The PianoWorks ballroom in Duluth transformed into a parade of performers on Saturday, Jul 18. Students from Studio! played classical piano pieces at the school’s first recital. The Seshadri brothers, Archith and Ashwin, founded Studio! in April, 2007 to train students in western classical music and theory. The school has an enrollment of 25 students focusing on the Alfred and Yamaha teaching methods with adaptations from the Associate Boards of Royal Schools of Music (London) and Australian Music Examination Board. Studio students learn read and write music and how to play scales, chords and songs. At Studio, students study supplemental theory including dynamics, sightreading, ear training so they have the correct techniques to play repertoire pieces. Through periodic projects, examinations, and community performances, students become trained in all aspects of music.
At the recital, the kids played an eclectic variety of pieces including popular nursery rhymes like Old Macdonald and Row Row, Row Your Boat. Others performed Christmas songs like Jingle Bells while some kept to classical favorites like Beethoven’s, Ode to Joy. Geet Bhargava played the Indian National Anthem and For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow. Two of the students, Rhea Sridhar and Gautam Ajay put their creative talents to test as they composed their own scores of music. Samhitha Dasari played Long Long Ago and Bald Gras Ich Am Neckar. Her sister, Srihitha, one of the school’s youngest and newest members, played Joyful Bells and Ode to Joy. Studio’s first student, Hrudey Venkataraman played Vogel Hochzeit and Good Morning. Manasi Nair displayed her talent with Oh Suzanna and Going Home. Ananya Terala gracefully performed Banks of the Ohio and Good Morning, while Aman Garlapati played Oh Du Lieber Augustin and Going Home. After a Summer trip to India, Aditi Madhusudan wanted to tickle the ivories with Banks of the Ohio and Tic Tac Toe. Yasaswini Potturi played Jingle Bells and Hansel and Gretel while her brother, Akhil, performed Ode to Joy and Row Row Row Your Boat.
“Teaching and training our students at Studio! is extremely rewarding. We can transform lives, give them a sense of appreciation for the arts and help them aspire to dream big. It is a true honor to nurture them and to see their dedication, their passion and their commitment to music. Students who take music do well socially and academically. Our kids have won competitions and talent shows! Ashwin and I feel blessed to guide them through this journey,” said Archith Seshadri. “It’s good for parents to see what levels their children have reached and also for the kids to see their efforts. It feels good as teacher for your students to do well. It’s fun to teach students because kids are so much fun to work with,” said Ashwin Seshadri.
For a majority of the students, the recital provided an opportunity to perform on stage for the first time, with a moment of triumph for the parents, students and teachers. Their hard work and dedication for classical music manifested itself at the recital where several music enthusiasts appreciated the level of talent from a group of elementary students. The recital ended with each student receiving a trophy and a group picture to commemorate their accomplishments.
If you want to be a part of Studio! you can email Archith Seshadri at sesh1175@gmail.com or call 404.374.4251.
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