Music students from throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties performed during the Florida State Music Teachers Association District VI Student Day Honors Recital at the University of Miami’s Clarke Recital Hall on Sunday, Apr. 18.
This achievement resulted from an intensive evaluation conducted at the University’s Frost School of Music the week before. More than 150 students were tested in three main areas — performance audition, written and aural theory.
Levels of difficulty range from Primary through college preparatory Level 12. Over 105 piano and voice students received both Keyboard Skills and Performance Honors in their auditions making them eligible to perform at Honors Recital.
Students receiving a sight-reading bonus point on their performance evaluation score were able to compete for a special award. Winners David Antonevich, a first grade student at Coral Gables Elementary, and Jonathan Lau, a fourth grade student at Ludlam Elementary in South Miami, won respectively in Category 1 (Grades 1 and 2) and Category 2 (Grades 3 to 5). Sight-reading in music is an ability that is highly valued in the field of music education and requires a student to read and play music “at first sight.”
“I am so pleased that teachers are making their students aware that sight-reading can be approached as a skill on a par with technical skills like scales and arpeggios,” said Zelda Jensen, District VI Student Day chair. “It helps towards making them more self sufficient as pianists. They should be better equipped to tackle any music score whenever the demand arises, whether in their high school band or in college, and without aid from teacher or iPod.” Jonathan Lau has been studying with Deborah Sanchez for two years. He admires his older brother who also plays piano and says, “Music makes me happy.”
David Antonevich has been studying for three and a half years with Neusa Kervel. Practicing piano is a serious endeavor for David, his twin brother, Leo, and older sister, Sarah. Their dedication is clearly demonstrated in each of their performances.
Florida State Music Teachers Association is an organization with members professionally engaged in the teaching of music in Florida. For more information on District VI Miami MTA, visit < www.miamimta.org >.
