Saturday, April 30, 2011

45th Annual Spring Suzuki Festival Concert

Posted by Jenny


On Saturday, April 30th, the Greenville Suzuki Association held its 45th Annual Spring Suzuki Festival Concert in Fletcher Recital Hall at East Carolina University. I had the pleasure of leading the group in the folk song Go Tell Aunt Rhody. The final piece was led by my Suzuki Pedagogy professor, Mrs. Joanne Bath. Accompanied by her husband, pianist Dr. Charles Bath, she led everyone from the high school seniors to the three year old Pre-Twinklers in Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, so that everyone could enjoy the final applause. Check out the video below!



Monday, April 18, 2011

63rd Annual Merritt Reunion

Posted by Jenny

We are thankful that our friends and families were not touched by the historic tornado outbreak that wreaked havoc across North Carolina on Saturday, April 16, 2011. David and I were in church celebrating the Palm Sunday vigil service when the storms hit our area. Torrential rain poured down over the church before shifting to hail and almost drowning out Deacon’s homily. But the worst soon passed and we thank God that we didn’t experience worse than we did. Many in the old north state were not so fortunate and our hearts go out to them.

So needless to say, we were especially happy to see friends and family at the 63rd Annual Merritt Reunion at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sunday, April 17th. We are not kinfolk of the Merritt family, but we love them just the same! I have played for their reunion service several times in the past, although I haven’t been able to go in quite some time. I’m happy that I was able to make it down and see everyone, play a little while, and of course, partake of a delicious pot-luck picnic.

Listed in the program as the Clear Run Pickers because we all jam together at Clear Run Grocery, we entertained the family with old time and bluegrass gospel tunes House of Gold, They’re Holdin’ Up the Ladder, The Old Cross Road, and Will the Circle Be Unbroken.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Wahl-Coates Violin Recital

Posted by Jenny

I recently had the pleasure of helping my very first violin students perform in their very first recital. The group, which I co-taught with other ECU Suzuki Pedagogy students, demonstrated for their parents and schoolmates the various exercises they have learned: clapping and singing rhythmic variations; standing in rest position and moving to playing position; bow control exercises; and playing two rhythmic variations on the open E string. I’m quite proud of all that these dear preschoolers have accomplished since October 2010! (I think their parents were, too!) You can watch an excerpt from the program below!