Suzuki Celebration Concert

Over 1200 Suzuki students of all instruments come together in a celebration of Dr. Suzuki's legacy every 5 years.  For this rare event on September 19, 2015 the theme was "Where Love is Deep" and all participants sang and signed the words to this touching song.  There were 8 students from my studio who participated in this concert and as a participating teacher I was assigned to be a "twinkle chaperone".  As big as the LDS Conference Center in SLC is, there are so many students in the gala performance that many of the violins spill into the audience seats!  Here is a picture of the final product of many months worth of preparation:

Afternoon dress rehearsal on the day of the gala performance:

Back Stage with the twinkle group and my participating students:

SAU President & Violin Chair
after the big event they worked
so diligently to create was complete

Student Recital

Rylee Sorensen ~ Suzuki Book 1

Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 3pm

Hale Centre Threatre Music Rehearsal Hall

Student Recital

Saturday February 21, 2015

2:00-3:00pm at the Clearfield Library
I love seeing my students share their developing violin talent!

Kynlee played pieces from Suzuki Books 1-3
(including duets with brother on cello and mom on clarinet)

2014 Suzuki Grand Concert

Davis/Weber Area

Grand Concert Rehearsal

Saturday, October 11, 2014

 Jenny Wadsworth & Cathy Christiansen

Leading "Little Fandango"

  

Cathy Christiansen Leading Concerto No. 2 in G Major 3rd Movement by F.Seitz at the Clearfield Library for Grand Concert Rehearsal

~

Davis/Weber Area 

Grand Concert

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Jenny & Cathy Leading Little Fandango

Cathy Leading Seitz Concerto

Twinkles...all students on stage to end the concert!

 My own little fan club and support team! :)

Annual Parent Retreat

Our group was small this year but as always uplifting and inspiring!  Thanks to all my wonderful Suzuki parents who came and those who wanted to come but were unable.  I appreciate all you do to support your violinists at home, at lessons, at concerts, etc.  You are awesome!!!

Summer Student Activities

Every summer provides many fun opportunities for young musicians to learn and grow on their instrument.  During the 3rd week of June, one of my students attended Intermountain Suzuki String Institute (ISSI) here in Utah on a partial scholarship.  She was so motivated when she came home from working with Suzuki Teachers from around the world that she practiced consistently for long periods of time, just for fun!!!

One of her favorite classes was technique; the teacher called it... "Torture Class" 

Violin Fun Times! :)  Bow Hand Placement...

Another of my students participated in the Summer Strings Adventure Camp (SSAC) for her second year in-a-row; she rehearsed and performed movie-theme music with the orchestra for a concert that was held in conjuction with a fair, costume contest, face-painting, etc.  I took my boys to it and we had a blast!

My student dressed up as Elsa from Frozen 

 Concert at the Park ~ July 31, 2014

Violin Injury

I was teaching one Thursday morning in May, my student and I had just finished playing a note-reading duet and I was writing something in the music when my metronome/tuner fell off the side of the stand and crashed into the edge of my violin.  Although there have been plenty of scratches throughout the many years I've had this violin, it has never been hit in this way or done such quick damage in so little time.  I took it into Charles Liu on the way to a family reunion and picked it up the following weekend after a date planned in the Midvale area with my husband; gratefully I was not scheduled to teach that week in-between so it worked out perfectly!  The moment the metronome fell and I could see how my violin got hit, being familiar with the costs of instrument up-keep and repair, my first thought was: 'well there goes at least 100 bucks' (which ended up being a really close estimate).

I salvaged what pieces I could, some of which were glued back on but with the way it shattered some had to be wood-filled and re-stained.

Violin back in working order and with a few bonus touch-ups that I would have otherwise waited on for a few more years.

Annual Student Party

 2014 Annual Student Party

Friday, May 9, 2014

It had been raining all day so I re-arranged the furniture and we met indoors.  This year we did a brief instrument-care workshop along with several of the brain-gym exercises we did last year.  Afterward, the sun came out so we enjoyed refreshments and the kids, who had been cooped up for several days due to rainstorms, got to run around and enjoy my back yard (as you can see, rolling down our steep hill).  I made cookies in honor of Dr. Suzuki who served delicious cookies to his students and encouraged them to serve each-other in simple and meaningful ways.

SAU Annual Parent/Teacher Convention

 

2014 Annual Suzuki Parent/Teacher Convention

American Prep Academy in Draper, UT

Saturday, May 26, 2014

 This year I had the privilege of car-pooling with one of my sweet studio moms.  We made a day of it and had so much fun!  These events are always so inspiring for me and I am grateful Suzuki parents are able to attend and enjoy the nurturing spirit that our Suzuki program offers.  There were other parents from my studio who were able to attend part of the day, it was great to see you there!  For anyone who wanted to come but were unable to this year, our SAU President sent digital copies of class handouts.

2014 Spring Violin Recital

2 Dozen Violins Lined Up for Performance...

Students Receiving Last Minute Instructions...

2014 Spring Violin Recital
Monday 4.14.14 from 7-8pm

Clearfield Library Auditorium

It was a wonderful evening with magical musical moments!

Book 7 Teacher Training

In February/March 2014, I completed Suzuki Book 7 Teacher Training with Jeanne Grover in Bountiful, Utah.  This picture was taken to commemorate 15 hours of class, 8 hours of observation, 

7 pieces re-learned, & 4 pieces re-memorized.  :)

2014 Suzuki Graduation

2014 Suzuki Graduation

I got re-married a few weeks ago (1.18.14).  

What a great job to sign my new name so many times! 

Cathy Butler Marlor Christiansen 

I had 27 certificates for 22 students who participated.  

The following are pictures from their performances on stage.

February 1, 2014 Graduation Concert at Davis High School

 Twinkles

 Level 1: Gossec Gavotte

 Level 2: Boccherini Minuet

 Level 3: Bach Bouree

 Level 4: Vivaldi A Minor

 Level 6: LaFolia

SAU Davis-Weber Area Teachers Presenting Certificates

Congratulations to all my 2014 Suzuki Level Graduates!!!