1
Book 1
Twinkles, early review pieces, and that first-recital sparkle.
Suzuki BSMA · Postponed — New Date TBC
One day. Seven books.
Every piece counts.
Suzuki piano students from Book 1 to Book 7 take over Markson Pianos for a joyful day of performing — and every single piece played raises money for charity.
Date
Postponed — TBC
Starts
12:00 noon
Venue
Who plays
Books 1–7, every student
About the day
Every book, every stage, one shared celebration.
The Play-a-thon brings our whole piano community into one room. Students prepare pieces from their current Suzuki book and perform alongside others learning the same repertoire — Book 1 beginners get the thrill of their first big event, while senior students lead by example and revisit old favourites.
Here's the twist: every piece played earns money for charity. Families invite relatives and friends to sponsor each piece performed — so the more the students play, the more we raise.
The day ends with a finale piece played together, thank-yous, photos — and the grand fundraising total.
All proceeds go to Youth Music (RCN 1075032), the national charity investing in music-making for young people facing challenging circumstances.
Book groups
A place on stage for every student.
From first Twinkles to senior repertoire — each book group performs its own set, and every piece adds to the total.
2
Book 2
Growing tone, steady pulse, stronger group awareness.
3
Book 3
Polished review pieces and confident solo moments.
4
Book 4
Longer forms, musical shape, and leading the review.
5
Book 5
Expressive playing and a more mature stage presence.
6
Book 6
Advanced repertoire, deep listening, ensemble habits.
7
Book 7
Senior students model poise, artistry, and generosity.
Running order
The day, book by book.
The day runs from 12:00 to 5:00, with a lunch break in the middle. Each book group gets its own slot within that window — exact timings depend on numbers (Book 1 is popular, so there may be two sittings) and will be confirmed with registered families closer to the day.
12:00 – ~2:00
Books playing (running order confirmed nearer the day)
~1 hour
Lunch break
~3:00 – 5:00
Books playing continues
How sponsorship works
The more they play, the more we raise.
Sponsors pledge either an amount per piece played or a fixed lump sum. Simple, motivating, and every Twinkle counts the same as a sonata.
1
Pledge
Relatives and friends fill in the sponsorship form: a per-piece amount (say 50p or £1) or a lump sum.
2
Play
On the day, your child performs their pieces — solos, review pieces, and the group finale all count.
3
Tally
After the event, count the pieces played and work out each sponsor's total on the form.
4
Donate
Sponsors pay their exact total through the donation page — it takes two minutes.
Gift Aid boost: UK taxpayers can add Gift Aid to their donation — that's an extra 25p for every £1, at no cost to the sponsor. Just add your name and home address on the form.
Get involved
Three small steps to a big day.
1
Register your child
One registration per student — book level, current piece, teacher name, and any access notes. Registration form
2
Collect sponsors
Print the form and ask relatives and friends to pledge per piece or a lump sum. Sponsorship form (print at home)
3
Share the donation page
Send sponsors the donation link before and after the event, with the piece count. Donation page
Venue
A room full of pianos.
What better place for a piano marathon? Markson Pianos — a fourth-generation family firm, est. 1910 — hosts us in their Central London showroom, a stone's throw from Regent's Park. Round off the afternoon with a picnic in the park after the finale.
- Venue Markson Pianos, 7-8 Chester Court, Albany St, London NW1 4BU
- Website www.marksonpianos.com
- Tube Great Portland Street, Regent's Park or Euston
- Arrival Check-in times will be sent to registered families
Good to know
The small print, minus the small print.
What should my child prepare?
Ask your teacher which review or current-book pieces suit best. More pieces means more sponsorship — but polished and joyful beats long and stressed.
Can family come and watch?
Yes — grandparents, siblings, and cheering squads welcome, subject to space. Audience details will follow with registration confirmation.
Where does the money go?
Every penny raised goes to Youth Music (RCN 1075032). UK taxpayers can boost donations by 25% with Gift Aid at no extra cost.
Can't make it to London?
Being in the room is by far the best part of the day — the atmosphere, the other students, the finale — so we'd really encourage every family to make the trip if there's any way to. For the small number who genuinely can't travel, we'll run a Zoom option alongside the day so family and friends can watch live, and a student can still take part with a short introduction before playing their piece over the call. Zoom link to follow closer to the day.
Ready to make every piece count?
Register your Book 1–7 student, print the sponsorship form, and let's fill Markson Pianos with music for a whole day.