Young Suzuki pupils rev up for concert
Joseph Anderson has been playing the violin since he was 3.
Now 11 and a Suzuki Strings of Augusta pupil, he is one of 125 pupils to perform at the group's annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Augusta.
As soon as Joseph was potty-trained, Dr. Phyllis and Walter Anderson of Martinez started their son in lessons with the Augusta group.
The Suzuki method, founded by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, begins music teachings with children much younger than the traditional age.
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"Dr. Suzuki, who originated this concept, felt that we should not wait until children could learn to understand what they were doing," Dr. Anderson said. "(He said) that we would miss a door of opportunity by waiting those five or six years."
Lois Akins (right) rehearses with some of the members of Suzuki Strings of Augusta at First Baptist Church of Augusta. Their next concert will be March 27.
Photo by Chris Thelen
Joseph is in the Intermediate Ensemble, but all pupils play together at each concert. The Senior Ensemble, known for their precise play at many area functions, is the 10- to 20-member elite group that will be featured in the performance, Anderson said. The PreTwinklers, a group who's average age is 4, always is popular with audiences.
"They steal the show everytime," Dr. Anderson said. "It is just marvelous. They are so cute. Just imagine a 3- or 4-year-old child up there playing their violin."
She remembers vividly when Joseph was the littlest one on stage.
The Senior, Junior, Intermediate, Beginning and Celtic ensembles - made up of students from as far as Williston, Aiken and Lexington, S.C., and Wrens, Waynesboro, Thomson and Stapleton, Ga. - will perform pieces from such well-known composers as Bach, Vivaldi and Schumann.
For more information, call director Lois Akins at 854-1067 or log on to www.suzukistringsofaugusta.com.