CONTRIBUTED

Gail's Music Studio took a "walk" down each of the musical eras during the spring recital held Saturday, May 16, at Cornerstone Baptist Church.

"It is the goal of Gail's Music Studio, located on May Street in Southern Pines, to introduce the students and their families to different instruments, composers and styles of music," says Gail Summers, owner and instructor.

The Unit Study that Summers teaches along with the regular piano lessons briefly touched on some of the composers from those eras and a few of their important works. In addition, each student chose a different composer and did a poster board project, which was displayed at the recital so that those in attendance could also "walk" through the eras. The students' recital pieces were chosen from their composers as well, if possible. There was a reception following in the fellowship hall of the church.

This was the first recital for Adrienne Streahle, 13, daughter of Michael and Kani Streahle, of Pinehurst. She has been with Summers a little over four months and played arrangements of "Russian Dance," and "Symphony," both by Tchaikovsky.

Ramey Wilson and his son, Tyler, 7, performed a duet of "You Lucky Ducks Rag." Ramey Wilson also played "Symphony No. 1" by Brahms, and Tyler did a solo of "Bells are Ringing," an adaptation of Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony." Both are from Southern Pines. Each has been with GMS over a year and received a one-year bag to honor that milestone.

Summers developed a program for children as young as two years old -- if the child can sit for 15 minutes and count to four. It teaches music concepts and is a stepping stone to traditional piano lessons.

The "Little Maestro Program" was used with Monica Etowski, 5, for about nine months, and she has been in regular piano lessons approximately six months. She played a version of "La Ci Darem la Mano" from Mozart's opera, "Don Giovanni."

Her sisters, Megan, 8, and Mary, 10, have been with GMS almost 18 months. They played arrangements of "The Surprise Symphony," by Haydn and the second movement from Beethoven's "Sonata Pathetique," respectively. They are the daughters of Wayne and Heidi Etowski, of Whispering Pines. All three received their one-year bag.

Also receiving bags were: Reagan Adams, 7, daughter of Chandler and Lisa Adams, of Pinehurst who played "The Sweetheart Tree" by Henry Mancini; Matthew Rock, 17, son of Thomas Rock, and grandson of Dorothy Rock, of Southern Pines, who performed a duet on his trumpet, along with Summers on the piano, of "Panis Angelicus," by Caesar Franck, then played the piano doing "Waltz" by Brahms, "Minuet" by J.S. Bach, and "Le Petit Negre'" by Debussy; and Jasmine Henderson, 15, daughter of Robert and Johnna McDaniel, of Aberdeen, played both "Autumn" and "Spring" by Vivaldi along with an arrangement of the standard hymn, "He Lives."

In addition to her one-year bag, she was awarded a trophy for all around musicianship.

Her brother, Glenn McDaniel, 9, played Felix Mendelssohn's "Spring" and the hymn, "Yield Not to Temptation." He was given a new music bag for being with GMS for two years. Also receiving two-year bags were Noah Welborn, 8 , son of Wayne and Melissa Welborn, of Pinehurst, who played a rendition of Edvard Grieg's "Piano Concerto." Katelynn Pace, 15 , daughter of Sharon Castelli and Chris Castelli, of Southern Pines, performed "The Fox-Hunt" by John Thompson, "Scheherazade" by Rimsky-Korsakov and sang "White Horse." In addition to her two-year anniversary bag, Pace was awarded the trophy for Most Improved and will be training as Summers' teaching assistant for the 2009-2010 year.

Three-year honors were given to Rebecca Evans, 12, daughter of Doug and Jean Evans, of Pinehurst. She performed two Soulima Stravinsky pieces, "Papa ist da" and "Dreirad," along with "Can-Can" by Offenbach and a modern arrangement of the hymn "Let There Be Love." Also receiving three-year honors was Clara Poppele, 11 , daughter of Scott and Karen Poppele, of Southern Pines, who played an audience participation version of "The Addams Family" along with "Melody," by Robert Schuann.

Twelve out of 14 students of the studio participated in the Piano-Playing Auditions sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers. Each received certificates and bronze pins during the awards ceremony. All participants received a majority of "commendable" marks on their report cards for their performances. Each of the GMS students received lanyards to display the pins they have received for participating in the recitals and Guild auditions.

The summer program begins June 15 and allows flexibility in lesson options for days and times.

For information about the studio, call (910) 783-8863.