Excitement, laughter, and nervousness filled the air of The Mission Gables Bowl House recently. The newly renovated historical home which overlooks the iconic Redlands Bowl was the site of this year’s Lily Diehl Music Studio Piano Showcase. “This was the first time we rented the Mission Gables House to coincide with the production of Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’” explains Dr. Lily Diehl, “we wanted to make it as easy as possible to move from the Showcase to the live Redlands Bowl performance with ease,” she added.
Dr. Diehl, the founder of the Lily Diehl Music Studio and teacher of all the students featured in the showcase, has influenced hundreds of young lives. "Teacher Lily," as she is fondly called by her students, is goal-oriented, disciplined, totally professional, yet full of fun-loving enthusiasm. The extravaganza began with student, parents, guests, and of course “Teacher Lily “standing to their feet and warming up with some "rhythmic aerobics" to rhythmic bongo beats presented by parent Gerardo Inzunza and his two sons, Gerardo and Joaquin. Diehl also instructed the captivated audience that when they approved of a performance, the audience was to hold their applause and instead to “stomp” their approval, while using their voice to yell, “Bravo!” Diehl provided a relaxed and fun atmosphere by prepping both the audience and the students to “come in casual attire and pack a picnic” for the presentation of “Beauty and the Beast” to follow.
The first of three piano showcases began with Gabby Benzor, Cole and Nicolas Roesli, and Joseph Springer. Children as young as 6 years old displayed their hard work, dedication, and hours of endless practice. “According to research,”notes Diehl, “1 minute of quality performance time requires 70 hours of correct practice.” A prime example of that concept is Bonnie Zuniga who is now 19. Zuniga wowed the crowd in the third and final piano showcase with a rousing performance of “Majesty.” Zuniga has been a student since the age of 6 and is a MTAC Young Artist Winner 2016.
Well-known as a music educator and performer, Dr. Lily Diehl’s 40+ years of teaching in private colleges, state universities as well as directing her own successful private music studio span the globe from Philippines, Canada and the United States. Many of Dr. Diehl's students have been accepted at music schools, such as Oberlin and Peabody conservatories and the Eastman School of Music.
Dr. Diehl operates on a strong conviction that the parent must be involved, not only attending the lessons and overseeing practice, but learning theoretical and musical concepts along with the student. Diehl refers to that cooperative effort as the "Triangle of Success." Basic to the success of that triangle is yet another of her beliefs that "learning is best accomplished within the context of a loving relationship."
The parent is encouraged to take notes and tape record observations made in the lesson for later reference. If a student is beginning instruction for the first time, Diehl meets privately with the parent ahead of the first lesson so that she or he is prepared to play the proper role in the child's learning experience.
She strives to develop students not only to be good performers, but more importantly serviceable musicians. Dr. Diehl added, “All performers at our showcase are qualified members of the National Fraternity of School Musicians through the American College of School Musicians. I am so honored and blessed to teach these performers and work with their fabulous parents.”