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GRADUATION RECORDINGS will be evaluated based on:

  • TONE (bow speed, weight & length of bow)
  • INTONATION (resonance tones, intensity of vibrato)
  • RHYTHM (steady beat, accuracy)
  • TECHNIQUE (shifting, left hand facility, bowing, string crossing)
  • MUSICAL INTERPRETATION (tempo, dynamics, style)
  • ADDITIONAL HELPFUL COMMENTS

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • Registration includes your recording link and payment and closes January 31, 2025. 
  • Recordings will be accepted only as a YouTube/Google link within your registration form.
  • Record with live accompaniment or with an accompaniment CD. Test for pitch and balance. The violin duet from Fun for Two Violins by Marianne Rygner may be used for the following violin pieces: Gavotte by Gossec, Concerto in A minor 1st mvmt by Vivaldi and Concerto in G minor 1st mvmt by Vivaldi. 
  • La Folia and beyond must be played with piano accompaniment or with an accompaniment CD. Test for pitch and balance.
  • Prepare recordings in advance to avoid technical issues. If a recording cannot be completed in time due to technical errors or illness, prepare the recording to be submitted next year.

2026 Graduation Concert    October 3, 2026

Cello: 1:00 (arrive to tune 12:30) 

Violin: 3:30pm (arrive to tune 3:00)

Oakland Inter-stake Center 
4780 Lincoln Ave, Oakland

All are welcome

The Suzuki Music Association of California sponsors an annual Graduation Program for SANC to honor our students as they accomplish certain milestones in the Suzuki literature.  The Graduation Program is designed after that which Dr. Suzuki established for students in Japan.

Our procedure (outlined below) includes preparing your graduation recording(s), registering for the event, and participating in the Graduation Concert. This is a rewarding experience and a fine accomplishment!

The Graduation Program is open to all students of SMAC- SANC Teacher Members for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Guitar. Please consult with your child’s teacher to see if they recommend this activity at this point in the child’s development.

Click for more information: Parent Invitation Letter.

Fees per recording submitted:
Levels I-IV: $55

Levels V+: $60

Registration 

Registration must be completed by the parent. Graduation recording links must be provided in the registration form (YouTube public or unlisted only)

Open to students of SMAC members only.


Recording Procedure

  • Download the YouTube app on the device to be used for the video recording (no audio only).
  • Open the app and follow the instructions to record.
  • Preface recording with: 

     Hello, my name is ____________ and I am ____ years

             old.

      I am playing a size ______ violin/viola/guitar/cello.

      My graduation piece is _____________.

              and my current piece is _________.

       My teacher is _____________ 

       Thank you for listening.

  • When done, click the “+” sign to automatically upload the recording.
  • Make note of the link as you will need to enter it on the registration form.
  • Provide your teacher with the recording link as they must approve of the recording in order to register for graduation.
  • If the student wants to submit more than one level recording, the registration form will allow for up to three.  Additional fees apply for 2nd and 3rd recordings. 

Registration closes August 31, 2026

2026 Graduation Information for TEACHERS available here.

Suzuki Association of Northern California Graduation Process

Step 1: Preparation

Working with their teachers, students who have polished pieces perform them on a recording with live or recorded accompaniment. Parents register their students, pay fees, and submit recordings via the online registration form. 

Step 2: Evaluation

Teachers evaluate submitted recordings.

Step 3: Performance

Students perform, together with graduates at the same level, in the Celebration Concert.

Step 4: Results

Students receive a Certificate and Commemorative Pin with their evaluation results.

Student Graduation Pieces and Guidelines

In order to achieve the high level of polish desired for graduation, students record graduation pieces well after they are initially learned.  This supports the Suzuki principle that the repertoire is the foundation of musical development.  Each instrument has 10 graduation levels, listed below.  For violins, the "Must have Polished" pieces is a suggestion of where a student should be in the literature before submitting each graduation recording.  For example, a Level I violin applicate should have Minuet by Boccherini polished when they submit a recording for Gavotte by Gossec.

Violin

 Level   Graduation Piece, Metronome marking  Must have Polished
 I
  Gavotte by Gossec, 116-120  Minuet by Boccherini
 II  Bourree by J.S. Bach, 76  Concerto in A minor 1st movement by Vivaldi
 III  Concerto in A minor 1st movement by Vivaldi, 80-92  Concerto in G minor 1st movement by Vivaldi
 IV  Concerto in G minor 1st movement by Vivaldi, 80-92  La Folia
 V  La Folia, 66 Theme, 12 Variation  Concerto in A minor 1st movement by J.S. Bach
 VI  Concerto in A minor 1st movement by J.S. Bach, 88  Sonata by Eccles, 2nd Movement
 VII  Concerto in D Major, 1st Movement by Mozart, 120-144  Complete Concerto in D Major By Mozart
 VIII  Rondo by Mozart/Kreisler and Sicilienne by Paradis  Teacher's discretion
 IX  Complete Concerto in C Major, OP 48, by Kabalevsky (Only mvmt 1 will be performed.)  Teacher's discretion
 X  Complete Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn (Only one mvmt will be performed.) Complete Concerto in E minor by Mendelssohn 

Cello

 Level  Graduation Piece
 I
  Minuet #2 by J.S. Bach
 II  Minuet in G Major by Beethoven
 III  Sonata #5 1st and 2nd movement by Vivaldi
 IV  Sonata 1st and 2nd movements by Eccles
 V  Sonata, by Samartini
 VI  Concerto in B Major by Boccherini/Grutzmacher

Viola

 Level   Graduation Piece  Must have Polished
 I
  Gavotte by Gossec  Minuet by Boccherini
 II  Bourree by J.S. Bach  Concerto in D minor 1st movement by Vivaldi
 III  Concerto in G Major 4th movement by Telemann  Four Dances by Marais
 IV  Concerto No. 3 1st movement by Seitz, arr by W. Preucil  Hungarian Dances by Brahams
 V  Concerto in C minor, 2nd mvmt, by Bach/Casadesus Teacher discretion
 VI  Concerto in B minor, 2nd mvmt, by Handel/Casadesus Teacher discretion

Guitar

 Level  Graduation Piece
 I
 Meadow Minuet by Longay
 II  Waltz by Calatayud
 III  Celeste y Blanco by Ayala
 IV  Variations on La Folia by Vivaldi
 V  Allegro Vivace, by Giuliani
 VI  Bourree, by Bach
VII  Sounds of Bells, by Pernambuco
VIII  Prelude, by Bach
 IX  Asturias, by Albeniz

Questions?

Contact Nora Grafton, Graduation coordinator: graduation@suzukinorcal.org

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