

If you are not part of Suzuki Strings group this semester you can register for the 2-day workshop before Oct. 15th. It is $20 for Twinkle to Allegretto students (the $10 SAU discount does not apply to these students), $40 for individual students (the $10 SAU discount can be applied to these students).

You can access the supplementary pieces and orchestra music on your MMS account (My Music Staff). Print and put in your binder before your next lesson or Suzuki Strings class.    

OSU Fall Recital Series

Recitals are held every Tuesday this month, 7:30pm at 2111 North Main St. Cedar City.

Suggested donation $8 adults, $5 student.

Ethan Calvasina will be performing a few fiddle pieces on the Patriotic Gala recital, Tues., Sept. 11th. Come out and support him! See the full series here.

Studio Group Lessons

Studio group lessons will resume this month. 

Wed., Sept. 26th 4-5pm at Whittlesticks.

Ethan 

Nisha

Thurs., Sept. 27th, 4-5pm at the Longhurst home.

Andrea

Carvin

Hannah

Kimberly 

Ava

Thurs., Sept. 27th, 5-6pm at the Longhurst home. 

Eva

Abbey

Trace

Kamri

Mahina

Fri., Sept. 28th, 4-5pm at Whittlesticks. 

Ann

Elsie

Lyla 

Congratulations to these Graduates!

Lyla held her Twinkle Graduation on July 25th. Kamri (sister) and some cousins performed as well! 

SAU Graduation was on Aug, 25th in St. George at the beautiful Westside Baptist Church. 

Abbey participated in the Pre-level and performed Long Long Ago by T.H. Bayley. 

Ethan graduated from Level 4 and performed Concerto in G minor, 1st mvt by Vivaldi.

Suzuki Strings: Parent Meeting

Suzuki Strings Parent Meeting

Wed. Aug., 29th, 5pm 

SUU Music Building Rm 206

Come meet the new teachers and see what Suzuki Strings is all about! 

Group classes begin the following week, Wed., Sept. 5th, 5pm.

August Studio News

Fall Schedule officially begins Sept. 1, 2018. Tuition is due the first lesson of the month (Sept.-May). Tuition prices are $60/30 min. lesson, $90/45 min. lesson, $120/60 min. lesson- Studio group fee included. 

See the student schedule on the blog studio Calendar or your My Music Staff account. Sign-in through the quick link on blog banner: Student Login. (Note: the MMS calendar will always be the most up-to-date as it takes time for the blog calendar to sync)

Parents as Partners Online (PPO)
Fall kick-off! All talks/videos, plus 5 newly added videos, will be available through Oct. 15, 2018! It's only $12 to register and you get access to topics including practice, student/parent relationships, character development, building independence and many more! Videos range between 4 min. - 17 min. long and you can watch, listen or read the transcript when you have a few minutes.  

SAU Graduation Recital Sat., Aug. 25, 7pm
Students need to register. If you're an SAU member you don't need to pay the $5 fee. They have added a new level this year, a pre-level 1: Bk 1 Long Long Ago.

From Kirsten Candland, SAU graduation director: "The hope is that this pre-level will encourage more audience members, participation from teachers and students, and even more goal setting for future years. The pre-level will not include certificates, but will give those early book one students the experience of participating in the graduation. We ask that the pre-level students who are not members of SAU pay $2."

NEW Pre-Level 1: Long Long Ago by T.H. Bayly
Level 1: Bk 1 Gavotte by Gossec
Level 2: Bk 3 Bourree by Bach
Level 3: Bk 5 Concerto in g minor, 1st mvt by Vivaldi
Level 4: Bk 6 La Folia by Coreli
A dress-rehearsal is held before the recital, starting with advanced levels. Specific times TBA.
Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7r_ghZegvDOwe_QspYKCf0yl7_FgvLCy8P-QHygnhUf4hfg/viewform?usp=sf_link

STUDIO GROUP will begin in September
Tentative Schedule:
Sept. 26- Ethan and Nisha 3:30-4:30
Sept. 27- Andrea, Ava, Carvin, Hannah, Kimberly 4:00-5:00
Sept. 27- Abbey, Kamri, Mahina, Trace 5:00-6:00
Sept. 28- Ann, Elsie, Lyla 4:00-5:00

SUZUKI STRINGS weekly group classes at SUU
Classes start Wed., Sept. 5, at 5pm.
Everyone is invited to a Parent Orientation meeting on Wed., Aug. 29, 5pm at the SUU Music Building. You don't need to register to attend the meeting. It's just a general information meeting for parents to meet the teachers and ask any questions they might have. There are several new teachers this semester that will be great addition!
Semester Group fees:
$70 for one student
$80 for two students
$90 3 or more students

The Fall Workshop is included in your semester fee.

FALL WORKSHOP with Denise Willey family
Nov. 2-3, 2018 in Cedar City, UT
More info here: http://suzukistringscedar.blogspot.com/

I encourage all students to participate in the Fall Workshop sponsored by Suzuki Strings. We've had phenomenal guest clinicians from all over the US and students come from throughout the southern Utah region and Las Vegas! 
Workshop schedule includes afternoon classes on Friday, morning classes on Saturday, dress rehearsal in the afternoon and a concert in the evening!

Registration is due by Oct. 15, 2018
Fees: Twinkle-Allegretto $20
Etude and above $40 (SAU members can take $10 off, $30 total) 

Inspired by Miss Utah

Suzuki Strings Spring Concert 2018

More pics here: Suzuki Strings Blog

May Violin News

Suzuki Strings Spring Concert

Thursday, May 3, 2018, 7pm at the Heritage Center

Suzuki Strings students need to arrive at 6:45pm to tune (6:30pm if you are in orchestra).

There will be a special performance by JessiKate Riley, the current Miss Utah. She grew up in Beaver and attended the Suzuki Strings program here in Cedar City!

Suggested $5 donation

There will be cookies in the Lobby following the performance!

Studio Group

For Studio group will have a combined Play-In on Thursday May 24th.

We'll start with the most advanced pieces and have students join in as we get to a piece they know. More details to come!

No Lessons 

May 26-31 

Summer Schedule

During the summer (June- Aug.) I offer a more flexible schedule to allow for personal time off and teacher training. Payment is due the beginning of each month for 'scheduled' lessons. Lessons are $15/30min lesson. For instance, if you will only be to 3 lessons during the month you only need to pay for 3 lessons. If you want to reschedule or cancel your scheduled lesson please let me know at least a day before. 

If there are no available times to reschedule and I know at least a day before, I will transfer payment to the next month. 

Lessons cancelled the day of lessons will still be charged. 

Check the Studio Calendar often for updates and openings.

Feel free to email or text me with changes...

April Studio News

This week, April 2-7, begins Spring Break for Iron County students. I am still teaching but I know many students are leaving town so let me know what your plans are for lessons. Check the Studio calendar for cancellations/openings if you want to reschedule. 

Orchestra of Southern Utah Concert

http://osucedarcity.blogspot.com/

April 12, 2018 at 7:30 pm

Heritage Theater: 105 N 100 E, Cedar City

Tickets- $12 Adults and $5 Students. Groups up to 6 $40.

Lobby Music starts at 6:45 with Children's Choir

Jack Ashton and Young Artist Chamber Players 
The Cedar City Suzuki Strings will combine with Jack Ashton and his Young Artist Chamber Players. You won't want to miss this!
April 14, 2018 at 4:00pm
St. Jude's Episcopal Church: 70 N 200 W St, Cedar City

Short Survey
The SAU (Suzuki Association of Utah) has a survey to see the interest in the state-wide Gala Celebration Concert they do every 5 years. It's a huge commitment -time and money- for everyone involved and they might not be able to continue it. It's such an awesome opportunity and I would hate to see it discontinued. The survey asks how many volunteer hours your family would be willing to give. I know it seems impossible for us to do much from southern Utah but they are trying to come up with ways we can help from home or the day of. If you have any ideas for fundraising or sponsors let them know on the survey. Complete survey here: PARENT SURVEY

Pics from 2015 here: https://suzukimusicutah.org/2015/09/19/celebration-ix-gala-concert/

Studio Group
Wed., April 25th
Ethan and Nisha
Thurs., April 26th 
4-5pm: Andrea, Ava, Carvin, Hannah, Kimberly and Tyler
5-6pm: Abbey, Kamri, Mahina and Trace
Fri., April 27th
4-5pm: Ann, Elsie and Lyla

The end of May we'll be having a studio Suzuki Play-In where we'll play through the Suzuki repertoire, students joining in as we get to the pieces they know. We'll be talking about 'review' in the Suzuki method through-out the month and how to implement effective review in daily practice. Stay tuned for more!


Send me pics/videos of talent shows, St. Patrick's performance, Gold Cup recital, Festival, etc. to share with everyone!