November 17, 2012

What We Do

COURSE CURRICULUM and ACTIVITIES

The Buffalo Suzuki Strings Music Education Program provides instrumental instruction for VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, DOUBLE BASS, PIANO, CLASSICAL GUITAR, HARP as well as music for infants and toddlers.

Private Music Lessons

The BSS Curriculum begins instruction of the instrument as early as the age of 3. According to the student’s age and level of study, private weekly lessons are offered at 30, 45, or 60 minute increments private instruction.

Group Instruction

Students are placed in groups according to their playing level where the children learn to play together, polish performance pieces and review Suzuki repertoire. Monthly Parent Programs are offered while students are in classes. There is no group instruction during our summer session.

Enrichment Classes

The BSS curriculum also includes Enrichment Classes on Saturday mornings. Students are placed according to their playing levels. Various levels of Music Reading Readiness, Music Reading, Reading Orchestra, Fiddling, Chamber Ensemble Quartets, Orff and Music and Movement.

Recitals

A short recital program in Wutz Concert Hall on Saturday mornings gives students an opportunity to play for an audience as well as offering the children a lesson in “concert manners” by learning to sit quietly and listening for a short period. Additionally, each student performs a polished solo piece during Recital Week in May.

Community Concerts

Throughout the school year, students are offered opportunities to participate in group performances at area nursing homes and various community events. Students at all levels of study can experience the joy of sharing their gift of music with the community. Over the years our children have performed at nursing homes, the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, community events,  Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Amherst Symphony, Cheektowaga Symphony, Orchard Park Symphony, Clarence Summer Orchestra, and many others.

Annual Spring Concerts

The entire BSS student body participates in yearly schoolwide concerts. The Annual Spring Concert for the String Program is held each year at the U.B. Center for the Arts. The afternoon program is comprised of polished group performances from all levels of Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass and Classical Guitar culminating with all students on stage. The concert also features the Advanced Ensemble, selected Soloists and acknowledges our graduating Seniors. Attendance at Saturday Morning Rep Classes is mandatory for participation.

The annual Spring Concert for Piano Students is held in the Wutz Concert Hall of the Buffalo Suzuki String Musical Arts Center. Every student plays a solo.

BSS Summer Workshop

The BSS Summer Workshop is a 5 day program offered at the BSS Musical Arts Center in August. The Summer Workshop brings together parents, students and teachers from across WNY to share in a course of intensive music study. A week of fun and inspirational music making at all levels concludes with a concert of Suzuki repertoire and a concert of chamber music, both of which are open to the public.

Advanced Ensemble

Students at the highest playing level are selected by audition for the Advanced Ensemble. This performance ensemble requires intensive weekly rehearsals. Advanced students perform with the Ars Nova Chamber Musicians in the Viva Vivaldi Festival each November, as well as participating in various community and social events, and concert tours. Since 1984 the BSS Friendship Touring Ensemble has traveled to Great Britain, the former Soviet Union and Hungary, Australia and Hawaii, Italy and Switzerland, the South and Mid-Atlantic US, Chile and Peru, England and Ireland, Brazil, the 14th International Suzuki Teachers Conference in Turin, Italy in April, 2006, and Spain 2008 and Argentina 2011.

Students of all ages and levels are accepted throughout the year in an open enrollment plan. Transfer students from traditional and Suzuki programs are welcome.