Calendar of Events Changes

Please excuse my current lack of organizational skills as I have officially made a huge mess of the Calendar of Events.  So, scrap your copy you received in the registration, make sure all these dates are in your calendars!

If you are ever in doubt about lesson and group class times, all dates will be posted on the CALENDAR year round. Save the Calendar page on your computers and phones right now!

Lessons and Group Classes Resume Monday September 14th!

The biggest change to note is when lessons start. Labour day is late this year but lessons will still start the week after the kids get back to school. I will see everyone back for lessons and group classes starting Monday September 14th!

Also, there WILL NOT be group class Tuesday September 8th, but there WILL be group class on Tuesday November 10th!

Notice the change to the last week of lessons, June 6th - June 11th.

Parents as Partners Recap #1

So back in January a few parents from my studio and I signed up for Parents as Partners which is a program offered by the SAA that sends you Suzuki inspired videos right to your inbox each week.

I have to confess, I am just getting to these videos now. I've spent 20 minutes each morning this past week with some breakfast, a tea and a Suzuki video. Some videos were better then others, but overall a lot of great ideas and reminders were portrayed. If you signed up for the videos, make sure to watch them as they will only be available until June 30.
Here's a snippet of what I've heard this past week:

Every Child Can Learn; Every Parent Can Learn

Every lifestyle type can make Suzuki lessons work. Communicate openly with your teacher. There is always a way to make everyday practice happen.

Are music lessons viewed as optional or extra in your family? If yes, then you can guarantee there will be practice problems. But, if music is consistent and as natural as brushing your teeth everyday, practice will never be questioned.

Problems surrounding practice normally have nothing to do with the violin, but it has the do with the current relationship with your child and how they are testing you. Ride the wave with them and stand your ground. Set boundaries and expectations. The more you work on your relationship now, you are preparing both of you for the dreaded teenage years.

Play games in the early years. Play lots of games!

"Never Hurry; Never Stop" - Shinichi Suzuki

Trust your teachers pacing of learning new material. The parent may see many things that are wrong with a piece, but the one point lesson is key to progress and success. Trust the point that your teacher has chosen to touch upon and practice that point the same way the teacher does in lesson when you go home.

"Raise their ability with a piece they can play"

 - Shinichi Suzuki and the importance of review.

Too many voices in lesson confuse and overwhelm the child. 

"Parents should be like wallpaper" - Shinichi Suzuki

There is so much more. Stay tuned for more recaps and keep your Suzuki motivation going!