February FUNd raising

Join me on Sunday February 8th at 1:30 (2:00 recital start) at Siloam United Church for some Valentine's FUNd raising! Send Candy Grams to group class friends and buy raffle tickets for the chance to win some great musical gifts!

All money collected through fundraising will be used to benefit all of you in the follow ways:

• covering/lowering registration fees for extra events like the November 2015 Suzuki Conference student day in London!
• purchasing motivational prizes (cd's, concert tickets, violin accessories, practice accessories, books, etc)
• guest speakers
• school accessories (sheet music, step shoes, instruments, violin accessories, anything we want/need!)

Here's a sneak peak at raffle ticket prizes:

Some continuing education for Fiddle players!

Two Practicing Essential Baskets!

You will have two opportunities to send a candy gram to a friend in group class:

1. during the the group class before the recital
2. before and during the intermission at the recital

Parents, consider sending one to another parent! You will all receive your candy grams the week after the recital in lessons!

Be sure to bring family and friends (along with lots of pocket change!) to this recital to help make your musical community grow. Looking forward to seeing everyone on February 8th!

Why Kids Won't Practice - Part 3

To start off the New Year and many more topics to come, here's continuing the Practice Series - 22 Reasons Why Kids Won't Practice. To see past issues, click here.

Have you found any reasons that may apply to your family? Or maybe you recall a reason that you experienced in the past but have overcome? Bring your thoughts and experiences to Tuesday's parent education session!

#11 - Your child doesn't know how to practice, what to practice or why it is important
Children fully understand instant gratification. What they need to develop is a work ethic in order to achieve success. These are the life skills that they receive through Suzuki lessons. As hard as it may be sometimes, it is important to allow children to struggle. By struggling through a challenge, children learn how a bit of hard work can pay off and that just because something is difficult in the beginning, we have tools to make things easier and help us complete challenges.

#12 - Lack of parent involvement
If left up to the child, it is highly unlikely that they will ever initiate practice on their own. It is always the parents responsibility to organize, schedule and initiate practice. Students who practice alone too early on develop bad habits because they never know if they are doing something correctly or incorrectly. The more involved the parent, the more involved the child. If the parent doesn't express good practice habits, neither will the child. Suzuki lessons are designed for Parent, Teacher and Child to all work together to learn to play the violin; this is the Suzuki Triangle. The process will collapse without all sides supporting one another.

#13 - No results from practice
There are times where it seems like we hit a wall in our practice and nothing seems to be improving. When the teacher assigns the same thing every week, our motivation can start to wane. What we need to consider is are we doing everything teacher is asking us to do each week? Are we doing it at home the same as we do in lesson? Be honest and open about practice at home so that your teacher can deduce what needs to change with practice so we can see progress again. However, sometimes certain techniques or pieces just take longer and need a settling in time. There is nothing wrong with this and it is important to not be in such a rush to move on. The journey is what matters and sometimes the process of waiting and struggling through and not giving up on a spot can teach us way more than if it all came easily.

#14 - Inconsistency
This one is huge. Inconsistency in all areas of our life can create confusion and insecurity, especially in a child's world. When we are consistent, we are setting the expectation that this is the routine, this is the way things are, and there is no changing that. They may still fight you on it, but one way or another, the activity will still always happen. Children will except this and fall into the routine. If parents are inconsistent, children know they can get away with fussing because the parent hasn't put a high priority on the activity. Daily actions mean high priority and children understand this.

A New Look for the New Year

Happy New Year!

Here's what you need to know for the start of 2015!

Things to mark in your calendars - 

All lessons and group classes resume the week of Monday January 12th.

Please refer to your Calendar of Events regularly and listen carefully for announcements in group and lessons over the next few months. Our group schedule is not as regular because of holidays (family day, March Break, Easter, etc.) Always be sure there is group and lessons before you make the drive out. All dates are also listed on this website here for your convenience.

Calendar of Events change: the last week of lessons will be June 1st -6th, and not May 25th-30th as it says on your calendar.

Next Recital is Sunday February 8th at 2:00 at Siloam United Church.

• We will be doing some Valentines/Music themed FUNdraising at this recital. More details on the importance of this fundraising and how it will benefit all of you coming soon!

Our Year End Recital is on Sunday May 3rd at 2:00 at Siloam United Church.

Upcoming Programs - 

Fiddle class will be returning mid-February. Registration will be available the end of January.

The Suzuki Association of America is offering a great opportunity for parents with a program called Parents as Partners. All you need is $10 and an e-mail address and from now until June, each week you will be e-mailed a new video featuring all sorts of Suzuki related topics such as practice tips, parent-child relationships, philosophy, listening, motivation and more. Some great Suzuki speakers are featured such as Bill Starr, Ed Kreitman and Ed Sprunger. If you haven't heard any of them speak before, the $10 is worth is just for their videos. Click here for more information from the SAA.

I've given this website a new look for a new year. Although I'm not much into setting resolutions, I do take advantage of this time of year to make changes where I think change is needed. The first thing about changing parts of your life is starting small, being specific, being consistent and knowing that it's okay if it doesn't work out. Not all change is meant to be. The point is that we try and we continue to try. We learn from trying.

I look forward to helping everyone learn and achieve their goals for 2015 and to continue living the Suzuki lifestyle!

Recommended Books from Suzuki Music Class for Parents, Babies & Toddlers

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb

Goodnight Moon

Over in the Meadow

Oh A Hunting We Will Go

Row Row Row Your Boat

Where is the Green Sheep

Orange Pear Apple Bear

I'm a Little Teapot

The Mitten

Mole Music

The Dot

Baa Baa Black Sheep

The Carrot Seed

Brown Bear

Chika Chika Boom Boom
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello

What a weekend of perfoming!

Photo Courtesy of J. Kilgar

The Fall Fiddle Class did a wonderful thing on Saturday and played for the residents at Masonville Manor. What an amazing opportunity to take our skills and love of music and share it with the community. I don't think there was a face to be seen that didn't have a smile on it or a toe that wasn't tapping at one time or another. It's moments like these that make all our hard work and commitment pay off. You all pushed yourselves, went beyond your comfort zones, tried your best and had so much fun. Congratulations Fall Fiddle Class!

As for our Holiday Recital, everyone from our smallest to our tallest played from the heart, was respectful and kind to one another, worked together, offered assistance and guidance when needed and supported one another in listening to each other play. We pulled off the Let It Go Ensemble with joyful imperfection, which is way better and much more meaningful then joyless perfection in my book. We definitely made it our own and had so much fun in the process. Lastly, the looks on every ones faces as Santa appeared was priceless. 

What a wonderful weekend full of growing musicians!

Recital December 7th at 2:00!

It has arrived! I have been anticipating this recital since the start of the school year. Not only is this my favourite time of year, but I am so proud of the work everyone has put into this recital and the joy and excitement I am hearing in everyone's playing!

From classical pieces to traditional Christmas songs, Fiddle music to Pop songs, it will be an afternoon filled with good music, family and friends, and a very special guest!

Here's what you need to know:

The recital starts at 2:00 at Siloam United Church.

Everyone must arrive no later than 1:45 to unpack, tune, and relax before the recital starts.

There is no reception at this recital.

There is no dress code for this recital. 

Please make sure you can play your violin is whatever you choose to wear.

If you are playing a Christmas duet, please bring your own music!

Invite your family and friends!

Do take pictures and videos of your children! 

DO NOT post pictures or videos of any one other then your own children on the internet.

There is no Group Class the Tuesday following the recital.

However, please join us Tuesday December 16th for our Christmas Ceilidh! 

Don't know what a Ceilidh is? Come to class and find out as we chat, play music and games and enjoy this final time playing together before the new year!

The Magic of Christmas and getting kids to practice!

Fill this advent calendar with
any treat you'd like. But you
only get it if you practice!

November has flown by once again and December is upon us. Embrace the magic of Christmas and the holiday season and all the great practice motivators that come along with it.

Advent Calendars!

The simplest way to use the advents calendar is that you must practice before you get your treat for the day. However, there are many DIY advent calendar ideas online. If you're feeling crafty, plan an advent calendar for practice that inside has instructions for a new game or practice spot to work on everyday before you get your treat! I love the reusable advent calendars, that way you can customize it to what suits your family and you can change it up and try different things each year.

The grown-up advent calendar:
24 Days of Tea by David's Tea.
I'm loving this!

Elf on the Shelf!
This is a new one for me, and honestly I find the elf a little creepy but, wherever children find excitement, there is always a way to add in a bit of learning. Have your elf leave assignments for your kids! For Example: Shovel the driveway with mom and dad then build a snowman. Do 5 twinkle twinkle little stars on your violin with a strong bent thumb in different rooms of the house. Vacuum the pine needles from the Christmas tree then make some hot chocolate! Do 50 repetitions of a practice spot teacher assigned then pat your back for a job well done. Hey it's worth a shot, sometimes when the work comes from someone other then teacher and parent for a change, they seem a lot more fun!

Repetition Charts!

Check out The Practice Shoppe's advent calendars, practice motivators and repetition charts. All in holiday themes!

Home Concerts!

As you gather with family, always bring the violin along. Encourage learning of new Christmas tunes or pop songs or put together a medley of their favourite Suzuki pieces. Some of my best Christmas memories are of my brothers, mom and I putting on a Christmas recital for our grandparents and seeing the joy on their face and the fun we all had just playing together. Start a new tradition this year. Don't play an instrument to play along with your child? Get some jingle bells, egg shakers, tupperware drums and build your own percussion section. It doesn't have to be perfect, the only requirement is that you all have fun and appreciate this time together!

Out tree shortly before the cat helps with
the decorating...

Christmas Recordings for Family!
Send audio files, youtube links, a DVD in the mail, or whatever technology you have available to you. Put together a recording of your child playing. Not only is it a great keepsake for you and your child, but family members, especially who live far away will receive a very special gift of music for the holidays. Making music means we have something to share. Share what you and your child work on all year with the people who will appreciate it and encourage your hard work.

Decorating the Tree!

Enjoy gradually decorating the tree by placing an ornament each time you practice, or do a repetition, complete review or listen to the cd. Choose an activity that your child needs motivation in and encourage that activity through decorating the tree.

Sampling of ornaments, lots of Coca-cola...

Baking!

Plan on baking activities ahead of time that your child is interested in. Decide on what needs to happen before the baking day can take place, maybe it's 100 repetitions, 12 consistent days of happy practice, or listening to the cd 3 hours everyday for one week. If the goal is completed, enjoy an afternoon of baking together! This could be applied to any other activity your family may do in December, maybe it's going to see the lights, or sitting on Santa's knee. Maybe it's making a gingerbread house or going ice skating. Choose an activity that your family will enjoy and work for it!