ACSI is Here!

This Sunday is registration day for the event of the Suzuki year, the Atlantic Canada Suzuki Institute! If you or your children are attending, come to Mullock Hall at St. Bonaventure's College between 1 and 3 PM on Sunday to register and join us for an opening picnic!

If you are registered for camp, you should have received a registration package in your email with a receipt, a meal order form, and maps of the facility. If you haven't gotten this message, write to us post-haste (step@suzukinl.ca). On Sunday, you will be given individualized schedules for each of your children, along with the schedules for the special events, concerts, and talks that will fill this busy week.

We're incredibly excited to see you and your family this coming week! If you have any questions about ACSI, just get in touch.

100 Day Countdown

Have you been practising every day? Bring your 100-Day Chart to ACSI Registration and receive special recognition!

A Special Concert!

This summer, Eileen Kearns, the founding Artistic Director of STEP, is returning to St. John's for a visit. Mrs. Kearns is the teacher (or grand-teacher!) of many string professionals in St. John's, including some on our faculty.

STEP is planning a special concert and reception in her honour. It will take place on Friday July 15 at St. James Church, Elizabeth Avenue, at 6:30 p.m. We'd like to see the whole STEP family out to welcome Eileen back. STEP groups will perform, and there will be a play-in so even Twinklers can be involved! Write it in your calendar and plan to attend!

ACSI Family BBQ - Can you host?

One of the highlights of the ACSI calendar is always the family barbecue, which will (hopefully) be held on Thursday night next week. One little thing - we still need someone who can volunteer to host! If you've got the space to contain a gaggle of musicians and their proud parents, please get in touch with us ASAP!

Musicianship Classes

Book One students who have progressed as far as Minuet One by September will be entering Musicianship Class. In this class they will learn the rudiments of musical theory and note-reading. The text for that class will be Mel Bay Beginner Theory for Violin Volume 2. We would like all the children who will be entering the class to get Volume 1 and work on it over the summer. Volume 1 is a fun and easy workbook will teach them to recognize and draw musical symbols. STEP has ordered sufficient copies of this book for everyone from Long and McQuade. Stay tuned for information about how to get your copy!

Fundraising Accounts Coming

Next year, STEP will be instituting individual fundraising accounts, taking advantage of Sobeys certificates and other opportunities so that STEP families can defray their costs. If you are good with numbers and would like to volunteer to assist the treasurer with this aspect of STEP finances, we'd like to hear from you!

New Class Next Year!

New Class Next Year! - Next year STEP will be offering a group class for parents called Suzuki Parenting Skills. It will run from September to December, and cover topics such as Suzuki philosophy, tuning a violin, practical practicing, note reading basics, playing twinkles, and how to use the body when playing the instrument. This class will be directed towards new Suzuki parents but any parent is welcome to sign up for the class.

Summer Festival Roundup!

As always, this summer will be bringing some amazing music to St. John's. Here are some highlights:

The Tuckamore Festival, from August 7-21, is an intensive chamber music program for emerging musicians. For two weeks, talented pianists and string players perform and attend numerous concerts as well as participate in workshops, open rehearsals, private lessons, coachings, and master classes. This year, Tuckamore will feature STEP alumni Mark Fewer and Chris Anstey. Check out their schedule of performances and events at http://tuckamorefestival.ca/schedule.

The St. John's Folk Festival from August 5-7 in Bannerman Park will once again be bringing together some of the best folk performers from Newfoundland and Labrador and around Canada. A highlight will be a performance from STEP's own STEP Fiddlers, who will be performing on the Neil Murray Stage. Check out the incredible festival lineup and get ticket details over at http://www.nlfolk.com/fest2011/fest2011.html

The Soundshift Festival/International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) Conference, running from July 13 - 16 is a unique event that will combine an academic conference with an incredible series of dance and music performances from local and global artists. Their packed lineup is available at http://www.mun.ca/ictm2011/festival.htm

Festival 500, from July 6-13, will once again be bringing together some of the best choirs in the world for a week of incredible music. There will be concerts, workshops, and an academic symposium occurring as a part of this renowned biannual event. Find out more about the festival at http://www.festival500.com/

Summer Lessons

Summer is the Perfect Time to Practice!! There's no homework or after-school activities AND you can practice outside!! Remember Suzuki says you only need to practice on the days you eat! I'll be offering summer lessons on Mondays to interested STEP students and parents. I can work with all levels (training through book 8). I'm also willing to supervise small practice groups of violin friends. Please email me at evelyn_osborne@yahoo.com or call 726 7258 to set up a time.
- Evelyn Osborne

Kudos Corner

Congratulations to Jessica Casey for learning to play Bread with an excellent bow hold. You're on your way Jessica!

Congratulations to Bertha Rich who performed in her very first solo concert with beautiful focus. Good work Bertha!
Congratulations to Emma Cass for playing I'm a Little Monkey with beautiful intonation in her first solo concert. Well done Emma!

Congratulations to Jack Davis for playing an excellent Taka Taka Stop Stop in his first solo concert. Very nice tone Jack!

Congratulations to Jane Hynes for performing in her very first solo concert! Excellent focus Jane!

Congratulations to Nathan Fitzgerald for playing a beautiful Taka Taka Stop Stop in his first solo concert. Good work Nathan!

Congratulations to Julia Fitzgerald who played an excellent One Banana Two Banana in her first solo concert. Well done Julia!

Congratulations to Sophie Fitzgerald for playing Perpetual Motion with beautiful tone. Good work Sophie!

Congratulations to the STEP Parent Class (AKA Old Virtuosi) who played their first performance at the solo concert. They saw a challenge, met it with lots of enthusiasm and diligent work, and performed beautifully. Well done!

Congratulations to Sam Farquharson for singing I'm A Little Monkey in the group class concert all by himself. Good job Sam!

Congratulations to all of the parents in my studio for a wonderful year. You're all doing a beautiful job of supporting your children as they develop into fine young musicians. Looking forward to more to come!

- Lauren Smee

Evelyn's studio collectively practiced and listened 5,857 days this year! WOW!

Congratulations go out to Leslie Amminson, Rachel Thistle and Annie Lewis for making the One Week Club (listen and practice every day) over 20 weeks each this year!!!

- Evelyn Osborne