Arizona Study Program

Some info about the program:

(The Arizona Study Program (ASP) was started in 1958 to provide a consecutive and comprehensive plan of music study designed to motivate and encourage the student to strive for growth and excellence. The Arizona Study Program is a 12-year graded course of study developed by ASMTA to provide for the development of musical Performance, Theory and Technique. It is organized in terms of the twelve years of public school, with one level for each of the years a student would be enrolled in school. It requires continual work throughout the year and is evaluated each spring by a master adjudicator and a written theory test.)

Whitney had been working on the Arizona Study Program with her piano teacher for some time now. She had to memorize four pieces of music to be judged on.  A few months ago she complained that she was tired of only playing classical music and working on the same songs for so long, that piano just wasn't as fun anymore.  We talked about it and discussed what kind of goals she wanted to make for herself. Whether she wanted to be the best pianist she could be or just have fun.  We talked about the parable of the talents. I told her that she needed to finish out the school year and then we would decide whether or not to stay with Linda or go back to her more laid back teacher.  

May 7th was the big day and we headed down to the University of Arizona campus.  It is just the student and the judge in a room together.  Which somehow seems more nerve wracking than an audience to me! The other downside was that you don't get your results until a few weeks later.  Whitney's teacher didn't tell Whitney this until after the competition but Whitney had one of the harshest and most critical judges.  When I picked her up from her lesson yesterday she was grinning ear to ear and holding her purple ribbon.  Her level was 3A and she earned the highest award, Superior with Honors!  She was pretty excited and proud of herself.  Later I asked her if she thought she would like to stay with Linda.  Her answer was a resounding, YES!  Whitney is all about recognition. Give her an incentive and she is all over it.  I pointed out to her that all her hard work was paying off and now she was reaping the fruit of her labors.  I think/hope she learned a valuable life lesson.  And to me that is the best purple ribbon of all! 

I told her I wanted a smile with teeth and this the smile I got...BIG AND CHEESY!  Be careful what you ask for my friends. ;)

The songs she played:

Minuet in G Minor BWV 115  composer J.S. Bach

Sonatina Op. 55, No. 1 composer Kuhlau

Arabesque composer Burgmuller

Clowns Op. 39, No. 20 composer Kabelevsky