How to Participate
Entering Students in the Graduation Program
Eligibility
All applications and videos and fees must be submitted by the published deadline: Friday, March 23, 2012
Teachers submitting students for the Graduation Program must be current members of the Atlanta Area Suzuki Piano Association.
Students applying for the Graduation Program must be current members of the Atlanta Area Suzuki Piano Association before their teacher can submit them.
It is the responsibility of the teacher to decide at which level a student should enter the Graduation Program. Students cannot enter the program for the first time after Level 7. Once a student has entered at a specific level, he or she must continue sequentially through the graduation levels. Students may not skip a level or apply for two levels at one time.
How to Submit a Student
Teachers (not parents or students) must log in and submit their students by the published deadline. Teachers may enter prospective graduates via the website up to two months before the published deadline.
To access the student submission form you will be asked to login. Please login with your email and password. If you do not remember your password please click on I forgot my password. Please do not join again as we would have to reassign all your students to your new account. If you do not remember the email for your account please contact us.
Teachers and/or a students' parent may edit the student application until the deadline.
Students (or their teacher) must complete payment online by the published deadline. Please contact the Graduation Director if you prefer an alternative to paying online.
Teachers must submit a videotaped performance of students by the published deadline. Videos may be sent to the Graduation Director to address or submitted in person at the graduation meeting, typically held at Southern pianos on the day of the deadline. See the calendar for date/time. Please fill out an Evaluation Form for each student and attach it to their video.
The video must include the required repertoire for the level the student is applying for (see graduation levels). The pieces must be memorized. The videotapes will be reviewed and evaluated for graduation status by master Suzuki teacher, Dr. Karen Hagberg. If Dr. Hagberg determines that the student needs more time to improve their skills at this level, the student will be asked to resubmit for the next graduation. The fee to resubmit is $15. The decision of Dr. Hagberg is final.
Fees
The student application fee is $60.00
Student application fees and concert ticket sales help to cover concert expenses including hall rental, trophies, diplomas, professional videotaping, and video evaluation, printing and mailing costs.
All fees are non-refundable. Students who are asked to wait to graduate can reapply at the next deadline with a $15.00 resubmission fee. Scholarships are awarded to students who require financial assistance.
Concert Tickets
AASPA depends on ticket sales to pay the expense of renting Spivey Hall. Therefore, parents are encouraged to sell or purchase a minimum of $60.00 worth of tickets to help cover the hall rental expense, and also to insure a greater audience for the students. Tickets can be purchased directly by calling the Spivey Hall box office at (678) 466-4200.
All audience members including parents and family members must purchase a ticket to be allowed into the hall for the concert. Ticket prices are $15.00/adults and $7.50/students. Seating is General Admission.
Spivey Hall
We are very fortunate to have the honor to play at Spivey Hall, which is one of the finest concert halls in the country. Please be respectful of the employees at Spivey Hall and of the guidelines they ask us to follow.
Please be aware that audience members are not allowed on the performance stage or in the backstage area before, during, or after a performance. Audience members may meet performers in the lobby. AASPA teachers will guide students backstage and supervise them there.
Due to the fragility of antique items in the Green Room, only adults are allowed use of this room.
Concert Videos and Photography
A professional video recording is produced of each graduation concert. Each graduating student will receive a DVD recording of the concert they perform in. Absolutely no photography of any kind is allowed in Spivey Hall during the performances.
Teacher Requirements
Teachers must attend the dress rehearsal and concert with their student. If a teacher does not attend the dress rehearsal or the concert the student is ineligible to perform.
Teachers submitting students will be asked to volunteer to assist at the dress rehearsal and concert.
The published deadlines for videos, applications and fees are final. DVD's will not be accepted after the deadline.
Teachers should discuss concert attire with their students. It is recommended that teachers preview concert clothes by holding a rehearsal in which the students practice wearing their outfit.
Student Requirements
Students must attend the dress rehearsal in order to perform in the concert.
Students must perform in the graduation concert in order to receive their certificate and trophy. If a student is unable to perform because of extreme hardship such as a broken limb or sickness, the AASPA Board must approve a request in advance. A student with an excused absence may perform in the next concert, where they will receive their certificate and trophy. A student must perform in a graduation concert in order to be eligible to proceed to the next level.
The decision of Dr. Hagberg is final, and parents are not to contact Dr. Hagberg directly. Please direct any questions to the Graduation Director.
Concert attire must be appropriate for a family concert. A student who is not dressed appropriately at the dress rehearsal may be asked to change clothing for the concert at the discretion of the Graduation Director.
Students and parents will be notified by email about the specific times of the dress rehearsal and concert.
Recording Guidelines
Record the student's performance on an acoustic piano that is in tune. Clear any clutter from around the piano and eliminate background noise.
It is suggested that students dress as they would for a live performance because they usually play better when dressed up. No bare feet, and nothing on wrists and fingers. It is best for hair to be pulled back and secure.
Rehearse beginning and ending the piece to avoid awkward moments before and after playing. Students should not look at the camera before or after the performance.
When recording Level One Twinkles, the teacher should play the accompaniment on a second piano. Please include the student performing a bow before performing the required piece Allegro on the video.
DVD is the preferred format. Please put each student recording on a separate DVD and label it with the students name, level, pieces, and the teacher's name.
Evaluation of Videos
The graduation program serves as a source of research for teachers on how to improve student performances. Research meetings are held in which teachers view and study the graduation concert videos as well as videos of students preparing for graduation.
Each recorded performance will be evaluated for:
- Ability to "get ready" above the keys with good body balance and posture, and maintain it throughout the piece
- Memorization including correct notes and rhythmic accuracy
- Ability to produce good tone with flexible fingertips
- Ability to express the music through phrase shape and dynamics
- Ability to balance singing melody with quiet accompaniment
- Ability to stay on the rhythm and express the meter of the pieces at an appropriate tempo
If you have any questions about the Graduation Program please contact the current AASPA Graduation Director.