This letter was originally printed in the May 4th, 2024 program booklet from our Group & Awards Recital
Greetings friends, family, and members of the community,
Welcome to our year-end concert! Today we celebrate our newest students as they complete their first year of lessons. We also celebrate the hard work of our older students, whose musical gifts have been years in the making. This is no small feat when video games, TikTok, and other apps are vying for their attention. Our students have developed musical ability through their dedication, diligence, and perseverance, which is a reason to celebrate, indeed!
At the end of our concert, students of all ages will come together to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” We are all familiar with the words, but did you know there are actually five verses in the song? Here are verses two and three:
When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the trav’ller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
(From “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” a 19th-century English poem by Jane Taylor)
As it turns out, “Twinkle” is not just a simple nursery rhyme. It’s a profound thanksgiving for the star’s guiding light! And though we don’t know exactly what the star is, we take comfort in knowing it will come back again and again in the darkest of times.
I often wonder if Dr. Suzuki knew about this when he based his life’s work on this song. Like the poet’s gratitude for the star, I am grateful for this song’s guidance in my own life. When I’m feeling lost and unsure of how to help a student, I listen to their “Twinkle,” and I know exactly what to do. Twinkle is the first song we learn, and the song we play again and again, well into Book 10 and beyond, to improve our musical skills.
When I became Executive Director in 2016, I had no experience running a business. To make a musical analogy, nothing about my job was “review.” I often didn’t know what I was doing, and it was a struggle. But with each passing season, the students improved, the teachers got better, and the school got stronger. Thanks to my musical training, I knew how to improve. I also knew the importance of having a vision for excellence. I’ve found three other teachers who shared this same vision, and together they have elevated the school to the level I had always hoped and dreamed.
I never sought to be the leader of FSA. I just knew I had to carry the torch for a while until our real leader arrived. This past year, the faculty have all stepped up to the plate and have shown that they are indeed the real leaders of FSA. Each one brings their own unique gifts and experiences to form what I call the “FSA Dream Team.” I’m thrilled to announce that Annalise Ohse will be our new Executive Director. She is a passionate, kind, and a fantastic spokesperson for the Suzuki movement. She will have the support of Heather Harris, who will be our new Chief Operating Officer, and Sarah Mitchell, who will remain as our Program Director.
I know in my heart that FSA will thrive for many more years because we have created a culture of growth and excellence. And though I will no longer be steering the ship, I will still be here teaching, learning, and continuing to improve. It has been my life’s greatest honor to steward this organization for all of you. I have learned so much, and I am extremely grateful.
Thank you for teaching me.
Andra Prewett
