Suzuki Music Academy of Hong Kong

"Music Exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart" ~Shinichi Suzuki

Bach in the Subway, 2020

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It’s disappointing that current circumstances make it so that our traditional live performance of Bach in the Subway could not happen

During Bach’s lifetime, there wasn’t anything worldwide that compares with what is happening currently with COVID-19. However, he did get sent to prison once – because he quit his job! Wonder how that impacted his musical compositions?

Since this is such an unsual time, an unusual Bach in the Subway celebration is just right! Instead of the live performance, students received a practice video with each group class assigned to focus on one of Bach’s pieces. Everyone in the school had the opportunity to participate! After mastering the practice assignments, students made a recording of themselves performing their group’s piece along with Ms. Sonomi’s accompaniment video. To create the “performance”, teachers worked with the individual videos to combine them into a montage….instant Bach in the Subway performance!

It’s wonderful that so many students participated in celebrating Bach’s birthday. Many thanks to all of the students who joined, to their parents for taking the time to do the special practicing and making the technology work, to the teachers for making the practice videos, to Ms. Sonomi for also making the accompaniment videos, to Ms. Lan, Ms. Monica, Ms. Yuko and Ms. Diane for making the video montages.

Please enjoy SMAHK’s 2020 celebration of JS Bach:

Minuet No. 1 Bach, Casals, Haydn, Telemann, Suzuki, Twinkle: https://youtu.be/B4wfs9_M2Is

Minuet No. 2 Beethoven, Clementi, Telemann: https://youtu.be/bekeB4eREoo

Minuet Corelli: https://youtu.be/ghjyxjSCFMk

Musette Hindemith, Mozart, Suzuki: https://youtu.be/m9d4eTo8oVA

Gavotte in C Minor Du Pre: https://youtu.be/k_5tZf10aCY

Gavotte in D major Fiocco: https://youtu.be/bPET7uMkm5Q

Gavotte for Solo Violin Prokofiev & Paganini: https://youtu.be/z0xoKEcFb3c

Happy Birthday, Bach!

Stanley Christmas Market Performance!

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String students finished off 2019 with a fun – and windy! – performance of Christmas, Chanukah, and Suzuki repertoire at the Stanley Christmas Market. They reorganised everything this year, spreading the booths and activities out throughout Stanley Plaza and Murray House; the performance “stage” was both smaller and in a different location much closer to Murray House. This made it much easier for the students to manoeuvre from the set-up location to the stage…especially helpful in the windy conditions! It also brought our audience closer to us. It was a great way for us to kick off the holiday season! Our best wishes to all for a joyous and relaxing holiday.

Grand Group Class Concert!

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In spite of a location change requiring additional logistics and organisation from every student and family, SMAHK held its annual Grand Group Class Concert on Sunday, 8 December.

Due to the efforts of Ester Li (mother of Caleb and Chloe), we were able to have the concert at the Church of All Nations chapel at Hong Kong International School. We are very grateful to Ester, and to Pastor Joel and Megan from HKIS. The chapel was a very warm and inviting environment; all week, we have been receiving comments by email and in person from people who thoroughly enjoyed the concert venue.

Our theme for this year is “Beautiful Tone, Beautiful Heart”. There is no better time for us to be sharing our hearts with one another through our music. The concert was a wonderful example of this, with all of the group classes performing repertoire designed to share our tone and hearts together.

Thank you to all of the parents who helped with the set up before the concert, as well as to all of the students and parents for their preparations before the concert. What a wonderful spirit of community to take with us into the holiday season!

Studio Recitals!

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SMAHK students were fortunate to have the opportunity to perform in studio recitals during the month of November. Recitals were held in the Lecture Hall at Sheung Wan Civic Centre, and in the Recital Hall at Hong Kong City Hall. It was so fun that all of our recitals were joint recitals this year, as that gave us another special opportunity to continue to build our feeling of community with many family members and friends supporting each student as they performed. Parents have commented about how much they have noticed the growth in the students from one year to the next. Congratulations to all of the students and their parents for their consistent listening and practicing that let them have such positive experiences! Please enjoy these photos from our studio recitals:

Reflections from the Performers: Sander & Ayden Book 2 Violin Recital

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Sander & Ayden’s Book 2 Violin Recital: 15 November, 2019

On Friday, 15 November, Ayden and Sander performed their Book 2 violin recital in front of a big audience of family and friends. Here are their thoughts on the experience:

Ayden

~Ayden’s reflection

Last Friday, I had my violin book 2 recital with Sander. Although I felt a little nervous, but mostly felt excited of having many friends came to support us. I was nervous on Gavotte from Mignon piece because I lost track a bit towards the end of the song. However, I felt very confident to play my solo pieces and pieces that I played with Sander. 

Many thank to Ms. Diane and Ms. Ryoko by teaching me how to perform well with my partner in the recital.  I learnt how to give more clearer cue as a leader and copy the articulations, dynamics and bow divisions from the leader. Last but not the least, thank you Ms. Shoko for piano accompaniment. I look forward to having my next book recital! 

Sander

~Sander’s reflection

At first I really didn’t want to do it. I didn’t want to do it at all until the actual recital. Now looking back I sort of wish that I could’ve had a more positive view on this. At the practice recitals they seemed more stressful than real one. In the end everything seemed to work out well. It was even a bit enjoying to play for our our guests.


My final thoughts are, hard work definitely pays off in the end and have fun while you’re doing it.

Thank you to all of the friends who joined the recital, and Congratulations to Ayden and Sander on their work!

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