Piano students play in recital

VERNON — Piano students of Cherwyn Ambuter of Vernon presented their annual Christmas recital on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Calvary Baptist Church in Warwick, N.Y.

Each student performed 2-4 solos each, including Christmas songs, classical music, and music from video games.

Kelsey C. and Olivia Becker were beginners who were such hard workers that they were able to offer performances just a few months after beginning lessons. Pictured are: Kristen I., Kayla Cruz, Catarina Cruz, Isabella Cruz, Paul Riggio, Kelsey C., Mrs. Ambuter, and Olivia Becker.

Several duets were performed, as well as "O Come All Ye Faithful" with accompaniment by Catarina Cruz on the clarinet and Isabella Cruz on the piano. Paul Riggio, in addition to his piano lesson piece, performed two very complex video game pieces of music which he had learned to play completely by ear.

Mrs. Ambuter played the first movement of Beethoven's "Waldstein" sonata, Op. 53, for the assembled guests, preceding it with brief introduction to the group concerning the architecture of the piece (sonata form) and what musical themes to listen for. Beethoven innovated in this sonata movement by creating a considerably longer coda than tradition had thus far permitted.

Following the recital, students were invited over to the organ to have a chance to play it briefly and explore the stops and pedals under Ambuter's guidance. The organ is very different than the piano, as it has a pedalboard with 32 pedals arranged in the same fashion as a piano keyboard, but for the feet to play. This organ also has 3 manuals (keyboards), and the students learned about the "stops" which enable the organ to play with varying timbres. An organ also differs from a piano in that the volume may not be controlled by the fingers, but rather, by the volume pedal and the combinations of stops. So, the fingers cannot shape a phrase on the organ as they can on the piano. An organist makes much more use of articulation to add a sense of "shape" to the phrase. Exploring the organ was a valuable educational experience for the students.

The studio was grateful to CBC for hosting the recital.

Recitals in Ambuter's studio are optional but encouraged. Not all students participated; but piano can be also just for one's own enjoyment.

Anyone interested in piano or sight-singing studies, may contact Ambuter at (973) 862-0668 and is invited to explore the studio's website at www.cherwynambuter.com.