As many of you know, I love teaching. And, perhaps more than I love teaching, I love the Suzuki Method. As I teach and take Suzuki Training I am continually impressed by the way this method grows with me. The more I study it, the more I believe in it and the more important I believe it is for my students. Dr. Suzuki was a genius–not only in the music he selected but more importantly in the way he taught.

A brief background of the Suzuki Method.

What makes the Suzuki Method different from other methods?

– Every Child Can. Every Child Can learn. All s/he needs is an environment that inspires that ability and the opportunity to do so.

– Listening. The Suzuki Method is often referred to as “the Mother Tongue” method referring to the idea that every child learns to speak his/her native tongue because that is what he/she is exposed to-from birth. Exposure to music leads to interest in music. Listening to good music performed well not only develops the ear but also develops a student’s ability to recognize beauty and a job well done. For my violin students, listening to the pieces they will be playing gives them a vision of what they can do as well as a model for them to follow.

– The importance of a positive environment. In a competitive and critical world, this method focuses on positive-focusing on what you do well to improve what you do not do well.

– Everything is broken into small steps. The smaller the bite the easier it is to digest. If notes/techniques are broken down into small enough “bites” every student can feel a sense of achievement every time they s/he has a lesson or practices at home.

– Repetition. Suzuki said that practice begins when after you can play it correctly. If it takes you 5x to play something right you have practiced it incorrectly 4x. In order to really learn something well you have to play it more times correctly than you do incorrectly and somehow this needs to be interesting and positive!

– Common Repertoire. Having a common repertoire allows for group playing as well as gives students a language they can use all over the world.

– Daily Review

– The Suzuki Triangle. The teacher, parent, and student working together as a team to create the best environment, the best practice, the best effort will produce the best results.

– Delayed reading

– Tone (your sound). If you are never taught to really listen to the sound you are producing, wether on the violin or on the piano, you will never be able to really hear what you are doing. Students need to learn how to listen and how what they are doing is producing that result.

At lessons this week I’m distributing paper copies of the Fall Semester 2012 Calendar, an updated copy of studio policies and procedures, and group class lists for the semester. The group class lists can be found under the “Studio” tab on the studio website but I wanted to attach the documents here–just in case somehow yours gets lost.

Fall Semester 2012 Teaching Schedule

Fall Semester 2012 Policies, Procedure, Info, and Contract

I cannot believe that school begins in just two weeks! Where has the summer gone?

Fall Semester 2012 begins on September 4th, 2012. I believe school begins for most the next day, but I am planning to start our new schedule on Tuesday. (If you have a Tuesday lesson and need to move this first week let me know so we can make those arrangements).

Most have scheduled their times for the Fall but there are a few who have not. Attached is an updated schedule, which can also be found on the Studio Website. I have had several calls asking if I am taking new students and I need to know if you want me to reserve a space for you asap.

With the start of school comes some organizational paperwork. Each student/family will be receiving a packet of information that I would like you to review, return and/or file for your records.

The packet will contain the following:

I can’t believe it is that time of year already–time to start thinking about Fall and school and new lesson times. As I have been drafting this I’ve received two emails asking about Fall scheduling so I think we’re all on the same page.

I am attaching a pdf of the times I will and will not be teaching come September. Like last year, I will be attending the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut completing my Long Term Suzuki Training Course. This year the class will be taught on Thursdays not Tuesdays so this changes my schedule slightly. One other very important thing to note is that there will be 4 Violin Group Classes this semester instead of 2. Based on ability/repertoire, students will be placed in a group with other students around their level. Group Class Rosters can be found under the “Studio” button on my homepage. Group Class times are listed on the attached pdf.

As you can imagine is is not always an easy experience aligning my schedule + all of your schedules so please be patient as we work out your lesson times. Some tweaking might be necessary to make everything fit, but if we are all a little flexible it should be no problem.

When you know what time(s) you would like (and I suggest having 2 or 3 options…) please call or email me to get your name on my schedule. Lessons will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

Fall 2012 Schedule

The Tuning Up! Final Concert gives us an opportunity to put on display everything we work on throughout camp. Having the chance to play for our families and “show our stuff” brings some closure and recognition to a week of hard work (and play).

Most of you know this is my first year teaching in Boston after relocating from Utah in the Fall of 2010. Tuning Up! 2010 (which was its 10th year) was very bittersweet as it was my last hurrah before packing up and saying goodbye. After missing 2011 I wasn’t sure if I would bring it back, but I am so glad that I did. It affirms my belief that group is important. Playing with your peers is important. Having fun while making music is important. Yes, it is a lot of work on my side, but it is worth it.

Here are some of the pictures from the final concert. (When you click on them they get bigger…)

Our Twinkle Group was so lucky to have out of town visitors! It was so fun to have a bigger group and to work on posture, bow holds, Twinkles, and fiddle tunes. These guys did great and became great friends. I was excited to see them improve and work together to make beautiful music.

I can’t wait to see where they are next summer.

All in a row

A favorite

Where they put their violins when they are supposed to put them somewhere safe…

Figuring things out

Class Picture

Class picture #2: the silly version

And #3

It is so exciting for me to watch students who started playing violin with me last fall progress and improve. Every student in this group has moved through twinkle to the literature beyond it in the last year and they are doing so well.

We learned duets, practiced our ensemble skills, mastered several “new” tunes (including the classics Boil Them Cabbage Down and the French Folk Song), and reviewed. In addition to that we spent time getting to know each other and making friends. I can’t wait for group to start in the Fall!

Here they are again

A personal favorite

Such great posture!

Our Piano Group this year had 6 people in it–3 boys and 3 girls.

Each person prepared a solo and at least one duet to play on the final concert. Most of the duets were handed out the first day of camp which meant they had 4 days to learn their part, learn how to play it with someone else, and get it read to perform. To prepare, we practiced these each day along with counting exercises, rhythm exercises/games, note-reading, and ear training.  Overall I believe everyone had a great time.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week.

Duets

Concentrating really hard

A fairly accurate class picture

I think they look happy

Resting

The Snake Charmer

Everyone's favorite part (besides treats)

Last weekend I was able to perform with my student Alex on a private recital in someone’s home. We performed the Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, 1st Mov’t by Bach and I thought  I’d share it with you.

Click on the link to see/hear our performance.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the Semester Recital on June 9th. It was a lovely morning and you all played so well. At our solo recitals I am always impressed by the progress each student is making individually but it is at these group recitals at the end of the semester that I can really catch a vision of what is happening within my studio. Thank you for your hard work and preparation and a special thank you to my mom for accompanying us! I hope you all enjoyed playing together.

The program began with the Twinklers playing the Monkey Song, the Bread Song, and Mississippi Hot Dog Twinkle–all with a ready go. We have been working on ensemble and the hard task of playing together which means each student has to get ready and then wait for the group. As we continue to improve our wait time will get shorter and shorter while we (hopefully) keep all 12 of us together. Well done Twinklers!

Interspersed through the recital were piano solos including: Trumpet Song and Wagtime, Wind in the Trees and Hot Cross Buns, The Dance Band, and Cowboy Jo and Petite Minuet.

Since not all violin students could perform solos only a handful of students performed solo selections ranging from Song of the Wind to La Folia in Book 6.

Group pieces were selected from Book 2 and Book 1 and were as follows: Hunters’ Chorus, Chorus from Judas Maccabeus, Minuet 3, Allegro, Go Tell Aunt Rhody, Lightly Row, and all the Twinkle Variations and Theme. As we moved through the repertoire from hardest piece backwards, students joined the group as we came to the pieces they knew, ending with all the students playing Twinkle together. For many of my students this was considered their “Twinkle Graduation.”  Congratulations!

Pictures will be uploaded to the “Studio” tab soon so you can click and drag the ones you would like to save. I’m including a few of my favorites with this post (click on them to see the whole photo).