Welcome Back to Violin Lessons!

It was so exciting seeing everyone back together again at group class this past week. There was so much participation, listening, and friendships being rekindled. I look forward to the next few months working together to prep for recitals and enjoy learning from one another.

What you need to know for September: 

SAO Student Day, Fiddle Registration & Parent Ed Event

The SAO Student Day is on Saturday November 7th and takes place at Althouse Building (Western University). Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity! Save a stamp and don't mail in your registration, but hand them in at lesson. Registration due October 1st.

Fiddle class continues to run Saturdays 1:30-2:30 at my place. Want to start your fiddle education early? You can find sheet music to all tunes we've learned in past classes in lesson.

Test your knowledge of Suzuki philosophy at the Parent Ed event on Tuesday September 29th and find support from other parents. We are all in this musical journey together! Let's start the year off inspired!

As you continue to get your schedules and routines in check, ask yourself the following questions:

When is daily practice scheduled throughout the week for you and/or your child?

Have you made listening to the Suzuki music convenient and daily?

Is your review chart, jar, calendar, etc. in sight when you practice as a reminder?

Do you have a binder ready to go for all your practice charts and handouts?

Get your ipad, iphone or other mobile devices ready with practice apps: look for free metronomes, tuners, and note naming games!

I have a bunch of posts planned for the next few months. Hopefully you'll find reassurance in what you have already established in your family's 'Suzuki' lifestyle or find inspiration to make some healthy changes. Have a topic you want to discuss or to learn a little bit more about? Let me know!

On another note, music and teaching is such a huge part of my life, but I think it's important for all of us to have other passions and interests other then what we do for a living. Things that we do just for us, for our health, for our sanity, that get us out into the world and experience nature and the freedom and inspiration that comes with it. My dad and I ran a 12km trail run at Fanshawe Park on Saturday September 12th, 2015. Such a great ending to a relaxing summer!

This was such a great event hosted by MEC! So organized and simple. Check out more events at MEC HERE and challenge yourself to a race with a family member or friend!

See the sprint to the end below. We finished together at 1 hr. 17 minutes.

Back to SCHOOL next week, Back to LESSONS the week after

September is HERE! If you don't already know this about me, this is my favourite time of year. My fall decor is out which means ... PUMPKINS! When I turned one years old my mom served me pumpkin pie instead of cake. It's always been one of my favourite things. I feel excited when I walk through stores in July and there is already fall decor available while everyone else is cringing. With September comes Pumpkin muffins, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, homemade pumpkin pie and my newer obsession Pumpkin teas from David's Tea.

I feel lucky in that my work revolves around the school year. Unlike what January feels like for many, September to me is a time of change and renewal. It's a time to set new priorities, routines and schedules.

Kids feel the excitement of this time of year. Starting a new grade, reuniting with friends and making new friends, anticipating Thanksgiving and Halloween, and of course the last big event of the year which I won't mention... yet. My point to all this is that whether you enjoy this time of year or not, find something to be excited for. The little things that we take the time to enjoy can lessen the stress of other areas in our life. Whether its a walk through trails to see the leaves changing colour, or making this years Halloween costume for your kids. No matter how big or small, find something that excites you and take time to watch the excitement in your children. 

I hope everyone has a nice week either back at school, back at work, or back to not needing daily child care! Let's all do our best to set healthy routines and schedules this school year and take a moment to think about how you will fit practice into all the craziness.

One last reminder that there are NO LESSONS next week.

I will see everyone back for lessons on September 14th and group class on September 15th!

Need any tune ups, violin size checks or just to talk about lessons/practice before lessons start? Give me a call, I'll be around home all next week prepping for lessons.

What you need to know for the 2015-2016 School Year

The 2015-2016 school year is just around the corner. With lots of familiar faces and a few new ones, I look forward to seeing everyone in September! Here is what you need to know to get ready for music this year.

Lessons resume SEPTEMBER 14th! 

The first Group Class is SEPTEMBER 15th!

Please refer to the Calendar HERE on a regular basis for all Group Classes, Recitals and Events.

Look for an e-mail confirming your private lesson time(s). 

My schedule is very full and do not have much if any room to move things around. Therefore lesson times are based on what we last spoke about when registration was processed. Please address any concerns but understand that although I would like to meet everyone's specific needs, there might be some compromise in order to fit everyone in. I appreciate your patience and understanding in advance.

Some things to look forward to this year:

First Recital is SUNDAY OCTOBER 25th - many people are already thinking and preparing for Book Graduations! Get back into the swing of performing and support your fellow musicians and the positive steps they are taking to enhance their skills.

SAO Conference in London Ontario - this is an incredible opportunity for students and parents. On SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7th, join other Suzuki students and families from London and the surrounding area as we play and learn together. Students book 3 and up will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform in an orchestra and players Book 3 and under will get the chance to learn in a different environment from accomplished Suzuki teachers. What an incredible experience for musicians of all ages and levels. Registration available in September.

Fall Fiddle Class - the 8 week Fall Fiddle Class will start Saturday October 3rd. My fiddle accompanist and myself have recently returned from a Celtic College in Goderich and we look forward to sharing new tunes, dance steps and to put on another great performance for the residents of Masonville Manor! Registration available in September.

Pop Song - last years group class interpretation of Frozen's "Let it Go" was so much fun. I am in the works of arranging another 'rhythmic' pop song for this years Holiday recital that will hopefully live up to the energy of last year! Stay tuned.

Candy Grams and Fundraising - money raised at last years Valentines Recital as well as the purchase of community t-shirts have helped to reduce funds of this years extra event of the SAO Conference. I loved seeing the community building and friendships develop from sending candy grams to group class friends. I look forward to seeing these friendships grow and new ones form as we continue to support our musical journeys and make all extra events accessible to everyone. After all, we are in this together!

NEW Listening Challenge - We've had the Practice and Bingo Challenges the past two years. This Fall will be a Listening Challenge! Stay tuned for details and start a plan now to make listening to music convenient and a priority in your lifestyle.

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?

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!