Imagine being greeted by a sophisticated musical composition by your children! That is exactly what happened when 13-year-old Sofia and 10-year-old Saul played their newly composed music for violin and cello.

Of their first composition together, Sofia said, “We wanted to surprise our parents. I composed the melody and Saul helped arrange it for cello.” This is what the Saucedo children do in their spare time between school work, music lessons in violin, cello, and piano, and working toward their Second Degree Taekwondo Black Belts.

Their musical family thrives on love, beautiful music, tasty meals and delicious cakes. The Saucedos, father, Alan, is a PhD cellist, mother, Miho Sato, is a pianist and singer who works in music therapy and teaches voice and piano, the children, Saul and Sofia, study under their parents’ and aunt, Cynthia’s tutelage. Alan loves to prepare meals and bake amazing cakes.

What did their parents think about their composition? “I liked it very much! It was very touching and beautiful – look what they did for us,” said Miho. Dad, Alan said, “ I loved it! I encouraged the children to write it all down before it disappeared. I videoed it several times until they were happy with the video.”

I asked Saul to tell me about his arranging process. He told me, “I listened to Sophia’s melody. Then, I experimented with notes and phrases until we liked the sound.” And that is how the composition came to life!

“Is it difficult learning from your parents?” I asked Saul and Sofia. “It’s fun! We understand each other and we like to learn,” Said Sofia. Dad, chimed in, “There have been some tears, but at this stage, they have the tools with which to problem solve and teaching is more guidance and skill honing. The lessons address specific things to make the music beautiful and expressive.”

Sofia and Saul both take piano in addition to their individual string instruments, they volunteered that while they love the piano as well as their strings, that strings are their favorites.  Mom teaches them piano. Alan teaches cello. Their aunt, Alan’s sister, Cynthia, a concert violinist, teaches violin.

Saul plays a ¼ cello while Sofia plays a full sized violin. Saul started with a 1/10^th cello at 4 years old and Sofia began with a 1/8^th  sized violin at four and a half years old.

The entire family creates beautiful music together. Alan, is always researching interesting music from around the world, and likes to introduce Mexican and Spanish classical works. Miho majored in voice from an oratorio perspective as well as piano. One of her favorite songs is Schumann’s “Lotus Flower.”

What are the children’s hobbies besides music and martial arts? Art – drawing and collages. They are precise in everything that they do. It goes without saying that they excel in their academics as much as they do in their other endeavors. They attend public school where Saul is in fourth grade and Sofia is in seventh grade. Their favorite subjects are science, math, history, and social studies.

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The day that we spoke, was Miho’s birthday. Alan had a fun meal planned with barbecue ribs and a chocolate flan cake, “a Mexican chocolate cake.” Saul and Sofia like ice cream. Saul likes mango ice cream and chocolate mint chip. Sofia likes cookies and cream, vanilla, or strawberry. With so many wonderful flavors, it is hard to choose just one!

One parting question for Sofia and Saul – how much practicing do they do? They replied that they practice and study as much as is necessary to meet individual goals. Sometimes 20 minutes, other times, an one hour. They are goals centered and know what they want to accomplish.

I hope that you love and enjoy their wonderful music!