ESS Suzuki Graduation
Dr. Suzuki chose a series of pieces that he felt demonstrated a student’s ability to put together the many technical and musical skills they had learned. These pieces are not book related, but rather represent a moment where the technical and musical learning comes together in a unique way.
For many years children from all over Japan would send Dr. Suzuki recordings of these pieces. He would listen to their recordings and send back a brief commentary of what he thought they were doing well and a few points that they could continue to work on as they progressed.
At a certain point in the year all these students were invited to a “graduation concert” where they would perform their graduation pieces together and receive acknowledgment for their work in reaching this level.
Edmonton Suzuki Strings Graduation Program takes inspiration from Dr. Suzuki’s example by selecting specific pieces that represent special points of technical and musical development. Once students have learned these pieces, preparation for graduation motivates students to develop mastery of these pieces. Once the the performance of these pieces is refined, a video recording of the student’s performance of the piece is made. The video recordings are shared with another ESS teacher, and that teacher watches the video and sends comments.
The typical timeframe for graduation is: once a student has completed the learning of the graduation piece they will spend the balance of that year and a portion of the next year refining it as they continue learning new material and skills. Their new skills are incorporated into their performance of the graduation piece.
An ESS concert then features those graduating students and recognizes their work.
ESS Graduation Pieces are:
Violin – ESS has retained Dr. Suzuki’s chosen pieces for the violin graduation program.
Level 1 – Gavotte – Gossec (book 1)
Level 2 – Bourree – J.S. Bach (book 3)
Level 3 – Concerto in g minor – A. Vivaldi (book 5)
Level 4 – Concerto in a minor – J.S. Bach (book 7)
Level 5 – Sonata in e minor – Veracini (book 8)
Level 6 – Concerto in A major or Concerto in D major – W.A. Mozart (book 9 &10)
Viola
Level 1 – Gavotte – Gossec (book 1)
Level 2 – Bourree – J.S. Bach (book 3)
Level 3 – Concerto in G major – G.Ph. Telemann (book 4)
Level 4 – Concerto in c minor – F. Seitz (book 5)
Level 5 – Concerto in c minor – J.C.Bach/Casadesus (book 6)
or Concerto in b minor – G.F. Handel (book 7)
Level 6 – Schubert Arpeggione Sonata