From one Suzuki parent to another
Sooner or later you'll probably need to make a high-quality video for auditions. Here are some tips on doing it well.
We recently had to produce a couple audition videos, so I thought I’d share what we learned in the process. Even if you’re not recording for an audition, it can be valuable to capture piece that your children have polished to a high level in an indelible way.
What is the Suzuki method of talent education; and what was Suzuki hoping to accomplish?
It’s always worth taking a moment to think about what Suzuki intended for children, teachers, and parents. While teachers trained in Suzuki pedagogy bring unique abilities to the studio, any family can put these principles in action at home.
Actual climbing often involves a series of false summits. So does the road to artistry.
After climbing for hours in the thin air of Colorado my son and I reached what we thought was the summit of our first 14’er. Descending climbers quashed our hopes by informing us that we had only reached the first of a series of false summits. To reach the true summit, it would take bursts of effort to power us over these little peaks. Finally, at the summit we were greeted by incomparable vistas and a sense of accomplishment that made the extra effort worthwhile.
Yet another way to make review practice fun.
The search for new games and angles to keep review pieces in play is endless. We recently made up a new one. (Who knows, maybe it’s not new; but it’s new to us.)
A new standard in defining Suzuki parent education
Christine Wilson Goodner’s new book “Beyond the Music Lesson” is a essential new guidebook to navigating the Suzuki landscape and starting off well.
(Hint: it can be both fun and work.)
Is learning to play a musical instrument just for fun? Or is it something else? Or both?
Suzuki institutes make an enormous difference in our musical year.
It’s August and institute season is winding down. We just returned from another great week at the American Suzuki Institute where we’ve attended for the last five years. I’ve come to think of summer institutes as an essential part of the Suzuki experience. Here’s why:
Of what use is technique if not to be harnessed and used to express a musical thought or emotion?
Of what use is technique if not to be harnessed and used to express a musical thought or emotion?
Metaphors, descriptive visual comparisons, can inspire understanding of stylistic and technical details in ways that more direct descriptions cannot.
I first began to appreciate the power of metaphors to help musical practice when my daughter was learning the the Martini Gavotte in Book 3 of the violin repertoire. Martini Gavotte is what I like to call a “death trap.” It’s in a rondeau form with lots of material between appearances of the theme. And there are lots of ways to go off-the-tracks. In desperation, I had her assign animals to each section and weave a story about how the central character - a little dachshund named…
Are Suzuki parents gardeners, carpenters, or some of both?
I’ve been reading Alison Gopnik’s recent book “The Gardener and the Carpenter” and wondering how it all fits with our role as Suzuki parents.
The Suzuki Experience is a weblog focused on helping parents practice more effectively and joyfully with their children. It traces the progress of our experience from beginner to budding young artist.