Source: NorthFulton.com
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Studio! students celebrate 5-year ‘Musical Journey’ in Alpharetta
Music school holds anniversary recital

by Jonathan Copsey

December 03, 2012

Students of Studio! Music Academy performed in a special five-year anniversary recital performing both Indian and Western songs.
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The end of October is usually filled with pumpkins, candy and Halloween decorations. But instead of picking scary costumes, students at Studio! Music Academy in Alpharetta picked songs to perform for the school's five-year anniversary recital. Students at Studio! learn classical piano, voice and Bollywood piano. This year's theme, "A Musical Journey," showcased three segments: classical compositions, voices and vibes and Bollywood to Hollywood. More than 100 music enthusiasts graced the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Alpharetta on Sunday, Oct. 28 for the piano and voice recital.

Founder and Director Archith Seshadri and piano teacher and Assistant Director Ashwin Seshadri emceed the program. The afternoon began with a rendition of the Indian and American national anthems on the piano. Each student performed a classical piano repertoire ranging from Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" to Burgmuller's "Arabesque." Other popular classics included Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer," "Oh Suzannah," "Auld Lang Syne" and "Vande Matram." Some students even composed their own songs for this section.

For the vocal performance, some of the kids performed popular Disney tunes from "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast."

"I've always been passionate about teaching and music," said Archith Seshadri. "We started the school on accident after some parents asked us about teaching their kids. Now that it's been five years, we can truly see the difference in the community. We've made so much progress over the past few years and are able to teach so many different styles of music to our students. When our students create their own songs and win competitions, it's a gratifying feeling. I think the balance of having young teachers who have grown up with the American way of teaching, but are still embedded with their Indian roots makes Studio! unique."

"When the older students played Bollywood songs on the piano, the audience was really able to connect with it. It's good to pass on what you know to the kids, and you're teaching them something they'll remember. It makes a positive impact on them and I feel like we're role models to the kids," said Ashwin Seshadri.

To learn more about Studio! Music Academy, visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/studio.academy.