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
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’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’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!
Welcome to SMAHK!
As the first internationally recognised Suzuki Talent Education school in Hong Kong, Suzuki Music Academy of Hong Kong (SMAHK) has a long history of excellence in working with children and their families.
Since 2006, we have been welcoming children and their families from birth onward; the students from our initial group of “Twinklers” have just completed Secondary School and are heading to university. In just a few years, we may have a faculty member who was in our first group of beginning students!
At SMAHK, we adhere to Dr. Suzuki’s belief that our children should develop “Character First, Then Ability“. Following the principle of the “Suzuki Triangle”, all of our classes include the student, parent and teacher working together.
Children ages 4 and older, together with their parents, are invited to join our Suzuki Talent Education Instrumental Program in cello, piano, viola or violin. New beginner families may register and join our Twinkle Program, which is comprised of two (2) group meetings each week: one for parents alone, one for students and parents together. This format will hold throughout the first term. Observations will be offered later in the term for students who are ready to expand to a third meeting each week for the private lesson.
Students who have already received instruction in cello, piano, viola and violin are invited to join our Instrumental Program as transfer students. We have a transfer process which ensures a good fit between transfer student families and the SMAHK community. Depending upon level, transfer students may be invited to join our orchestra or chamber music programs in addition to participating in our foundational schedule of weekly private lesson + group class.
Since 2019, we have learned to pivot between learning environments, conducting classes in-person, online and in hybrid formats. Although we highly prefer to be together in person for all lessons and performances, our team have worked together so that we are able to offer enriching activities online when necessary. From our foundational private lessons and group classes to performances, programming has been able to remain intact.
Please contact us to join the waiting list or get more information.
We look forward to welcoming your family into our Suzuki Community!
Orchestra and Chamber Music Concert
The second weekend of June, our end of year celebrations continued with a return to Sai Kung for our Spring Term Orchestra and Chamber Music Concert. Once again, this concert was held in the fabulous performance space at Hong Kong Academy.
In our orchestra and chamber music program this term, there was a Mozart theme: every chamber group performed a movement from a piece written by Mozart, and one of the orchestra’s selections was also written by Mozart.
The orchestra and all of the chamber groups demonstrated the efforts that they put in over the term in learning to be great teammates in their ensembles. Throughout the performances, you could see the performers communicating with one another, and the orchestra members watching Ms. Yuko for their cues.
The teachers are already excited for Fall, 2019 to watch the students’ ensemble skills continue to grow!
Congratulations to all of the students, Ms. Yuko, Ms. Ryoko and Ms. Shoko for their hard work!
Annual Graduation Concert
The end of the Spring Term brought a whirlwind of activity and celebration!
The month of June started with our annual Graduation Concert. This year, we had graduates representing every instrument studied at SMAHK. Graduates included all of the first six violin Graduation levels, as well as a parent graduating from Violin Level 1! Our Twinkle students were wonderful in their role as presenters of the Graduation Certificates!
In addition to celebrating the Graduation Levels, medals were awarded to the winners of our annual “Go for the Gold” Challenge. This year’s theme was review. It was exciting to see so many students on stage wearing medals for the end of the concert.
We continued our tradition of ending the concert with Dr. Suzuki’s “Wishing”, sung in both Japanese and English and played by our more advanced students:
“We are all good children. Mother, Father, help us try to do our very best. Every Child Can Learn. Father, Mother, help us try to do our very best”.
Congratulations to all of the students, parents and teachers!