Just before Thanksgiving Warren got the opportunity to perform with other Houston area Suzuki students (in his level) at Ribbon Festival. He has been learning songs with his left hand that he already knew with his right hand, to help improve his technique.
Warren playing "Honey Bee" (left hand) at Suzuki Ribbon Festival
If you are receiving this via email you will need to go to our blog to watch these videos.
Warren playing "Lightly Row" (left hand) at Suzuki Ribbon Festival
The judges take notes and critique technique and performance as he played.
Warren is presented with his medal. ;) The judges were pleased with his great tone
and dropping in while he played.
He did great! It is fun to see his confidence grow. He was much more so than his first recital!
About 5 months ago Warren began taking piano for the first time. He has loved music since he was very little. His teacher, Sister Thomas, teaches via the Suzuki method, which teaches first to learn to play by ear, then to read the notes a few years later. They also teach proper technique from the very beginning. Warren has been learning by very quickly and has a sharp ear. He is already playing songs hands together. For his first recital, he played pieces of equal difficulty to those of his peers who have been been taking lessons for a year to a year and a half. In the video, Sister Thomas says that he has completed 1 year of piano lessons but he actually didn't start until mid January of this year and his recital was May 26.
As a parent of a young child learning via Suzuki method I have to be very involved with his lessons & practicing, sitting down and working with him each day. In the beginning, it was very difficult for both of us because Warren is a perfectionist and was very hard on himself if he didn't get it just right the first time through. He would get emotional & discouraged quickly which was so frustrating for me because he learns so quickly! It was just about more than my patience could deal with. However, slowly we have learned to just keep going and he is much more forgiving of his own mistakes! That has been one of the most rewarding things to see him grow to be able to do! He was very nervous to play for everyone that night. There was about 50 or more people there but did really well! It has been really exciting to see him learn and grow.
(If you want to view these videos bigger click on them and watch them on YouTube.
1st piece - Honey Bee (hands together)
2nd piece - Lightly Row (hands together)
Here is a video of Warren and I doing the duet version of Lightly Row. It's his favorite song. I thought Ben added an interesting back up vibe. :) I tried to cut out most of my 9 month pregnant belly but unfortunately it's hard to hide it at this point. ;P
Random music fun:
About a month ago Warren and I went on date to see the Riverwood Middleschool orchestra concert. Warren has been in love with string instruments, primarily the violin & cello, since he was 2 years old. Our friends son plays bass in the Orchestra and told us that THE Bridged Bibbins flew in the day before, played all night with the kids and mentored several on how to play her Viper (an electric violin she helped design) for the concert. Bridged is a famous violinist and has played professionally with many famous orchestra's & rock stars including: the Transiberean Orchestra, Van Halen, Christina Aquilera, Motley Crew, Josh Groban, etc.
Despite her success in the professional world she has decided that mentoring kids is where her passion is and that's how they got her to come to our middle school! I wish I could post all the videos of every piece they played. It was a grade A rock concert with lots of energy and people waiving their cell phone lights in the dark! They played everything from the Beatles, Ozzy Ozbourne, Led Zepplin to Guns N' Roses. You could see how much the kids playing and the audience enjoyed it. Warren sat captivated for over 2 hours!
