Sunday October 27th Recital!

We've made it to the first recital of the year! Congratulations to all the hard work that everyone has put into their performance pieces. Everyone should be proud of how prepared they are. Now all that's left is to have fun!

Please arrive no later then 1:45 for the 2:00 recital or 3:15 for the 3:30 recital.

Thank you for my two student volunteers that are handing out programs, the families who volunteered to bring in juice and the parents helping out during the reception!

Just a reminder that even though on the Calendar handout it says there are no lessons next week, I am teaching regular lessons because I will be taking off the first week back in January.

See everyone on Sunday!

Character First...

What is character?

Decisiveness, integrity, concentration, sincerity, adaptability, ambition, patience, truth, courage, energy, enthusiasm, discipline, self-control, confidence, respect, perseverance, promptness, persistence, consistency, endurance, determination, thoroughness, initiative, compassion, contentment... 

The past few weeks we have been talking about character in lessons. The development of character is the foundation of Shinichi Suzuki's method of teaching violin.

"Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They get a beautiful heart." - Shinichi Suzuki

Character is developed in many ways...

By showing up to lessons on time - promptness, respect
Entering lesson and group classes quietly - respect, self-control
Choosing to practice everyday at home - decisiveness, consistency
Completing repetitions of a practice spot - concentration, persistence, thoroughness
Performing at a recital - confidence, determination
Listening and waiting to play at group class or a recital - patience, respect, self-control
Helping out a peer in lessons or group class - sincerity, compassion
Bringing into lesson questions about practice/the violin - initiative
Being able to play any review piece well - contentment, confidence

These are only a few examples.

Lets continue to model and encourage all of these character traits to children of all ages.

Character is something that is formed by the choices that we make in our everyday lives. Help children to make healthy choices so that we may nurture the development of their character and they may grow up to be fine human beings.

Please check out the poll to the right of this post about the music theory class. Take two seconds to let me know why you did not sign your child up for the theory class so I can better make decisions about running additional classes in the future. Thank you!    ---------------------------------->

Play Challenge Extra Point #2 and Happy Thanksgiving!

Some of you by now have seen the Extra Point #2 Challenge written on my board in lesson. We are on week #4 of the play challenge and you have until week #6 to complete the extra point challenge. 

Since the start of lessons in September, there has been a Suzuki Quote in the top right corner of my board. What was the quote?

Hint: "________ ________ , _________ second."

Not sure? This is a well known Suzuki quote and one that we should all be reminded of as to what makes the Suzuki method such a wonderful education for children. Look up quotes by Shinichi Suzuki and see if you can figure it out!

I have been impressed by everyone's participation in the play challenge. Please take the opportunity over the holiday weekend to play for family members and show off all the hard work everyone has been doing in just picking their violins up everyday and playing! I hope everyone is starting the see the difference between a well played and practiced week versus the outcome of a week when the days just seem to get away from you and the violin doesn't get played. Lets all keep trying to work towards setting lifelong learning habits for children. 

Sunday October 27th Recital 2:00 or 3:30 (with reception!)
If you have not already signed up for a recital time, please do so on the sign up sheet in lesson or send me an e-mail. Try and keep the times even, otherwise I will have to move performers to different times.

Shinichi Suzuki Books!
Here is a link to the new Nurtured by Love book written by Shinichi Suzuki. If you haven't already read this book I do highly recommend it to Suzuki parents. It puts you in the mindset of Suzuki and you really get the feel for what he wanted to accomplish through the early musical education of children. It will leave a lasting impression and will be a book you will want to come back to again and again. 

Other books I recommend are Ability Development from Age Zero also by Suzuki and To Learn with Love by William (Bill) Starr. Look for these books in the public library system as well. Ask me for additional recommendations if you really wish to broaden you knowledge of the Suzuki method!

Happy Thanksgiving!