The students of Gail's Music Studio (GMS) held their spring recital at Community Presbyterian Church, in Pinehurst, Saturday, May 15.

Gail Summers, the owner and teacher of the studio located on May Street in Southern Pines, has been teaching piano and voice for more than 35 years.

This year's recital focused on "world music," following the unit study theme of the past nine months. Refreshments served afterward followed the same venue with Mexican, Polynesian, tropical island, French and German foods.

Max Epstein, 4, son of Mark and Jules Epstein, of Aberdeen, started piano in the "Little Maestro" program 18 months ago and recently moved to regular lessons. He played several duets with Summers, focusing on "Middle C." He performed "Let's Play" for the right hand and the left hand as whole notes, "Grandfather's Clock," using combined hands and half notes and "Moccasin Dance" for combined hands using quarter notes.

Joseph Brecher, 6, son of Joe and Dalija Brecher, of Carthage, began lessons six weeks prior to the recital and played "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Jack Williams, 8, son of Jamie and Rebecca Williams, of Pinebluff, performed "Up and Down" by Aaron and "Sandman's Near" by Thompson after only three weeks of lessons.

The following recital students were also participants in the National Piano-Playing Auditions, sponsored by the National Guild of Piano Teachers recently held at Sandhills Community College. One guild participant unable to attend the recital was Peter Anderson, 8, son of Peter and Kelly Anderson, of Southern Pines. His sister, Julia, 7, performed "Pony" by Fletcher and "Lazy Mary" by Thompson.

Four children of Oscar and Barbara Gualteros, of Pinehurst, have had lessons for nine months. They all won prizes for the most complete unit study book. Claire, 7, did "Chimes" by Thompson and an arrangement of "Can Can" by Offenbach. Grace, 10, performed "Ponies" and "Kanga Rooser," both by Schaum, in addition to "Faraway Drums" by Olson. Mary Catherine, 12, played "Riding on a Mule" by Schaum and "Echoes of Egypt" by Olson. Daniel, 13, did "Chipmunks" by Schaum and "Arabian Dance" by Miller.

Rachel Stewart, 17, daughter of Mark and Sandy Stewart, of West End, played arrangements of "Hush Little Baby," "Santa Lucia" by Cottrau and Beethoven's "Sonata Pathetique" after only three months of lessons. She received a perfect score on her report card for the National Guild Auditions. This was the first recital for all of the students previously listed.

Reagan Adams, 7, daughter of Chandler and Kelley Adams, of Pinehurst, has taken piano for two years and played "Dutch Dance" by Revezoulis and the traditional hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy." Wayne and Heidi Etowski's three children have taken lessons for two years with Monica, 6, starting out in the "Little Maestro" program. Unfortunately, she broke her arm recently and had to relearn parts of her pieces, but did very well playing an arrangement of "Turkish March" by Beethoven and "I Know the Way" by Rita. Megan, 9, performed "Squirrels in a Tree" by Rita and "Ave Maria" by Schubert. Mary, 11, did "Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Swinging" by Rita.

Hope DeSpain, 8, daughter of Craig and Claire DeSpain, of Pinebluff, also started out in the "Little Maestro" program but has been taking regular lessons for over a year. She performed "In a Rickshaw" by Thompson, the traditional "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "C is for Cookie" by Raposo. Her brother, Noah, 9, has been playing for two years and did "Apple Tree" by Skerritt, and two hymns, "Amazing Grace" and "I've Got the Joy," which have been done as specials in their church. Adrienne Streahle, 14, daughter of Michael and Kani Streahle, of Pinehurst, has had lessons one year and performed "Star Gazing" by Schaum and "Autumn Colors" by Miller.

Rebecca Evans, 13, daughter of Doug and Jean Evans, of Pinehurst, has been with Summers the longest at five years. She performed two hymns, "Change My Heart, O God" and "My Tribute - To God Be the Glory," doing a second verse as her own arrangement. She also did "Autumn's Palette" by Cento, "Strolling in Paris" by Aaronson and two classical pieces from Bizet's opera, "Carmen," "Habanera" and "Gypsy Dance."

Summers presented each of the students with pins, new music bags, T-shirts and water bottles.

Two students receiving special award trophies were Monica Etowski for Most Improved and Reagan Adams for Musicianmanship.

In addition to teaching piano and voice, Summers has developed the "Little Maestro Program" for children ages 2-4 (as long as they can count to four), which teaches the basic concepts of music.

She also teaches music appreciation to families that home school and has "music and movement" classes for children under the age of 2. Her piano and voice lessons incorporate theory, study of composers and a unit study of various music topics each year.

The 2010-2011 year unit study will be on America's music. GMS offers year-round lessons with a flex program through the summer months. The studio is set up with computer, audio and video stations, along with a variety of games to help make learning not only educational but also fun.

Contact Gail's Music Studio at (910) 783-8863 for information.