A Once in a Lifetime Experience at Group Class

"Don't hurry, don't rest. Without stopping, without haste, carefully taking one step at a time will surely get you there."

 Shinichi Suzuki

At Edmonton Suzuki Piano School, our core programming for students includes both individual piano lessons as well as regular group classes.  This group programming is important:  it gives students the opportunity to meet, perform and socialize with other students, reinforces theory concepts, and provides pianists with experience playing with others - something vital for ensemble performance and accompaniment.

We believe that these experiences encourage students to foster a life-long appreciation for music, long after lessons end.  For one of our teen groups, we hosted a pipe organ workshop at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Marnie Giesbrecht.  The students learned the history of the organ, how it works, and then had the opportunity to play one of their piano pieces on the organ.  It was an enjoyable workshop, with the beautiful dome and ceiling paintings helping to make the atmosphere almost magical. Students and their families were thrilled with the opportunity.

After the session, Dr. Giesbrecht mentioned an organ student scholarship through the Royal Canadian College of Organists (Edmonton Branch).  One of our students applied, won the scholarship and has been studying with Dr. Giesbrecht ever since.  In December, ESPS musician Mark was invited by Dr. Giesbrecht to play the Davis Organ at the Winspear Centre as a prelude to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service presented by the University of Alberta. Mark played for a packed audience and did a great job.   He’s subsequently won another organ scholarship allowing him to continue lessons.

We were so pleased not only by the wonderful experience of the workshop itself, but also that it gave one of our students such a rare opportunity to study the pipe organ with a university professor.