Sounds of the City!
Saturday, Feb. 9, 4PM
PMT Dance Studio
Cellist Marta Bargunti will be joined by Hilary Castle (violin) and friends to explore all the sounds the city has to offer! Tickets are $30, kids under 12 are free.

Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony and Ax
Friday & Saturday, Feb.1 and Feb 2, 8pm
David Geffen Hall
Hear symphonic “bookends” by Mozart — his first, composed at age eight, and his final and 41st symphony. Also, pianist, Emmanuel Ax will be performing Haydn and Stravinsky! Tickets start at $39

Lunar New Year
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 7:30pm
David Geffen Hall
Experience Fire Ritual, a new violin concerto by Oscar winner Tan Dun; Arirang; Stravinsky’s beloved The Firebird Suite; Mozart’s The Magic Flute; and more. Tickets start at $35

Juilliard Faculty Piano Quartet
Thursday, Feb. 14, 7:30pm
Paul Hall
Juilliard violin, viola, cello, and piano faculty perform chamber music by Faure, Penderecki, and Brahms. A wonderful experience for our current chamber music students! Students start at $10.

Community Concert for a Cause
Friday, February 22nd, 7:30pm
Silver Music
Come hear our piano teacher, Marko Stuparevic, perform with saxophonist, Joseph Abad! $10 recommended donation. ALL proceeds from this event will be donated to the International Refugee Assistance Project.

We now offer Suzuki Guitar lessons at Silver Music!

We are excited to have guitarist, João Kouyoumdjian, join our faculty this January 2019, teaching private lessons, and Guitar Readiness for young beginners.

There is noticeable crossover between the Suzuki violin/viola/cello repertoire and guitar repertoire. For those children who have been in our RSP classes, many will recognize some of the early guitar repertoire as we sing these pieces and rhythms in our current classes. Regardless of your child’s background, Suzuki Guitar Book 1 starts with pieces most children know already, including Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Frere Jacques and progresses to works by Purcell and Bach by the end of Book 1.

Because the guitar is such a well-known instrument in pop culture and world music, families may be confused about what it means to study “Suzuki” guitar. Students studying Suzuki guitar are learning classical guitar. This style is non-electric, and instruments are wooden with nylon strings (not steel); students use a footstool for proper posture. Suzuki guitar students begin by learning melodies, not chords. As students progress they learn to play the melody and accompaniment on the guitar, similar to the way piano students begin just by learning a melody before adding an accompaniment or variations. There are currently 9 volumes of Suzuki guitar ending with the Sor Variations on a Theme of Mozart and Albeniz Austurias, encompassing music throughout 5 centuries in an organized progression.

Beginning a student on Suzuki guitar will give them the skills and foundation to be able to play a variety of repertoire on guitar, including non-classical. Suzuki develops a student’s ear to be able to relate to music naturally, and carefully builds technique around manageable goals–helping the student gain mastery. Wherever you see yourself, or your child, going with guitar–a Suzuki foundation can help you get there!

Click Here to watch The Sound of Success an informative introduction to Suzuki guitar created by the SAA Guitar Committee.

Suzuki Flute Fun!

January 28
218 W 72nd St
4:00-4:45pm

Join Zara Lawler, our Suzuki flute teacher, on Monday, January 28 for an introduction to the flute!

This event is for children and parents to hear live flute music, try a few flute activities from our introductory classes, and learn more about the Suzuki method for flute and Flute Readiness.

This event is FREE, but RSVPs are appreciated.
If you can’t make the event but would like to learn more, please email silvermusic@silvermusic.org.

FLUTE FAQ’s with Zara:

Do young children have enough lung power to play the flute?
Yes! It takes the same kind of lung power that children use when they run around outside screaming their heads off.

Do young children play real flutes?
Yes, there are specially designed flutes that curve back on themselves,
making them short enough for small people to play comfortably. They are
real flutes that play the same pitches as professional flutes, with a few
modifications to make them lighter and easier for small hands to hold.
However, most young beginners will start on a “faux flute,” for a lesson or
two: this is a pvc mock-up of a real flute, on which the young beginner can
learn the basics of how to hold the flute, where to put their fingers, and
how to stand while playing. Silver Music can help guide you to find an appropriate instrument to begin lessons.

Can young children play real music?
Yes, again! The Suzuki method starts with tunes most children know
already, including Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
Once children gain some basic proficiency on the instrument, they move
on to simple pieces by composers such as Bach, Handel and Schubert.

Please contact us at silvermusic@silvermusic.org to RSVP to Flute Fun, register for a lesson or class, or to learn more!

Why Choose Flute? Many students are captivated by the pure and shining tone of the flute, an instrument that can play above the orchestra at a wide range. Using breath to create the sound, there is both a meditative and singing quality to playing the flute. Compared to other instruments, the flute is relatively inexpensive and durable, and extremely portable (you can fit it in your bookbag)! The flute is a popular instrument in a many contexts and cultures; it pairs well with treble and bass instruments, and can be performed solo or in a variety of ensembles. Suzuki Flute Repertoire There is noticeable crossover between the Suzuki string and flute repertoire. For those children who have been in our RSP classes, many will recognize some of the early flute repertoire as we sing these pieces and rhythms in our current classes. Regardless of your child’s background, Suzuki Flute Book 1 starts with pieces most children know already, including Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and progresses to works by Bach, Schubert and Handel by the end of Book 1. Determining Readiness Most school band programs wait to begin introducing wind instruments until late elementary school or middle school. Students actually have the capacity to start flute much earlier, and through the Suzuki method young students learn to play musically and develop a strong tone from the start. If your child is ready to accept direct instruction from a teacher and your family is able to set aside time for practicing, your child may be ready to begin private flute lessons. (Depending on their size, children under 10 may use a modified flute that is easier to hold). Suzuki flute is also successful with older students as repertoire is designed to present technical problems to be learned in the context of the music rather than through dry technical exercises. Because there is nothing to look “at” while playing the flute, students are introduced to note-reading early in the repertoire and can feel successful joining an ensemble at school or in their community.

We are cancelling the last two classes of Music Shakers due to construction. Apologies for the inconvenience!

Community Concert for a Cause
Sunday, May 6, 2pm
Goddard Riverside Bernie Wohl Center
Our May concert will combine not only music, but dance and theater as well! Join us on a Sunday at Goddard for a unique twist on our Community Concert series. This particular event will be interactive and geared towards kids. $10 suggested donation.

Emmanuel Ax
Thursday, May 10, 8pm
Stern Auditorium
Come watch one of the greatest pianists of our day perform works by Mozart, Liszt, Bach, and Beethoven. Great for our older piano students! Tickets start at $16.50

Carnegie Hall Family Concert
Saturday, May 12, 2pm
Zankel Hall
New York City–based artists perform in My City, My Song, a colorful, participatory experience that provides children with the opportunity to discover music from different parts of the world that can be found right in their own city. $10

Student Chamber Music Recitals
Saturday, May 12, 5:45pm
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music
Come hear Silver Music students perform chamber music in this gorgeous space! Recital will include string trios and quartets, and a piano quartet. FREE

Tonal Fusion
Sunday, May 13, 6:30pm
AC Pianocraft
Support our piano teacher, Racqui Borromeo and her musical partner as they perform two-piano works by Rachmaninoff, Copland, Lutoslawski, and Bolling, in collaboration with a percussion ensemble and double bass. Proceeds benefit the “Move the Nuclear Weapons Money” movement. $20-$40.

The MET Orchestra
Wednesday, May 30, 8pm
Carnegie Hall
Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, and Mahler’s 5th Symphony surely won’t disappoint as played by the MET orchestra on May 30th. See if you can spot our MET parents! Tickets start at $28.