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! 

   

September Studio News

I love the feeling of a new month! I'm sad summer is coming to an end but I kind of like the routine that fall brings -it feels good to have a plan! 

I know you're all getting back in to a regular practice routine now that school is back in session and I've been thinking of what I can do to make practicing easier and more meaningful this year. 

There are two books, by Christine E. Goodner, that I highly recommend! Beyond the Music Lesson: Habits of Successful Suzuki Families and Positive Practice: 5 Steps to Help your Child Develop a Love of Music. I have ordered 10 copies of the first one and I'll have them available on loan from the studio or you can purchase your own copy. 

I think these will be great resources whether your child is 5 years old or 15 years old!

No Lessons, Mon., Sept 3rd

These lessons will be made up during studio group week, Mon., Sept. 24, regular lesson schedule. 

SAU Family membership dues

It's time to renew your Suzuki Association of Utah membership. Annual dues are $30 family. This includes 4 publications, $10 discount to the Suzuki Strings or Fall Workshop and registration to SAU graduation recital. Make payment to 'Marin Colby' and I'll register you online.

Suzuki Strings Group (click here for more info)

Suzuki Strings fall semester begins on Wed., Sept. 5th at 5pm at the SUU Music building. 

Twinkle and Early Bk 1 students will be in Rm 104 (downstairs) at 5-5:30pm. 

Late Bk 1 students will be in Rm 206 (upstairs) at 5-5:30pm and will go down to Rm 104 at 5:30-6:15pm. 

Bk 2 and 3 students will be in Rm 206 at 5-5:30 and then go to Rm 207 5:30-6:15pm

Bk 4 and up students will be in Orchestra, Rm 206 5:00-6:15 and stay in Rm 206 for Adv. violin class 6:15-7pm. 

Let me know if you have any questions about where to go. 

I'll have registration forms at lessons and you can give them to me or your group teacher. Make checks payable to Suzuki Strings. The semester fee is $70 for one student, $80 for two students, $90 for family. Make sure your current email address is on the form so you get all the updates! SAU families can take $10 discount. 

Regional Fall Workshop and Concert, Nov. 2-3, 2018

Denise Willey and two of her daughters, Lara Willey and Catherine Schultze are the guest clinicians. You can read more about them here. The Fall Workshop fee is included in your Suzuki Strings Fall Semester registration.

If you are not part of Suzuki Strings group this semester you can register for the 2-day workshop before Oct. 15th. It is $20 for Twinkle to Allegretto students (the $10 SAU discount does not apply to these students), $40 for individual students (the $10 SAU discount can be applied to these students).

You can access the supplementary pieces and orchestra music on your MMS account (My Music Staff). Print and put in your binder before your next lesson or Suzuki Strings class.    

OSU Fall Recital Series

Recitals are held every Tuesday this month, 7:30pm at 2111 North Main St. Cedar City.

Suggested donation $8 adults, $5 student.

Ethan Calvasina will be performing a few fiddle pieces on the Patriotic Gala recital, Tues., Sept. 11th. Come out and support him! See the full series here.

Studio Group Lessons

Studio group lessons will resume this month. 

Wed., Sept. 26th 4-5pm at Whittlesticks.

Ethan 

Nisha

Thurs., Sept. 27th, 4-5pm at the Longhurst home.

Andrea

Carvin

Hannah

Kimberly 

Ava

Thurs., Sept. 27th, 5-6pm at the Longhurst home. 

Eva

Abbey

Trace

Kamri

Mahina

Fri., Sept. 28th, 4-5pm at Whittlesticks. 

Ann

Elsie

Lyla 

Congratulations to these Graduates!

Lyla held her Twinkle Graduation on July 25th. Kamri (sister) and some cousins performed as well! 

SAU Graduation was on Aug, 25th in St. George at the beautiful Westside Baptist Church. 

Abbey participated in the Pre-level and performed Long Long Ago by T.H. Bayley. 

Ethan graduated from Level 4 and performed Concerto in G minor, 1st mvt by Vivaldi.

July Studio News

Mark your Calendar!
I will not be teaching the following days: 
Wed., July 4th 
Mon.-Sat., July 9th-14th
Fri.-Tues., July 20th-July 24th


Reminder of Summer Policies
During the summer (June- Aug.) I offer a more flexible schedule to allow for personal time off and teacher training. Lessons are $15/30min lesson. Payment is due the beginning of each month for 'scheduled' lessons. If you will only be to 3 lessons during the month you only need to pay for 3 lessons. If you need to reschedule or cancel your scheduled lesson please let me know at least a day before.

If there are no available times to reschedule and I know at least a day before, I will transfer payment to the next month. 

Lessons cancelled the day of lessons or a 'no show' will still be charged. 

Check the Studio Calendar often for updates and openings. Feel free to email or text me with changes.

Summer Practice

15 Ways to Keep Practice Going Over the Summer

Find fun practice charts at the link below.

thepracticeshoppe.com 


Fall Schedule
Start thinking about your fall schedule and let me know any requests!
Please note, I am only teaching Mon.-Thurs. in Cedar City and will no longer be teaching on Fridays.
  

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 2018

Click the link below for more info about the Parents as Partners Online videos!
You'll need to register through me (pay $12) at your next lesson.


Parents as Partners Online

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. 

Blog post from "Practice Makes it Easy" by Leslie Thackeray

Thanks to Karen C. for reminding me about this blog post! (Karen says she has extra duct tape if you need it for practice this week 🎻😉)

Adding an element of fun to practice can make all the difference. Try some of these ideas below:

Practice Makes It Easy: Practice Ideas: Sometimes you just need to add some spice to practicing.  Here are what some of my teacher friends did with their practicing this week: Ka...

Using Apps in Practicing

Do you use Apps in practicing? Maybe a tuner or metronome app?

I haven't tried very many but I think they could be very useful and engaging for students.

I like Intonia for scales, or for practicing 'chunks' (measures or small group of notes). It gives instant feed-back: blue if you're flat, red if you're sharp or white for in tune!

Click here: Intonia

Note Rush is a fun way to identify notes... have students play or pluck note on violin as well.  

Click here: Note Rush App

Here's a list of apps another Suzuki teacher uses... I don't have an iPad or iPhone so I'm not familiar with them but they sound fun and useful!

Share what you use in the comments below! 

FIVE GREAT MUSIC APPS FOR HELPING KIDS PRACTICE

February 26, 2016 by Brecklyn Ferrin, Plucky Violin Teacher

I love my iPhone and iPad, a little too much you could say. I’m a wee bit addicted, and I just love keeping track of everything in my life on my phone. I track my steps, my food, my goals, my journal, my finances, my to do list, everything on my phone, even my practicing.

Technology, when used very intentionally, can be so helpful and motivating to young students. That’s why I wanted to share my very favorite apps with you today, so you can try some with your kiddos and see what works.

My Favorite Music Education Apps for Helping Kids Practice… 

1. TimeTag. This one isn’t necessarily fun (unless you love tracking stuff like I do), but I love to use TimeTag to track my practicing. Every piece, scale, or etude gets a tag (with its own color!) and then I can track how much time I spent on all of my different repertoire. It’s essentially a souped up timer app. I’ve been using it for years.

2. Piano Maestro. This note-reading app is so much fun. My students love it. It’s meant for piano, but you can totally use it for violin! (It’s awesome.)

3. SmartScales. This app plays backing tracks for your scales that are just so much fun. It’s much more entertaining to play your scale with a backtrack than with a metronome, and you can tune to the harmonies underneath. Win-win.

4. ABRSM Speedshifter. This app takes any music track stored on your device and then you can manipulate the speed without changing the pitch. This is great for helping your students play with the Suzuki recordings that are a little too fast for them.

5. Cadenza. This app plays the accompaniments to many classical and popular pieces (including a bunch from the Suzuki repertoire.) It actually follows along with your tempos. Pretty sweet.

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 31

DAY 31: 

100 day Practice Challenge

Happy New Year! Are you setting any goals or resolutions?
Why not start the new year off with the 100 day practice challenge!

Some students have already taken on this challenge.  
One student was set to reach 100 days during the Christmas break and a few others are not far behind! It isn't easy... some had to start over after 20 days. I am so proud of them and their determination to start again!
I can tell a big difference in their playing and motivation. Their review pieces are solid and the 'new' pieces are easier.

Print or make a 100 day chart. 
Practice everyday (consecutively).
Mark off everyday you practice. 

Exceptions:
You can count listening to the CD as practice if you are sick, break an arm, go on vacation where it would be unsafe to take your violin with you (camping,  hot/cold temps. -violin left in a car, etc.) or family emergency.  On days where it's late, you just got home, there's homework and dinner, etc. play through one piece and do better the next day.

P. S. 3 ways to get your child motivated to practice

100 day trophies will be awarded at the Studio recital.

If you've already reached 100 days go for 200 or even a whole year! 

Violin "Advent" Calendar: Day 29

DAY 29:

"Getting Started After a Break"

I found this post about getting back into a routine after a break... she refers to the summer break but since we've been off for 2 weeks with the holidays I thought these were great suggestions for us as well.

So how does one recover from a practice “break”?  Here are a few suggestions:

Listen to repertoire pieces daily, old and new. Nothing works quicker to bring back the spark in your student’s playing than hearing the songs that the student is learning. If you are going to take a trip that involves leaving the violin at home for a brief time, make plans to do some daily listening.

Daily practice. Even a short period of time or perhaps a few small daily practice sessions will be easy. The first few days will be the hardest because you will be working to overcome what I call "practice inertia" -- the tendency to continue moving (or not moving in this example) in the direction you have been moving. Merely set yourself a small time goal (5 minutes might be the starting point) and allow yourself and your student to expand that time period as the going gets easier. When you know that you are permitted to quit after 5 minutes, it becomes easier to stay the course and play for 10 or 15 minutes. From that point, you will find it easier to start focusing on a practice session to achieve particular goals rather than time.

Focus on posture. When we take a break, we may find it easy to fall into bad habits. We forget the correct way to do things, and we begin to do “easy” things, which are basically posture issues gone way wrong. Take the time to focus on correct posture all the time. I like to remind my students that it is as easy to perform a habit correctly as it is to perform it incorrectly. The bad habit merely feels easy when in fact it is not because it will involve major problems later.

Do lots of review. Review is a great way to ease back into a regular routine because it focuses on things that are already familiar. If your student has forgotten material learned earlier, then your student will become frustrated with new material for sure. Focus on reviewing earlier songs until your student remembers the correct posture and the earlier material. Then moving onto new material will be easier.

Set a schedule and follow it no matter what. Part of forming a good habit is to set a schedule for it and set up reminders so that you maintain the schedule. If you set up a schedule, then follow it. Make the schedule be a daily thing so that it remains easy to follow. I call this scheduling for the inertia factor. If you are already following a daily schedule, it is easier to keep following the schedule and harder to skip. See one of my earlier articles about the power of routine.

Keep it simple. Whatever you decide to do, keep your plans simple at first. It is easier to begin small and build a good routine and then later expand the routine than it is to be too ambitious and then become too overwhelmed to follow your plan. Start small and simple and grow from there.

Sometimes it is nice to enjoy the good weather and the summer activities. While you are enjoying your summer activities, keep in mind that one purpose of music education is to teach students life lessons such as discipline, perseverance, and skill development. Coming back from a vacation break can be a good time to reinforce these life lessons as you and your child get back on track. Give a nod to summer by keeping practices short and sweet, but also show your child how to get back on track with the rhythm of practice and learning.

~from Paula A. Bird http://teachsuzuki.blogspot.com/