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!

Registration Available for 2015-2016

Registration is available for the 2015-2016 school year.

Registration is DUE June 13th, 2015.

This due date is IMPORTANT because it secures your spot in the Fall!

In your registration you will find information on purchasing additional summer lessons, along with Fiddle Camp Registration and the Saturday November 7th Suzuki Conference Date listed in the Calendar of Events.

Please mark in your calendars for all recitals/conference dates for next school year:

Sunday October 25th, 2015 at 2:00

Saturday November 7th, 2015 - Suzuki Conference Day!

Sunday November 29th, 2015 at 2:00

Sunday February 7th, 2016 at 2:00

Sunday May 1st, 2016 at 2:00

My Niece - hoping for a visit soon!

Has anyone else been feeling like the month of May slightly resembles the craziness of December? I've been hearing of this parallel throughout the blog world and I am completely feeling it. Schedules are completely up in the air, unexpected events pop up, there are illnesses and allergies that arise at inconvenient times, and there are too many events to schedule into too little time. Hopefully June will be a month of some relaxation, fresh air and a chance to breathe for us all.

Speaking of June and the summer months, how can we make it through summer and not have September be a month of review and struggling to get back into the practice routine?


KEEP LISTENING. KEEP PLAYING. It's not always about progress over the summer, it's about maintaining our skills and/or growing them in new ways such as attending music camps, going to festivals and shows, putting on a home concert for family and friends or trying something new. Check out an old post HERE which features festivals and shows near you!

KEEP LISTENING. KEEP PLAYING. Keep playing the pieces we love to play, review the pieces that may give us trouble and enjoy the process of using our skills learned in lesson to try and fix problem pieces. Enjoy playing just to play.

I love how quickly the gardens fill in (taken 3 weeks ago).
This gnome has vanished now!

Aside from maintaining our musical abilities over the summer, I encourage all of you to get outside and do something active. You will find me running and cycling around London, rock climbing at Junction (and if I build up the courage on an actual outdoor rock wall in Milton!) and working up to a run and cycle around Fanshawe Lake (20km). Whatever it is that interests you, get out there and do it and bring some family and friends along. The hardest part sometimes is just taking that first step out the door, but once you do, incredible things can happen.

Baby Sienna

Welcoming my niece Sienna to the world this week! 

Both parents (my brother and his wife) are doing well.

Congratulations!

We couldn't have asked for a better Year End Recital day. I had such a nice afternoon playing with all of you! I feel so grateful to be a small part of so many families lives and to share with you all the joy in making music. It's been a wonderful year and I was so impressed by how prepared everyone was and how we all worked together to put on a great show for our family and friends.

One last reminder that there are no lessons this week unless we spoke about making one up. I will see everyone back for regular lessons after Mother's Day weekend for 4 more weeks of lessons before summer schedule.

You can find the summer schedule sign up sheet in lessons next week. Already planning your summer schedule? Send me an e-mail and we can book your summer lesson times early. You all have two lessons included in your tuition to sign up for.

Anyone else enjoying their tulips?

One other bit of exciting news, it looks like I might become an Aunt today! More details soon.