Parents as Partners Recap #2

Parents as Partners has come to a close. I have found so much inspiration and motivation from all the ideas and perspectives from these videos. Here are a few more snippets and things to think about as you continuing your practicing through the summer months.

Tools for developing a Suzuki Lifestyle:

• Listening - enriches the home environment
• Review - to develop focus and mastery of skills
• Group class - foundation of the Suzuki method. To develop joy in playing and friendships through music. Key for inspiration and motivation to play and practice.
• Love of the child - educating the whole child and enjoying their musical and personal growth.

The Suzuki method is not centered on achievement (what piece or level), but on the overall growth of the child; the journey is what matters.

Praise their effort, not their results. Encourage challenges. 

Don't try to be better then others, learn from others. Observation is key to progress.

One Point Lessons - success breeds success. It is so easy as parents and teachers to pin point many different things that can be improved upon, and sometimes parents my wonder why the teacher isn't addressing certain issues. The reason is the one point lesson: children in the beginning can only focus on one point at a time. Once they find success in improving on this one point and then another one point, and then another, multitasking will eventually develop because they have a foundation of success in focus. However, it's still nice to break it down to that one specific point when we can. 

Repetitive listening makes everything easier! Listening is so powerful when associated with an enjoyable experience. Connect listening to everyday activities and activities they love.

Don't have time to practice today? Sing the repertoire, listen to the repertoire. There are always alternatives so that a day is not wasted and something productive was accomplished, no matter how small.

By allowing us to be detectives in music lessons in figuring out parent child practice relationships, the overall parent child relationship will grow and flourish outside of the music lesson. Allow music to strengthen your relationship with your child!

Missed the first Parents as Partners recap? Click HERE to read it!

Happy Canada Day!

Well, there is a bit of sunlight coming through the mass of clouds as I write this. A cooler day for a nice run through the city. I hope to see you all out enjoying the weather and time spent with family. I just came across an article that I thought I'd share from the violinist.com of violinist Jason DePue's list of top 10 most difficult pieces for the violin. Click HERE for the article.

Guess what's on the list........

Suzuki Violin Book 1 - mastering the basic concepts.

I love this. It can definitely be argued that all the basic skills you learn in and from the pieces in Book 1 can be applied to any violin repertoire. Which is why review and mastering these techniques is key to advanced repertoire success and mastery.

I know that how I play Book 1 is completely different now as a teacher then how I played it in University and how I played it as a teenager. It grows and changes and you continue to realize small teaching points and techniques in what seem like the simplest of pieces.

Do not underestimate the power that Book 1 has in making you a better player and a better musician. So after you enjoy some time outside today, or while you are outside even, get reviewing!

How well can you play Suzuki Violin Book 1?