Beyond The Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families

This is the book I recommended earlier this month!

Click here to read a book review from "The Suzuki Experience" blog and pick up a 'Studio' copy at your next lesson! 

   

Why Review?

In Dr. Suzuki's article, Raise Your Ability With a Piece You Can Play, he explains why review is such an important part of the Suzuki Method. He says: "repeated practice of what one is capable of doing is the principle of fostering outstanding ability." 

    "It's like learning the mother tongue. A small child repeats what words he can say every day. He may seem slow at first, but he quickly increases his vocabulary by the time he is five or six... In the same way, while diligently working to enrich his ability using old pieces, a student will soon begin to display fine ability to go speedily ahead."

He then gives these 3 points to incorporate:

1. Listen to the recordings a lot more to foster musical sensitivity. If a child doesn't listen to spoken Japanese, he will be a miserable speaker. "Listen and practice, practice and listen".

2. It is necessary to practice daily to foster greater ability to perform well.

3. When the student can play the present piece without a mistake, I tell them, "Your preparation is complete. Now the lesson starts, the lesson for creating the ability to refine yourself." From there a long time is required. "You will now start the lesson for fine musical rhythm, skilled expression of dynamics, and final refinement." 

Parents As Partners Online

SAA sponsored "Parents as Partners Online" launched a few weeks ago. I hope you've taken time to watch some of the videos -many are less than 10 min.!

Playing by Ear... Unlocking the Mystery

Music as a 2nd Language-Reading

Philosophy

The Benefits of Attending Institutes- Student Perspective

Overcoming Practice Challenges...I promise you're not alone!

Pleasure in Learning

Competition: Striving together or against?

Three T's

It's not about review

Dynamic Practice

"Time"

Do What Your Teacher Says

Check your email for weekly updates. 

You can still register for $12- make check payable to me and I'll get you signed up! Videos will be available through Oct. 15 2017. 

November Listening

The Four Seasons by Vivaldi 

Inspired by landscape paintings by Italian artist, Marco Ricci, Vivaldi composed the Four Seasons roughly between 1720 and 1723, and published them in Amsterdam in 1725, in a set of twelve concerti entitled Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Test of Harmony and Invention).  The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni) consists of four concerti (Spring, Summer,Autumn, and Winter), each one in a distinct form containing three movements with tempos in the following order: fast-slow-fast. (notes from Aaron Green- Classical Music Expert) 

Autumn
1st Movement: Allegro

The peasant celebrates the pleasure of the happy harvest with dances and songs; and inflamed by the liquor of Bacchus, many end their rejoicing with sleep.

Autumn
2nd Movement: Adagio molto

The mild pleasant air makes all abandon dance and song; this is the season that invites all to the sweet delights of peaceful sleep.

Autumn

3rd Movement: Allegro 

The hunters, at the break of dawn, set forth with horns, guns, and hounds. The animal flees, and they follow its tracks. Already frightened and tired by the great noise of guns and hounds, the wounded animal makes a weak attempt at fleeing, but is overcome and dies.

October Listening

"Witches' Dance" by Paganini performed by Eugene Fudor.
Do you recognize the "Theme" from Suzuki book 2?

"Dance of the Goblins" by Bazzini performed by James Ehnes.

"Night On Bald Mountain" by Mussorgsky performed by The National Youth Orchestra of Spain with guest conductor Jose Serebrier.

"Toccata & Fugue in d minor" by Bach 

Parents as Partners Online

What?
Parents as Partners is a web-based program for Suzuki parents offering short talks on practice tips, listening ideas, review routines, motivation, building community, ownership, parent-child relationships, teenagers, Suzuki philosophy, and more!

When?
Talks are available online any time, any day from January 25-June 30. New talks are aired each Monday through March, with all talks available through the end of June.

How?
Registration is EASY!
To register please bring $10 to your next lesson. You will receive an email on Mon., Jan. 25th with instructions on how to access Parents as Partners Online. You will receive a new email each Monday through March.

Videos can be watched on any web-based device: desktop and laptop computers, smart phones, and tablets- including iPhones and iPads.

"Just as Dr. Suzuki encouraged us to be life-long learners, our own studio parents need nurturing along their Suzuki journey. The SAA hopes that both teachers and parents will take full advantage of this rich opportunity to further their Suzuki education, no matter their age or level of experience"

New 2016 Talks

A Measure of Progress
Sue Baer

A Parent’s Perspective on Summer Suzuki Institutes
Cindy Schreuder

A Thousand Bow Holds? You Must Be Kidding!
Barabara Balatero

Are You Inadvertently Sabotaging Your Child’s Lesson? 
Teri Einfeldt

Creative Strategies for Effective Review—a Survey of Favorite Activities from within the Suzuki Triangle
Rafael Videira

Discover What Encourages Teens to “Get Up and Go”
Colleen Fitzgerald

DIY: Do-It-Yourself Practice Games
Kathleen Schoen

Don’t Just Practice…Go Do Something!
Rebekah Hanson

Everything I Needed to Know about the Suzuki Triangle I Learned from a Dog
Meret Bitticks

Five Years Later—Where are They Now?!
Rebecca Martin with Suzuki parents Jen Blackenship and Julie Stibbards

Fun with Trouble Stops? What?
Shu-Yi Scott

Group Class: Creating an Environment of Community in Our Isolated Society
Mark Mutter

Guitar Hero?! VIOLIN Hero!!
Treesa Gold

Hands Separate Practice: Techniques and Tips for Success
Ellen Kogut

How to Make Sure Your Child Will Never Ever Set Foot on Stage to Perform Again!
Diana Galindo

If You Can Sing It, You Can Play It!
Mary Hofer

I’ve Been to the Lesson and Now What?
Brittany Gardner

Making Suzuki Feel Good in 2015
Liza Barley

Music for 1000 Children
Tammy Linn

Musical Elements from Twinkle to Mozart
Holly Smardo

Musical Rewards
Darbi Green and Connie McCullough

No Time to Practice?
Kathleen Bowman

Nurtured by WHAT??? When You Are Not Feeling the Love During Practicing
Zachary Ebin

Orchestra and the Suzuki Student
Daniel Gee

Overcoming Practice Challenges . . . I Promise You’re Not Alone!
Christine Wilson-Goodner

Parent to Parent: Creating the Link of Community for All
Janelle Severson

Partner Up!—Get the 411 from Suzuki Parents
Lucy Shaw and Suzuki parents

Playing By Ear…Unlocking the Mystery
Ed Kreitman

Practicing with Loops
Leo Kitajima

Recipe for Citizenship: Key Ingredients for Teaching Children to be Members of a Community
Katie Bast

Review that Works!
Julie Bamberger Roubik

Seven Secrets to Sanity with Suzuki Siblings
Rebekah Waggoner

Suzuki Parenting: An Exercise in Leadership
Janis Wittrig

Suzuki Training and Body Mapping: A Great Combination for Playing Better While Avoiding Injury
Kerry Travers

Take Your Teacher Home! Creative and Effective Uses of Video Recording in Your Individual Lesson
Lillie Mannis

Teachers’ Perspectives on Practicing with their Children
Amy Gesmer-Packman, Stacey Brady, Flori Muller, Heather Hadley  

Tech Talks V2.0—Studio Updates Available for Download Now
Ian Salmon

The Importance of Educating a Really Beautiful Human Spirit
Danette Schuh

The Practice Lizard
Suzy Perelman

The Value of Listening
Kelly Williamson

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Ideas in Practice 
Fernando Pinero

Three Important Words
Edmund Sprunger

Triangle Distortion: Confessions of a Suzuki Teacher who is also a Suzuki Parent
Andrea French

Want Consistent Progress in Your Practicing?? Use These Reminders to Help Your Child at His Lesson
Beatrice Blanc

Why ARE we doing Suzuki, anyway???
Joanne Martin

Work Together, Stand Back, and Admire
Beth Titterington and Sarah Beth Titterington Ibbett

Selected Talks from Prior PPO Years

Advice and Encouragement for Suzuki Parents
Brittany Gardner

Dry Ideas! Make it visual using the dry erase board
Lucy Shaw

Forget Soccer, I want to practice!
Zachary Ebin

Guarantees for More Progress During Practice
James Hutchins

Guarantees for More Progress During Practice, the Sequel
James Hutchins

Guarantees for More Progress During Practice, Part 3
James Hutchins

Is My Child Talented?
Kathleen Spring

Ownership
Ed Kreitman

Pardon the Interruption
Ed Sprunger

Pop your Ears!
Alyssa Hardie Beckmann

Prioritize!
Meret Bitticks

Raising Independent Musicians
Mark Mutter

Simple Suzuki Stretches
Joanna Binford

Tech Talks 2015: Bringing your Suzuki Experience Up-to-Date with the Latest Gadgets and Apps
Ian Salmon

Teens, Tenacity and Technique
Nicolette Solomon and Donna Davis

The Suzuki Triangle Relationship
Rebecca Martin and Suzuki parents

Time
Leslie Mizrahi

Violin "Advent" Calendar: DAY 11

DAY 11:

"Do you hear what I hear?"

How often do you listen to the Suzuki recordings or your current piece?
Leslie Thackery of Practice Makes It Easy and owner of The Practice Shoppe shares some great ideas to make your listening more effective.

Practice Makes It Easy: Are you listening?: This post was contributed by the lovely Tabitha Ricks! This month's post is on the three types of listening. Edward Kreitman says t...

Practice Makes It Easy: The Playlist: I love my iPod. What I love most about my iPod that wasn't as easy or convenient with my good ol' portable DVD player or walkman is ...

What changes are you going to make at your house?