Graduation

Date and Location TBD

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 important event. Past graduates who have participated have significantly benefited from this experience.

The Graduation Program is open to all students of SMAC-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.

Click for more information: Parent Invitation Letter.

Fees per recording submitted:
Levels I-IV: $45

Levels V+: $50

NEW: Parents are required to register online

A link to the online registration form opens here on September 1, 2021 and closes November 22, 2021.

GRADUATION RECORDINGS will be evaluated based on:

TONE (bow speed, weight & length of bow)
INTONATION (resonance tones, intensity of vibrato)
RHYTHM (steady beat, accuracy)
TECHNIQUE (shifting, left hand facility, bowing, string crossing)
MUSICAL INTERPRETATION (tempo, dynamics, style)
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL COMMENTS

Concert Information

2022 Graduation Concert Information will be posted as available.

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. Parents register their students, pay fees, and submit recordings via the online registration form.

Step 2: Evaluation

Teachers evaluate submitted recordings.

Step 3: Performance

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

Step 4: Results

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

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

Questions?

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