This week was Music Festival at BFA. The music department brought in 5 judges (piano, voice, strings, guitar, woodwind/brass). From Monday through Thursday, almost all of the private lesson students performed solos; the judges provided helpful feedback to improve their playing. The judges also selected outstanding performers to play in Friday evening’s Honors Recital.
All the string students played on Wednesday. We had everything from my beginner elementary student playing Twinkle and Lightly Row . . .
Beginning student plays in his first Music Festival!
. . . to an advanced student performed the first movement of the Bach D Minor Partita and the first movement of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole. He needs more than the half-hour lessons I give at BFA, so he is taking lessons from an experienced French teacher.
Judge gives advanced student comments
Most of the students performed well. Effort and practice time really paid off; it was gratifying to see the kids pull off a solid performance after working so hard!
The Honors Recital was very diverse and exciting. There are a lot of really talented students at BFA! They also really enjoyed playing music. One of the judges noted that the atmosphere here was relaxed and non-competitive. The students felt free to continue trying their best, even when they made mistakes.
The happy bunch at the end of the performance
They went home with smiles on their faces and relief that the stress of practicing, practicing, and practicing was over! (that is, over until their next lesson when they get new music . . .)
