Stevens Point to celebrate ‘Aber Suzuki Center Day’
Metro Wire Staff
Students at the Aber Suzuki Center (ASC) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will be celebrated this Saturday.
Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza has proclaimed June 6 as “Aber Suzuki Center Day.”
The event marks a major achievement by students enrolled at the center, who recently participated in a10-day Practice-a-thon fundraiser, logging more than 58,000 minutes of instrument practice. Minutes of practice were sponsored, either by a pledge-per-minute or a flat donation. The students raised more than $8,000.
Aber Suzuki Center Day will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the Noel Fine Arts Center’s Michelsen Hall with a presentation of the proclamation by Wiza to Ann Marie Novak, director of Suzuki programs, and Mary Hofer, ASC coordinator.
At 11 a.m., Suzuki students will join in playing and singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” over a Zoom link. “Twinkle” is the first piece learned by every Suzuki student and is traditionally performed at every Suzuki Festival Concert.
All musicians in Stevens Point, including members of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, UW-Stevens Point music faculty, and students, professional and amateur musicians who sing or play an instrument are invited to step outside or open their windows and join in playing “Twinkle” at 11 a.m., then play or sing any music piece to show musical solidarity to the community during COVID-19.
“We may not be able to play together physically, but we most certainly can play together in our hearts,” said Novak. “We are hoping to provide a ‘concert’ in the largest venue possible – everywhere! Wherever you live in Stevens Point, you should be able to step outside and hear someone making music.”
As part of the Practice-a-thon fundraiser, Novak challenged Wiza, UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Bernie Patterson, College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean Valerie Cisler and former American Suzuki Institute Coordinator Jenny Burton to match her gift of $1 per student who practiced more than 200 minutes. All four accepted the challenge and raised more than $1,000.
The ASC is a nonprofit program housed at UW-Stevens Point. It offers lessons in the bass, cello, flute, guitar, harp, piano, viola, violin, and voice, as well as Suzuki Early Childhood Education classes for children, age birth-4 years, and their parents.
The Suzuki Method is based on a language learning model created by Shinichi Suzuki in which students learn first by ear, imitation, and repetition, and later learn to read and write music. Children and adults also develop poise, perseverance, sensitivity, and pride in their accomplishments. Faculty at the center are highly trained musicians, most with advanced degrees.
While the center is at the university, it does not receive state funding. The Practice-a-Thon is a primary fundraiser for the program. This year’s 50th anniversary of the American Suzuki Institute has been canceled due to COVID-19, causing an increased need for funding.
To donate, please visit the American Suzuki Foundation. All proceeds will go to the Aber Suzuki Center.