Graduation Concert

Date TBA
Knuth Hall, San Francisco State University

The Suzuki Music Association of Northern California sponsors an annual Graduation Program to honor our students as they accomplish certain milestones in the Suzuki literature. The Graduation Program is designed after that which Dr. Suzuki established for students in Japan.

A thorough procedure has been developed for the students to prepare for this exciting event. Our teachers know that the children who have participated in past graduation programs have benefited tremendously from the experience, both musically and personally:

The Graduation Program is open to all students of SANC Teacher Members for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Guitar. Please consult with your child’s teacher to see if they recommend this activity at this point in the child’s development. Their teacher will also be able to provide additional information regarding registration and preparation.

Here is a Parent Invitation Letter.

Deadline for Teachers to register their students: coming soon!

Concert Information

Date TBA

Knuth Hall

San Francisco State University

11:00 Access to the Music Building

11:15 Guitar Graduates Check-in
12:00 Guitar Graduation Concert

in Knuth Hall

1:30 Violin & Cello Teacher Check-in

1:45 Violin & Viola Graduate Check-in
2:30 Violin & Viola Graduation Concert in Knuth Hall

4:00 SANC General Meeting

Concert Dress

White tops with black or navy bottoms. Slacks or skirts that come to the knee or below are acceptable. Please no jeans, t-shirts, sneakers or bare midriffs.

Information for Teachers

This page has general information for students and non-member teachers. Are you a teacher member? Please visit our teacher-member only Graduation page with all the details about how to record, recording requirements, forms and registration.

Suzuki Association of Northern California Graduation Process

Step 1: Preparation

Working with their teachers, students who have polished pieces perform them on a recording with live or recorded accompaniment. Teachers collect graduation fees from students and submit recordings on behalf of their students.

Step 2: Evaluation

Teacher members work as a team listening to and supporting each other’s students and studios through thoughtful comments on evaluation forms. Recordings are approved or suggested for re-recording.

Step 3: Results

Students receive a Certificate and Commemorative Pin with their evaluation results.

Step 4: Performance

Students perform, together with graduates at the same level, in the Celebration Concert at the end of January.

Student Graduation Pieces and Guidelines

In order to achieve the high level of polish desired for graduation, students record graduation pieces well after they are initially learned. This supports the Suzuki principle that the repertoire is the foundation of musical development. Each instrument has 10 graduation levels, listed below. For violins, the "Must have Polished" pieces is a suggestion of where a student should be in the literature before submitting each graduation recording. For example, a level I violin applicate should have Minuet by Boccherini polished when they submit a recording for Gavotte by Gossec.

Violin

Level	Graduation Piece, Metronome marking	Must have Polished
I	Gavotte by Gossec, 116-120	Minuet by Boccherini
II	Bourree by J.S. Bach, 76	Concerto in A minor 1st movement by Vivaldi
III	Concerto in A minor 1st movement by Vivaldi, 80-92	Concerto in G minor 1st movement by Vivaldi
IV	Concerto in G minor 1st movement by Vivaldi, 80-92	La Folia
V	La Folia, 66 Theme, 12 Variation	Concerto in A minor 1st movement by J.S. Bach
VI	Concerto in A minor 1st movement by J.S. Bach, 88	Sonata by Eccles, 2nd Movement
VII	Concerto in D Major, 1st Movement by Mozart, 120-144	Complete Concerto in D Major By Mozart
VIII	Rondo by Mozart/Kreisler and Sicilienne by Paradis	Teacher's discretion
IX	Complete Concerto in C Major, PO 48, by Kabalevsky (Only mvmt 1 will be performed.)	Teacher's discretion
X	Complete Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn (Only one mvmt will be performed.)	Complete Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn

Cello

Level	Graduation Piece
I	Minuet #2 by J.S. Bach
II	Minuet in G Major by Beethoven
III	Sonata #5 1st and 2nd movement by Vivaldi
IV	Sonata 1st and 2nd movements by Eccles
V	Sonata, by Samartini
VI	Concerto in B Major by Boccherini/Grutzmacher

Viola

Level	Graduation Piece	Must have Polished
I	Gavotte by Gossec	Minuet by Boccherini
II	Bourree by J.S. Bach	Concerto in D minor 1st movement by Vivaldi
III	Concerto in G Major 4th movement by Telemann	Four Dances by Marais
IV	Concerto No. 3 1st movement by Seitz, arr by W. Preucil	Hungarian Dances by Brahams
V	Concerto in C minor, 2nd mvmt, by Bach/Casadesus	Teacher discretion
VI	Concerto in B minor, 2nd mvmt, by Handel/Casadesus	Teacher discretion

Guitar

Level	Graduation Piece
I	Meadow Minuet by Longay
II	Waltz by Calatayud
III	Celeste y Blanco by Ayala
IV	Variations on La Folia by Vivaldi
V	Allegro Vivace, by Giuliani
VI	Bourree, by Bach
VII	Sounds of Bells, by Pernambuco
VIII	Prelude, by Bach
IX	Asturias, by Albeniz

Photo & Video Release

During the Graduation events, your children may be included in candid photographs or videos. By giving them permission to participate in Graduation, you are releasing and discharging SANC from all and any claims and demands ensuing from or in connection with the use of the photographs, including all and any claims for libel and invasion of privacy. We respect your children's privacy and no name are even used in photographs. If you do not grant permission for your children to be included in photos or videos, please inform your teacher who will provide you with a form to sign.

Questions?

Contact Nora Grafton, Graduation coordinator: graduation@suzukinorcal.org