The Fun Family Ensemble Concert
Like all music teachers during the pandemic, we had to get creative! In early 2021 when everyone was stuck at home due to covid and freezing temperatures, we decided to try out an online event that encouraged families to practice and perform a song together. In April 2021, we held our first Family Ensemble Concerts. These were held online, with both pre-recorded and live performances. There were absolutely no rules: it could be any song the family wanted to prepare using any instruments they had available to them. Some groups had the family participating, and others were just a few family members. Some families had some help from their teachers, others were able to take on the task themselves, and we ended up with 22 families participating. Needless to say, these concerts were amazing, heartwarming, cute, inspiring etc. There were lots of piano duets (we are piano teachers after all), but many other instruments were also used: violin, cello, tambourine, guitar, voice, xylophone, flute, etc.
After that first year, we decided to do it again in April 2022, and this year we had 35 families participating. Once again it was held on Zoom, and an even greater variety of instruments were featured: violin, viola, cello, trumpet, flute, double bass, egg shaker, triangle, tambourine. It was notable how many more parents participated this year! These Family Ensemble Concerts allow families to create, practice, perform and enjoy music making together, regardless of skill level. It’s a chance for students to learn some music outside of the Suzuki repertoire and reinforces the Suzuki principal that all children (and their parents) can learn! And what fun to hear a variety of music and instruments in one concert! We have decided to make this a yearly event as there have been so many positive outcomes. One of the grandmothers who was watching emailed to let me know that she had been feeling low that day, and watching the concert really cheered her up. That confirms what we all know to be true - music enriches and nurtures the human spirit. I’m already looking forward to next year’s concerts!
Rhonda McEachen