STEP's mission combines high-quality music instruction, accessible to all, with community outreach.
The Suzuki Talent Education Partnership (STEP) is an interfaith music ministry at South Congregational Church that follows the family-centered principles and teachings of renowned Japanese music educator Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, while serving urban and suburban students in Greater Springfield and Northern CT. Although we are hosted by South Church, we are an interfaith organization, welcoming all who come in peace and love music!
12/09/2025
I love this video of teen-aged Hilary Hahn on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood:
Hilary Hahn on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood I couldn't find this on YouTube, so I thought I would upload it myself. I obviously don't own the rights to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. This is episode 1755...
Loved playing Gwyneth Walker's "There is Time" with Larry Picard!
What a wonderful spring concert we had last Saturday at the United Methodist Church of Enfield! Diversity is a blessing - in music and in people!
03/22/2025
What an inspiring story! Thank you, CBS, for fighting back against Trump's destructive actions.
What musicians did after an executive order on DEI led to the cancellation of U.S. Marine Band collaboration After an executive order ending DEI initiatives, the U.S. Marine Band canceled a concert featuring young musicians of color. Veterans stepped in to mentor the aspiring musicians.
08/07/2024
This is an amazing historical video of Prokofiev playing the themes from Peter & the Wolf for Walt Disney:
Walt Disney & Prokofiev about "Peter and the wolf" Walt Disney & Prokofiev about "Peter and the wolf"
Joplin's The Entertainer conducted by Kevin Sharpe opened the second half of STEP's May 11 Suzuki String Serenade. The students really enjoyed this piece; so did the audience!
Grateful for all the hard work of students and parents who made our May Suzuki String Serenade such a success!!! Here are some excerpts from our multi-faceted concert:
Tomorrow night's the big night!
The Suzuki Talent Education Partnership
presents its 34th Annual Suzuki String Serenade
May 11, 2024
6:15 p.m. Twinkle prelude
Concert at 6:30 p.m.
Mozart Canon Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791)
Air and Gavottes in D Johann Sebastian Bach
from Orchestral Suite #3 (1685-1750)
Minuet in G Ludwig van Beethoven
(1770-1827)
Theme from Two Grenadiers Robert Schumann
(1810-1856)
Gavotte François Gossec
(1734-1829)
Minuet Anonymous
from Anna Magdalena Bach’s 1725 notebook
STEP Suzuki Strings
Tango Michael McLean
STEP quartet: Arjana Kunanele and Brandon Xu, violins
Govinda Kunanele, viola, Mason Xu, piano
The following STEP Soloists were chosen by audition.
Minuet J.S. Bach
Lalitha Iyer, violin
Musette J.S. Bach
Kadence Sharpe, violin
Here’s One Negro Spiritual arr. William Grant Still
(1895-1978)
Gamin from the Suite for Violin and piano W.G. Still
Lani Bortfeld, violin and Sarah Ehle, piano
Interval
The Entertainer Scott Joplin
(1867-1917)
Chispa Candela Colombian Folk Song
Andantino Shinichi Suzuki
(1898-1998)
Song of The Wind German Folk Song
French Folk Song
La Bamba Son Huasteco
02/11/2024
I had the privilege of playing under him as an undergrad at NE Conservatory when he guest-conducted the NEC Symphony in the last movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. He had such intensity and precision of movement at the same time - no extraneous movement, his whole being totally immersed in the music.
A Tribute to Seiji Ozawa With great sorrow, the Boston Symphony Orchestra announces the death of its beloved Music Director Laureate, Seiji Ozawa.
| Tuesday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Wednesday | 2pm - 8pm |
| Thursday | 2pm - 5pm |