Group Class is a Go!

Group class is on for Monday March 31st. Sorry for any confusion this caused last week, but there seemed to be a discrepancy between my Calendar of Events and Sharon's. Anyways, we are back on track and the only Monday off between now and the year end recital will be Easter Monday.

I couldn't resist this picture. Just too cute!
Will this winter ever end?

Speaking of Easter, starting next week and up until Easter weekend we will be focusing on review using an Easter themed game. There is nothing you need to do to prepare, just keep playing all your review pieces at home which should be happening daily anyways.

Thanks to everyone who changed lesson times this week to accommodate some of my students playing in the Kiwanis Music Festival. Participating in this is not a requirement, but is provided as an additional and different opportunity to perform and gain new musical and personal experiences. Please visit Kiwanis Music Festival of London for more information and ask me about signing up next fall.

I have my own reservations about the Kiwanis festival; I believe it teaches many good things, and has the possibility of teaching not so good things. However, each year it gives me a friendly reminder as to the importance of why I teach in the first place, and that's because of the kids; how they perform, how they wait for their turn, how they listen to the adjudicator and the other performers, and how they respect everyone and the job they are trying to perform. I am reminded of the incredible things children are capable of, to be thrown into a new and different situation and to still be able to bare their heart and soul to the world through their music. This is truly incredible. I am so proud of everyone's achievements this week and always.

The Impossible Days

Maybe you've had one (or many) this week, maybe you've just come out of a rough patch or one may be right around the corner. The impossible days have a way of tearing us apart, make us question why we do the things we do along with many other thoughts that are ridiculous and unrealistic, yet feel powerfully true in the moment. So what makes us in these moments keep going, keep trying? 

We want to do what is best for our children.

This is why we are all here, why we come to lessons and group every week and why we all try our hardest to practice everyday, because we want what is best for children so that they may become fine human beings and live rich lives. But how can we achieve this when there are impossible days and more then we would like?

First of all, Never Give Up. This is the message we want to teach children anyways right? Never give up, always keep trying, no matter how hard it gets. 

When it comes to an impossible day and getting in practice, 5 minutes is all it takes. Just spare 5 minutes and the day is no longer lost.

And what should happen during these 5 minutes? Review of course! Focus on one thing for the pieces being played, or put on a quick recital for anyone who is around. There is always a way when we step back, take a breathe, and remember why we are all doing this in the first place. 5 minutes is always better then nothing as it still encourages good habits. 

Consider this questionnaire for Suzuki Parents put together by Shinichi Suzuki:

Do you see that your child listens regularly to the recordings?
Do you take good notes during lessons so that you can be a good home teacher?
Do you shout, scream, or make sarcastic remarks?
Are you positive about home practice, or does your attitude suggest it as a chore?
Do you plan practice as a daily habit, even if only a minimum can be done?
Do you arrange home concerts for family and/or friends?
What is the ratio of praise to criticism in your comments to your child?
Do you show enthusiasm consistently?
Does you child always listen in advance to pieces he is about to study?
Do you practice after lessons, or discuss the lesson in the car afterwards?
Do you observe other lessons?
Do you take your child to concerts?
In practice periods, do you ask for too much at one time?

Take a moment to self reflect:
What are some things you know you try your best to do and what are some things you know you could do more of? Especially when it's a tough day, do you still try to approach practice the same as if it were an easy day? 
Consider what your teacher and Shinichi Suzuki suggest about practice and decide what changes you could make to your practice routine at home to make it more convenient and concise. The more consistent and to the point practice is at home, the more likely it will still take place even when the day seems lost.

The impossible days are going to happen whether we want them to or not and no matter how hard we try to do the right thing. They push us to our limits and although this is scary, it makes us stronger and in turn makes children stronger as they have a role model to look up to. So just let the impossible days happen, don't ever give up and know that better days are around the corner. It may sometimes seem like a very big corner... but the good days are there waiting for you. Those are the days that you will remember and will mean the most to you and your family. 

Keep Calm and Fiddle On...

March Updates

Hi everyone, just wanted to send you all a few updates before the week gets away from me. I had a nice road trip to IKEA yesterday with my husband and came home to some warmth and sun. Today is looking just as nice and I'm going to take advantage of the sunshine while I can. Even if you don't get a March Break, I hope everyone has some time this week to spend with family and to do something fun together. Here are your reminders heading into the rest of March.

Next Group Class is Monday March 17th.

I will be absent from group as I am playing a St. Patricks gig in Stratford. Sharon will run group this week and I may run group the week after. If you need anything before Monday (questions about practice, lessons, violin tuned) give me a call or e-mail me.

Next Fiddle Class is Saturday March 22nd at 1:30.

I have been having so much fun with this class and I hope everyone involved has been learning lots. I am so excited to have a guest piano player join us for the rest of this session and we will have the chance to perform at either a group class or even the year end recital. Stay tuned!

Next Recital is Sunday May 4th at 3:00.

Please pull out your red t-shirts from last year to make sure they still fit. I will have t-shirts available probably at the beginning of April if you are new to the school this year or need a new size. This is the dress code for this recital along with black bottoms.

St. Patrick's Show at Church of the Epiphany
(11 Briscoe Street West)

Saturday March 15th at 7:00

Featuring Celtic Shift (Stephen Holowitz, Dave Nuttall and Amy Lewis), Greg Mainprize (percussion) Grace Lou (erhu) and guest vocalists Adam Corrigan Holowitz and Stacey Wheal.

$10 per person, $25 family price

Spring Forward to a Better Lifestyle

It's March Break and Spring is just around the corner. Currently I am sitting on my porch with a good cup of coffee and the cat is wandering around on her leash finally getting to enjoy some sunshine and fresh air. I can see the light at the end of this winter tunnel as I hope all of you are starting to feel. The air smells like Spring today and that's a great feeling. 

Today I wanted to share with you the idea of how the Suzuki philosophy can be applied to not only our musical education, but our lifestyle choices. The more I teach and read and study and re-read, the more I see how Suzuki's ideas have not only influenced my work and how I teach, but also how I live my life. 

Every decision I make, every challenge I work through, I find my solutions through the simplicity of Suzuki's philosophy. To summarize, "Start small, make it daily and remember that there are no limits to our potential." This is what I remind myself everyday. 

Now, does that mean that I've found the secret to life and that every day is fabulous? Not even close. There are quite a few terrible days and a fair amount of great days. However, when frustration and overwhelm hits, I have strategies, I have problem solving tools, I have the skills to create new habits and the confidence to keep trying even if the first time or the tenth time I fail. 

This line of defense is what the Suzuki method develops and what you are giving your children when you come to lesson and group and commit to daily practice. However, the concept of daily practice is just the start of what the Suzuki method can do to develop healthy lifestyle habits. Can we not relate the same ideas in terms of daily practice, taking small steps, review and repetitions for thorough mastery, and our limitless potential to other aspects of our lives?

Consider the other areas of your life where it is the EVERYDAY that makes a difference. Starting with the obvious:

Eating, sleeping, brushing teeth, going to school/work, personal hygiene, etc. 

These are necessary habits that we tell ourselves we can't survive without. 

Now think of the healthy lifestyle choices we want for ourselves and our family:

Exercise, eating nutritious foods, spending wisely/saving money, quality time spent with friends and family, completion of responsibilities (whether it is household chores, homework, work commitments, etc.). 

These are the things we know we should do and even want to do, but it always seems too easy to say it'll happen tomorrow because today is just too busy. 

Don't wait until tomorrow. 

"Start small, make it daily, and remember that there are no limits to our potential."

No habits can be formed without EVERYDAY and this training is what children will take into adulthood and make them successful in any career path they choose. 

Decide what it is you want for your life and start today:

Walk around the block to get the mail or go for a 5 minute walk after dinner.

Eat an apple (with caramel flavoured yogurt. So good!) instead of a donut.

Call that distant family member which you tell yourself you'll always do but don't remember until midnight.

Don't buy that sweater at the mall, but instead start a savings account for something more important you've always wanted (trip to England, new kitchen, tuition for your child's continuing education, etc.).

Purchase Dollarstore handheld sweepers and let the kids sweep under the table while you wipe down the counters.
De-clutter your home (and therefore your mind!) by purging one drawer.

Write one paragraph of that book report, essay, proposal etc. that you keep putting off.

Start small, but start today. There is always a way when we start small.

With Spring right around the corner (hopefully!), let's embrace this time and decide what small changes we might make in our individual lifestyles to provide the best environment for children to learn, explore, develop healthy habits, make mistakes and grow into the kind of adults Suzuki envisioned.

"The greatest duty and joy given to us adults is the privilege of developing our children's potentialities and of educating desirable human beings with beautiful harmonious minds and high sensitivity. I believe sensitivity and love toward music and art are very important things to all people whether they are politicians, scientists, businessmen or laborers. They are the things that make our lives rich" - Shinichi Suzuki (Starr, William. To Learn With Love. Pg. 106)