Is the Concert the most important part?

Reflections on the November 2025 Group Classes Concert

One of the greatest joys of teaching is witnessing how the same experience can be lived so differently by each student. Our Group Classes Concert in November 2025 was a beautiful reminder of this truth. While everyone shared the same stage, the same music, and the same sense of occasion, each student arrived with a unique story, set of challenges, and personal triumphs.

For some students, the concert represented courage—the bravery of walking onstage for the very first time, bow in hand, heart pounding, and choosing to play anyway. For others, it was a moment of affirmation: I can do this. I belong here. Younger students felt the excitement of performing alongside friends, learning how to listen, watch, and contribute as part of a group. More advanced students demonstrated growing independence and leadership, quietly modeling focus and perseverance for those who are just beginning their musical journeys.

It is also important to acknowledge the students who made the thoughtful—and sometimes difficult—decision not to participate this time. Conflicting obligations, academic pressures, family events, health, or emotional readiness are all very real considerations. Learning when to say yes and when to say not right now is a skill that takes maturity and discernment. Making such choices without guilt—while still feeling connected and supported—is an essential life lesson, one that extends far beyond music.

In a culture that often encourages doing everything, all the time, we want our students to develop healthy decision-making. Participation is valuable, but so is balance. Growth happens not only when we step onto the stage, but also when we learn to listen to ourselves and make choices that honor our whole selves.

This is why concert participation is NEVER a requirement at PMA. The experience in the classroom can be far more important and valuable than the scheduled performance. Group classes and concerts are about much more than performance. They build community, cultivate cooperation, and remind us that progress is not linear or identical for everyone. Each student’s musical path unfolds at its own pace, shaped by individual strengths, circumstances, and seasons of life.

I am deeply proud of all our students—for their effort, their honesty, and their willingness to engage thoughtfully with their musical lives. In the spirit of the Suzuki philosophy, we honor the belief that every child can, and that growth happens through encouragement, environment, and shared experience. It is a privilege to walk alongside them as they grow not only as musicians, but as confident, discerning individuals.

PMA faculty performing for the students and families. Lauretta Werner Merriman, Spencer Stover, Jennifer Madge, & Becky Keeley.

Group classes and concerts remain a cornerstone of our Suzuki-inspired community. I invite students and families to join us in future group classes and performances, where shared music-making nurtures listening, cooperation, confidence, and joy. These collective experiences strengthen not only individual skills, but also the sense of belonging that supports long-term musical and human growth. I look forward to welcoming both returning and new participants as we continue learning together, one phrase, one performance, and one encouraging step at a time!

You can view the concert program here.