Christmas Suzuki Violin Concert at the Ballentine, Norfolk VA 2003

Here's Benny before the show started. He was
feeling extremely gregarious and struck up many
conversations with the retirees at the Ballentine as they
came into the room and set up for the performance.

Here he is checking out the Christmas lights on the patio.
This was a new jacket for the weekend's festivities, which
he promptly ripped a big V in while leaping away from
the surprising flush of a "loud potty" at the Ballentine. Ah well.

In front of a handy Christmas tree.

Here's Benny in the prep room getting ready to go do his thing.
There were five "pre-twinklers" as well as nine or ten older
children who could play other songs in Book I. Cheers to Mrs.
Ford and Mrs. Bowcutt for getting them all organized.

Filing into the room where they'll do their performance.
All eyes on Mrs. Ford in the purple shirt, and Mrs. Bowcutt
in the red shirt is directing traffic.

Here they are in rest position after playing "Tuka Tuka Stop Stop"
or as you may know it "Twinkle Variation A."

It is the practice in Suzuki recitals that if you don't know the
song you sit down and politely listen while the children play who
do know the song. All the pre-twinklers did a good job sitting
quietly to listen to the older children. When I say "good job" I mean
nobody got up and hollered anything, and only one kid pulled
his shirt over his head.

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is the theme song of Suzuki violin
and the first song the children learn to play. During "Twinkle"
the pre-twinklers had gold stars on sticks that they waved around
in time with the music.

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