Last March, my piano studio performed the full arrangement of the Carnival of the Animals by Camielle Saint-Saëns for one piano and fourhands. My studio consists of 21 students (notincluding any adult students) ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old. The performance also featured three guest musicians, a cellist, another pianist, and a flutist. Paired into duet partners, all students performed the 14 movements of Saint-Saëns at the Historic Thomas Center in Gainesville, Florida on Friday, March 29, 2024.

This was a very collaborative and creative project. Students wrote a short story for the movement they were performing which was narrated throughout the performance by one of the high school students. The concert poster and flyers were designed by a couple of the students (6-and 8-year-old) who painted a beautiful scene of the animals. The high school students even took the initiative to turn this performance into a charity concert by collecting donations that they personally delivered to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo.

While we held several rehearsals during group lessons, it wasn’t until the dress rehearsal the week before the concert that the students all came together to experience the entire piece played through at my studio. It was so fun to watch the students realize what they have accomplished!

The performance was a great success and we had an amazing crowd. The students were even invited to perform for the Oak Hammock Retirement Community at the University of Florida on Monday, June 3, 2024.

Through this project, the students learned that piano playing is not just about winning competitions. They studied the life of a composer from a different country, culture and time. They practiced their creative writing and public speaking skills. They experienced the power of music in fulfilling the community’s lives. I couldn’t be more proud that they even came up with the idea to support a local zoo!

As a teacher, it was a true gift to uncover the countless talents that students held outside of piano playing, like painting, storytelling, public speaking, charity and much more. It was truly a bonding experience for all of us.