I have a lot of experience as a violinist, teacher, and student myself. I'm pretty new at the whole parenting thing, though. My kids are little. 4 years old and 21 months, as of this writing. I'm even newer at the Suzuki parent thing. I started my oldest about a year and a half ago.
I have learned so much from practicing with my daughter. I never thought I knew everything when it came to working with kids, but working with her has been eye opening in more ways than I could possibly count.
I have all parents who come into my studio do a parent education course with me. I have them come to my house for six sessions, more or less, where we discuss my policies, the Suzuki method, how to practice and motivate young children, and finally, how to actually play the violin. Most of this information that I give parents was gleaned from books and my own teacher training. Some of it is through experience with students. Now I have a whole new perspective on things, though. I can talk to parents AS a parent and tell them what works and doesn't work with my own child.
Here's the thing: my kid is just one kid. She's my daughter, so she already has a parent with a music background, and she has her own personality. I don't know what it's like to work with EVERY personality. I can't say from experience how to help a shy child or what the Suzuki parent experience is like when you don't know how to play an instrument. I only know what the parents in my studio tell me.
I thought new parents would benefit enormously from hearing stories from other Suzuki parents. I asked a few of my families to write a blog post for me about their own experiences. I am totally blown away by what I've received so far. I think people will learn far more from these than anything I might have to say.
I will be posting these as I receive them.
Enjoy!
I have learned so much from practicing with my daughter. I never thought I knew everything when it came to working with kids, but working with her has been eye opening in more ways than I could possibly count.
I have all parents who come into my studio do a parent education course with me. I have them come to my house for six sessions, more or less, where we discuss my policies, the Suzuki method, how to practice and motivate young children, and finally, how to actually play the violin. Most of this information that I give parents was gleaned from books and my own teacher training. Some of it is through experience with students. Now I have a whole new perspective on things, though. I can talk to parents AS a parent and tell them what works and doesn't work with my own child.
Here's the thing: my kid is just one kid. She's my daughter, so she already has a parent with a music background, and she has her own personality. I don't know what it's like to work with EVERY personality. I can't say from experience how to help a shy child or what the Suzuki parent experience is like when you don't know how to play an instrument. I only know what the parents in my studio tell me.
I thought new parents would benefit enormously from hearing stories from other Suzuki parents. I asked a few of my families to write a blog post for me about their own experiences. I am totally blown away by what I've received so far. I think people will learn far more from these than anything I might have to say.
I will be posting these as I receive them.
Enjoy!
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